freelanceproducer

Social updates have begun! The show's YouTube now reflects the new name, logo, and anchors.

NewscastStudio is reporting on Twitter that the updated 1A (whatever that entails) is expected this upcoming Tuesday. 

Just now, MorningNews said:

Technically isn’t the upstairs area they’ve been using also Studio 1A?

Yes - 1A is a two-story studio. They specifically refer to the upstairs space as the SPA (satellite production area).

Tom Llmas is anchoring Nightly News tonight for the second night in a row. He has become the primary fill-in on Today and is having a growing presence on Nightly. His new NBC News Now primetime show is expected to launch this fall, so this wide-ranging presence on the linear channel is great marketing for that. 

As a side note, the patriotic color elements (mainly on the floor) in the Nightly News studio have been removed. The wood elements remain silver and gray. 

On 8/25/2021 at 6:08 PM, susquvalleywgal said:

 

Do you think they will time this and debut Studio 1A an the MSNBC studio at the same time?

 

-- Matt

I would not be surprised - these types of debuts usually happen when the new season starts. The debuts will likely be on Sept. 7 or 13. 

I would also not be surprised to see a lot of similarities between the two spaces. Based off images I have seen of the new MSNBC space, it is similar in a lot of ways to the new DC N5 studio. A cohesion of the spaces will look great on air.

Here’s Neeraj Khemlani’s note to staff:

Team – 

Today, we are unveiling our new morning franchise, CBS MORNINGS, which launches Sept. 7 from its new studio in the ViacomCBS Headquarters building in Times Square, and will be co-hosted by Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and the newest member of the team, Nate Burleson. The newly renamed CBS SATURDAY MORNING will move to the new studio on Sept. 18.

Marrying impactful journalism with exquisite storytelling, the new morning program continues to provide a hard news focus during the 7 AM hour with an expanded commitment to feature reporting in the 8 AM hour. Our goal is simple: bring together the best team of hosts, correspondents and producers to create a show that will leave viewers more informed, more prepared and more uplifted as they start their day. 

The distinct advantage CBS News has had for years is the ability to tell rich stories on subjects rarely touched elsewhere. As viewers of CBS SUNDAY MORNING and CBS SATURDAY MORNING know well, the profiles and pieces on everything from fireflies to the father of the cell phone … to meaningful interviews with chefs and global artists … are among the most satisfying and original pieces on television.  

As our weekday program has evolved to showcase more of this unforgettable style of reporting, we have decided to take the next step and tie all our morning franchises together. Moving forward, our morning shows will be part of the same family – with a shared look and editorial breadth – connected by the sound of the iconic trumpet music and sunshine logo. Essentially, we’re adding a little bit of CBS SUNDAY MORNING, every morning, on CBS MORNINGS. 

The anchor tables are designed to bring experience, energy and range to the topics of the day, from Gayle, Tony and Nate on the weekdays, to Michelle Miller, Jeff Glor and Dana Jacobson on Saturdays and Jane Pauley on Sundays. Working with Shawna Thomas, Brian Applegate and Rand Morrison, as well as Renee Cullen, Rick Jefferson, Mitch Cardwell and dozens of producers, reporters, correspondents, engineers, editors and bookers, we are gearing up for a fall season like no other.

The media industry has taught us all that you can never stop evolving. We are thrilled today to be able to build on the strong foundation of our morning programs across the board, and deliver on every platform a fresh experience rooted in the deep reporting and storytelling that makes CBS News distinct.

We all understand how vital the morning daypart is in the news business. When viewers wake up to learn what has happened in Afghanistan or New Orleans, they are relying not just on our morning team, but on the reporting throughout this entire organization. There is no better example than this week’s coverage of Hurricane Ida. We are grateful to all of you for the effort to get the coverage on the air and for the sacrifices everyone made to make it happen.

Please join George, Wendy and me in thanking the morning teams on all of their hard work as we enter this inspiring next chapter.

Neeraj

31 minutes ago, freelanceproducer said:

Here is a first look at the new studio! It appears based off this photo, that we can expect the graphics to be a combo of CBS Weekend News and CBS Sunday Morning. 
 

The ‘new’ studio is the 2020 election space dressed for morning tv. The background here is a video wall showing an expanded virtual space (like FTN and the Lead do).

The new rendition of the show will still feature the Eye Opener, according to multiple sources.

Here is a first look at the new studio! It appears based off this photo, that we can expect the graphics to be a combo of CBS Weekend News and CBS Sunday Morning. 
 

The ‘new’ studio is the 2020 election space dressed for morning tv. The background here is a video wall showing an expanded virtual space (like FTN and the Lead do).

Just now, cbs2worksforyou said:

Anthony Mason signed off last week. Anyone know when the new guy starts on air and when the new studio debuts? I imagine they’d coordinate it.

I am betting Nate and the new studio will debut on September 7 or 13. It is common to see those changes go into effect when the new season starts (which tends to be the day after Labor Day or the Monday after LD).

However, with all the news going on rn, I wouldn’t totally be surprised to see him debut this week. 

As if the drama can't get any bigger, TVNewser is reporting that Brian Williams is looking to leave his 11 p.m. slot. 

On 8/23/2021 at 2:46 PM, freelanceproducer said:

CONFIRMED: Renovations are being done to the first floor of Studio 1A!

 

*note: studio 1A is a two story studio space. The first floor includes home base (anchor desk), curved video wall, orange room (now covered by video wall), and the 6 moveable video panels. The upstairs is the kitchen, home base for Hoda and Jena, plus the tiny corner they have been using with 90° Video walls. 

A producer has confirmed the update will take several weeks - that leads me to believe it might be a bigger update. 

On 8/21/2021 at 12:28 PM, G2000 said:

On this morning’s show Peter Alexander said that they were broadcasting from the second floor because work was being done on Studio 1A.

CONFIRMED: Renovations are being done to the first floor of Studio 1A!

*note: studio 1A is a two story studio space. The first floor includes home base (anchor desk), curved video wall, orange room (now covered by video wall), and the 6 moveable video panels. The upstairs is the kitchen, home base for Hoda and Jena, plus the tiny corner they have been using with 90° Video walls. 

Just now, MorningNews said:

Is the Saturday broadcast not based out of DC anymore?

It is, however, with Kristen Welker still on maternity leave, the show has been using Studio 1A occasionally. Often times, depending on the female anchor, that is easier. For example, Vicky Nguyen filled in today. So since her and Dylan are both based in NYC, that is easier to have Peter travel a few hours north.  

28 minutes ago, Sendir said:

Shep

I find this highly unlikely. He left Fox News because he wanted to be a straightforward journalist and that is not what MSNBC will want in the 9pm slot. 

6 minutes ago, susquvalleywgal said:

 

Ideally, I would want Brian Williams to have the 9p slot like he had with The News with Brian Williams.  

 

I would REALLY REALLY LOVE to see Keith Olbermann come back to MSNBC.

 

-- Matt

If they hire within for her slot, I would bet one of two scenarios would happen: 

1) they move Nicole Wallace to that slot (9p) or

2) they move Joy Reid to that slot (9p) and Nicole Wallace to Joy's current slot (7p). 

Another major shake-up might becoming to MSNBC...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/rachel-maddow-considers-leaving-msnbc

6 minutes ago, tvtime07 said:

 

I agree, this is a weird move. I always loved the vibe of CTM's studio and it has aged pretty well, I love the use of their circular desk. As a serious news program, they didn't need Times Square. Like you said, there's too much fluff at Time Square and it does seem like CTM will be evolving into another type of program with more fluff? Could we be seeing live performances on during the weekdays?

 

It will be interesting how ABC and CBS will sensor each other on their telecasts. In the past, ABC used to embrace their views on the area, you could see MTV logos during GMA. Like you said, things have definitely changed, GMA already limits how they use their studio. I remember back in the day, ABC utilized all areas on Time Square Studios: Primetime Thursday was set on the rooftop, Barbara Walters would be hanging out Friday nights on the first floor, and GMA utilized both floors. I'm just glad GMA Weekend is back at Times Square.  I have noticed this week that GMA3 started using the patio space once again.

My bet is that CTM will have the windows covered, similar to how it was used for Election Day. 

In addition, I remember reading somewhere that they will still use a desk that allows them to face each other at the new studio. 

1 hour ago, cbs2worksforyou said:

Any news or updates on this set/relocation to Times Square?

They are expected to move next month (September) at the same time Burleson takes over as co-anchor.

6 hours ago, Liugrad2020 said:

What was the special report about? 

What was the special report about? 

I’m not sure - I just saw her Insta post 

On 8/2/2021 at 6:48 PM, jrogo said:

Does anyone else wonder if Studio 1A is receiving some updates? I only saw the first 3 hours this morning and all of it was outside. I wouldn’t expect a major redo but updating the tracking panels, tweaks to the 2nd floor and figuring out what to do with the video wall covering the orange room is very realistic. 

My bet is no - and if it is getting updated, they will be minor. 
 

The windows aren’t covered like they would usually be and Sheinelle hosted a Special Report from the studio today. 

25 minutes ago, Sendir said:

I don’t understand the backwards thinking. NN has a TON more users on digital versus on TV. That’s been previously reported. That’s why they push out app alerts like crazy to try to push people to the Cable Channel (yawn). But it’s the same with local news. More people have their apps downloaded. Stop looking at this backwards. Stop promoting a newscast in a newscast to switch to another channel when the end user is just not going to. It’s only checking a checkmark for Perry. If Perry understood audience sizes he would make every local station app push to the new programming on NN and have a live stream embedded in apps just like CBSN or NBC NEWS NOW. 

 

Data. Science. Work smarter. Not harder. 

I haven’t been able to understand why Nexstar and NewsNation didn’t just launch as an OTT streaming channel.
 

NewsNation truly is a good product - the tv audience just doesn’t exist. 

Nexstar’s internal catchphrases is “digital first” - yet they did the opposite here. When every other media company is pouring money, people, and effort into streaming vs linear tv - they did the opposite.

I would’ve loved to see this product as a hybrid of NN, local news, and the old HLN. Presented in a Peacock type format.

You could have your main “channel” that streams NewsNation content and local news. So NN would be built around local news shows. Then have another “channel” that is the headlines channel that is basically the same news every 30 minutes like HLN used to do - updated every two hours. Users could also watch a “channel” that is just a constant weather upstate - think looping SD, 7-day forecast, etc.

Starting tonight…

3 hours ago, kdex86 said:

On Monday, there was a segment where we saw Savannah, Hoda, Carson, Al, and Craig all gather together to eat at a restaurant, celebrating how they're all vaccinated and that they can safely gather together as a group again.  But as they were introducing this segment, we notice all of them in 5 separate camera shots, socially distancing.  Why would they all be apart when they wanted to celebrate being together?  

 

Savannah has been working from home recently (I would assume in quarantine before traveling to Tokyo). Al appears to be in his upstate house here.

The other three are all seated in front of the video wall in 1A. However, having them in a three shot next to two remote boxes would make everyone too small to see. So visually, it is easier to have everyone like this. 

For reference, I have attached a pic of what they look like in the studio.

Here’s a look at the updated graphics. The MSNBC Reports graphics are consistent across anchor, but with custom photos for each.