MediaZone4K

In all fairness, Fox 4 News is a nonstarter in the market. Scripps decimated the station. While only two tv owners in the market is concerning from an oligopoly POV, from the viewers perspective, take this for what it's worth... IMO despite Gulf Coast News being market leader, WINK is the better news product.

Wow. Up until Waterman sold to Hearst, Ft Myers was one of the few markets I knew of with majority local ownership in television I wonder if the news department remains, the scripps cast model continues, or do they try to make the news department more competitive?

On this 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina... Compelling coverage from the storm's aftermath Today (2005). Unimportant side note: It's also great to see more late era Katie footage. The blue wall behind the anchors really downgraded during this period but got a good refresh when Meredith came in. WWL Coverage after the levees broke (2005). They were on a college campus in Baton Rouge with technical assistance from students. It was amazing to see how they were understandably using what appears to be college newscast graphics after the storm.

All that for a $16K watch! Ironically Local 10 never mentioned 7 News in a story during the affiliation swap, but covered their reporter getting arrested lol.

Mike is the best

The L3's look odd as it's slanted on only one side. Imo it would look better with a slope on both.

Unless Elaine wanted to retain some network duties, it was strange to utilize a network talent only on weekend mornings. i'm surprised they didn't put Elaine in the slots vacated by Dana Tyler, or later on Maurice Dubois.

In addition to soaps and game shows, isn't that how it's always been? That's better than all news all day long.

The ideas sound noble on paper but the reality... IMO the main way for independent stations to retain what little broadcast audience remains is decent syndicated programming -- * but the options are few and stations don't want to pay for it.

It sucks that both Josh and Sam jumped to ship for gigs that did not work out.

Mmmhmmm

Having been to a taping of LIVE myself, some segments are pre-recorded, so even when aired "live" it's not entirely live.

You have a totally fair point. A pre 7am to 11:35 pm workday is ALOT. They could use another MET. However she seems to be enjoying herself based on the Instagram reel. From firsthand experience, I can tell you when you do something you love such as journalism, it's much easier to pull a double -- SOMETIMES -- rather than in a regular job that you're not passionate about.

This!!! There's nothing like seeing Nexstar boast about record profits on the corporate page, while employees in stations as high as middle markets are making fast food level wages. Now as much as I hate consolidation, what is the alternative?

Former Nexstar employee here...it sucks that the field of employers is narrowing. Even worse that the lowest paying station owner is now the biggest.

3rd? Don't they outperform CNN? They kept the MS in MSNBC after Microsoft left due to brand recognition. MSNBC was so ingrained in the media lexicon that it would've been like Twitter rebranding to X. In that same vein I understand Versant keeping "MSN" is their name. They want the public to immediately recognize MSNOW as the successor of MSNBC. I was initially skeptical of the name, but I can tolerate it. Agreed, the logo is . Versant probably paid consultants and this is the best they could've done! I'm all for NBC distancing itself from that toxic partisan cable network, but if CNBC is keeping it's name, MSNBC might as well. We're already supposed to ignore that MS originally means Microsoft so they can keep that up for the NBC part. CNBC is already covered with Consumer News & Business Channel. I'm surprised the star of their network coverage didn't suggest "MSDNC" as a rebrand.

The format was a rough transition from the single voice of God anchor format that viewers became accustomed to with Jennings. Ted Koppel would have been perfect for the job had he not retired. But back to CBS...

Exactly my thoughts when Maurice got this job. That's why I supported the initial idea of him retaining the 11 PM anchor spot and staying on CBSEN. He had a stable gig as the 5/11pm anchor on an O&O in market 1 and regularly did reports and anchoring for the network versus becoming cohost of a notoriously unstable broadcast.

Brian Williams and Matt Lauer co-hosting Today (2009). What trouble the next few years would bring for the both of them! **apologies this is after 2008.

NBC Nightly News used to do this from about '04-07 with soundbites of past anchors introducing themselves. I wouldn't mind the other networks actually referencing old talent. SOAP BOX ALERT: People should be reminded of the stalwarts of quality journalism so they wont settle for some of what passes today. And what would that accomplish? Revamp yet again to stay firmly at #3? At this point stick with this iteration of CBSEN or abandon the evening news business entirely like they did with the Late Show. If the one anchor rumblings are true, I see Maurice being eliminated. John does "Evening News +" and often hosts CBS special coverage events. If so what becomes of Maurice, stick him at 6 with Kristine since Jessica Moore got his slots?

Lack of local news aside, the WUPA schedule is pretty decent. Now do they actually need a news department? Would that be profitable for them?

A treasure trove of old Today Show episodes from 2001, 2003 (start of Iraq War) and 2005 (Hurricane Katrina) were released by malgent. 2001, a wedding just 6 days before 9/11 2003: 2005: Sidebar, apparently Dan Rather's last appearance on the CBS evening news was to talk about Peter Jennings death in 2005...

Im interested in that idea. As for how stations can avoid basic newscasts in the absence of syndicated programming, I think Fox O&Os have tried to answer that. WTTG with Lion Lunch hour, KRIV with various local talk shows like The Isiah Facotor, and KCPQ with a statewide newscast. Granted some of these programs are not fantastic (Wake Up With Sally Mac and Lina, Chatting with Chelsea KRIV). I still, however, appreciate the effort.

Even by New York City standards this is excessive. A lot of NYC stations resort to repeating stories after a certain hour, for example WNBC's 7 PM broadcast. As bad as both stations schedules are, I would agree that WPLG has the better lineup. They have a few decent syndication options such as Live, Wheel and Jeopardy. Add to that Local 10 News is roughly 1st place among the English language stations in the market, putting them in a better position than WANF. In social media posts about these affiliation drops, I've seen viewers champion "more local news", especially without network agendas. What they fail to realize is more than half the time these of newscasts will be filled with national stories from wire services as there isn't enough local news to support such heavy output. Aside from preventing layoffs (such as in WPLG's case) are there any positives to these affiliation drops?? I don't see it.

I don't doubt politics played some factor in the Late Show cancellation, but this gives a some credence to the budget caused cancellation arguers... Paramount's BET announced it's suspending the BET Hip Hop and BET Soul Train Awards. changing viewership habits most definitely played a part. Cuts are happening across the board. https://www.aol.com/bet-suspends-two-iconic-music-175901501.html#:~:text=59 PM CDT-,BET Suspends Two Iconic Music Award Shows After Nearly Four,iconic Soul Train TV show. The latter had already been on pause for the last two years. AOL reports that it's due to Paramount restructuring efforts amid the Skydance merger. I'm sad to see the soul train awards on pause, but the BET hip-hop awards felt redundant as the regular BET awards covers hip-hop for a significant chunk of its 4+ hour plus run time.