GodfreyGR

Plus, other variables at play here. I doubt Martha was "assigned" to fill in... Witt and Linsey both wanted the weekend off, and Martha may have very well stepped up so ABC could give both the weekend they asked for off. I've done that a time or two myself when there's nothing going on- helps out coworkers, puts extra cash in my pocket, and usually also buys some goodwill for when I want to take time off. Point is, I wouldn't read too much into this unless they drag Sawyer or Gibson back to the news desk.

"Live" doesn't need to be live... KARE airs it on tape delay at 11 central in Minneapolis, and that's Market 15.

Former sports reporter is suing Gray/KVLY-TV for unpaid wages, Gray is countersuing for a breach of contract. https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/mcfeely-former-sports-reporter-sues-valley-news-live-saying-it-broke-his-contract Full disclosure- The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead is owned by Forum Communications, who also owns WDAY-TV in the market.

Not here to debate the President’s use of the F-bomb, but don’t we have audio delays on live coverage for this very reason? Linked CSPAN, but scrolling TikTok, other news outlets aired the word uncensored as well. how does the FCC handle a violation by the guy who appoints them? v15044gf0000d1d8pcvog65muqnu3v3g.mp4 v24044gl0000d1d8dkfog65vdh5rj7mg.mp4

And spinning the wheel for today’s Special Report, It’s John Dickerson! I’m fully convinced that CBS doesn’t really care who does the cut ins- but rather who’s available at the moment to go on air. You could chalk that up as a weakness since they don’t have that trademark name and voice (read: like Muir for ABC); but I think that says something about CBS’s bench and culture that they’re comfortable running with whoever is ready to go on air at that moment (this time of day, could have also still been someone form mornings so Evenings could prepare for their show)

Maurice was anchoring the Special Report coverage for the Hegseth Pentagon Presser this morning... So there is that.

Justin Betti has announced on his Linkedin that Gray/KVLY (Fargo) is not picking up the option on the final year of his contract. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/justin-betti-819093157_career-update-this-week-i-was-told-by-management-activity-7338792592874057731-Nt_Q?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAArjD0MBokjy_To31gB_pwvFdJdcCbU8Ano

Morning Anchor/reporter Pauleen Le is leaving WCCO after tomorrow's show. No word yet on her next destination. Do love her nod to the late Darcy Pohland in her announcement! https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/pauleen-le-announces-friday-will-be-her-last-day-at-wcco

I think, unlike George, Lester actually wants to reduce his workload. As for contributing, NBC has a precedent with that- Brokaw sat in on election night for many years after Nightly. Often times, we see an anchor emerita so a special interview- Diane Sawyer still does a limited number for ABC on occasion. No matter what, expect Lester's role to be reduced, and get smaller over time as he get s closer to full retirement.

Better than the current Scripps package! Would be nice if local markets can customize color though... I've always associated WFTS with reds and whites, not blue.

So... Getting that we will have no major visual changes other than Lester being swapped out for Tom, which makes sense since graphics package is still new enough. Nice touch to add Brian Williams in the mix... NBC has a history of conveniently omitting host tenures of some shows the network sees as a blemish to the franchise...

I’ve watched Wheeler for years and the special one-hour farewell is more than fitting. Included a proclamation and key to the city of Fargo from Mayor Mahoney, a city snow plow plow being renamed the “Wheeler Weather Peeler”, and the entire current weather team on hand in the studio.

Why don't more utilize an "a-la-carte" packaging option? I mean, Disney kind of does with Hulu/D+/E+, but in my home for example, Peacock is used only for those pesky NFL games they do only streaming for (aside from the Olympics...). Cash grab?

NBC has Peacock, CBS has Paramount+, the list goes on. Now Fox is jumping in with the launch of Fox One ahead of the NFL Season. They're housing Fox News, Fox Business, Fox Weather, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, Deportes, FOX Local and Fox network all under one house. So is Hulu just going to be primarily ABC after this summer? https://www.fox.com/foxone/

Which throws me for a loop when I watch, but small potatoes. Did they do that just for the ease of simplicity knowing they're getting the new graphics package eventually (which, if history keeps up, there will likely not be any network logos on that logo), or would it have been just as easy for them to take the entire ABC logo out and place the Fox logo in?

Former KSTP met Wren Clair is resurfacing across town at KARE.

This, and it's been this for almost a year. If you look at the KOTA Facebook, they have used an affiliate-less logo in the profile pic since August 2024, around the same time they folded the KEVN/"Black Hills Fox" branding into the KOTA Territory banner. Looking on Wayback.org, I had to go to June 2024 to find a KOTAtv.com homepage that had the ABC logo adjoining the call letters.

This, and if you look at the tour of the building they give in the newscast, the logos on the glass panels in the production/weather/newsroom areas alternate "WVUE8" and "Gray". The same segment, I noticed "WVUE8" and "FOX8" were used almost interchangeably. Are they in tandem? It is transitionary? Not enough evidence to speculate long-term from what I watched.

That is fair- I could have phrased my last remarks better. Indeed there are challenges for virtually all Fox affiliates getting confused for the cable network- and many ownership groups take different approaches to embracing and deflecting. As for the FB comments, I always remember what one of my managers once told me- that for every comment on socials, there are more followers that were thinking the same thing but just didn't post it (admittingly, I am that type of person when scrolling through FB or X. Here? a bit of a different story.)

The comment section on @TheRolyPoly's FB link has some people calling out the dropping of FOX for the call letters already... And most are not kind. Hopefully someone is reading the early speculative feedback! Agree that when you're on top of the mountain, you need to indeed innovate and stay ahead of the game, but don't blow up what you're known for (read- the branding, the logo) Isn't a Fleur-De-Lis in NOLA like hiving a lone star on just about anything in Texas? Lots of local and regional pride that goes along with it.

Looks on par with the updates across the O&O's as they still work on phasing out the searchlights in the logos (KMSP recently redid their opens as well). Overall the stills with the FOX outline behind the logo give me "2010's WBBM 15 years later" vibes.

Which honestly makes me appreciate it even more TBH...

Every step and element of a set- from the first design meeting through the final light being plugged in is about money. Larger owners, like Nexstar for example, can get away with the same "set in a box" being mass produced which allows for some of the little design touches to become attainable in the budget. A much smaller company like Cowles, the owner of KHQ, has to pick and choose with the budget they likely have. They chose tech and an overall set that they likely hope will last as long as the old set did for them.

Beat me to it! John has become legendary in Fargo-Moorhead! Unlikely they find someone willing to make the area their entire career. (Although it is a fun market for forecasting!)

Long time KOTA meteorologist Eric Gardner has passed away at 60-years-old. He had been with the station since 2002. https://www.kotatv.com/2025/04/29/eric-gardner-longtime-meteorologist-with-kota-territory-news-passes-away/