Roadrunner

Not breaking (announced earlier last week), but Tiffany Cross and Jonathan Capehart will be taking over for the weekend morning slot last permanently filled by Joy Reid (10AM-12PM). Tiffany will anchor Saturdays and Jonathan will anchor Sundays. These will be two separate branded shows and not just the same show led by two different people. [Link 1] and [Link 2]

Another development here, but for Tallahassee: Gray launched WNXG (Me TV) as a new 3.0 station that will serve as the "hub" for WFXU/WCTV, which includes CBS, depending on the call sign. The full launch for 3.0 is expected sometime next year.

Someone also brought up Bruce Johnson retiring from WUSA at year's end and that there could have been a chance of her going there to join Lesli, but of course, we now know she didn't (and that FTVLive's little birdies were right again lol). In the tweet below, it mentions she will join beginning with the 4PM lineup (and that was anchored mainly by Leon and Pat pre-COVID): TVSpy wrote that she will also be a "special reports correspondent" in addition to being an evening anchor, so that tells me slotting her somewhere precise could be secondary and that for the time being, she could initially have more of an report-heavier role as opposed to what we see from other anchors. Again, could totally be wrong; these thoughts are just my speculation. And that's not to forget that their existing evening COVID anchor lineups have not been consistent day-to-day/week-to-week due to WFH, medical (e.g. Wendy), and other various reasons. But I agree that at some point, of the five anchors, one is likely to retire in 2021, methinks? I'm glad to see NBC4 actually seemingly thriving, but anything comes with a cost. So with everything I wrote (really just a jumbling of words), this makes a lot of sense for what they could start out with IMO.

Hey, no problem at all and no need to apologize; there's so much to look at that it's not possible to remember or notice the small details that go into so many different news products. Honestly, I was starting to think they'd really place Major and Jamie into the permanent positions (although Margaret and Chip made for recently compelling choices, despite it not being reasonable long-term) so it's great that they're finally saying something. Could this finally be the light at the end of the tunnel? The CBSN-style weekend news branding was really milquetoast for a flagship program so I'm hoping this can expand on the program's significance once again and maybe re-introduce some organization back into the newscast.

I don't believe it's...new, though? Do you mean this one? (pictures attached below) I screengrabbed this from a July 2020 newscast. And this is from tonight's newscast. But you can also see this very desk in the set's debut promotional, as seen here in December 2019. So someone please correct me here and tell me what I'm missing.

Honestly, the fact that something like this even existed up until 2019/20 is extraordinary, especially in a big market, so I agree that Fox 29's emphasis on trying out more local programming of the like is to be commended.

Fox 29 is producing a new program titled The Feed AT Night beginning January 4, 2021. It's a casual half-hour program that will air at 12:30AM and talk about the day's trending social media topics and will be hosted by Thomas Drayton and Alex Holley. Based on that timeslot, it is likely replacing The Class H-Room (unless this one will also replace another program), which is a local trivia-based game show airing exclusively on Fox 29.

Good Day Chicago's Brittney Payton is leaving; I feel bad for not recalling any memory of her (also admittedly not an avid viewer, so ). The turnover for just this one newscast is too much.

Something something FCC something something "Fox Seeks Permanent Waiver to Co-Own 'NYPost' and WWOR-TV" After the Third Circuit reinstated the crossownership prohibition in 2019, Fox is basically asking to be able to own WWOR permanently the same way it owns WNYW and also be able to hold NYPost with it (I'm grossly summarizing there), which they believe the FCC's 2018 decision to eliminate the restriction reinforces. It does come with opponents so we'll see what happens in the lame-duck era of this FCC.

New developments in Tampa WMOR (Hearst / Indy), WFTS (Scripps / ABC), WFLA (Nexstar / NBC), WTSP (Tegna / CBS), WTVT (Fox O&O) all transitioned today. WMOR serves as the host station for the signals in the market.

Should be this [https://tvnewscheck.com/article/256055/sinclair-names-headline-service-the-national-desk/], which has been in the works for some time now, but more quietly than say, Nexstar's News Nation.

Someone correct me but I really think they did not make her departure a big "to-do" or provided any substantial lead-up to her departure. If I remember correctly, Sarah had already been anchoring the 4 on...Monday? I just feel like if you were a casual viewer, you probably wouldn't have even known Jeannette was going to be leaving (unless it was openly acknowledged, which it seems we weren't aware of....which we should have if they really made it like a thing). Jeannette also didn't post anything about her final goodbyes and as you mentioned, Sharrie tweeted and IGed her goodbyes but it seems like no one else did (like Brian, Sarah, or Alicia), so maybe the chemistry on set was a little cooler than we were expecting. But ALL OF THIS to say that, regardless of whatever I've said, whatever she and they chose to say or not say about her leaving is ultimately none of my business lol.

Interesting. Probably just a coincidence, but he is the second "Politically Speaking" host to have originally come from the network to San Diego and then now...return to New York? He follows Alex Presha, who also came from NBC News and is now at ABC News. Perhaps Danny will chart that same path.

I had to search through his Instagram for this to remember when, but I found instances in 2018 (e.g. August, December). They weren't any major timeslots (seems like it was an occasional weekend morning slot), but he was on-air nonetheless.

This was announced on Friday, but here's another departure of a veteran member at WSMV (buyout? leaving before the ship fully sinks? conveniently retiring? probably all)

I do think Aaron and Eun were compatible, with Eun being like color commentator and Aaron being the straight man. But Jummy made a great addition to the team and she also works well with Eun. What I actually think this is a response to, is to the addition of Marissa Mitchell and (soon) Jeannette Reyes to Fox 5; they've reduced Maureen's presence a lot already. All three stations we've mentioned (WJLA who?) are pretty much targeting different portions of the audience at this point and I'm wondering if News4 can still tackle the increased competition like it has been as we approach the next few years. (Shawn Yancy make your announcements!)

After 8 years anchoring together at DC's #1 station (WRC) for the area's #1 morning newscast (News4 Today), Aaron Gilchrist and Eun Yang will be split up. Aaron will be heading national full-time as anchor and correspondent for NBC News Now; he's occasionally subbed-in for MSNBC before so this won't be entirely new to him. Eun will now be joined by Jummy Olabanji, who was originally the "live desk" anchor for the morning news but has since taken on a more significant role as morning co-anchor weeks at a time since the pandemic has caused the station's anchor lineup to rotate in and out of studio. The changes are expected to take place in January 2021. [Source]

They launched it last month (or at least that's when I started seeing it). Matt & Tam were promoting it during the morning newscasts and emphasized the first half was hard news and the second half was soft/human interest news (IIRC). The changing lifestyle habits/re-ramped up pandemic focus/election likely led to this. I personally think the other ABC O&Os should do this too -- there's definitely a sizable audience who care more for the local stations over the national shows.

New developments in Norfolk, Virginia today: WAVY (Nexstar / NBC), WVBT/WNLO (Nexstar / Fox), WTVZ (Sinclair / MNT) launched NextGen today. All 4 members will also be the charter members of BitPath's broadcast data network (which led the planning process for the launch at the 4 stations).

Definitely not a new concept, but WABC used WTVD meteorologist Brittany Bell this morning for its weather segments. Sam's been off, Amy's out of commission, Jeff's been pulling extra weight recently, and Lee's obviously holding down weekday evenings, so none of this is shocking but I just thought it was interesting. Now, I don't think this will really mesh that well with their existing lineups, but when times get better, could it be time to hire a fifth meteorologist? I'm sure there are also freelancers who can step in whenever, but I was just thinking of WNBC as a point of comparison.

I read about this yesterday at here on TVNewsCheck and I thought it was interesting that it mentioned WAGA at 4:30 was "#1 in its time period." I know AJC showed WSB is (...or could be 'was' now) leading overall (in the demos) at the 4PM hour back in the beginning weeks of the pandemic, and I don't know if the TVNC article meant WAGA was #1 in total households or 25-54, but either way, it shows great promise for WAGA to become an even stronger competitor in traditional WSB territory.

Big news in Raleigh-Durham today: WTVD (Disney / ABC), WNCN (Nexstar / CBS), WLFL (Sinclair / CW), and WRDC (Sinclair / MNT) have all launched ATSC 3.0 tech today. The article also states locally-owned WRAL (NBC) and WRAZ (Fox), and the PBS station WUNC will all fully have ATSC by the end of this year, making RDU "one of the most fully deployed ATSC 3.0 markets in the country.”

I'm sure those in the area are aware of this already, but NBC10 is airing a 30-minute special this Friday honoring Vai Sikahema's career and legacy. It will be hosted by Tracy Davidson and include appearances by Savannah and Hoda.

Latest news for NextGen in Seattle TEGNA is partnering with GatesAir to launch ATSC 3.0 for KONG (Indy / 16) and KING (NBC / 5). KONG will be the host, and both stations are scheduled to launch in early-December, pending a smooth transition.

Honestly not surprised here because her role was already small (comparatively speaking) to begin with and now that Michaela's here, she's not really needed anymore. It's unfortunate how she was nixed from WFOR so this is a great homecoming for Vanessa.