WABC - 7 Eyewitness News

[Abraham J. Simpson 314]

The thing is: who actually notices? For all the complaints about common elements, how many viewers are actually going to be in two markets with common designs, and happen to watch the stations in question, and happen to pay that kind of attention, and actually care? Effectively no one. 
 

Nobody cares if WABC and KABC, for instance, have common design elements. A few people like us on message boards aren’t representative of the public at large. 

[TSSZNews 1051]

13 hours ago, Abraham J. Simpson said:

The thing is: who actually notices? For all the complaints about common elements, how many viewers are actually going to be in two markets with common designs, and happen to watch the stations in question, and happen to pay that kind of attention, and actually care? Effectively no one. 
 

Nobody cares if WABC and KABC, for instance, have common design elements. A few people like us on message boards aren’t representative of the public at large. 

I sort of disagree with this take. There are many purposes of a group package, and one of them is for viewers to identify with the group's product throughout the country. If your hometown news has a certain feel and familiarity, and you go move or travel to another market and see that similar feel and familiarity, you're more likely to watch them. It's not a conscious thought - in that sense, nobody truly "cares" - but it's less about caring and more about easily identifying a source of (in your view) trusted information in unfamiliar territory.

That especially starts to matter when you have the 100+ station deep groups, but it's just as important for the "smaller" O&O footprints as well. Otherwise, why bother with things like "CBS News (city name)"? Different groups are going to approach it differently.

[MediaZone4K 2090]

14 hours ago, Abraham J. Simpson said:

The thing is: who actually notices? For all the complaints about common elements, how many viewers are actually going to be in two markets with common designs, and happen to watch the stations in question, and happen to pay that kind of attention, and actually care? Effectively no one. 
 

Nobody cares if WABC and KABC, for instance, have common design elements. A few people like us on message boards aren’t representative of the public at large. 

True. I see both sides. I agree with the idea of identifying a similar product via aesthetics through several markets. Not to drift off topic but, comparing the more successful ABC O&Os vs CBS O&OS...I don't mind duplicating a look just with added personal touches like KWY doing green instead of the standard CBS blue and white. I know the argument is a similar look for content sharing but the audience does not care if WCBS takes a KYW green graphic. 

 

The issue becomes when stations sound like a bland corporate carbon copy and not locally authentic. Look at WCBS with its pharmacy jingle ringtone open and clean corporate feel which doesn't match the vibe of a gritty intense city like New York. In contrast, even though WABC is one of ABC's many Eyewitness News copies, it still feels locally authentic to NYC with its diverse set of long-tenured reporters and its "flashier" (as some have said) format. 

Edited February 20, 2024 by MediaZone4K

[Abraham J. Simpson 314]

2 hours ago, TSSZNews said:

I sort of disagree with this take. There are many purposes of a group package, and one of them is for viewers to identify with the group's product throughout the country. If your hometown news has a certain feel and familiarity, and you go move or travel to another market and see that similar feel and familiarity, you're more likely to watch them. It's not a conscious thought - in that sense, nobody truly "cares" - but it's less about caring and more about easily identifying a source of (in your view) trusted information in unfamiliar territory.

That especially starts to matter when you have the 100+ station deep groups, but it's just as important for the "smaller" O&O footprints as well. Otherwise, why bother with things like "CBS News (city name)"? Different groups are going to approach it differently.

The thing is, when I travel to another market, it doesn’t matter to the bottom line. I’m not measured, I’m not sold as an audience to the advertisers unless I happen to be in an AirBnB or something similar with a set-top box sending metrics. Even then, it’s near microscopic levels that don’t move the needle. Maybe in a market like Honolulu you can get enough as buys from tourism related businesses to get a revenue stream by being the most popular news program for tourists checking the weather. Or they just use their phones. 

 

Likewise, moving among two markets that both have a group with a similar graphics package is going to be a fraction of a fraction. The cost savings are going to be your driver, and an opportunity if desired to connect to the parent brand more deeply…while saving some cash along the way.  I totally get brand consistency as a corporate value. And if we’re talking McDonald’s, heck yeah that gets a direct benefit since your cash spends the same. And that Target bullseye logo is going to draw shoppers everywhere.

 

If anything, it’s mostly a net win for the groups to be consistent because of the cost savings. Of course there are potential pitfalls—like, I don’t know, messing with WPVI’s theme music. That might be the third rail you don’t touch, lol. 

2 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

I don't mind duplicating a look just with added personal touches like KWY doing green instead of the standard CBS blue and white. I know the argument is a similar look for content sharing but the audience does not care if WCBS takes a KYW green graphic. 

 

 

I loathe that color green KYW has adopted (and the slogan) but hey, if it works for them, great. Can’t please everyone, and I recognize it as a personal taste issue. I like blue shades, others may want to barf at them. All good in the end.

[nycnewsjunkie 1431]

20 hours ago, Abraham J. Simpson said:

The thing is: who actually notices? For all the complaints about common elements, how many viewers are actually going to be in two markets with common designs, and happen to watch the stations in question, and happen to pay that kind of attention, and actually care? Effectively no one. 
 

Nobody cares if WABC and KABC, for instance, have common design elements. A few people like us on message boards aren’t representative of the public at large. 

Oh, absolutely, nobody notices. As long as the headlines are legible, and the graphics don’t distract from delivering info, nobody gives a crap.

6 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

True. I see both sides. I agree with the idea of identifying a similar product via aesthetics through several markets. Not to drift off topic but, comparing the more successful ABC O&Os vs CBS O&OS...I don't mind duplicating a look just with added personal touches like KWY doing green instead of the standard CBS blue and white. I know the argument is a similar look for content sharing but the audience does not care if WCBS takes a KYW green graphic. 

 

The issue becomes when stations sound like a bland corporate carbon copy and not locally authentic. Look at WCBS with its pharmacy jingle ringtone open and clean corporate feel which doesn't match the vibe of a gritty intense city like New York. In contrast, even though WABC is one of ABC's many Eyewitness News copies, it still feels locally authentic to NYC with its diverse set of long-tenured reporters and its "flashier" (as some have said) format. 

I have to agree with this though. WABC didn’t originate the Eyewitness News format (even their logo isn’t original), and yet it has always taken on the identity of the city/region it serves. Most of it is due to the long-tenured anchors/reporters and the longevity/viability of the format, but I do think building around a local identity plays a role too. Much of that would be lost if we woke up tomorrow and found ourselves watching “ABC News New York.”

 

To be fair though, the CBS O&Os were in a different situation than the ABC O&Os. When a lot of those stations are either dead last and/or lacked a local identity to begin with, their approach makes some sense. And full credit to them for beating the other network O&Os when it comes to streaming, and for finally patching up the embarrassment that was their Detroit outlet.

Edited February 20, 2024 by nycnewsjunkie

[carolinanews4 373]

7 hours ago, TSSZNews said:

"... one of them is for viewers to identify with the group's product throughout the country." 

If this is a benefit of a group product, and that is a big IF, then it is an inadvertent benefit. To say a New Yorker who goes to LA will be drawn to KABC because they share a lower third with WABC is probably overstating the impact of graphics. The real driver for a group package is cost savings. Plain and simple. In ABC's case, it is one package for eight stations. Fox and NBC have been doing it for years. Not only do you save on development but there are downstream savings because topical graphics can be shared. KABC, KGO, and KFSN are probably all sharing flooding graphics for intros, display monitors, etc. 

 

1 hour ago, nycnewsjunkie said:

To be fair though, the CBS O&Os were in a different situation than the ABC O&Os. 

 

Exactly! The network news division (save Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes) is in last place. Many of their local stations (save KDKA and WCCO) were laggards in their markets. So why not reimagine the branding to try to help both? But again, this is an excellent cost savings for the CBS group. And as NYCNewsJunkie rightfully points out, it gave them a comprehensive streaming approach for the first time.  

[MediaZone4K 2090]

4 hours ago, carolinanews4 said:

If this is a benefit of a group product, and that is a big IF, then it is an inadvertent benefit. To say a New Yorker who goes to LA will be drawn to KABC because they share a lower third with WABC is probably overstating the impact of graphics. The real driver for a group package is cost savings. Plain and simple. In ABC's case, it is one package for eight stations. Fox and NBC have been doing it for years. Not only do you save on development but there are downstream savings because topical graphics can be shared. KABC, KGO, and KFSN are probably all sharing flooding graphics for intros, display monitors, etc. 

 

 

Exactly! The network news division (save Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes) is in last place. Many of their local stations (save KDKA and WCCO) were laggards in their markets. So why not reimagine the branding to try to help both? But again, this is an excellent cost savings for the CBS group. And as NYCNewsJunkie rightfully points out, it gave them a comprehensive streaming approach for the first time.  

Not to turn this into the CBS thread but the issue there is that if their national news brand is not doing well outside of two shows, does that justify duplicating it on the local level? If anything, CBS stations need to be seeking separate identities. I'll save that for it's designated thread. 

 

Fox O&Os, like ABC stations, are a prime example of duplicated yet still locally fresh format. WAGA feels authentically Atlanta as WNYW feels uniquely NY with personalities like Rosanna Scotto, and segments covering say Jamaican Dancehall culture... despite both stations being "Fox 5 News" with the same graphics. Again WABC does this well also. 

On 2/19/2024 at 7:29 PM, MorningNews said:

I’m all about a mandate if it prevents stations from the on-air presentation WABC had in place for a long time. 

Back to WABC, I have to agree. Left to their own volition, Channel 7 has shown us for decades how bad their sets and graphics can get.

Edited February 21, 2024 by MediaZone4K

[TSSZNews 1051]

5 hours ago, carolinanews4 said:

If this is a benefit of a group product, and that is a big IF, then it is an inadvertent benefit. To say a New Yorker who goes to LA will be drawn to KABC because they share a lower third with WABC is probably overstating the impact of graphics. The real driver for a group package is cost savings. Plain and simple. In ABC's case, it is one package for eight stations. Fox and NBC have been doing it for years. Not only do you save on development but there are downstream savings because topical graphics can be shared. KABC, KGO, and KFSN are probably all sharing flooding graphics for intros, display monitors, etc. 

There are for sure cost efficiencies with group packages, but I would argue it's largely because of all the equipment driving them - remember for the most part that too has to be standardized. If you think about it, that's where stations are finding savings. FOX with Chyron, NBC and ABC with Ross, etc.

I guess my point is that if you're doing a group package right, you're finding ways to affird localization opportunities so it doesn't get stolid or boring. Keep the design language consistent across the group, but having local flavors that can sometimes go beyond just swapping a photo or video in the open -- maybe a color palette change like KYW, for example - at least shows you have some boots on the ground paying attention. I agree; most probably don't care if stations share a lower third. But I bet if a station's group main opens can showcase the market and demonstrate some care and consideration into it, it could go a long way.

 

That's what makes me really interested to see how WPVI interprets the ABC group package. If anyone has latitude to distill what is a fairly formulaic open down to its core design language and keep the heart of what's made their locally grown anthem open successful for, what, 50 years now--it's them.

Edited February 21, 2024 by TSSZNews

[ATLNewsExpert 439]

Look, before this topic gets put to rest (and let it do so soon), I love both packages and contrary to how we blow over about these things on this forum but your average viewer who knows nothing about station groups and graphics packages could care less on localization of graphics packages, music, the actual graphics, and even the reporting. Sure, something slow and European wouldn't work in Chicago or Philly, and viewers would be more comfortable with the style they know but in the end of the day, it's still going to ring in money and viewership!

[MisterBill 99]

On 1/26/2024 at 12:29 PM, JoseRM303 said:

Longtime reporter Sandy Kenyon leaving WABC to become a consultant for the ABC owned stations group:

 

 

I was coming here to post that Joelle Garguilo was leaving WNBC/Today with Hoda and Jenna/E! News and I wondered if she was going to be replacing Sandy, since I couldn't see her leaving those jobbs for anything else.

 

Then I found this article, dated today.

 

Joelle Garguilo Joins WABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News New York as an Entertainment Reporter - (laughingplace.com)

 

BTW, here's an interesting article about her from the SUNY Albany magazine (she's a graduate).

 

UAlbany Magazine - University at Albany - SUNY

Edited February 22, 2024 by MisterBill

[MorningNews 1431]

Talent opens for the weekend morning shows debuted this morning featuring Michelle, Pedro and Dani.

 

The only ones I’ve not seen at this point are the weekday morning opens.

[Muppetman03 31]

They haven't added them yet surprisingly 

[TheNewsTV 239]

11pm on weekdays has not yet been added. They are probably waiting for Sade to return.

[RealNews18 201]

40 minutes ago, TheNewsTV said:

11pm on weekdays has not yet been added. They are probably waiting for Sade to return.

Not sure about that.. they run the one at 5pm

[cg41386 131]

On 2/24/2024 at 5:55 PM, TheNewsTV said:

11pm on weekdays has not yet been added. They are probably waiting for Sade to return.

 

They haven't had an 11pm talent open in years.

[TellyGenic 33]

Is Janine Gargiulo any relation to WNBC anchor Michael Gargiulo?

[24994J 5518]

8 minutes ago, TellyGenic said:

Is Janine Gargiulo any relation to WNBC anchor Michael Gargiulo?

 

Joelle Garguilo and Michael Gargiulo's last names are spelled differently, so no.

Edited March 1, 2024 by 24994J

[MorningNews 1431]

I really miss Sade. Hope she’s recovering well from her knee surgery.

[RealNews18 201]

Before anyone has a smart remark I KNOW it’s been brought up.. but what is the purpose of having Mike Marza do the 11 every Friday after doing the morning show? It seems like he gets off Monday in return but I just find it odd the majority of the time it’s him. I’m not sure who was on earlier but it seems no matter who it was doesn’t matter as they wouldn’t fill in, I’ve seen David and Sandra do it every so often but that’s not as much as Mike 

[MorningNews 1431]

Sade had been anchoring solo at 11pm on Fridays since last year, she’s out right now. Mike is also largely viewed as Bill Ritter’s eventual successor and they’re not subtle about how they’ve positioned him for that.

[MediaZone4K 2090]

19 hours ago, MorningNews said:

Sade had been anchoring solo at 11pm on Fridays since last year, she’s out right now. Mike is also largely viewed as Bill Ritter’s eventual successor and they’re not subtle about how they’ve positioned him for that.

Good for Mike. He's really moved up quickly.

 

Haven't watched mornings in a while but does it appear that they've been grooming anyone for mornings --such as a frequent fill in---should this occur? 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2024 by MediaZone4K

[TheNewsTV 239]

6 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Good for Mike. He's really moved up quickly.

 

Have't watched mornings in a while but does it appear that they've been grooming anyone for mornings --such as a frequent fill in---should this occur? 

 

 

 

Maybe Pedro Rivera or Michelle. It's just strange that Sandra isn't there at 11pm, the other times she was there with David Navarro.

[MorningNews 1431]

1 hour ago, TheNewsTV said:

 

Maybe Pedro Rivera or Michelle. It's just strange that Sandra isn't there at 11pm, the other times she was there with David Navarro.

When is this referring to? Sandra has been there with Bill most nights at 11pm while Sade has been on medical leave. The most likely reason she wasn’t at 11 yesterday is because she’s anchoring Sunday night’s newscasts with Joe for Oscars coverage.

[TheNewsTV 239]

I'm talking about Friday nights.

[nycnewsjunkie 1431]

17 hours ago, TheNewsTV said:

Maybe Pedro Rivera or Michelle. It's just strange that Sandra isn't there at 11pm, the other times she was there with David Navarro.

I’d bet on Pedro Rivera; nothing against Michelle, but sometimes it seems as though she doesn’t proofread her scripts before going to air.