WABC - 7 Eyewitness News

[wabceyewitness 818]

2 hours ago, abc7 Man said:

Bill goes to Mike Marza in newsroom at end of the 6pm news (right between sports and WNT) who then gives a preview of stories that will air at 11pm.

 

Just like when Beutel began his transition away from the anchor desk.. at the end of the 6pm news, he and Diana Williams would toss to Ritter in the newsroom for a look at what’s coming up at 11pm. 
 

 

[MorningNews 1437]

Did they have a talent open for tonight’s 11pm news for Mike’s debut? 

[GraphicsMan 109]

40 minutes ago, MorningNews said:

Did they have a talent open for tonight’s 11pm news for Mike’s debut? 

I assume it be Mike and Sade though if it were Sade and Mike that isn’t bad either when Bill Ritter took over in 1999 it was Diana and Bill.

[TVNewsLover 774]

8 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

I assume it be Mike and Sade though if it were Sade and Mike that isn’t bad either when Bill Ritter took over in 1999 it was Diana and Bill.

It’ll be Sade and then Mike. They usually list the most senior anchor first. 

[Vlad 323]

10 hours ago, MorningNews said:

Did they have a talent open for tonight’s 11pm news for Mike’s debut? 

 

The last time they did a talent open was for the Giant Octopus designed graphics package (2012-2016) those were another set of amazing graphics for WABC at the time. 

 

 

When they switched to their preceding graphics package, they stopped doing the talent intros for the weekday 11 pm broadcasts, I guess they need more airtime to deliver more stories in the 35 min window. But I believe on the weekends they do the talent opens as those broadcasts are longer. Those graphics were quite stunning at the time. And honestly they could still work today. Obviously what they have now is better but at the time those were pretty nice!

Edited March 12 by Vlad

[abc7 Man 46]

18 minutes ago, Vlad said:

 

The last time they did a talent open was for the Giant Octopus designed graphics package (2012-2016) those were another set of amazing graphics for WABC at the time. 

 

 

When they switched to their preceding graphics package, they stopped doing the talent intros for the weekday 11 pm broadcasts, I guess they need more airtime to deliver more stories in the 35 min window. But I believe on the weekends they do the talent opens as those broadcasts are longer. Those graphics were quite stunning at the time. And honestly they could still work today. Obviously what they have now is better but at the time those were pretty nice!

The weekend 11pm broadcasts have talent opens. The M-F shows haven’t.

[MediaZone4K 2158]

WABC posted this clip from 1999 on their YouTube today in light of Bill Ritter's transition off of Eyewitness News at 11

 

Edited March 13 by MediaZone4K

[GraphicsMan 109]

On 3/12/2025 at 8:20 AM, TVNewsLover said:

It’ll be Sade and then Mike. They usually list the most senior anchor first. 

I don’t think they’ll be a talent opening so I’m not worried when Bill Ritter leaves in 3 years. Then we can talk about it. Sade isn’t the most senior anchor I like Mike too some degree, wild thought what if his wife joined the station and became a husband and wife team like they did in Kansas City. That would be nice!

Edited March 13 by GraphicsMan

[Daybreak 287]

2 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

I don’t think they’ll be a talent opening so I’m not worried when Bill Ritter leaves in 3 years. Then we can talk about it. Sade isn’t the most senior anchor I like Mike too some degree, wild thought what if his wife joined the station and became a husband and wife team like they did in Kansas City. That would be nice!

Sade would now be the senior anchor for the 11 pm newscast. She’s been on the 11 pm show since 2011. 

[MediaZone4K 2158]

On 3/12/2025 at 10:21 AM, Vlad said:

 

The last time they did a talent open was for the Giant Octopus designed graphics package (2012-2016) those were another set of amazing graphics for WABC at the time. 

 

 

When they switched to their preceding graphics package, they stopped doing the talent intros for the weekday 11 pm broadcasts, I guess they need more airtime to deliver more stories in the 35 min window. But I believe on the weekends they do the talent opens as those broadcasts are longer. Those graphics were quite stunning at the time. And honestly they could still work today. Obviously what they have now is better but at the time those were pretty nice!

while their L3s sucked at this time, I much prefer this talent open over the solid white opening that followed.

 

I love that WABC still uses beauty shots and talent opens and not just bumper talent montages. I wish more stations still did.

Edited March 14 by MediaZone4K

[MediaZone4K 2158]

As we ponder what happens with the anchor musical chairs, Disney just posted a WABC anchor reporter opening on LinkedIn.

 

I know some jobs technically have to post an open position --- even if they're hiring internally. It could also mean they're hiring from the outside, most likely for the weekend morning slot.

Edited March 16 by MediaZone4K

[MorningNews 1437]

I haven’t watched in a few weeks but I assume Pedro is handling weekday mornings with Shirleen at least unofficially?

[wabceyewitness 818]

10 hours ago, MorningNews said:

I haven’t watched in a few weeks but I assume Pedro is handling weekday mornings with Shirleen at least unofficially?

Yup. Still not official as they haven’t added him to the morning promo shot just yet. 
 

 

[TVNewsLover 774]

11 hours ago, MorningNews said:

I haven’t watched in a few weeks but I assume Pedro is handling weekday mornings with Shirleen at least unofficially?

 

1 hour ago, wabceyewitness said:

Yup. Still not official as they haven’t added him to the morning promo shot just yet. 
 

 

He is still featured in the weekend open along with fill-ins saying they are in for him.