BehindNYNews 147 Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 The network will be discontinued in Mid-January. http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/abc-pulling-the-plug-on-live-well-network_b122423 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabceyewitness 818 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 I wonder if this means that air space will be freed up for the O&O stations to launch local digital channels with actual content that isn't like Live Well or the old Accuweather loops? I find this quote from Rebecca Campbell interesting: "Despite Live Well’s tremendous accomplishments in distribution and original programming, we made a strategic decision that our priority must be local content, and we want to maximize our investment in our core local news brands in the digital space." Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106753 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTVNews 1377 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 WFAA carries the accuweather channel on 8.2 and LWN on 8.3, the question is which subchannel will replace LWN on WFAA 8.3? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106755 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 In an article that was posted by TVNewsCheck today some commenter mentioned that it was not effectively promoted. WMAR my local LiveWell affiliate barely made any mention of it when it was launched and I can't recall a single promo airing from my sporadic viewing in the past year. I honestly don't know why ABC didn't market it nationally intertwined during primetime given that it airs mainly on ABC stations and even if it wasn't they still could say check your local listening for times the way other channels advertise on sister networks. Where as WBAL when they launched MeTV in October 2012, branded as MeTV Maryland, they aired countless promotions regarding the launch with several archived clips of the stars of the shows at are broadcast saying Me and finally TV intertwined with Maryland. In addition WBAL airs several promos each for their 7AM and 10 PM newscasts that air on MeTV complete with the channel number. At the end of the 6AM news and 6PM they do a tease reminding viewers that there's more news, weather and sports coming up on WBAL+ (which is what they refer to their during newscasts) on MeTV Maryland. It's cheap and effective way to remind viewers that they offer a whole different set of shows and it doesn't take up any ad space just five seconds at the end of a newscast. A second commenter stated that a lot of the lifestyle shows are only beneficial to the rich because a lot of the improvements or recipes required expensive ingredients and parts. This reminds me of an article I read about Gwyneth Paltrow's relatively new lifestyle advice book, where the wants to be the next Martha Stewart, except if you were to follow her recommended recipes it would cost about $300 a day on food and a list of her wardrobe essentials added up to $450,000. http://www.eatyourbooks.com/blog/2013/4/9/gwyneth-paltrow's-new-cookbook-raises-controversy I wonder what they are planning to do with that extra bandwidth, I few months ago I was on RabbitEars.info and was shocked to read that the ABC O&O which carries the HD feed of LiveWell at a higher average nitrate rate than the regular ABC HD feed in addition to a down down converted version of LW. If I recall the nitrates were 7Mbps for ABC HD, 9Mbps for LiveWell HD and 2Mbps for LiveWell SD. Now things might have changed and I believe they use adaptive bit rates so things could fluctuates. Also I never did realize why they decided to gave a third stream in their signal for a down converted version when the channel uses AFD which should adjust the ratio when needed. Hopefully this will up their picture quality. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106756 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVIntheDesert 183 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 In an article that was posted by TVNewsCheck today some commenter mentioned that it was not effectively promoted. WMAR my local LiveWell affiliate barely made any mention of it when it was launched and I can't recall a single promo airing from my sporadic viewing in the past year. I honestly don't know why ABC didn't market it nationally intertwined during primetime given that it airs mainly on ABC stations and even if it wasn't they still could say check your local listening for times the way other channels advertise on sister networks. On the other hand, when WMAR sister station KNXV had Live Well, they aired "Motion" weekly on the main channel, as well as aired half-hour promos touting the network. I think it depends on the local management of each station. Either they look at diginets as opportunities for extra revenue (KNXV) or a threat to their main channel (KPHO and Meredith in general). A second commenter stated that a lot of the lifestyle shows are only beneficial to the rich because a lot of the improvements or recipes required expensive ingredients and parts. This reminds me of an article I read about Gwyneth Paltrow's relatively new lifestyle advice book, where the wants to be the next Martha Stewart, except if you were to follow her recommended recipes it would cost about $300 a day on food and a list of her wardrobe essentials added up to $450,000. http://www.eatyourbooks.com/blog/2013/4/9/gwyneth-paltrow's-new-cookbook-raises-controversy I think it was the quality of most of the shows they aired (some of the originals were good quality, but the acquired syndicated product was cheap) and the constant repetition of the shows. Not to mention, they aired infomercials in prime-time (I believe it was purposely done by ABC to boost the main network's ratings). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106758 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess 1115 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Translation: "Bob Iger's forcing us to make cuts, and LiveWell's not really a core operation, so let's axe that so we can keep putting money into local news." or in WPVI's case: "You know that thing the Weather Channel has where Sam Champion calls up a holographic map? Yup, that's right. We bought one of those. We had to kill LiveWell to afford it, though." Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106761 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYNewsCoverage 300 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Now there's speculation that the decision may have been made because of CBS. http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/did-abc-shut-down-live-well-because-of-cbs_b122507#more-122507 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106768 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTSC1980 112 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 I would wonder what will WVXF in USVI do when LWN closed. UPDATE: WVXF is now This TV. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106771 Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevieboy247 42 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Here in Central PA., WLYH carried Live Well on digital channel 15.2 since August 2012. With the network shutting down, the station could do 1 of 3 things. 1. Bring back the music channel TheCoolTV (which I doubt will happen). 2. Replace it with something like Cozi TV. 3. Shut down 15.2 outright. I think if anything happens with 15.2, my guess is that they could affiliate with Cozi TV. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106795 Share on other sites More sharing options...
A3N 1002 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 Here in Central PA., WLYH carried Live Well on digital channel 15.2 since August 2012. With the network shutting down, the station could do 1 of 3 things. 1. Bring back the music channel TheCoolTV (which I doubt will happen). 2. Replace it with something like Cozi TV. 3. Shut down 15.2 outright. I think if anything happens with 15.2, my guess is that they could affiliate with Cozi TV. I thought TheCoolTV went out of business? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106798 Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevieboy247 42 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 I thought TheCoolTV went out of business? No, they're still around. However, they only have a total of 5 affiliates. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106799 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 TheCoolTV just debuted in Chicago not too long ago..... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106802 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundershock MN 169 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Translation: "Bob Iger's forcing us to make cuts, and LiveWell's not really a core operation, so let's axe that so we can keep putting money into local news." or in WPVI's case: "You know that thing the Weather Channel has where Sam Champion calls up a holographic map? Yup, that's right. We bought one of those. We had to kill LiveWell to afford it, though." ^ Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. They were likely instructed to increase the profitability of the O&O unit. There has been some general belt-tightening going thought the ABC O&O group. And, Live Well was part of the O&O unit and was by all account a money pit. So, the fact they 86'd LWN isn't that shocking. It's addition by subtraction instead of throwing money away on a losing proposition they improve profitability of the group. So, *in theory* this should leave more cash for the individual stations as it's not being siphoned off to fund LWN. I'm not sure where the idea came from that they ABC will replace LWN. The quote in the email was in part "we made a strategic decision that our priority must be local content, and we want to maximize our investment in our core local news brands in the digital space." Not sure how that translated to starting another diginet, it couldn't be anymore vague. What do they mean by "digital space"? That could be website investment, app investment, etc., etc., etc. If I was a betting man I wouldn't count on ABC to replace LWN. The current LWN affiliates will likely the void by picking up some of the newer diginets like GetTV, Grit & Escape. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106919 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ns8401 941 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 ^ Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. They were likely instructed to increase the profitability of the O&O unit. There has been some general belt-tightening going thought the ABC O&O group. And, Live Well was part of the O&O unit and was by all account a money pit. So, the fact they 86'd LWN isn't that shocking. It's addition by subtraction instead of throwing money away on a losing proposition they improve profitability of the group. So, *in theory* this should leave more cash for the individual stations as it's not being siphoned off to fund LWN. I'm not sure where the idea came from that they ABC will replace LWN. The quote in the email was in part "we made a strategic decision that our priority must be local content, and we want to maximize our investment in our core local news brands in the digital space." Not sure how that translated to starting another diginet, it couldn't be anymore vague. What do they mean by "digital space"? That could be website investment, app investment, etc., etc., etc. If I was a betting man I wouldn't count on ABC to replace LWN. The current LWN affiliates will likely the void by picking up some of the newer diginets like GetTV, Grit & Escape. I was under the impression it might be some sort of a local news loop or something? Maybe one of those classic weather radar channels? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106922 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I was under the impression it might be some sort of a local news loop or something? Maybe one of those classic weather radar channels? The O&Os use to loop the last newscast on its point-2 channels prior to the implementation of the Live Well. Hell, prior to LWN, ABC has one of the best picture quality signals out there, despite using two subchannels (the other being their AccuWX on .3). IMO the ABC signal was either on par or better in quality than the CBS signal (and at that time CBS O&Os did use any subchannels). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106928 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 The O&Os use to loop the last newscast on its point-2 channels prior to the implementation of the Live Well. Hell, prior to LWN, ABC has one of the best picture quality signals out there, despite using two subchannels (the other being their AccuWX on .3). IMO the ABC signal was either on par or better in quality than the CBS signal (and at that time CBS O&Os did use any subchannels). I never got why they most of ABC O&O carried a letter boxed version of LiveWell on their .3. You would think auto format description would take care of any issues. Currently my local ABC station only carries Live Well in SD and the main network programming looks like crap regardless of the source, OTA or Comcast (which at least here doesn't reduce bandwidth.) Hopefully when LiveWell dies they won't replace it. Currently WJZ, you know the step child of CBS that no one looks after or disciplines for not following the "rules", only carries their HD feed with a variable bit rate but to me at least doesn't have the best picture quality. I think BAL comes across better because they use a variable rate that doesn't fluctuate as much as JZ's which goes anywhere between 2-18Mbps but seems to average out at 12Mbps where as WBAL also has a variable bit rate but it's range is much less and normally comes out at 16Mbps. I also think the perception of CBS' PQ is due to the fact that so many of their shows are brightly lit where as NBCs seem to be darker. A perfect example of NBCs darker picture quality is on Hannibal which I describe as watching TV as if you were looking at a photograph that was printed on matte paper compared to CBS' glossy paper. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106946 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyHarry 727 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I never got why they most of ABC O&O carried a letter boxed version of LiveWell on their .3. You would think auto format description would take care of any issues. Currently my local ABC station only carries Live Well in SD and the main network programming looks like crap regardless of the source, OTA or Comcast (which at least here doesn't reduce bandwidth.) Hopefully when LiveWell dies they won't replace it. I can't speak as to LiveWell, but the Epix movie channel letterboxes movies. Same with the SD version of Fox News. Since it's not on an HD channel, I like the fact that you can press the zoom button and it displays in proper proportions at 16:9 on the screen even fthough it comes through the cable box at 4:3. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-106947 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Bumping this because Feder stated this morning that the ABC O&Os will continue to carry the Live Well Network past this weekend for about a couple of months. No word on if the other stations outside the ABC O&Os will carry it past this weekend. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-121466 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Bumping this because Feder stated this morning that the ABC O&Os will continue to carry the Live Well Network past this weekend for about a couple of months. No word on if the other stations outside the ABC O&Os will carry it past this weekend. WEWS still hasn't named a replacement for Live Well, mainly because the subchannels that Scripps is signing up (Antenna TV, Movies!, etc.) already have affiliates in the Cleveland market. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-121511 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ns8401 941 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 WEWS still hasn't named a replacement for Live Well, mainly because the subchannels that Scripps is signing up (Antenna TV, Movies!, etc.) already have affiliates in the Cleveland market. I'm hoping WXYZ 7.3 stays empty and clears up more room for the main signal... The quality isn't always wonderful OTA. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-121516 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I'm hoping WXYZ 7.3 stays empty and clears up more room for the main signal... The quality isn't always wonderful OTA. Many folks in the O&O markets were pissed when the new Live Well HD launched in 2009, when they had to take some of the bits from the main channel and place it on the new 2nd HD channel. The PQ that ABC had prior to the LWN launch, was damn near pristine, despite having 2 480i subchannels at that time. IMO, ABC's 720p PQ might've been better than CBS's 1080i, which those stations didn't use any subchannels at all. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-121549 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ns8401 941 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Many folks in the O&O markets were pissed when the new Live Well HD launched in 2009, when they had to take some of the bits from the main channel and place it on the new 2nd HD channel. The PQ that ABC had prior to the LWN launch, was damn near pristine, despite having 2 480i subchannels at that time. IMO, ABC's 720p PQ might've been better than CBS's 1080i, which those stations didn't use any subchannels at all. Since LAFF is being picked up my dream of a better picture just died. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-121579 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTVNews 1377 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Here in Dallas right now, I'm watching the last five minutes of LWN on WFAA 8.3 and at the stroke of midnight tonight, WFAA 8.3 will carry The Justice Network. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-121673 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbwny 0 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi! Just had to comment here...because (as of late last night) LiveWell is still alive and kickin'... at least here in upstate NY. And this is NOT an ABC o&o market. Our affiliate is owned by Young Broadcasting. What's the LWN status where YOU are? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-127053 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2416 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Hi! Just had to comment here...because (as of late last night) LiveWell is still alive and kickin'... at least here in upstate NY. And this is NOT an ABC o&o market. Our affiliate is owned by Young Broadcasting. What's the LWN status where YOU are? Young Broadcasting or Media General? It's Media General since they bought out Young Broadcasting. And you're probably referring to WTEN 10 out of Albany. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13658-live-well-network-being-canceled/#findComment-127055 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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