Random WBBM Thread

[newscopter7 233]

The new slogan is based on what people say when watching—“For the love of Chicago, turn it to channel 7!”

[cbs2worksforyou 44]

Overall it seems like a downgrade from their previous set which had a lot of areas for dynamic shots using the talent. I’m quite annoyed they aren’t using the far back wall at all, a total waste of valuable studio space that could be used for more versatile shots. Could be a great multipurpose area. The weather center seems like an afterthought shoved in the opposite corner. Photo is from Albert Ramon’s IG. 

Edited July 10, 2024 by cbs2worksforyou

[Chicago2008 22]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L68urgCIwTc

[Chicago2008 22]

1 hour ago, GodfreyGR said:

Special microphone at the desk to interact with the people watching outside... Interesting touch!

All it takes is some one saying Beavis and Butthead type stuff for those to go away. 

Edited July 8, 2024 by Chicago2008

[Jase 1065]

On 7/8/2024 at 5:01 PM, cbs2worksforyou said:

Overall it seems like a slight downgrade from their previous set which seemed like it had a lot of areas for dynamic shots using the talent. I’m mildly annoyed they aren’t using the far back wall; it seems like wasted space. Could be a great multipurpose area. The weather center seems like an afterthought shoved in the opposite corner. Photo is from Albert Ramon’s IG. 

I agree that there’s opportunity to do something along that back wall. Every inch of space was utilized previously, so there’s no reason why they couldn’t do the same thing now.

 

 

Edited September 7, 2024 by Jase

[doublejman69 124]

1 hour ago, mouseboy33 said:

They added the 4 red stars from the Chicago Flag to the logo.  Ehhh. CBS NEWS Chicago.... Most people will still call it Channel 2. No matter what the networks do to try and brand local stations. People continue to say  Channel___.  Dont think its going to change anytime soon.

 

Some quick-takes:

Looks good. One glaring issue with the new set. Is the awful background noise. ITS VERY ECHOEY!!!!! Goodness. And there is a noticeable static noise when it goes from the studio to b-roll or live outside. Overall the studio audio is garbage. The lighting on the set is blasted with light. It washes out the video walls.  Weather looks like crap with the lighting issues from the green screen.  Channel 7 screens faces the windows and dont seem to have all those reflections from passing cars and lighting issues on the weather wall. There are definitely some technical issues that seemingly were UN-anticipated or yet to be fixed.
I like the theme music when it premiered.......Now i find it incredibility  repetitive and boring. Im sure there are some other cuts. KCAL uses a variety. Kinda boring low-res image down the Chicago River.  I guess its better than the ugly river-level blurry images they used previously. Overall the production is VERY bland. Kinda yawn, sleepy production. You can tell its all computerized run-down and super simplified and dry, a Jennifer Lyons trademark.  The boring graphics package doesnt help. Nice set. But ehh.

About the studio lighting, I think there is a reason alot of stations have dropped street side studios, its really hard to control lighting. Lighting is just as important or even more than camera quality. WLS I believe has huge screens to block out light, you can tell when they aren’t in use it’s not great. It probably wasn’t as big as a problem when everything was in SD.

[newsman123 116]

This set is ugly! The previous one was gorgeous. In style, colors, lighting. 

[MorningNews 1483]

More generally, how is WBBM doing in the ratings race? I like to see them putting in some effort to stand out again.

[Jase 1065]

2 hours ago, MorningNews said:

More generally, how is WBBM doing in the ratings race? I like to see them putting in some effort to stand out again.

 

With the advent of streaming, one could argue local tv news ratings don't really matter as much as they once did. WBBM, WMAQ, WLS and WFLD all have streaming channels which serve as revenue generators along with their respective linear channel.  Plus, people are pretty set in who they watch that there's not much (if anything) anyone can do to change that.

[TheNewsTV 255]

Did WBBM's morning anchoring change or was this just a special occasion? Audrina did the 4:00 half hour by herself and Dana Kozlov showed up from 5am. I saw that Ryan Baker did the sports news yesterday at 5/6/10.

[Jase 1065]

42 minutes ago, TheNewsTV said:

Did WBBM's morning anchoring change or was this just a special occasion? Audrina did the 4:00 half hour by herself and Dana Kozlov showed up from 5am. I saw that Ryan Baker did the sports news yesterday at 5/6/10.

Ryan moved back to Sports. It’s just Audrina and Dana in the mornings now. Not sure if anyone else will help support them (no morning anchor(s) position(s) have been posted as of today).

[R.R. 96]

9 hours ago, Jase said:

It’s just Audrina and Dana in the mornings now. Not sure if anyone else will help support them (no morning anchor(s) position(s) have been posted as of today).

Audrina has stated that she will be on with Dana from 5-7, while Jackie will take on the 4:30-5a block. 

[24994J 5619]

That definitely doesn't feel sustainable, but they can surely make it work for the rest of the summer. Wonder if the 10am hour gets axed, or does Jackie pick that up.

[C Block 1566]

The new set really appears like something designed for another space (ahem, KCAL) rather than something bespoke like the 2008 set. The new one has a lot of missed opportunities: nothing really to see on that left wall, weather center completely obscures one wall of windows rather than taking advantage of it, and there's seemingly no option to swivel the cameras around and have a standup presentation inside with a window backdrop. Also, is it just me, or are some of the wooden pegs above the main video wall not installed straight???

 

I'm glad that they're back in that space though. It's probably just a result of them being unable to lease it out to retail, but oh well. Window sets can be really finicky – I know firsthand (who knew studio walls also provided insulation from RF interference of IFBs and mics!?) – but I think they're cool and worth the hassle. Not every station can pull them off, as most stations are in boring midcentury suburban boxes. Complicated studios like these really require the buy-in of a GM to make them happen. It appears that was the case here.

[Jase 1065]

6 hours ago, C Block said:

The new set really appears like something designed for another space (ahem, KCAL) rather than something bespoke like the 2008 set. The new one has a lot of missed opportunities: nothing really to see on that left wall, weather center completely obscures one wall of windows rather than taking advantage of it, and there's seemingly no option to swivel the cameras around and have a standup presentation inside with a window backdrop. Also, is it just me, or are some of the wooden pegs above the main video wall not installed straight???

 

I'm glad that they're back in that space though. It's probably just a result of them being unable to lease it out to retail, but oh well. Window sets can be really finicky – I know firsthand (who knew studio walls also provided insulation from RF interference of IFBs and mics!?) – but I think they're cool and worth the hassle. Not every station can pull them off, as most stations are in boring midcentury suburban boxes. Complicated studios like these really require the buy-in of a GM to make them happen. It appears that was the case here.

 

While I am glad they're back in the street side studio, they wasted an opportunity to do something grand and did the bare minimum. Unlike with WLS, WBBM has no obstructions to deal with and could have built something that fit the space. It's as if zero thought was made and someone simply said...hey..let's 'build a set two other stations already have' with a massive (and unnecessary) weather center and call it a day.

 

And don't get me started on the graphics. They had a chance to fix the mistake they made the first time around (of not taking the opportunity to modify them color-wise, etc...) and instead double doink and added 'stars' for good measure. 

[Spring Rubber 714]

I cannot get over what they did stage left with the "blah" colored wall with the CBS eye, and then the set just ends in the middle of the room.

[K77 10]

Going back to the streetside studio almost didn't happen AFTER being announced a couple years ago. Lyons prematurely announced moving back to the streetside studio BEFORE getting any permission or approval from bosses above. They actually didn't want the station to do it but eventually gave in to her demand. Also, initial plans for the set were different. The station had their own plans for their own set design customized for the space. The original design included a bunch of "moveable" pieces (similar to the original 2008 set) for a more versatile set with a variety of different uses. That set was rejected from bosses above and the station was told they would be approved for the standard (KCAL) set so a scaled down version was created to fit the space.

 

I believe the interview set is remaining up in the other studio for the time being as it may still be used. Although, I think they moved all the cameras over from that studio.

 

Lyons HATES the music package and that's why they're barely touching any cuts from it. Was told she actually likes the previous 2008 music package but they're not able to go back to it.

[cbs2worksforyou 44]

2 hours ago, Spring Rubber said:

I cannot get over what they did stage left with the "blah" colored wall with the CBS eye, and then the set just ends in the middle of the room.

SAME!!!!!!

On 7/9/2024 at 4:21 PM, R.R. said:

Audrina has stated that she will be on with Dana from 5-7, while Jackie will take on the 4:30-5a block. 

What’s with the crooked vertical panels above the monitor in this pic? You can see a few on the left and a few on the right. Is it a photo artifact or are those panels installed wrong?

[R.R. 96]

2 hours ago, K77 said:

Lyons HATES the music package and that's why they're barely touching any cuts from it. Was told she actually likes the previous 2008 music package but they're not able to go back to it.

See at least she wants something that isn’t Dimensional. At least she’s still using the 2 other Enforcer cuts for newscasts.

[Jase 1065]

On 7/10/2024 at 5:20 PM, K77 said:

Going back to the streetside studio almost didn't happen AFTER being announced a couple years ago. Lyons prematurely announced moving back to the streetside studio BEFORE getting any permission or approval from bosses above. They actually didn't want the station to do it but eventually gave in to her demand. Also, initial plans for the set were different. The station had their own plans for their own set design customized for the space. The original design included a bunch of "moveable" pieces (similar to the original 2008 set) for a more versatile set with a variety of different uses. That set was rejected from bosses above and the station was told they would be approved for the standard (KCAL) set so a scaled down version was created to fit the space.

 

I believe the interview set is remaining up in the other studio for the time being as it may still be used. Although, I think they moved all the cameras over from that studio.

 

Lyons HATES the music package and that's why they're barely touching any cuts from it. Was told she actually likes the previous 2008 music package but they're not able to go back to it.

If their only choice was the KCAL set, then they should have either waited until they could get the set that they wanted or, at the very least, placed the weather center on the other side to not block any windows.
 

Plus, that would have opened up opportunities to use those 3 vertical tv monitors (for more than just sports) and, if positioned properly, the big tv monitor used for weather (I.e… making it multi-purpose). Correction: The green screen IS retractable, nevertheless, the weather center should be of the other side.

Edited July 15, 2024 by Jase

[SFTV 529]

1 hour ago, Jase said:

The green screen should be retractable.

That’s what I’m saying! It worked with KNSD because the green screen literally covered half the weather center when it was not visible in shots. Once in a while they would forget and you would see it in closing shots
 

WBBM is twice bigger than what KNSD had when they had a street side studio. The cameras were literally in front of the desk and you would have to duck under to get to the weather center.

[Chicago2008 22]

The one at WLS is retractable IIRC

[24994J 5619]

7 minutes ago, Chicago2008 said:

The one at WLS is retractable IIRC

 

The one in the 1st version of State Street was, and while the current one technically is, it's down most of the time, these days, unless larger set pieces need to be moved in and out if the interview set. Anchors going from one studio to another doesn't require a retraction.

[Jase 1065]

Joe and Irika anchored the 10P newscast (last night). I believe they were the only station to call in their main anchors. Everyone else had their usual weekend anchor(s). 
 

[Geoffrey 872]

Interesting that the red stars disappear when the bug turns red, and they recenter the logo.