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Posted

More and more FOX O&Os are incorporating original programming onto their streaming channels, which can be seen via FOX Local. I know KMSP goes All Day from Noon to 5:00 p.m., and now, another great example from WITI Milwaukee.

 

I already told you about their daily Wisconsin Weather Experts program that airs at Noon, right after the midday news at 11:00 a.m. Now, they have The Wisconsin LIVE Desk, which airs from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

 

https://www.facebook.com/benhandelmantv/posts/pfbid08LiarWvmsVdsMfgKE75j3bMHdMrXEEc5cHXd8dJT14aGmsmYdB26BVM6BuMRVwzEl

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Posted

Yeah, it's getting common. In DC, WTTG, has the FOX 5 Live Zone from 12-2pm, the only 2 hours between 4am-7:30pm where they don't have local programming over the air. Reminds me of how KTLA had 5 Live to fill in time online when they still aired syndicated shows in the daytime.

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  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

Atlanta Fox O&O WAGA eliminated its investigative reporting team after nearly 50 years.  Yes, we're talking nearly 50 YEARS of existence, which predates WAGA's flip to Fox.

More info: https://www.ajc.com/arts-entertainment/2025/06/like-a-death-in-the-family-fox-5-atlanta-eliminates-i-team-after-48-years/

 

Quote

Atlanta Fox affiliate Fox 5 has dismantled its vaunted I-Team, a fixture in Atlanta journalism for 48 years.

 

On Wednesday morning, WAGA-TV management let go two on-air investigative reporters Johnny Edwards and Dana Fowle, as well as photojournalist and producer A.J. Willen. The biographies for Edwards and Fowle were wiped from the Fox 5 website by the evening. Their work-related Facebook pages were also erased.

 

“I am nothing but grateful for my time with Fox,” Willen, who joined the I-Team in 2013, wrote on his LinkedIn page Wednesday. “It fills my heart to reflect on the impact we made as a team. So many memories forged by the privilege we earn grinding the front lines of history. The best team.” 

 

A Fox 5 spokesperson did not respond to a text seeking comment Wednesday evening.

 

The I-Team began in 1977 as “The Special Unit” when broadcast TV was raking in money and investigative journalism was on the rise following Watergate. Although Atlanta news stations had previously employed investigative reporters, WAGA-TV marketed a full-fledged team. 

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Posted
21 minutes ago, Howard Beale said:

Atlanta Fox O&O WAGA eliminated its investigative reporting team after nearly 50 years.  Yes, we're talking nearly 50 YEARS of existence, which predates WAGA's flip to Fox.

More info: https://www.ajc.com/arts-entertainment/2025/06/like-a-death-in-the-family-fox-5-atlanta-eliminates-i-team-after-48-years/

 

I'm shocked. This is the beginning of FOX trying to cut costs by eliminating things that not only support the community but also give the station creditability.

 

Hope the team finds work soon.

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Posted

I am shocked. I've always thought of WAGA's, WJW's, and KXAN's teams as the pillar of investigative journalism today.

 

To think WAGA shut theirs down will create a chilling effect across Atlanta. WSB and WANF might scoop them up if they wanted to.

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Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

I am shocked. I've always thought of WAGA's, WJW's, and KXAN's teams as the pillar of investigative journalism today.

 

To think WAGA shut theirs down will create a chilling effect across Atlanta. WSB and WANF might scoop them up if they wanted to.

As long as the journalists don’t have a non-compete or can be let out it, I’m sure one of the stations will soon. 

Edited by EVVTV12
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Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, TVLurker said:

I'm shocked. This is the beginning of FOX trying to cut costs by eliminating things that not only support the community but also give the station creditability.

 

Hope the team finds work soon.

Also stunned because investigative reports were one of the more heavily promoted segments on Fox 5 News.

 

Unfortunately it seems Scripps and Tegna like cuts are creeping their way into FOX. First the  elimination of sports on Fox 26, now the I Team on FOX 5 ATL is gone, what's next?

1 hour ago, TheRolyPoly said:

I am shocked. I've always thought of WAGA's, WJW's, and KXAN's teams as the pillar of investigative journalism today.

 

To think WAGA shut theirs down will create a chilling effect across Atlanta. WSB and WANF might scoop them up if they wanted to.

Hopefully that happens, and hopefully post-employment noncompete clauses do not apply.

1 hour ago, EVVTV12 said:

As long as the journalists don’t have a non-compete or can be let out it, I’m sure one of the stations will soon. 

The fact that a company can still control where you work after laying you off is criminal.

On 5/15/2025 at 2:55 AM, TheRolyPoly said:

More and more FOX O&Os are incorporating original programming onto their streaming channels, which can be seen via FOX Local. I know KMSP goes All Day from Noon to 5:00 p.m., and now, another great example from WITI Milwaukee.

 

I already told you about their daily Wisconsin Weather Experts program that airs at Noon, right after the midday news at 11:00 a.m. Now, they have The Wisconsin LIVE Desk, which airs from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

 

https://www.facebook.com/benhandelmantv/posts/pfbid08LiarWvmsVdsMfgKE75j3bMHdMrXEEc5cHXd8dJT14aGmsmYdB26BVM6BuMRVwzEl

I've always liked FOX O&Os for being creative with original content to film hours of airtime. WTXF's Roast of Mike Jerrick on Fox Local, the Isiah Factor on KRIV and Fox News Edge on WOFL are a few examples.

Edited by MediaZone4K
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Posted (edited)

KCPQ did some changes today: most newscasts from 4 p.m. onward are now branded as "Seattle News Tonight". An exception is the 6 p.m. hour, which is now split between "Washington News Wrap", a re-scheduled "Washington Sports Wrap", then the joint West Coast News Wrap. And Good Day Seattle is also going to get one more hour soon.

 

https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fox-seattle-expands-news-lineup-and-adds-streaming-content/

Edited by Viper550
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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Some management shuffling in Detroit…
WJBK GM Greg Easterly is retiring. He had been with the station since 2019.

 

WJBK has parted ways with its News Director, Laura Moore, who had been with the station since 1998 in various roles. They’ll do an internal and external search for a new News Director. 
 

WJBK has also eliminated its Director of Community Service position which was held by Katie Fehr who had been there since 1996. 
 

Their new GM is Paul McGonagle who had been the VP and News Director at WTTG in Washington D.C. since 2014.

 

https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/television/2025/07/01/fox-2-detroit-new-general-manager-search-news-director/84430915007/

Edited by ns8401
  • 2 months later...
Posted (edited)
On 5/15/2025 at 2:55 AM, TheRolyPoly said:

More and more FOX O&Os are incorporating original programming onto their streaming channels, which can be seen via FOX Local. I know KMSP goes All Day from Noon to 5:00 p.m., and now, another great example from WITI Milwaukee.

 

I already told you about their daily Wisconsin Weather Experts program that airs at Noon, right after the midday news at 11:00 a.m. Now, they have The Wisconsin LIVE Desk, which airs from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

 

https://www.facebook.com/benhandelmantv/posts/pfbid08LiarWvmsVdsMfgKE75j3bMHdMrXEEc5cHXd8dJT14aGmsmYdB26BVM6BuMRVwzEl

On that note, WOFL now has 2 more original Fox local programs on the schedule. "Florida Live" at 2pm (not sure how long that has been on) and "The 407" at 4pm, shifting Judge Judy (which lead into their report reportedly #one 5 PM newscast) to 3pm. 

 

Sister station WOGX in Gainesville has  Fox Local's "The Jason Show" on at 12 PM and "Florida Live".

Edited by MediaZone4K
Posted
9 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

On that note, WOFL now has 2 more original Fox local programs on the schedule. "Florida Live" at 2pm (not sure how long that has been on) and "The 407" at 4pm, shifting Judge Judy (leading into their report reportedly #one 5 PM newscast) to 3pm. 

 

Sister station WOGX in Gainesville has the FoX Local "The Jason Show" on at 12 PM and "Florida Live".

 

Florida Live has been like a streaming newscast, and The 407 just debuted, apparently.

 

https://www.fox35orlando.com/shows/the-407

 

According to the schedules, WOGX also airs Florida Live at 2 pm, but doesn't air "The 407" (and it doesn't make sense to do that anyway). Neither do they air the 10am hour of Good Day Orlando (Xtra) in favor of Live with Kelly and Mark (which WOFL doesn't air; WESH does instead). WRBW is the one that airs The Jason Show in Orlando at 9 am.

  • 2 months later...
Posted (edited)
52 minutes ago, Georgie56 said:

FTVLive is reporting that FTS could operate the CBS O&Os.

 

The two groups obviously have different owners, so this would pass legal muster with any FCC dating back to Mark Fowler, despite being an affront to the spirit of the original Report on Chain Broadcasting, unlike the various clowncar sidecar companies.

29 minutes ago, NowBergen said:

 

Yuck no. In many  top markets that would mean controlling and operating 3 stations.  They've already operated WWOR 9 into the ground in NY.  

In Los Angeles, it would mean operating 4.

Edited by AmericanErrorist
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Posted
37 minutes ago, NowBergen said:

Yuck no.

As opposed to Nexstar, Sinclair, or Allen possibly scooping the stations up? This board would lose their damn minds if that was ever the case.

 

Fox is far from a worst-case scenario for these stations. There are a handful of larger markets where Fox does not own a station (Denver, Miami come to mind) which means nothing would likely change at those properties. Where there is overlap (LA, NY have been mentioned already) hopefully a plan can be devised to maintain a certain degree of separation outside of major events and breaking coverage. Hell- many of these stations have already been sharing things like a chopper for years now. the next few weeks will reveal those plans if this is deal is being considered. 

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Posted

This is just another news share agreement I’ll be okay. I remember when Fox 5 in New York had a news share agreement with NBC4 New York they would refer them as there sister station. I don’t see anything bad coming from this.

7 hours ago, Georgie56 said:


New York, Dallas and San Francisco, too.

Chicago also…

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Posted
9 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

FTVLive is reporting that FTS could operate the CBS O&Os.

 

In an environment like this, it is possible.

 

I could imagine there'd be absolute chaos when it comes to the markets that CBS is in, specifically Los Angeles where there would be two ancillary stations (KCAL and KCOP) under FOX operation competing with each other, FOX has been making KCOP more news intensive so I don't know what's going to happen when FOX takes over KCBS and KCAL through an LMA if they do so...

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Posted (edited)
On 12/8/2025 at 9:23 AM, GodfreyGR said:

As opposed to Nexstar, Sinclair, or Allen possibly scooping the stations up? This board would lose their damn minds if that was ever the case.

 

Fox is far from a worst-case scenario for these stations. There are a handful of larger markets where Fox does not own a station (Denver, Miami come to mind) which means nothing would likely change at those properties. Where there is overlap (LA, NY have been mentioned already) hopefully a plan can be devised to maintain a certain degree of separation outside of major events and breaking coverage. Hell- many of these stations have already been sharing things like a chopper for years now. the next few weeks will reveal those plans if this is deal is being considered. 

I am against this deal to avoid further media consolidation. However CBS O&O stations could learn from FOX O&Os.

 

Fox O&Os are often a much better and more local product than CBS. I point to stations like WTXF and WNYW with personalities like Mike Jerrick and Rosanna Scotto, or creative local talk shows like KRIV or WTTG does. Fox understands how to deliver non-standard newscasts, locally authentic products, and strong personalities.

 

I heard someone on Reddit describe WCBS's newscasts like a TV news scene used in a movie for plot exposition. Just plain and generic.

 

Agreed. Better Fox than Sinclair or Allen...or even Nexstar.

Edited by MediaZone4K
Posted (edited)

With CBS being a total dumpster fire now (their O&O's have had problems for decades), sadly this could be a future reality.

Ever since the O&O's became "localized", they've been a shell of their former selves.  In most of the markets where they overlap, Fox is the dominant station operator.

 

And for those of us old enough to remember, this wouldn't be the first time the two companies shacked up...

CBS-FOX_Video_(BW_1982).webp.00a4bfab5e2f407a5cd375a12cd58f44.webp

 

Edited by tyrannical bastard
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  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Could this be the start of a trend?

 

KRIV Houston, which has aired midday news in the 12 Noon hour in some form since 1986, has aired its last midday newscast on over-the-air television.

 

Starting Monday, it moves to streaming only via FOX Local, and moves a half-hour earlier to 11:30 a.m.

 

 

 

In its place on OTA television at 12 Noon will be back-to-back episodes of Chattin' with Chelsea, one of their locally produced programs.

 

Posted (edited)

The New Year is about to be here and a change is coming to California’s FOX O&Os starting next week. That change is the movement of West Coast News Wrap to 6:30pm and this might be part of new strategies that KTTV and KTVU are working on or have yet to disclose. This is the updated news schedule for weekday evenings in SoCal and the Bay Area as from Monday, January 5.

KTTV/KCOP - LOS ANGELES 
5-6:30 PM: FOX 11 NEWS (remains as is)

6:30-7 PM: West Coast News Wrap (new time)

8-10 PM: LA Live News Tonight on FOX 11 Plus (remains as is)

10 PM: The full one hour flagship newscast returns after holiday hiatus

11 PM: Good Nite LA returns to normal slot after holiday hiatus


KTVU/KICU - SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND/SAN JOSE

5-6:30 PM: KTVU FOX 2 NEWS (remains as is)

6:30-7 PM: West Coast News Wrap (new time)

7-7:30 PM: KTVU FOX 2 NEWS (remains as is)

10 PM: The Ten O’Clock News (remains as is) 

11 PM: The Eleven O’Clock News (remains as is)

Edited by Encore 323
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