Scripps Ending Local Evening Newscasts?

[Stelly 2]

According to this article in the Acadiana Advocate, KATC's (Lafayette, LA) main evening anchors are leaving the station as Scripps "will [reportedly] end the station’s live shows at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and replace it with prerecorded shows with local reporters filling in content."

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/katc-anchors-leaving-amid-reported-end-of-evening-broadcast/article_77ce3476-5bbe-11ee-9518-2319ff3556ba.html#tncms-source=aca-featured-top

 

This after the station recently got a studio overhaul and new set.

[nycnewsjunkie 1441]

On 9/25/2023 at 12:45 PM, Stelly said:

According to this article in the Acadiana Advocate, KATC's (Lafayette, LA) main evening anchors are leaving the station as Scripps "will [reportedly] end the station’s live shows at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and replace it with prerecorded shows with local reporters filling in content."

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/katc-anchors-leaving-amid-reported-end-of-evening-broadcast/article_77ce3476-5bbe-11ee-9518-2319ff3556ba.html#tncms-source=aca-featured-top

 

This after the station recently got a studio overhaul and new set.

Welcome aboard. Just so you know, much of this was already discussed here.

 

This all relates to Scripps’ new overall strategy for their small market stations. Anchor positions are being eliminated, and except for weather segments, most of those newscasts are pre-recorded, w/ segments from MMJs and Scripps News. KATC is the latest station to implement this strategy.

Edited September 27, 2023 by nycnewsjunkie
EDIT: KATC is not “lower-rated”

[Stelly 2]

2 minutes ago, nycnewsjunkie said:

Welcome aboard. Just so you know, much of this was already discussed here.

Gotcha. Thanks for the heads-up!

[IM42A 2]

On 9/25/2023 at 1:14 PM, nycnewsjunkie said:

Welcome aboard. Just so you know, much of this was already discussed here.

 

This all relates to Scripps’ new overall strategy for their lower-rated small market stations. Anchor positions are being eliminated, and except for weather segments, most of those newscasts are pre-recorded, w/ segments from MMJs and Scripps News. KATC is the latest station to implement this strategy.

This sounds kind of like EuroNews, where voice-over in several languages is used for the same video targeted to different audiences, with no anchor.  I believe WCPO Cincinnati did something similar back in the day, with Al Schottelkotte doing voice-over with video and photographs, with minimal anchor-desk shots.

[TheRolyPoly 2415]

On 9/25/2023 at 12:45 PM, Stelly said:

According to this article in the Acadiana Advocate, KATC's (Lafayette, LA) main evening anchors are leaving the station as Scripps "will [reportedly] end the station’s live shows at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and replace it with prerecorded shows with local reporters filling in content."

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/katc-anchors-leaving-amid-reported-end-of-evening-broadcast/article_77ce3476-5bbe-11ee-9518-2319ff3556ba.html#tncms-source=aca-featured-top

 

This after the station recently got a studio overhaul and new set.

 

I'm bringing this back up because Marcelle and Jim are joining KADN/KLAF in the new year to anchor their 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00pm newscasts.

 

https://www.kadn.com/news/the-switch-is-on-the-new-year-will-bring-a-new-station-for-2-familiar/article_059cee46-6c59-11ee-b689-e7532e6a4f7b.html

Edited October 19, 2023 by TheRolyPoly

[MediaZone4K 2176]

Looking at FOX4 ft Myers there are no on screen anchors just voice over only MMJ packages and voice over only VO/Sots

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

1 hour ago, MediaZone4K said:

Looking at FOX4 ft Myers there are no on screen anchors just voice over only MMJ packages and voice over only VO/Sots

It's pretty sad that a company as deeply rooted as Scripps is doing this at their TV stations across the country.

[nathannah 2429]

36 minutes ago, tyrannical bastard said:

It's pretty sad that a company as deeply rooted as Scripps is doing this at their TV stations across the country.

Especially in Tulsa with KTUL already white-flagging out; KOTV and KOKI probably appreciate the added viewership, but likely hate the burden put on them because their competitors can't bother with actual news coverage. I'd also love to see how that'll go during tornado and hurricane season, and instead KJRH is airing something about some old building or a cookie shop, while KOKH struggles to cover 2/3rds of the state without diluting the warning coverage quality, and you already saw WFTX struggling with their last coverage thanks to deep cuts.

[MediaZone4K 2176]

And this is recent for Fox 4 because during Hurricane Ian in 2022 , they had reporters and anchors doing comprehensive coverage.

[who?cares 254]

They'll have live coverage the next time around too. Scripps isn't doing away with newscasts.

They're just changing the process.
They're also taking feedback into consideration from what's working and what's not.

Expect things at all stations to continue to evolve over the next year or so.

24 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

And this is recent for Fox 4 because during Hurricane Ian in 2022 , they had reporters and anchors doing comprehensive coverage.

[HSV cheesehead 99]

16 minutes ago, who?cares said:

They'll have live coverage the next time around too. Scripps isn't doing away with newscasts.

They're just changing the process.
They're also taking feedback into consideration from what's working and what's not.

Expect things at all stations to continue to evolve over the next year or so.

That may be true, but they can't undo the process of firing anchors, meteorologists, reporters, etc.