WPLG & ABC Parting Ways

[Hometown News 53]

On 3/21/2025 at 7:44 AM, MediaZone4K said:

When I say ashamed of being a Fox affiliate, I mean they appear to distance themselves from the Fox and Fox News brands.

 

I've never seen them refer them carrying Fox on air. I've hardly ever seen them air a Fox News package and if they do the anchors re-track it. I never see them take network cut ins ... there was a time they even partnered with CNN to air their coverage for a national event that happened.

 

While WSVN may have a good business relationship with Fox, as your post says, they seem to dislike that negative Fox connotation.

 

 

I don't think it has anything to do with Fox News. They started de-emphasizing network branding when NBC bought WTVJ, and I assume they've stuck with that approach ever since then because it's worked for them.

[bmasters1 400]

On 3/24/2025 at 7:51 PM, mre29 said:

(Why do you think BBC America shows Law & Order repeats?)

 

Probably for the same reason that USA made the same practically their bread and butter (to the detriment of all the game shows that were there before, like Press Your Luck, Pyramid and Scrabble).

[mre29 1513]

56 minutes ago, bmasters1 said:

Probably for the same reason that USA made the same practically their bread and butter (to the detriment of all the game shows that were there before, like Press Your Luck, Pyramid and Scrabble).

 

Because crime sells. (See also:  "If it bleeds, it leads.")

 

[Georgie56 3292]

WPLG has announced their post-ABC news schedule:

 

Weekdays:

• 4:30-11am
• noon-1pm
• 3-7pm
• 9-11:30pm

Weekends:

• 5-11am
• 5-7pm
• 9-9:30pm
• 11-11:30pm

There will also be half-hour sports shows Saturdays at 9:30pm and 11:30pm and a 9:30pm show on Sundays in addition to the existing 11:30pm Sports Sunday.

Edited Friday at 06:36 PM by Georgie56

[TVLurker 198]

4 minutes ago, Georgie56 said:

WPLG has announced their post-ABC news schedule:

WSVN has real competition now.

[TheRolyPoly 2357]

1 hour ago, Georgie56 said:

WPLG has announced their post-ABC news schedule:

 

Weekdays:

• 4:30-11am
• noon-1pm
• 3-7pm
• 9-11:30pm

Weekends:

• 5-11am
• 5-7pm
• 9-9:30pm
• 11-11:30pm

There will also be half-hour sports shows Saturdays at 9:30pm and 11:30pm and a 9:30pm show on Sundays in addition to the existing 11:30pm Sports Sunday.

 

So to break this all down, the new newscasts will be...

 

Weekdays:

- 7-9am (a return from when they did WSFL)

- 10-11am

- 6:30-7pm

- 9-10pm (a return in the market since WFOR had to drop it for WBFS once they got The CW)

 

The 10pm will be moved over from WSFL.

 

Weekends:

- 8-9am

- 10:30-11am

- 5:30-6pm

- 6:30-7pm

- 9-10pm (News + Sports)

 

I'm surprised they're getting rid of the weekend 10pm. I mean, what will they do with that?

 

Other than that, WSVN must be a bit nervous but ready to compete in what will be a WSVN vs. WPLG market.

[MediaZone4K 2158]

1 hour ago, TheRolyPoly said:

 

So to break this all down, the new newscasts will be...

 

Weekdays:

- 7-9am (a return from when they did WSFL)

- 10-11am

- 6:30-7pm

- 9-10pm (a return in the market since WFOR had to drop it for WBFS once they got The CW)

 

The 10pm will be moved over from WSFL.

 

Weekends:

- 8-9am

- 10:30-11am

- 5:30-6pm

- 6:30-7pm

- 9-10pm (News + Sports)

 

I'm surprised they're getting rid of the weekend 10pm. I mean, what will they do with that?

 

Other than that, WSVN must be a bit nervous but ready to compete in what will be a WSVN vs. WPLG market.

news overload! but they really have no options.

[NowBergen 679]

What's the rest when not news?  Endless Family Feud reruns?

 

[MediaZone4K 2158]

3 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

WPLG has announced their post-ABC news schedule:

 

Weekdays:

• 4:30-11am
• noon-1pm
• 3-7pm
• 9-11:30pm

Weekends:

• 5-11am
• 5-7pm
• 9-9:30pm
• 11-11:30pm

There will also be half-hour sports shows Saturdays at 9:30pm and 11:30pm and a 9:30pm show on Sundays in addition to the existing 11:30pm Sports Sunday.

I hope they use the 7 to 11 AM block to do a lighter morning show (like Good Day Orlando), instead of all hard news.

 

It's surprising that in a place as active and vibrant as South Florida, there was no light morning newscast in the overlapping Miami or West Palm Beach markets, until WPEC added ARC Florida recently.

 

WOFL 35 in Orlando is a great example of a station using creative formatting to fill heavy news output.

Edited Friday at 10:24 PM by MediaZone4K

[Glimmer 281]

3 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

WPLG has announced their post-ABC news schedule:

 

Weekdays:

• 4:30-11am
• noon-1pm
• 3-7pm
• 9-11:30pm

Weekends:

• 5-11am
• 5-7pm
• 9-9:30pm
• 11-11:30pm

There will also be half-hour sports shows Saturdays at 9:30pm and 11:30pm and a 9:30pm show on Sundays in addition to the existing 11:30pm Sports Sunday.

With the 9pm evening start, I wonder if they’re hedging on being contractually able to run Jeopardy! and Wheel at 8pm…

[Georgie56 3292]

17 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

I hope they use the 7 to 11 AM block to do a lighter morning show (like Good Day Orlando), instead of all hard news.

 

WPLG's 9am is more lighter in nature than the 4:30-7am and other newscasts. I'm betting the new expanded morning newscast will be done by two separate anchor teams, like when they had the 7-9am WSFL newscast.

 

10 minutes ago, Glimmer said:

With the 9pm evening start, I wonder if they’re hedging on being contractually able to run Jeopardy! and Wheel at 8pm…

 

If CBS/Sony allows KTVK to run both shows in primetime...

[NYAZSporty 123]

12 minutes ago, Glimmer said:

With the 9pm evening start, I wonder if they’re hedging on being contractually able to run Jeopardy! and Wheel at 8pm…

Airing it in primetime wouldn't be unprecedented, they do that here in Phoenix (KTVK). It feels kinda awkward when it airs at the same time ABC airs a special episode for the network at the same time.

Edited Friday at 10:42 PM by NYAZSporty

[GraphicsMan 109]

WSVN got competition alright. The only difference one station got an affiliation the other doesn’t. And when there breaking news WPLG can be first on the air whenever because they have free rein programming wise. Speaking of that I wonder if they take a cue of WJXT program schedule and use their syndies I know they still have Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune they’ll probably remain at their respective timeslots but I wonder what else they’ll acquire.

Edited Friday at 11:43 PM by GraphicsMan

[TVLurker 198]

4 minutes ago, GraphicsMan said:

Speaking of that I wonder if they take a cue of WJXT program schedule and use their syndies I know they still have Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune they’ll probably remain at their respective timeslots but I wonder what else they’ll acquire.

nothing else.

 

the syndication market is D.E.A.D.

[Greggo 351]

They’ve said they’re keeping Kelly and Mark, so that must be what will fill the 11a hour.
 

From 1-3p, the story on the Local 10 website mentions today’s announcement is only the first phase of their expansion, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a lifestyle show is on the way. Other options for that time period include 48 Hours, which they already have airing currently in an overnight slot. InvestigateTV+ isn’t airing in Miami, so that’s a possibility too. 

 

They don’t carry Daytime Jeopardy, right? That could be a candidate for prime time. There’s also the new Deborah Norville game show if someone else in the market hasn’t snagged it. It would be hilarious though if they stole Family Feud and aired it for the full two hours between 7p and 9p like everyone here has been joking about. 

[MediaZone4K 2158]

21 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

WSVN got competition alright. The only difference one station got an affiliation the other doesn’t. And when there breaking news WPLG can be first on the air whenever because they have free rein programming wise. 

On 3/28/2025 at 4:08 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

Other than that, WSVN must be a bit nervous but ready to compete in what will be a WSVN vs. WPLG market.

 

** it's hard to find data from 2024 or 2025, the latest I can find is from 2022. If this gives any idea of recent market standing...

 

WSVN was at last check no longer market leader, and they're already in competition with WPLG.

 

Based on the latest numbers from Nexttv (if we trust them)  WPLG tops the English language stations in overall households in several time slots, with WSVN coming in second but competing for the demo.

 

The Spanish language stations however appear to be averaging at #1 & 2 overall in the ratings in multiple slots.

 

WFOR is in better standing than I thought they were, coming out as # 1 in english 11 PM. I have a family member that lives in So Flo who didn't even know there was a Channel 4 if that's any indication of their market standing.

 

They separated WTVJ's numbers so it's difficult to ascertain their average standing. 

 

I would like to see something more recent, but 2022 is the latest I can find.

https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-south-florida-holds-the-keys-to-successful-local-news (2022 Ratings)

 

Edited Saturday at 08:59 PM by MediaZone4K

[NowBergen 679]

23 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

WSVN is no longer market leader, and they're already in competition.

 

Based on the latest numbers from Nexttv (if we trust them)  WPLG tops the English language stations in overall households in several time slots, with WSVN coming in second but competing for the demo.

 

The Spanish language stations however appear to be averaging at #1 & 2 overall in the ratings in multiple slots.

 

WFOR is in better standing than I thought they were, coming out as # 1 in english 11 PM. I have a family member that lives in So Flo who didn't even know there was a Channel 4 if that's any indication of their market standing.

 

They separated WTVJ's number so it's difficult to ascertain their average standing. 

 

https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-south-florida-holds-the-keys-to-successful-local-news (2022 Ratings)

 

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 12:06 PM by NowBergen

[MediaZone4K 2158]

9 minutes ago, NowBergen said:

 

You do realize those numbers are 3 years old?

I mentioned that several times. Please read the full post...

13 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

I would like to see something more recent, but 2022 is the latest I can find.

 

https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-south-florida-holds-the-keys-to-successful-local-news (2022 Ratings)

 

This is supposed to give us an idea of where things were in recent years not exactly where they are today.

 

Let me go back and put that at the top of the post to again emphasize that.

Edited Saturday at 11:57 AM by MediaZone4K

[NowBergen 679]

12 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

I mentioned that several times. Please read the full post...

This is supposed to give us an idea of where things were in recent years not exactly where they are today.

 

Let me go back and put that at the top of the post to again emphasize that.

Sorry, as I read it I did not see you mentioned the date until I pulled up the article from the now defunct magazine.  I have deleted my comment.  The bottom line no one except insiders know ratings anymore.  And that does suck for all markets.

[MediaZone4K 2158]

17 minutes ago, NowBergen said:

Sorry, as I read it I did not see you mentioned the date until I pulled up the article from the now defunct magazine.  I have deleted my comment.  The bottom line no one except insiders know ratings anymore.  And that does suck for all markets.

All good.

 

And yes, the lack of public availability of ratings is unfortunate.

[l_miro 6]

2 hours ago, NowBergen said:

Sorry, as I read it I did not see you mentioned the date until I pulled up the article from the now defunct magazine.  I have deleted my comment.  The bottom line no one except insiders know ratings anymore.  And that does suck for all markets.

 

Miami station ranks have always fluctuated in the total viewer/households ratings, outside of the Spanish stations. There never was that one station that is constantly nailing the #1 spot, like say WPTV did for some time in WPB. WPLG has always been almost predictably strong at 6pm in households.

WSVN competes primarily in the demo, that's how they make ~$40mil more than WPLG. Their late news is #1 in 25-54 as of now. 

 

Overall, looking at my old sfltv notes, everyone's viewership is down 10x compared to 10-15 years ago. Looks like the diehard viewers are left watching

[Megatron81 256]

On 3/25/2025 at 12:05 AM, SDHIll1980 said:

 

If you're of a certain age, you can remember the glut of first-run syndicated dramas, sitcoms, and musical/talent shows that were around during the 1980s and '90s...a lot of that had to do with more TV stations signing on the air during that aforementioned time (thus needing the programming, besides old off-network reruns and whatever live sports they could cobble up), and already-established stations having more control over their programming inventory.  

 

Over time, with the launch of Fox, and later The WB and UPN, plus the growth of cable TV (both in terms of subscribers and the number of networks), a lot of these same kind of shows that would be meant for first-run syndication eventually migrated to those outlets, and now 25-30 years later, much of that same type of content has migrated to streaming.  The more I think about it, these local stations (including the likes of WPLG) may have to try "re-invent the wheel" in order for them to survive in the long-term...going wall-to-wall news (like a certain CW station in my home city) may not cut it everywhere.

 

I remember those days as well since I grew up in the 80s & 90s watching Star Search WXMI FOX17 on Sun at 4PM and some syndication sitcoms I was into as well. And not many put on movies like they once did in the 80s to early 2000s other than maybe one movie a week WXSP Sat afternoon 1PM to 3PM & the same movie repeated on sister station WOTV on Late SAT/Early SUN. 

 

That is wrong that some TV stations just air paid programming in blocks during the weekdays I get maybe an hour at most it shouldn't be 2+ hours of paid programming. Or split it up like the new CW does M-F 6AM to 7AM, 12PM to 1PM, & 3AM to 4AM that I have no problem with.

 

Not surprised that WPLG is going with a lot of news since Miami is a pretty big market to do the all news for most of the day and as many stations across the country say news on your time, meaning that you shouldn't be watching all the newscast which will be rehashed and maybe an update every so often.  

[abc7 Man 46]

On 3/23/2025 at 7:40 AM, MediaZone4K said:

First Coast News uses Good Morning Jacksonville despite the NBC station being their lead product which simulcasts on ABC. WABC calls its 10am newscast Eyewitness News Mornings at 10, despite Mornings being CBS's AM branding.

 

While it's common practice for local stations to brand their morning newscast in line with the national AM newscast, I don't think it's a requirement or an expectation.

 

WABC also uses Eyewitness News This Morning… CBS’s national show used to be called CBS This Morning.