WPLG & ABC Parting Ways

[Vlad 406]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0vcYypS-N/

 

The big switch is so compelling that even former 7 News Anchor, Mike Marza felt compelled to announce it on his IG page from his new home here in New York haha. 

[GraphicsMan 345]

I hope there no more switches in Miami. Hopefully…

[l_miro 245]

4 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

I hope there no more switches in Miami. Hopefully…

we can do one more, for old times sake

[NowBergen 924]

15 hours ago, Vlad said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0vcYypS-N/

 

The big switch is so compelling that even former 7 News Anchor, Mike Marza felt compelled to announce it on his IG page from his new home here in New York haha. 

 

He works for ABC through WABC, so I would consider this part of ABC's promotional campaign.

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 1158]

1 hour ago, NowBergen said:

 

He works for ABC through WABC, so I would consider this part of ABC's promotional campaign.

WABC's Dan Krauth is also promoting ABC Miami, as he was a former reporter for WTVJ

[NYAZSporty 196]

3 hours ago, NowBergen said:

 

He works for ABC through WABC, so I would consider this part of ABC's promotional campaign.

You'd think with ABC going this far promoting ABC Miami that it's like an O&O. 

[MediaZone4K 2661]

On 8/1/2025 at 12:36 PM, GraphicsMan said:

Yes the 1998 switch which was the dumbest move on Sinclair broadcasting part between WLFL and at the time new station WRAZ. WRDC after losing NBC I believe assumed UPN afterwards wasn’t really an affiliation switch since WNCN was independent before becoming NBC. And then WRDC was the one losing NBC and becoming independent and picked up UPN afterwards but yes I’m counting the 1998 switch.

I was referring to whether you counted the WB/UPN/ My Net/ CW affiliation switches in the Miami tally.

18 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

I hope there no more switches in Miami. Hopefully…

WPLG to Fo.... 

[GraphicsMan 345]

7 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

I was referring to whether you counted the WB/UPN/ My Net/ CW affiliation switches in the Miami tally

No I didn’t count them. 

[Georgie56 3661]

From their Sunday AM newscast today:

 

Edited August 3, 2025 by Georgie56

[Hometown News 127]

On 8/1/2025 at 3:25 AM, MetroNews said:

Local tv is going away.  Network apps will be the future. The tv stations that go local news heavy or can create some sort of targeted local brand will be the survivors.  All else will go away or be minimized.  The network over the air affiliate model is dead. 

 

It might be time for Hearst, Gray, Sinclair, etc. to start thinking about working together and producing their own programming besides just news and sports. Kind of like the old regional ITV model, but without the regional aspect and on a larger scale. The networks are going to abandon linear TV eventually and I don't see any other path forward for the local stations and their owners once it happens that doesn't end in them just pulling the plug and going off-air.

 

Unfortunately, how I expect them to respond to the networks leaving them behind is to just keep accelerating the news overload until local TV stations are all just 24/7 news, which nobody watches because we're all sick of it, which then becomes the excuse for them to give up.

[nathannah 2792]

It feels almost appropriate that WPLG's last ABC prime time will be ending with the 2003 Freaky Friday since them and 7.2 will be 'switching bodies' as it were, except it's permanent. 

[TheNewsTV 342]

What will the morning anchor lineup be like from 5am to 11am?

Edited August 3, 2025 by TheNewsTV

[l_miro 245]

On 8/1/2025 at 3:49 PM, Vlad said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0vcYypS-N/

 

The big switch is so compelling that even former 7 News Anchor, Mike Marza felt compelled to announce it on his IG page from his new home here in New York haha. 

 

And Kevin Ozebek, now at KABC

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM2vrNzR0P1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

And Dan Krauth, whose Miami followers are from the time he was at WTVJ 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0F4aXu9U7/

[NowBergen 924]

34 minutes ago, l_miro said:

 

And Kevin Ozebek, now at KABC

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM2vrNzR0P1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

And Dan Krauth, whose Miami followers are from the time he was at WTVJ 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0F4aXu9U7/

 

ABC pulling out the promotional guns using former reporters./anchors that now work for Disney/ABC but were previously in Miami.  

[TVLurker 389]

can't believe tomorrow is the last day for WPLG's ABC affiliation. Time flew so fast that nobody even noticed.

 

Hope somebody is recording this in Miami.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

1 hour ago, l_miro said:

 

And Kevin Ozebek, now at KABC

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM2vrNzR0P1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

And Dan Krauth, whose Miami followers are from the time he was at WTVJ 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0F4aXu9U7/

 

Add Victor Oquendo to the list as well.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM5WFqYsmGb/?igsh=MW9rbnl2b3lzYWZybg==

[l_miro 245]

2 hours ago, Hometown News said:

 

It might be time for Hearst, Gray, Sinclair, etc. to start thinking about working together and producing their own programming besides just news and sports. Kind of like the old regional ITV model, but without the regional aspect and on a larger scale. The networks are going to abandon linear TV eventually and I don't see any other path forward for the local stations and their owners once it happens that doesn't end in them just pulling the plug and going off-air.

 

Unfortunately, how I expect them to respond to the networks leaving them behind is to just keep accelerating the news overload until local TV stations are all just 24/7 news, which nobody watches because we're all sick of it, which then becomes the excuse for them to give up.

 

Gray, Sinclair etc are hoping mobile operators have appetite for another spectrum auction so they can cash out. They will do the minimum viable content until then. With retrans fees going to the NFL and NBA, the NFL chief saying come 2029 he'll probably want more money for less exclusivity from broadcasters because "Amazon's NFL audience is as big as broadcast now", there's no money to risk on content that would have to be part of yet another streaming platform that has a high chance of being a failure.

 

I'm married to someone who thinks dropping $480 for NFL Sunday Ticket is normal and (unfortunately) there are many others like him. Maybe Gen Zs being half as likely to watch live sports will turn things around some day but it's probably not soon.

[GraphicsMan 345]

I mean Miami a pretty big market using Marza, Krauth, Ozebek and Oqeundo. Former Miami newsers to promote is a good idea. I don’t know what Miami market rank was in 1988, and 1995, but that was long time ago people were literally used to everything until now. So they have to pull out everybody to get viewers used to the change.

[l_miro 245]

54 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

 

Add Victor Oquendo to the list as well.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM5WFqYsmGb/?igsh=MW9rbnl2b3lzYWZybg==

 

Could not for the life of me remember who he was or why he's part of the shindig... he was at WPLG

 

Gio Benitez joined in on the pile on

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM5GVs6uHH4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

[GraphicsMan 345]

29 minutes ago, l_miro said:

Gio Benitez joined in on the pile on

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM5GVs6uHH4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

He didn’t even work at those stations he worked at WFOR.

[NowBergen 924]

6 minutes ago, GraphicsMan said:

He didn’t even work at those stations he worked at WFOR.

But he now works for ABC and had been in the Miami market so a familiarity with viewers.   

[MediaZone4K 2661]

Interesting image posting by a WPLG employee on LinkedIn.

[Georgie56 3661]

Here it is...the open to the first newscast of WPLG's independent era.

 

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

30 minutes ago, Georgie56 said:

Here it is...the open to the first newscast of WPLG's independent era.

 

 

 

Not necessarily. That's their last as an ABC affiliate. They're still gonna run ABC's overnight programming until Independence kicks off at 4:30 a.m.

[mre29 1967]

1 hour ago, TheRolyPoly said:

Not necessarily. That's their last as an ABC affiliate. They're still gonna run ABC's overnight programming until Independence kicks off at 4:30 a.m.

 

Having to air World News Now their last overnight as an affiliate is one thing, but having to also air Good Morning America First Look (which is basically an early morning show)? How'd that happen?