2008 Predictions

[TexasTVNews 1377]

What are you guys predicting of what's going to happen in 2008?

[Weeters 1916]

A Milwaukee station will go HD.

 

Likely, WITI, WTMJ, or WISN.

[allstar2003 0]

I predict the following thing to happen in 2008

 

1. Even though WBNS beat WCMH to HD. WCMH will be the first to get a HD Chopper in the market.

2. KYW will fire Alyica Lane but she will end in a top 10 market as an reporter.

3. I predict that Dallas will join Cleveland as the only markets with all the news operations in HD

4. Sinclair will finally make a effort to put a station in HD. finally, a reason justifying asking the cable company for money. ( But #4 probally belong on the wish list)

 

Here hoping 2008 will be better than 2007.

[Sam Horn 78]

3. I predict that Dallas will join Cleveland as the only markets with all the news operations in HD

 

Except we already know that at the very least Philadelphia will become part of the "All HD" list come next year, so your prediction is already errant.

 

Sorry, sir. Enjoy these lovely parting gifts.

[Tyler 151]

WTAE will go HD (likely before summer starts).

[AdamTheJ 90]

Boston: Call me crazy on this one, but I predict that WBZ and WSBK split and go their separate ways AND WBZ becomes an NBC-Universal O&O and WSBK, still O&O by CBS becomes Boston's new CBS affiliate. This would leave WHDH either as an independent or the new CW affiliate with WLVI going indie. BTW, WBZ would use the WNBC Pybrun graphics, KNBC's L.A. Groove, and Charlie Van Dyke, the WTVJ v/o.

 

Providence: WPRI 12/Fox Providence dumps 615's Newsforce for Gari's Enforcer, hires WFOR's Brian James as the new v/o, dumps the "Eyewitness News" name to become "WPRI 12 News", and goes HD with an HD Helicopter. WJAR Channel 10 replaces Chris Clausen with Eric Gordon.

 

Miami: Finally, an HD station in this market. WPLG gets that horrible EWN-NG theme, BUT hires Bill Ratner.

 

West Palm Beach: WPEC, which BTW, is changing their main set, goes HD, BUT they get that awful Enforcer theme. WPEC and WFLX both replace Al Vanik and John Young, respectively, with Scott Chapin.

 

Tampa: WTSP gets the WUSA/WXIA/KSDK graphics, replaces Arnold's Horizon with either Arnold's Convergence or 615's Magnum, goes Tabloidal, and hello Scott Chapin.

 

Fort Myers: WBBH NBC 2 uses WPTV's graphics, gets the NBC Collection from Gari, and replaces Eric Gordon with Bill Ratner. WFTX Fox 4 replaces Arnold's Extreme with either Gari's X Package or X-2 Package, and replaces John Young with Scott Chapin.

[Sam Horn 78]

Boston: Call me crazy on this one, but I predict that WBZ and WSBK split and go their separate ways AND WBZ becomes an NBC-Universal O&O and WSBK, still O&O by CBS becomes Boston's new CBS affiliate. This would leave WHDH either as an independent or the new CW affiliate with WLVI going indie. BTW, WBZ would use the WNBC Pybrun graphics, KNBC's L.A. Groove, and Charlie Van Dyke, the WTVJ v/o.

 

Crazy's not the word, Sofa King.

 

All right, I've snarked enough; I'll bite.

 

Philly...

• Going HD: WCAU, WFMZ-TV
  
• #1 at 11: KYW-TV, for at least one sweeps period
  
• #4 at 11: WCAU, getting beat by 11:00 newcomer WTXF
  
• Storm of the Century: Bolaris flops, Guarino lands at WCAU
  
• All That and Less: 10 pulls the plug on its 4:00 program
  

 

Elsewhere...

• CBS adds Anderson Cooper as a co-anchor of the Evening News
  
• As election time comes closer, Fox will dabble with the idea of a 7:00 national evening news program
  
• MyNTV cuts to five network hours per week; independent television returns to the mainstream
  
• The Second Great Depression strikes, fucking us all in different ways
  

[Ntropolis 596]

I predict that a bunch of stations will launch HD news next year... a large majority of top-50 market HD newscasts will be in HD by the end of next year.

 

This might sound crazy, but I think WITN will start HD news next year. They're building a new facility in Greenville and will be moving into it next year, go why not make it all-HD? Plus, WKYT's news is in HD so it's not like it's out of the question for any of the Gray stations.

[Alain 17]

Boston: Call me crazy on this one, but I predict that WBZ and WSBK split and go their separate ways AND WBZ becomes an NBC-Universal O&O and WSBK, still O&O by CBS becomes Boston's new CBS affiliate. This would leave WHDH either as an independent or the new CW affiliate with WLVI going indie. BTW, WBZ would use the WNBC Pybrun graphics, KNBC's L.A. Groove, and Charlie Van Dyke, the WTVJ v/o.

 

Hallucinating much?

 

Miami: Finally, an HD station in this market. WPLG gets that horrible EWN-NG theme, BUT hires Bill Ratner.

 

Whoo boy.. WTVJ/WSCV will most probably go HD. I've heard around that NBC O&Os will be HD by 2008.. Tony Segreto in HD won't be a nice sight..

 

As for WPLG, I don't expect HD until 2009, when their new building should be done, and by looking at how much they change graphics and music, I don't expect "The One and Only" to go anywhere anytime soon, they just got updates not so long ago.

[bostonmediaguy 123]

Boston: Call me crazy on this one, but I predict that WBZ and WSBK split and go their separate ways AND WBZ becomes an NBC-Universal O&O and WSBK, still O&O by CBS becomes Boston's new CBS affiliate. This would leave WHDH either as an independent or the new CW affiliate with WLVI going indie. BTW, WBZ would use the WNBC Pybrun graphics, KNBC's L.A. Groove, and Charlie Van Dyke, the WTVJ v/o.

 

I think you're far more likely to see WCVB become an NBC station before WBZ.

[stevieboy247 42]

Say it ain't so!

[roscoryan 21]

WLUC will FINALLY get a new logo...

[newsie 11]

I predict that a bunch of stations will launch HD news next year... a large majority of top-50 market HD newscasts will be in HD by the end of next year.

 

This might sound crazy, but I think WITN will start HD news next year. They're building a new facility in Greenville and will be moving into it next year, go why not make it all-HD? Plus, WKYT's news is in HD so it's not like it's out of the question for any of the Gray stations.

WTKR going HD? I'm crapping myself at the thought of that...

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

All right, I've snarked enough; I'll bite.
 
Philly...

• Going HD: WCAU, WFMZ-TV
  
• #1 at 11: KYW-TV, for at least one sweeps period
  
• #4 at 11: WCAU, getting beat by 11:00 newcomer WTXF
  
• Storm of the Century: Bolaris flops, Guarino lands at WCAU
  
• All That and Less: 10 pulls the plug on its 4:00 program
  

 

 

I can confirm #1.

I can't see #2 though. They would have actually provide substance in their newscast for that to happen. Now if CBS gets some sort of ratings whopper to even further elevate their primetime lineup, then maybe.

Can't see #3 happening either unless you're counting a possible tie.

#4: Bolaris won't flop but he won't be worth the salary that 29 is going to be paying him. And Guarino at 10 is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

#5: They won't completely drop the show. They will prolly do what 29 did at 5PM and put Tracy back in the news studio behind the newsdesk and use standard music and graphics. This would prolly coincide with the HD transition.

[Ntropolis 596]

Predictions for this market...

 

-WVEC will get a new evening set

-Cheryl Nelson will leave WAVY for a bigger market

-WTKR will try another gimmick that will fail (or try bringing back the Interactive Newsroom)

-WGNT will start a 10pm weeknightly newscast

[Sam Horn 78]

All right, I've snarked enough; I'll bite.
 
Philly...

• Going HD: WCAU, WFMZ-TV
  
• #1 at 11: KYW-TV, for at least one sweeps period
  
• #4 at 11: WCAU, getting beat by 11:00 newcomer WTXF
  
• Storm of the Century: Bolaris flops, Guarino lands at WCAU
  
• All That and Less: 10 pulls the plug on its 4:00 program
  

 

 

I can confirm #1.

I can't see #2 though. They would have actually provide substance in their newscast for that to happen. Now if CBS gets some sort of ratings whopper to even further elevate their primetime lineup, then maybe.

Can't see #3 happening either unless you're counting a possible tie.

#4: Bolaris won't flop but he won't be worth the salary that 29 is going to be paying him. And Guarino at 10 is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

#5: They won't completely drop the show. They will prolly do what 29 did at 5PM and put Tracy back in the news studio behind the newsdesk and use standard music and graphics. This would prolly coincide with the HD transition.

 

 

Yeah, I can confirm both stations in my first prediction as well. I guess it was more of an assertion, yes?

 

As for KYW-TV: ABC has more to lose with the WGA strike than CBS, meaning Action News will inevitable have a weaker lead in. I think it's going to be less CBS improving their prime time line up and more ABC losing some standing with theirs.

 

Re: Bolaris/Guarino: I say flop relatively. That's more along the lines of what you're thinking -- he won't do as much as they think he will. Guarino's hinted strongly at leaving the market altogether, so I'm not sure a move to WCAU is that evident.

 

Speaking to ATAM: I really do think they'll drop the show. They'll never beat Oprah, and KYW-TV is getting what numbers you'll get for news at 4. They'd be much better served focusing resources on their 5:00 program, especially with how tight money is at 10 Monument nowadays.

[who?cares 254]

For 2008 I predict:

• I predict WISH/WNDY will be the first LIN stations to go HD

• 
  • McGraw Hill will finally get WRTV a new set, and go HD
  • WTHR will get new graphics, and update their set
  • WXIN will just keep on going
   
   
  As for Terre Haute
   
  • WTWO will get new graphics.
  • WTHI will stay the way they are. ( They just got a new set.)

[jhampsten 0]

 
As for Terre Haute
 
• WTWO will get new graphics.
• WTHI will stay the way they are. ( They just got a new set.)

 

My thoughts for Terre Haute:

WTWO will go to Stereo sound, Heck they have to if they are planning on HD programming before end of may.

WFXW- again will go HD, in fact plans for HD programming for the Superbowl.

 

WTHI- Don't see too much out of them, other than maybe a music change, espically with them getting the new set.

 

Now on to the other local markets in my region:

Evansville-Henderson-Owensboro:

 

WTVW- Nexstar finally pumps some money into that station, I expect New Graphics and an actual live radar. Also I won't be suprised if evening anchor Randy Moore leaves channel 7, or at least takes a leave of absence to help take care of his wife and former channel 7 anchor/reporter Ann who is battleing Cancer.

WFIE- They will become the first Tri-state station to go HD news, as all they should need is HD cameras after the set redos they had done a couple of years ago.

WEHT- of all the stations in Evansville that NEEDS a new set, it is this. We've had WEHT on cable up here in Flora for some 12 years now, and they are still using the very same set design that they was using 12 years ago. Also don't be suprised to see them get one of those dual-polarity dopplers for the weather dept.

 

St Louis:

Boy oh boy there could be some changes here (and mostly this is wishes if nothing else)

KSDK- NBC kicks them out over their excessive use of doing premptions of primetime programming, They could end up with the ABC or Fox network.

KMOV- They get a new set and go HD for news. Boy oh boy wouldn't that be a scary scene with Larry Conners in HD.

KTVI- Could be some real big changes thanks to the Sale to the Local TV folks basically creating a duopoly with KPLR when the sale of the Tribune stations is complete. Changes to include them moving to KPLR's newer building in Maryland Heights, Them going HD as well, and them getting NBC affillation. Personel changes to include Dave Murray retiring or being fired, Seeing Chris Higgins becoming the Chief met, and seeing the retirement of John Auble who's been in STL for ages.

KDNL- ABC backs out of their agreement with them for their affillation, they get CW. They MAY start a 10PM newscast, but is very unlikely.

KPLR- Becomes an ABC station, Still has their own news operation, With help from KTVI for reporters and adds an early evening broadcast.

[Ntropolis 596]

KDNL- ABC backs out of their agreement with them for their affillation, they get CW. They MAY start a 10PM newscast, but is very unlikely.

KPLR- Becomes an ABC station, Still has their own news operation, With help from KTVI for reporters and adds an early evening broadcast.

 

*waits patiently for CFIF to share thoughts*

[5Viewer 1]

Chicago

 

WBBM

-Gets new graphics, (they are getting a new set/building one block away from WLS.)

 

WLS

-Puts up concrete structures infront of the windows

 

WMAQ

-Goes HD

-Switches to the WNBC Pyburn Graphics

-Gets a new newsroom set, and a new desk for Studio 5

 

WFLD

-Goes HD

-Extends Good Day Chicago from 5-9 (it is currently 7-9)

 

South Bend

 

WNDU

-stays the same

 

WSBT

-gets a new set

[caliwxdude 254]

Well, since I'm extremely bored right now, I'll bite. 2008 is shaping up to be a very interesting year in Bay Area television.

 

For the Bay Area, I'd say KPIX will most likely start producing news in 1080i high definition next year. The current graphics package was designed with 16:9 HD in mind, so that's ready to go. Eye on the Bay has also been 100% HD since around August 2007 (they're shooting on XDCAM HD) so news can't be that far behind. CBS O&Os showed a commitment to HDTV in the last part of 2006/first half of 2007, but it seems as if this drive to be in HD has tapered off since then.

 

I've also heard the "all NBC O&Os in HD by the end of the year" line as well, except when I heard it, the year in question was 2007. It wouldn't surprise me if this did happen by the end of 2008, but I know for a fact that a lot of work has to be done at KNTV's San Jose plant for high definition news to become a reality. And judging by the state of the gear that I saw last night at a KNSD live shot, I'd say the same is true for them.

 

KNTV is in a state of change right now. The new news director (formerly the ND of live news at MSNBC) brought WNBC's Rampage music with her. Allen Denton was let go at the end of November, and it seems that Jessica Aguirre is fast becoming the new face of the operation. I can't help feeling that Lisa Kim might be getting the heave-ho pretty soon as well. It's currently Jessica and Lisa fronting the 11:00 p.m. newscast, but you have to wonder if they're shopping around for a new male anchor. And don't forget, the Olympics return to the networks of NBC in August, and NBC affiliates generally hold off major changes to coincide with the Opening Ceremonies. It should be interesting what the new year brings to 2450 North First...

 

At KTVU, there are rumblings of a few high-profile transitions. Former weekend and fill-in anchor Sara Sidner is leaving in a few days to join CNN as their New Delhi-based correspondent. Gasia Mikaelian, who took over Sidner's weekend anchor chair over the summer, was recently promoted to co-anchor the 5:00 p.m. newscast with Frank Somerville. Mikaelian will also solo-anchor the new 7:00 p.m. weeknight newscast on KICU. The "TV36 Bay Area News at 7:00" will debut sometime in the second half of January. There are also a few other high-profile rumors floating around the Bay Area media community surrounding some of KTVU's other leading talent. We'll probably see announcements of those coming out either just before or after February sweeps.

[sctvhound 27]

Charleston:

 

Either WCSC or WCBD, most likely WCBD goes HD, replaces those awful Media General graphics they have used for what seems like forever.

 

One of the three stations will add a weekend morning newscast.

 

At WCSC, one of the main anchors on the 6 (Sharpe, Walsh, or Chard) will be fired due to budget cuts from Raycom, and either 2 or 4 will pick them up, and they will shoot up to 1st in the ratings.

 

A new crop of reporters will go to each station, as the better reporters on each station will move to larger markets.

 

Myrtle Beach:

 

When WMBF launches, they will grab one of the big anchors from WPDE (Piotrowski, Heath, or Floyd), and have a 5:30 newscast in addition to a 6, 11, morning, and a noon newscast.

 

WBTW: may turn HD.

 

Columbia:

 

WOLO will do one of three things: close their newscast, expand and add morning and noon newscasts, or close their street side studio.

 

Savannah:

 

WSAV will move Dr. Phil back from 5, and add a 5-5:30 or 5-6 newscast.

 

WTOC will get a slightly new package, but will keep News Channel.

[Ntropolis 596]

When WMBF launches, they will grab one of the big anchors from WPDE (Piotrowski, Heath, or Floyd), and have a 5:30 newscast in addition to a 6, 11, morning, and a noon newscast.

 

For some odd reason I imagine Joel Allen becoming main anchor on WMBF...

[ecs0013 9]

For 2008 I predict:

• I predict WISH/WNDY will be the first LIN stations to go HD

• McGraw Hill will finally get WRTV a new set, and go HD

• WTHR will get new graphics, and update their set

• WXIN will just keep on going

 

• WXIN and WTTV are going to start airing newscasts together (this was already in the works), but there's going to be a rebranding, like Indiana's NewsCenter in Fort Wayne.

• WRTV will get WLS's old set since they think "borrowing" from ABC O&Os will fix their situation.

• WISH will redo their graphics for the heck of it.

• WTHR will probably just keep what they have, but it would be nice for a bit of a change (Rainmaker v.2?)

[5Viewer 1]

 

• WRTV will get WLS's old set since they think "borrowing" from ABC O&Os will fix their situation.

 

I believe WLS's old set was donated to a college. I read that either here a while back, or it was on WLS's website.