April 10 broadcast CBS 2

[Amra 171]

Well, since Diann was given the ax, the 10pm news has improved a lot. Last night, finishing the broadcast earlier to show some highlights was very good, especially that there was a long close. Have you noticed it too that the quality is better?

[lazynetjunkie 34]

Well, since Diann was given the ax, the 10pm news has improved a lot. Last night, finishing the broadcast earlier to show some highlights was very good, especially that there was a long close. Have you noticed it too that the quality is better?

 

 

You're very right. You might also notice they're currently experimenting with a number of new things on the 10PM newscast including some new camera angles, new lighting, little/fine adjustments to the audio, etc. Even some possible format changes. There's alot more usage of the plasma screen too. However, the biggest improvement since the job cuts was Rob Johnson. The Rob Johnson we see now is the Rob Johnson that people wanted to see. From what I hear, even Rob's behind the scenes self has improved. Everything is really starting to flow smoothly on the evening newscasts now.

 

One good thing WBBM got out of the job cuts (which some have been trying to bring up to management in the past but have been ignored) is the station is really now reassessing every single thing in itself down to the little details that nobody would think about for years. Sometimes, it isn't always only the big things that needs changing/improvement. Not turning on ALL the lights on the news set and getting rid of or reducing the faint hiss noise in the audio did make a big difference.

 

 

I haven't seen a long closing like that on their 10PM news in a very long time. But I really don't like that closing cut of the Enforcer package.. I'd like them to go back to their old closing music that they've used for years until they changed to the Enforcer New Generation music. They should have just had Gari re-record the original Dick Marx composition (the Enforcer Series 1 close #2) "new generation style" with more modern instrumentation.

 

You might have noticed in that long close last night that when the camera zoomed back from the anchor desk, the fake wood finish laminate is chipped/peeling off that curved structure in front of the anchor desk and you can start to see the original DDG finish under it. It's happening because people on the floor keep puting their foot that thing when they approach the anchor desk. Ahern hates that curved thing. Unfortunately, it can't be removed without leaving a large hole in the anchor desk island. I can now see why they don't zoom back from the anchor desk anymore.

 

You might also notice that some of the blue panels stuck on to the various walls/structures of the set are starting to fall off and some are just leaning against the walls. Apparently, those little double sided sticky foam squares aren't holding anymore. I know that silver foil on the logo at the front of the anchor desk is peeling off. It doesn't get fixed much because it's not noticable on-air but someone ocassionally carefully glues it back on. I'm sure that set will end up in the dumpster when they move so they aren't going to waste time and money fixing it.

[former newsboy 52]

Call me old fashioned, but I'm not liking all the different camera angles. And what I really HATE is all the standing they've been having Rob do. Just sit at the desk, there's no point in standing up, and it doesn't look as good. Do they honestly think that will translate into higher ratings? Also, the plasma usage is stupid too, and it looks cheap. Whoopie, the anchor's in front of a TV. And the background looks bad too, almost as bad as Carol Marin's stripped-down set from 2000.

 

And why all the fuss over Rob Johnson? While I've always said he is a good technical anchor, he's still the king of cheese. I'm sorry, he's uncomfortable to watch and he's just not capable of endearing himself to Chicago viewers the way say, Ron Magers, Mark Suppelsa, and Bill Kurtis have. Plus he's smug, no one will ever love Rob Johnson as much as Rob Johnson does.

 

Plus, there's just this cloud over Channel 2 now, different than any other time in the station's past. Their current situation is tantamount to throwing in the towel, it's like they've succomed (sp?) to their all too familiar position as the market's cellar dweller and have no desire to win anymore. And isn't that basically the truth? Sorry, but with an attitude like their numbers are going to get even worse. I guess then they'll just lay off some more people - I'm sure Baskerville, Sudberry, Zekman, Flannery, Parker, Levine, and Tucker are next up on the chopping block, particularly Baskerville and Zekman. After all, Don Schwenneker's already bumpin Steve off the 5, and they're the only station in town with 2 investigative reporters. The only thing that place has to look forward to is the the new building, but last week pretty much zapped all the excitement out of that even.

 

BTW, they've updated all the bios on the website. Anne State and Ryan Baker are up, and they've added an anchor/reporter section (which makes sense). http://cbs2chicago.com/bios

[lazynetjunkie 34]

The standing at the plasma at the current time is just getting the anchors/reporters used to doing it now because they'll be doing it much more at their new studio set. No, it's not being translated into higher ratings. It's just something different to do.

 

 

 

I'm just kind of curious Former newsboy, why don't you let us know what your plans would be for the station in its current situation. And no fantasy talent line-ups. With what they have (including their current budget), what would you do?

[Amra 171]

Anne State sure looks good in the picture. Yes, I noticed the zoom out of the camera and it was quite nice to see that. We have to see what May is storing for CBS 2. But I reiterate my point, CBS 2 has actually improved the late news, let's hope that Joe and Carol keep it up. Now a technical question, when CBS 2 move to their new facilities, will there be a signal upgrade to spread even more to grab more viewership or will CBS wait until the Feb. 17 2009 deadline?

[lazynetjunkie 34]

Now a technical question, when CBS 2 move to their new facilities, will there be a signal upgrade to spread even more to grab more viewership or will CBS wait until the Feb. 17 2009 deadline?

 

 

WBBM already broadcasts a digital signal (channel 3).. However, in 2009, CBS 2's signal will be moving to the Sears Tower when they take over channel 11 (currently beloning to WTTW). They have to wait for WTTW to make their move to digital before that can happen. I don't think they'll waste any time or money doing anything to boost the Hancock's signal.

[Jase 1047]

I don't like all the standing either and don't see why it's really necessary. They should mix it in here and there (much like what FOX Chicago/WFLD does during their newscasts) and just forgo doing it when there is only one anchor. Also, their overall news presentation is better (this particular night), but there is, without question, room for improvement. The real test will come when there's breaking news and how they handle that situation with limited resources when compared to WMAQ, WLS and even WFLD.

[lazynetjunkie 34]

I don't like all the standing either and don't see why it's really necessary. They should mix it in here and there (much like what FOX Chicago/WFLD does during their newscasts) and just forgo doing it when there is only one anchor. Also, their overall news presentation is better, but there is much more work ahead of them. The real test will come when there's breaking news and how they handle that situation with limited resources when compared to WMAQ, WLS and even WFLD.

 

 

Very true.. Like what Ron Magers was talking about on The Roe Conn Show the other day, WLS has the resources to have 7 different live shots at 7 completely different locations on one given newscast while WBBM now only has the resources to have 2 or 3, at the most, live shots on one given newscast.

 

 

About the standing, like I said earlier, WBBM is doing alot of experimenting right now. It doesn't mean it's going to be like that forever. However, there's going to be standing at their new studio so it's better to get talent used to it now instead their first day at their new studio being their first day to stand.

[bixpchiphead 105]

WBBM already broadcasts a digital signal (channel 3).. However, in 2009, CBS 2's signal will be moving to the Sears Tower when they take over channel 11 (currently beloning to WTTW). They have to wait for WTTW to make their move to digital before that can happen. I don't think they'll waste any time or money doing anything to boost the Hancock's signal.

 

A minor correction, BBM will be over the air channel 12 (Psip'ed to Digital channel 2) at Sears, using the old WTTW analog facilities (apparently It will be easy to rejigger the channel 11 x-mitter and antenna to work on ch. 12). And after analog shutdown, 'BBM will convert the antenna and x-mitter on the Hancock to ch 12 as their backup (Not unlike 'GN, 'MAQ, and even 'LS, whose backups are on the Hancock).

[lazynetjunkie 34]

A minor correction, BBM will be over the air channel 12 (Psip'ed to Digital channel 2) at Sears, using the old WTTW analog facilities (apparently It will be easy to rejigger the channel 11 x-mitter and antenna to work on ch. 12). And after analog shutdown, 'BBM will convert the antenna and x-mitter on the Hancock to ch 12 as their backup (Not unlike 'GN, 'MAQ, and even 'LS, whose backups are on the Hancock).

 

Thanks for the correction. I'm not into this kind of stuff but I figured it was something like that. I just pay the people to work on that kind of stuff and make sure it works. lol

[Link 3]

So in February 2009, will the signals of WLS on 7 and WBBM on 12 be pretty much equal in power and viewers should no longer have problems receiving WBBM like they do now on low band VHF channel 2??

 

Will the power of WMAQ on 29 be just as strong to receive? From what I remember hearing, the days of UHF signals being weaker are now over with digital right?

[superbad 1]

I dont understand what the obsession with standing is.

Anchors and reporters have been doing it for years. They use to do it at WBBM when Ahern first came over. They are just going back to things they use to do. But the bottom line is if you don't have great anchor teams it will not matter.

I don't see a difference at all in the newscast oher than that.

It still is a slow paced and poorly produced and reported newscast. Writing should be tighter and stronger. There should be more creativity setting up stories. It lacks that "BIG NEWS FEEL."

The one thing that could sign already trouble is the fact that the ratings have not been better since the departure of Burns.

If I had one wish it would be for someone like the team of Wert/Whittaker to get a shot at running the place. They have the midas touch when it comes to pairing anchor teams and being able to compete despite poor lead-ins.

One other concern, how will an out of state anchor handle breaking news. That is why main anchors in Chicago are brought into the mix and groomed. WMAQ and WLS have it down to a science.

[Amra 171]

Anne State was anchor at NBC 7/39 and on the videos available on nbcsandiego.com she is quite a good anchor/reporter. The videos I've seen were she reporting on some Breaking News. And we for sure don't know how the ratings have changed, because they haven't announced them. We have to see what sweeps will bring.