New Denver newscasts

[channel2 979]

They're both old news, but their launches are fast approaching and I haven't seen discussion of them here:

 

KDVR is adding news at 10PM, joining many other Fox stations in airing late news

 

KUSA adds a half-hour at 4:30AM, following in the lead several other stations have lately (it launches on Monday)

 

I hope that KUSA's 4:30 news doesn't knock Early Today off the schedule completely. It would be a good lead-in, like the evening team of the NBC Nightly News and 9News at 6.

[TVNewsRI 4]

Early Today will probably just air at 4 AM instead. That's what most stations with 4:30 news do.

[channel2 979]

No wait, didn't read the whole thing, like an idiot. Only posted it so there would be proof of the 4:30AM news. Early Today will indeed stay.

[C Block 1566]

Yes, I was told about the KDVR 10pm newscast several weeks ago, and I've read those articles posted, but I haven't had the time to update my blog in over six weeks.

 

If I were at KMGH, I would be worried. KDVR's 9pm newscast usually gets more viewers than KMGH's 10pm.

 

Also, KTVD's 9pm newscast is expanding to an hour.

[channel2 979]

Ooh, forgot about the KTVD 9pm expanding!

 

KMGH's ratings are probably so bad because their sober (and admittedly bland) brand of news does not appeal to most of the market, who is watching human interest stories and bobbleheads on KUSA and the budding sensationalism on KCNC, which I can best describe as a cross between KUSA and KDVR.

 

I don't watch the primetime newscasts regularly. Between watching KUSA at 9 and the sensationalist dreck on KDVR, I prefer to watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

[C Block 1566]

I think KMGH usually does a good job, and Mike & Anne is, in my opinion, the best of the late news duos. It doesn't matter how bad Adele is, people are so used to watching KUSA that they never watch anything else.

 

KCNC doesn't put out a bad product, but it isn't particularly good, either. Gloria Neal's segments don't help.

 

As for 9pm, when they did away with KWGN's newscast, I switched to KTVD. I can't stand KDVR or Ron Zappolo. I still miss Ernie.

[channel2 979]

KDVR always came off to me as self-important. They seem to have only gotten more sensationalist since the network sold them, with the dramatic music and "Storm Force" (what was wrong with "On-Target Weather"?).

[C Block 1566]

^^

 

Yes, they weren't a great station when they were an O&O, but now they're even *worse* now that they're in the hands of Local TV LLC, if that's imaginable. The only good thing that came out of that deal was that they no longer try to pass off Tom Martino as a journalist, but his 60-minute informercial in the morning is unbearable and unethical. Hopefully the new GM will improve things.

 

Here's the promo for the new 10pm newscast called "Nightside":

 

[channel2 979]

Well, I recorded KUSA's 4:30AM news. I'll go look at the recording and I'll probably have at least the open on YT by tomorrow.

[C Block 1566]

I thought that newscast didn't start until the end of the month? And I'm sure I probably already subscribe to you on YouTube, but what is your username on there?

[channel2 979]

"colotvguy" is my name on there. And yeah, the 4:30AM news started today. It's name is "9News First" (unintentionally recalling KCNC's former 4PM newscast, First News).

[C Block 1566]

Oh, okay, I know you. I'm the same username on there.

 

I wondered why somebody e-mailed me last night asking if I could record that. I thought I read in the Post that it didn't start until later this month, and it wasn't entered into the Comcast guide last night, but now it is.

 

Anyway, how's the new newscast?

[channel2 979]

It's decent. Gregg Moss anchors solo, in an attempt to mirror the NBC Nightly News. It had a sober tone, with particular emphasis on business/financial headlines (which didn't show up until after the first commercial break), weather (which they pride themselves on anyway), and ended with a human interest piece about a boy who was bit by a snake (seems to be lots of snake bites lately). The close was particularly rushed, and The Rundown was noticeably absent. It seemed better than their evening newscasts to me, even though it lacked a crucial component of those (sports).

 

EDIT: Here are some pieces of the 4:30AM news.

 

Open:

 

Bumper:

 

Rejoin/Your Money Open:

 

First Weather Open (it seems hastily made to me):

 

Close (very rushed one):

[C Block 1566]

Thanks for uploading those. I caught today's edition. Why I was up at 4:30, I don't know.

 

It doesn't look like there's much that's different in terms of the presentation. It's the same open used on every other newscast, and Greg sits next to the RP wall, but Bazi's been doing that on the 9pm newscast for quite some time.

 

The changes seem to be mostly with content, and I like what they've done. I like the biz emphasis. I think too many local news outlets overlook financial journalism (not just the TV stations; the Post is awful with biz news too), and I'm always glad to see more business reporting. I like Greg Moss. I have no idea how he does 9News in the morning and his regular business job during the day. I only saw one full weather report, which is a nice change from having weather and traffic shoved in my face every ten minutes.

 

Will I watch everyday? No, because I don't get up until at least 7am on normal days, and I don't have time to watch TV in the morning anyway. But I like what they've done.

[channel2 979]

Well, today was supposed to be the debut of KDVR's Nightside, but it's not on. They're showing Seinfeld.

 

It doesn't help that the promo doesn't specify a date, and this is the date they provided to the media.

 

I call mishandling.

[C Block 1566]

I've been on vacation for the last few weeks, so I wasn't able to see the debut. But it didn't actually debut? What's wrong with that station? Is the new GM going to be a dud too?

[TVFan 0]

I've been on vacation for the last few weeks, so I wasn't able to see the debut. But it didn't actually debut? What's wrong with that station? Is the new GM going to be a dud too?

 

 

No it didn't debut and it's now scheduled to debut on July 12. The reason Nightside didn't launch on June 28 is because they wanted more rehersal time.

[channel2 979]

You must work for the station.

 

I wish your promotional department would have announced this. Doesn't help that the promos don't mention a date.

 

Also, KUSA pulled some bullshit with their Sunday night 10PM news. They said they were expanding it to an hour, but what did they do? They took "OverTime" (the sports show that was already airing after it), and merged it into the newscast largely untouched.

 

I'm sorry, but what the fuck, KUSA?!

[TVFan 0]

I don't work for KDVR or any TV station. I'm just a person that likes TV like everyone on this forum does. Do you think that if I worked at a TV station my name on here would be TV Fan? I think not.

[channel2 979]

Sorry about that misconception.

 

You sounded kind of official, though.

[TVFan 0]

Sorry about that misconception.

 

You sounded kind of official, though.

 

 

Thats Ok. How I found out about the new Nightside date launch was from an Article in the Denver Post.

[C Block 1566]

I looked for articles about it, but I didn't find it until now:

 

KDVR changes.

 

Maybe it's a reflection on their talent, maybe it's a sign of the economic recovery.

 

Either way, what a difference a year makes: Instead of losing staff to layoffs, KDVR-Channel 31 is losing staff to bigger, better jobs.

 

First, weekend anchor Leland Vittert took off for a Fox News foreign- correspondent gig in Jerusalem.

 

Next, meteorologist Crystal Egger is juggling national offers.

 

Egger won't talk about it, but management confirms she'll be leaving Channel 31 for parts unknown. Seems the station is having its moment as a springboard.

Carolyn Kane, VP of content, should be flattered but instead she's annoyed at having to rehire. She claims she's going to tie everyone to longer-term contracts in the future.

 

Joining Fox 31 as morning anchor is Melody Mendez, previously at KOMO in Seattle.

 

Meanwhile, the station has postponed the launch of "Nightside," its 10 p.m. newscast, until July 12. Rehearsals continue and graphics and a video wall are ready to roll.

 

1. The idea of Leland Vittert in a foreign country, let alone Jerusalem, is laughable.

2. Crystal Egger's leaving? News to me.

3. I wonder how the new morning anchor will be. Not that I watch the two clones of the morning programs.

4. New graphics and a video wall for Nightside? That's exciting. But where do they have room for all of that?

[TVFan 0]

Something weird is going on here. I just looked at my On Screen Drectv Guide for this Monday 7/12 at 10pm and instead of Nightside the guide says The Simpsons would be airing. Any of you here in Denver know or hear anything?

[C Block 1566]

Joanne Ostrow did a big piece about the market today, and in it, she says that KDVR's 10pm has been pushed back another two weeks, so July 26th. I'll try to find more information.

 

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15470596?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com

[channel2 979]

They've pushed back Nightside twice. They must really not have faith in it.

 

I had no idea that KMGH tended to attract younger viewers.

 

Also, the article acts as if KCNC's 4PM news is COMPLETELY NEW. Why? Did everyone forget about First News? It lasted for 22 years and apparently any memory of it fell off the face of the Earth after Oprah replaced it.