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Time / Temp Bugs


ns8401

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I'm kind of curious:

 

Does anybody know of any major market (let's say top 25 markets) stations that refrain from using the time/temp bug outside of mornings and say winter weather? WXYZ and WDIV still do not use their bugs (noon, 5, 6, 7, 11) and virtually every other station I have seen now uses them always so I was wondering if there were any others outside these two oddballs that don't use theirs...

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C A N A D I A N I S M I N C O M I N G

 

Time/temp bugs are only used for morning shows, usually for Global and Citytv's local morning newscasts. Some Global stations (i.e. Edmonton and Calgary) uses the bug for evening newscasts. CityNews Toronto recently added a time/temp bug last year to compete with CP24's - who is a 24 hour channel.

 

Otherwise, time/temp bugs are basically...not a thing here.

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In DC, WRC, WJLA, and WUSA use them for all newscasts except the 11pm. WTTG uses theirs on all newscasts except Good Day DC from 9-11am, and News Channel 8 uses theirs on all programming outside of infomercials and the replays of Nightline/WNT.

 

When I lived in Raleigh, WRAL uses theirs in the morning and noon (along with all WRAZ newscasts), WTVD uses theirs on all newscasts, and WNCN only uses theirs in the morning or during breaking news coverage.

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In Dallas, KDFW, KXAS, and WFAA use time/temp bugs on all newscasts. KTVT uses time/temp on all newscasts except 10pm.

 

In Chicago, WLS, WMAQ, WBBM, WGN, and WFLD uses a time and temp bug on all newscasts. WMAQ even uses a time/temp bug on syndicated programming.

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I think this thread was started asking why some stations don't use a "time and temp" bug (but has turned into a list thread where everyone chimes in with their local market line-up of time/temp bug users).

 

It could be a variety of reasons (like if a station doesn't use one at all, it could be a technology reason...a CG can't generate the time and temperature). But what I have heard in the past is that stations won't use a time and temp bug on their late news so people wont be constantly reminded about what time it is, and therefore will be less likely to realize how late it is/turn off their TV and go to bed. It may seem far fetched, and that could be just one persons theory, but it's my effort to answer the question.

 

EDIT: I guess the OP was asking for some stations in big markets that don't use T&T Bugs rather than an answer to a question. But, maybe someone was curious about knowing a reason against using one, idk.

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I think this thread was started asking why some stations don't use a "time and temp" bug (but has turned into a list thread where everyone chimes in with their local market line-up of time/temp bug users).

 

It could be a variety of reasons (like if a station doesn't use one at all, it could be a technology reason...a CG can't generate the time and temperature). But what I have heard in the past is that stations won't use a time and temp bug on their late news so people wont be constantly reminded about what time it is, and therefore will be less likely to realize how late it is/turn off their TV and go to bed. It may seem far fetched, and that could be just one persons theory, but it's my effort to answer the question.

 

EDIT: I guess the OP was asking for some stations in big markets that don't use T&T Bugs rather than an answer to a question. But, maybe someone was curious about knowing a reason against using one, idk.

Actually that's interesting about the late newscasts.. I wonder about the rationale for the others from Noon on though.. Telling somebody it's 535pm shouldn't effect their viewing. I can see the caution on late news though.

 

For the sake of completeness while we are at it WJBK uses their for all newscasts and WXYZ's 10pm on WMYD uses theirs to match.

 

It's sounding like it's fairly unusual to not use it at all outside of mornings in a large market if the sample so far is an indicator.

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It's also worth pointing out that it's not so much necessary in places with microclimates where the weather can vary widely in the coverage area. In the Bay Area, only KGO has the temperature in their bug, and that was only a recent addition. (KRON's mega weather ticker doesn't count). Most of them do have the clock, though KNTV and KTVU don't have one for their dayside and nightside shows most of the time.

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C A N A D I A N I S M I N C O M I N G

 

Time/temp bugs are only used for morning shows, usually for Global and Citytv's local morning newscasts. Some Global stations (i.e. Edmonton and Calgary) uses the bug for evening newscasts. CityNews Toronto recently added a time/temp bug last year to compete with CP24's - who is a 24 hour channel.

 

Otherwise, time/temp bugs are basically...not a thing here.

 

Doesn't some CTV stations that produce and air CTV Morning LIVE, have a time bug?

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In Dallas, KDFW, KXAS, and WFAA use time/temp bugs on all newscasts. KTVT uses time/temp on all newscasts except 10pm.

 

In Chicago, WLS, WMAQ, WBBM, WGN, and WFLD uses a time and temp bug on all newscasts. WMAQ even uses a time/temp bug on syndicated programming.

 

KTVT uses the time & temp bug for its 10pm as well.

 

I'm not sure if WMAQ was the first station or not to use the time/temp on their bug outside of their newscasts, but they've been doing it since the late 1990s. In recent years, stations like WNYW have also done this practice, but I'm not sure if they still do it.

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It's also worth pointing out that it's not so much necessary in places with microclimates where the weather can vary widely in the coverage area.

 

San Diego is in that boat. And our stations are a mixed bag as far as time and temp bugs:

 

KSWB, XETV, and KFMB have time and temp for all newscasts.

KNSD only has time and temp for morning and midday.

KGTV only has time and temp for morning, midday 4pm and 7pm.

KUSI only has time and temp for the mornings.

 

But in our market, it is pointless to have the temp because of the variation of temperature across the market. On a summer day temps range between 70 and 110 and in the winter temps range between 40-70.

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But what I have heard in the past is that stations won't use a time and temp bug on their late news so people wont be constantly reminded about what time it is, and therefore will be less likely to realize how late it is/turn off their TV and go to bed. It may seem far fetched, and that could be just one persons theory, but it's my effort to answer the question.

 

I think that makes a lot of sense. People know they are watching the 11PM news but chances are they don't actively think of the time during the show.

 

Here in Baltimore the time/temp bugs only appear during the morning. I do wish that WMAR would keep their time/temp up all the time because their grid graphics look awkward with out it.

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I think that makes a lot of sense. People know they are watching the 11PM news but chances are they don't actively think of the time during the show.

 

Here in Baltimore the time/temp bugs only appear during the morning. I do wish that WMAR would keep their time/temp up all the time because their grid graphics look awkward with out it.

I think the Scripps bug placement generally allows too much dead space below it without time/temp. I wish WXYZ would use it too... It just looks better...

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Note: the pairs of stations separated by slashes are duopolies.

 

In Los Angeles, KCBS 2 (CBS O&O)/KCAL 9 (CBS-owned indie)*, KTLA 5 (CW), KABC 7 (ABC O&O), and KMEX 34 (Univisión O&O) have the time/temp bug on for all their newscasts; while KNBC 4 (NBC O&O)/KVEA 52 (Telemundo O&O) have it on for all newscasts but the 11 PM and KTTV 11 (Fox O&O) has it on for all newscasts but the 10 PM.

 

*An exception for 2/9 is that the time and temp are not shown when the two stations are simulcasting, such as breaking news.

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Here's a question to save this thread from getting too far into "list" territory: Do temp bugs even matter at this point? Big market stations cover such large regions that trying to condense the entire viewings area into one single reading is just plain stupid. I know of at least one station in town that uses their own thermometer at their studio for their temp bug. Naturally, it will read differently than the "official" observation at the airport (the reading presented in the weather graphics) most of the time and way different than the "inland" counties that aren't on the shores of Lake Michigan. Do people in Waterford (well inland) care that it's 48 degrees nearer to the lake when it may be 10 to 15 degrees warmer or colder by them??

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[quote="NateinFLA, post: 143221, member: 405"

It could be a variety of reasons (like if a station doesn't use one at all, it could be a technology reason...a CG can't generate the time and temperature). But what I have heard in the past is that stations won't use a time and temp bug on their late news so people wont be constantly reminded about what time it is, and therefore will be less likely to realize how late it is/turn off their TV and go to bed. It may seem far fetched, and that could be just one persons theory, but it's my effort to answer the question.

 

This is what I was going to say...it makes sense.

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It could be a variety of reasons (like if a station doesn't use one at all, it could be a technology reason...a CG can't generate the time and temperature). But what I have heard in the past is that stations won't use a time and temp bug on their late news so people wont be constantly reminded about what time it is, and therefore will be less likely to realize how late it is/turn off their TV and go to bed. It may seem far fetched, and that could be just one persons theory, but it's my effort to answer the question.

 

This is what I was going to say...it makes sense.

 

 

Just like not putting clocks in casinos.

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