The graphics are fine. It's the content and delivery that screams low budget (and has since the start.)
Newsnet (along with WMNN) is exactly what I would expect from "news nerds" starting their own channel. There seems to be more attention (and money) spent on presentation (graphics, music, image campaigns, live trucks, etc.) than anything else. The number of stories I've seen on WMNN that are lengthy VOs over maps or a single still image is too high to count. WMNN has switched news music packages so frequently in the few years it's existed that I imagine Eric has his Stephen Arnold rep on speed dial. Weather is still being done with Apple Keynote, but at least they have 3 ENG trucks.
A few months ago, WMNN published a Facebook Live stream for severe weather coverage where midway through they lose power and end up off-air. They have to run extension cords out to one of their several completely unnecessary live trucks to use its generator, when they could have probably bought a small, permanently installed natural gas/propane generator for less than one of those trucks.
All the money spent on Newsnet could have probably expanded WMNN into a more serious news operation, but instead now we just have a national version of it. I have checked in on this operation since the day they signed on, and all I can say is they have at least started focusing more on the little amount of news in their area. At least they have reigned in filling the wheel with "around our area" interviews with the local Goodwill store manager.
I really hope Newsnet isn't the point where they jumped the shark.