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I don’t have an Excel spreadsheet where I’m tracking every report, but before my post I looked at stories posted on the websites of stations in the area to ground my perception in something close to reality. WPIX and WABC had the highest volume of these PR stories, while WCBS and WNBC had a lower volume. This is obviously an imperfect methodology since not every story makes it to the website. I’m not equipped to do a full media study but I think this is an interesting shift that at least merits a mention.

This Page Six story sounds like nothing more than guessing from "sources". (Much of Page Six is a lot of uneducated guessing) Contractually what they are suggesting would be extremely difficult - if not impossible - to pull off this fall. Yes, Wendy and Nick are produced by the same company but they are separate shows with separate advertising and station contracts. Let's use a different example, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are both produced by Sony. If one was to suddenly go off the air, they couldn't just offer up the other as a replacement. Wheel and Jeopardy are separate shows as are Wendy and NIck. Plus there is the fact that there are two separate productions crews these shows employ. IF Wendy does not return, the more likely scenario would be that Debmar-Mercury would use guest hosts to fill out the rest of the season. This would fulfil their commitment. In fact, considering they are contractually obligated to deliver stations a set number of weeks of first-run programming to their affiliates, they may have to utilize guests hosts until Wendy is able to return.

This doesn't surprise me, but I noticed Betty is gone from the main Bio page, and it actually says this on her old bio. Not confirmed but this seems to spell it out clearly: https://pix11.com/author/betty-nguyen/ Definitely makes me think this demotion wasn't her decision. I just hope they give the role to Kirstin already, if she wants it.

9/11/01: Live with Regis & Kelly featuring WABC news coverage

I want to preface this by saying I don't mean this in a particularly inflammatory way, and I do not intend to delve into my personal views on policing in New York, I just want to neutrally note recent changes to WABC's editorial output. I have noticed that there have been a lot of NYPD public relations stories fairly high up in the running order of WABC's newscasts, sometimes multiple times a day. Things like NYPD funding basketball courts, hosting a dance party (seemingly attended by 5 people), NYPD-sponsored haunted houses (https://abc7ny.com/nypd-haunted-house-willets-point-fort-totten/11103618/) etc. Other stations (WNBC, WCBS) do not seem to be including this volume of reporting on this subject matter. While individually I don't think it's problematic to include community interest pieces like this (these are events happening in the viewing area after all), the disproportionate volume and prominence of such pieces are difficult to view as anything other than propagandistic in intent. Again, I do not mean this to be inflammatory but rather observational - peer stations in the market have been making other editorial choices so I thought this was worth noting here.

Several years ago, ESPN Classic aired a number of old SportsCenter broadcasts in honor of ESPN's anniversary. Just recently, I came across an old broadcast from ESPN's infancy which featured of all things, slow pitch softball. The video, by the way, is courtesy of Andy Wenzel who, if I am not mistaken, recorded these games that aired back in 1979. So, I want you all to take a listen to this video and listen at 21:29, because it features a few seconds of a cut from the first ESPN music package. NOTE: The theme at 21:29 was also used to close out a SportsCenter broadcast during this period. I share this video, because it begs me the question: Who in the world composed the first ESPN music package?

I could see Nick Cannon taking over next fall. Would be easier to plan switching stations and all that. Not so much immediately.

Someone at TVA has been watching football on Fox.

This could almost be like the Jeopardy! situation with guest hosts coming in and out. I can't picture Wendy being happy about this, because if some hosts prove to be a hit, he or she could end up being a replacement for her

WMYT ended up airing that episode of YS Sunday night at midnight. Someone must’ve seen this post.

I wouldn't be surprised if she never returns, as she's had so many health problems over the last few years, she'd be probably there one day and not the next day.

Wendy Williams is back on next Monday...but with guest hosts as she continues to recover. Sadly, there gets to be a point where for her affiliates, DebMerc better just name a permanent guest host or give the time back. Guest hosts rotating in and out has only made the repeats they have age worse than most.

I’ve always wondered about that as well as the other NBC 4’s, FOX 5 and CBS 2 affiliates.

KTRK has begun using it's new logo on social media Twitter,Facebook,and YouTube. Not on air yet which makes me think the O&O package is on the way.

It's ironic. They allowed themselves to be canned because they didn't get microchipped the shot, but the way the environment currently is some will have trouble getting jobs elsewhere (TV or not) because...the vaccine is required.

TV has a long history of second (third, fourth) chances. But, anyone leaving Gray for vaccination reasons would be wise to stay quiet. I already know of a few managers who won't hire a Gray castoff if they know that person refused a COVID-19 vaccine. Jumping to that local school district/hospital/animal shelter for P.R. won't be as easy either.

I could see Amanda Barren resurfacing at either WCHS or WOWK. Lots of former WSAZ people, whether they left on their own terms or fired for cause have crossed the street. Given Sinclair's past "bias" and the general consensus of politics in West Virginia, they would throw money at her when she's free and clear to jump over. And if the only reason was because of the vaccine, well, you get the idea. While not related, lest we forget Tom McGee, who's antics didn't stop him from going from WCHS (first DUI)....to WOWK (lawsuit and bad behavior)....back to WCHS (second dui), and resurfacing at the failed WHCP (now Gray's WQCW) news department. While these antics ended his time at each station, the memory was short enough for him to start anew elsewhere.

I know we are hearing of all of the carnage from high-profile Gray employees getting released. I wonder how the rank-and-file is holding up. Didn't Gray already disclose that a large number of their staff was already vaccinated? We may see a lawsuit or two down the road, especially if they were advised by their doctor not to take the vaccine for a legitimate medical reason. But the latter is probably your typical anti-vaxxer who's thought all along this is all a big hoax and this is the greatest infringment of their rights in this country's history. And a few months down the road, when their non-competes are up, I'm sure their non-mandating competition will scoop them up with open arms (especially if they rhyme with TIN-clair and HEX-star)

WJZY will be moving up Young Sheldon and Big Bang Theory to 1 and 1:30 in TMZ Live’s spot. (Except reversing the two shows). In the past they have done the same thing with TMZ in place of YS at 2:30. (BBT at 2). Which actually sort of justifies the extra run of TMZ Live on WMYT at 3 (though WJZY could air it in late night). WJZY did air BBT at 1 despite the guide saying TMZ Live. I recorded to get YS. However instead of airing YS they joined TMZ Live in progress at 1:30! Oh and according to zap2it, because of TNF WJZY and WMYT both aired the same episode of TMZ at 1am Friday morning because of TNF. The second runs of YBYL and 25WOL didn’t air.

Okay I'm just gonna say it before this thread turns insane: I don't think we need to see what each and every station's network overlay bug looks like.

They used the low viewership excuse for the RSN'S, WGN America/Newsnation,(twice), the ViacomCBS channels, (which was settled before a blackout could happen) and the AMC Networks in 2012, (even though Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and the Walking Dead were among the most popular shows at the time.

Ratings have been better for Jeopardy! with Mayim Bialik than with Mike Richards. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mayim-bialik-first-week-temp-154401373.html

They were shared to me privately, and no offense to anyone in particular, but there can be some loose lips around here, so no. I'm sure we'll see the final product soon enough, and no, I have to idea of the launch date(s).

Yikes! It has been season after season of unfortunate events for Wendy since she fainted on Halloween.

According to the Katz spreadsheet, Schitts Creek is the only other weekday syndicated strip produced by Debmar-Mercury. A lot of Fox O&O’s and their duopoly partners already have both Nick and Schitts even though some stations like WMYT have cut Schitts down to one episode per weekday. That might work.

These “retirements” are because they are making too much money. So no, they arent gonna go elsewhere, cause no one is paying old school money. Ken was probably making around 500K. They will bring in a replacement at 200-250.

And most likely, Amanda Barren of WSAZ. https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2021/10/6/gone-missing-in-west-virginia If she resurfaces in Charleston-Huntington, either Sinclair (WCHS/WVAH) or Nexstar (WOWK) could grab her. Given the current state of politics in West Virginia, it seems like its only a matter of time before WSAZ's uber-dominance there comes into question.

Same here for KTRK, my local ABC O&O station that has used the current graphics package for over 6 years and, by today's standards, hasn't aged well IMO.

Yeah honestly, I think its a bit basic, but it has grown on me. I hope the Circle 7s still get to keep their identities. We’ll have to see what happens, maybe in November, when the sweeps occurs, we will see an update in the graphics rollout for the stations? All of the O&O stations have been with their current graphics for over 5 years now. I hope WABC really changes their graphics, its always been subpar in my opinion from when they had rolled it out in 2016.

We're not doing this for every market. Everybody just stop, please.

I just got an email from YouTube TV saying that they reached a deal with NBCU.

The design company has this reel on their website showcasing the work they did for ABC. Interestingly, the ABC logo is downsized in the affiliate logos on this reel. Based on this and what we’re seeing in the rollout, it’s clear the owned stations pushed back on the the original idea. Also noteworthy, it that this reel shows what would be a WABC logo, but with the network logo placed the way KABC or KGO would.

Many people often associate the theme from KIRO's News Out of the Box era as a composition by Gerard Schwarz. It is not. Although the Seattle Symphony recorded the theme package under Schwarz as conductor, the themes were composed by Mark Haffner, as shown in this newspaper report from the Morning News Tribune: Haffner would later compose the more traditional News Now package, used during the NewsChannel 7 era, and which had the same sonic logo as the News Out of the Box package.

That was MG/Lin, not MG/Nexstar. Hearst should have taken WJAR, honestly.

Thing is when NBC sold the station in 2006, the Telemundo stations were operated independent of any NBC O&Os, they merged many operations later on. The sale was more of NBC getting out of smaller markets, essentially reversing the merger with Outlet 10 years earlier. NBC does not operate any fully English speaking duopolies. Even here in the NY area, most of Telemundo' 47s operations are completely separate from WNBC. It is not the same as CBS owning WCBS and WLNY. At the time when Nexstar bought MG, it was mentioned a key driver in Providence was that both WNAC and WPRI carried Sunday football, which was a major money maker. It outweighed WJAR's then significant dominance in news. Sadly, Nexstar sold WJAR to one of the worst options out there.

Media General simply traded up to WPRI/WNAC for the same reason NBC dumped WJAR in the first place....it was a solo station without a duopoly opportunity, (and one of their smallest markets at the time). Even though it was a heritage station, the allure of having a grandfathered duopoly persuaded Media General to sell out. I believe it was part of a trade between Sinclair & Media General as well. Maybe when WTTA was traded to Media General after being Tampa's lone Sinclair property?

Ehh I know in terms of promotion that’s generally how it works but sometimes folks do pass on that am slot . You have no life and you wake up at 1:30 am and go to bed at 7:30 . I would be good too.

Or Robb probably passed on that offer when he was filling in during those 10 months. On air personalities have personal lives they wanna tend to ya know..

This week began FOX's weekly screwing with prime access, fortunately for the last season. On Thursdays until TNF on FOX is done, WNYW moves You Bet Your Life up to 6:30 replacing one run of TMZ (they did the same last season when TMZ was at 7:30). WLUK in Green Bay does what they've always done: 5 PM newscast is shortened from 60 minutes to 30, allowing Wheel of Fortune to air an hour early at 5:30 PM Central, the only pre-access hour airing anywhere in the US on a semi-regular basis (not counting all the random time slots WOF Weekend gets moved to during college football). Of course, FOX will presumably still pre-empt 7:30 ET for World Series pregame and the WWE SmackDown season premiere preshows (the latter of which is optional; many non-O&O's bump this to sisters or subs). To think FOX wanted Wheel/J! on the O&O's.

The incompetence of WTNH in Hartford/New Haven, CT pretty much answered this. It's likely one big file. Last Friday, WTNH not only began airing the wrong episode of Wheel of Fortune, but they timed the commercial breaks incorrectly and kept cutting off the show in the middle of rounds, and leaving the actual commercial breaks as blank screens. Then halfway through the show, it kept switching back and forth between the wrong episode and the right one. What the heck was going on in the master control room that night? https://streamable.com/zqytp6