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Tegna's CW agreement runs through the end of August 2026. It does not contain any clauses about removal because the network has bought a station (other affiliation agreements I have read do have such provisions). The CW can only terminate the agreement: If the station's technical parameters change so drastically that "the Affiliate becomes of materially less value to The CW" If the station owner is bankrupt, or if the network is bankrupt In the event of breach of contract If the network announces it is ceasing operations, six months' notice required If the station enters into or terminates an SSA or LMA without network approval I believe it will be three years before KUSI becomes The CW in San Diego, unless the agreement is amended. But you are right to point out that the call letters are newly prominent as of May 24...

This is so stupid, the graphics were great for what they were, and miles better than before. CNN has had the WORST graphics for a while. CNN will stay in 3rd place until they sell it to someone who cares about the news.

So you’re still arguing that Gray is going to balk over the terms of affiliation when they already renewed with CBS? Given that Paramount is dealing with more important issues, like cutting content on their streaming service, I seriously doubt that pissing off Gray over one Atlanta TV station is a high priority. Hell, TV stations in general are not their priority. Why are they going to pour money into starting a local news operation from scratch on a channel few watch when their affiliate is not only doing the job, but also showing ratings improvement? And it’s not as though CBSMV fare can’t air elsewhere; the only CBSMV show on WUPA is Drew Barrymore. That’s it. At the end of the day, CBS renewed with Gray, and they’re not going anywhere in Atlanta.

Why do I get the feeling Zazlav watched NBC Nightly News and threw a tantrum that his graphics '(censored) (censored) (censored)' compared to their 'new (censored) package)' and told everyone 'start (censored) over' after who knows how much work was done? I would not be shocked if CNN's graphics department hates him just as much as those at TCM right now (and since CNN+ was scuttled, it trebled). The only time I can really think of a reverse being done was WPVI (we all know THAT story), or probably in the 70s or 80s because a newer machine just didn't work with the news department's ENG conversion yet and had to be back-burnered until it was fixed, or more rarely, a network switch forced an old system to be implemented as they were no longer licensed to use the network's software and devices (a la CBS).

Wow, weird to see a total reversion to a previous graphics package in the TV news biz. I've seen cases where someone new takes over shortly after a graphics change, and there's a swift changeover to something completely different (but new), but it's super strange to see a revert back to a previous package. Is there any time in the past that this has ever happened anywhere across the TV news landscape?

Just as I expected. The best move for CBS would be to sell WUPA.

Y'all don't have to worry about a switch in Atlanta. WANF will stay as a CBS affiliate. Gray has renewed its CBS deal in all of its 54 markets.

This is a weird thing to get hyped about. Geez.

Okay, relax. Did it create bias in their presentation of the weather? I think you’re making a big deal out of nothing.

Eh I'm mixed, while the new lower third's were only evolutionary and not revolutionary, admittedly they were a lot cleaner and simpler, with the ticker and such. This will be a confusing change for viewers but hopefully a new CEO will actually implement NEW, more modern L3'S, that goes for most of the shows as well.

I think this can have the potential to be a bit sleazy, but if we’re being honest, the ship has sailed on the era of “no sponsors on the news.” There are stations that put sponsorships for car dealerships and ambulance-chasing lawyers on the headline ticker and the 7-day forecast. Of course, there are also the pay-for-play advertorial shows that are disguised as talk shows, which John Oliver did a good job of pointing out. Those are far more egregious imo. While this was a news program, I think it was apparent that this wasn’t a news segment. It’s not as though we had coverage of the Russian coup attempt sponsored by Legoland.

The key here is that this wasn't a news segment. I see it as the equivalent of John doing a feature story on Legoland and interviewing people. Did he say or do something that is questionable/improper? I don't think this rises to the level where the journalistic integrity of John or CBS 2 is in question [or should be in question].

Unlike Disney, who for decades of the home video era created the artificial scarcity of limited releases before things are put back into the "Disney Vault", the stuff that's being pulled from streaming services may never see the light of day again unless somebody finds it in the dumpster, and then has to cough up the rights to have it see the light of day again.

High is blue cause it's usually dry and cool, low is red cause it is warm and wet, there is no reason for the H to be red aside from someone who knows nothing about weather maps trying to be different with their artistic opinions. Hence, why I said you made up almost everything you said because you wanted to sound smart. It's not rocket science, and anyone who went to school and knows at least how to read, if not produce a weather map knows this.

What good is it doing sitting in a warehouse when it could be out there in the culture for people to partake in? We talk an awful lot about money, money, money, but not so much about the social or cultural value of things.

It would have made natural sense if WANF let CBS go because of the SEC...but really, that was the only reason I could've seen them bailing. CBS's other event programming, the Masters across the state in Augusta, and the Falcons no longer stuck to WAGA most of the season because of the end of 'conference exclusivity' deals? That easily sweetened the pot for Gray to pull the trigger on renewal. The big Atlanta unknown now is where the CW goes, but I don't see it going on a prime station without compromising on NXT's end or time-buying being the result; it isn't going to be on WPCH though just because of Gray's current overall Atlanta blueprint.

They're throwing all the money at one creator (Taylor Sheridan, who refuses any script help and writes nothing but worn-down tropes) towards one demographic (which mostly watches INSP and FNC) while starving promotion from their other shows and creators outside the SpongeBobs and South Parks, and like any PG cable channel has been for the last ten years, you have to watch the content at the time it comes out before they pull it back because they refuse to let it thrive or give unknown creators security (the Heathers situation). Their model is unsustainable, and that their cable portfolio is now in the infomercials and home shopping level of filler nobody actually watches...they're lucky they have CBS primetime and Tom Cruise, because everything else they've touched is just not doing well.

The industry is such a mess, the streaming services can't even afford to keep EXISTING content that PAYING customers either are watching or want to watch. I sense another A.A.P. situation where a equity firm or consortium of companies buys up dead content to license elsewhere. What good is it doing sitting in a warehouse when it could be monetized, streamed or purchased outright?

They just renewed yesterday. They renewed after the whole argument was made here that CBS was itching to move their affiliation to WUPA. Now we’re speculating that they’re going to move again after they just renewed? I’m sure you’re right that CBS sees some value in WUPA. Maybe they generate enough revenue from the station that they don’t feel the need to sell. Perhaps they’re looking to pursue local sports rights. Maybe they can’t find a buyer even if they wanted one. None of that means that CBS is guaranteed to make such egregious terms for WANF in future negotiations to the point that they’ll force the affiliation to WUPA. Furthermore, if I’m Gray, and CBS forces my hand in Atlanta, what’s to stop me from switching the rest of my 80+ CBS affiliates to other networks as well? Maybe we disagree, but I really don’t think CBS is in a rush to piss off “the largest independent owner of CBS affiliates in the country,” as the TVNewsCheck article notes.

Good. CBS doesn't need to build a new local news department from scratch. It's genetic format wouldn't hold up againt WSB, AGA, or XIA, (not that WANF does well).

It's a countdown clock, they're not showing gore. Most people have thicker skin than the terminally online.

Bill Steffen winding down his schedule to emeritus status times out to when they came there and I'm beginning to wonder if there might also a component to that, along with the change to a more generic image/theming away from its longtime 'good friend to the community' framing.

Actually no, this is some 90s news stuff that we need. News channels need to find ways to bring drama and excitement without being about politics all the time. This is old school. This is on par with a camera following OJ in the Bronco. People secretly hope for death and destruction, that's why they watch. You can say it's immoral, but humanity at it's core is immoral, this is just giving the people what they want.

It fills two hours and provides a common branding to stations whose creative department simply does not exist any longer and are usually paired with Fox or the CW, or going at it alone. The days of Malrite, Gaylord and Grant's originality are long over.

I'm assuming this is the team actually purchasing time on KJZZ rather than Sinclair having the direct rights (though still holding marketing rights), which allows much more flexibility with the contract overall than they had with AT&TSN.

More likely, those stations just affiliate with MyNetworkTV or become independent and fill the gaps with extra syndie shows. As for The National Desk, only Pacific and Mountain time zone stations have the option of airing it in prime time by taking the “live” East feed of the show; I don’t doubt Sinclair might attempt to expand the program earlier to act as a optional gap-filler.

Daystar's YouTube thumbnails are all high quality design work, it wouldn't surprise me if they did that all in-house and WWJ just went with it. The logo is probably official, because someone had the common sense to refuse to slap anything with the word "News" on this show. Don't get your hopes up that they'll start rolling it out elsewhere... I'd wager this was done specifically to distance this from their news product, regardless of what time it airs.

That promo is impressive for a televangelist show. Usually, promos for televangelists are rudimentary with the most basic of promotions. Whoever is working at Daystar’s promo department needs a raise ASAP if they were able to do the CBS look in-house.

CNN will undo its graphics changes.