CircleSeven

And Lockwood received the greenlight from the FCC today on its soon-to-be new flagship station.

I hope that ain't that case either. I refuse to hear WABC using the new version KABC is currently using. "Channel 7 Eyewitness News" is a far better brand, and a brand most folks can relate to. And the brand shows that they care about the locality of a brand, instead of placing a corporate stamp on it, despite being the network's flagship station. Do they even used "ABC 7" for programming promos or they also used "channel 7"? The only consistent solution would be keep the "ABC 7" logo in tack, and just call it "Channel 7" for the overall branding, not just for news. But do you think those suits from around the corner is going to hear that?

Here's WTHR's power increase application. I remember when it was posted back on July 5. This would be their third power increase, as they want to blowtorch it to 77kW (from 22kW > 30kW > 42.1kW). And they also filed an STA application, which means they want that increase to happen immediately. Also as you see on the application a 'request of waiver'. As you know, back in April, the FCC has place a temporary moratorium or a "freeze" on new applications to maximized the facilities of a full-power television station, pending the outcome of those upcoming spectrum auctions. But since this station is on the VHF dial, and the FCC wants a good chunk of some of the UHF allotments for broadband use, I don't think they'll have much of an issue to request this waiver. But its a gamble because of the large ERP. We'll see how this goes.

They started airing that promo on Friday during Wheel. I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch until I hear more of Rose's VO, which August is roughly a vacation month. Bill Ratner is no doubt a very familiar, well known voice over. He also not one of the younger VO like these Johnny-come-lately ones that they just tell you to "read this" and that's it. But he highly reminds me of the days when he VO'd promos at sister-station KABC. I'm not sure if he continues to VO. I think he only did promos while the now late Chuck Riley did the opens. Now its Charlie Van Dyke and there's a lady by the name of Virginia Hamilton that do the station programming promos. He's is way better than Roger Rose. But I still would feel better if I hear Ron Rolland again. I seriously don't think that will happen anytime soon. I don't think of him as being Channel 2's VO (which he was for over a decade). The only issue I have about Ratner is that he's overused, not only at stations, but in several movie trailers, and several food & automobile advertisements. You here him everywhere. Just tonight before the 10pm news, I heard him from that car commercial. I think in September 2011, Rose had laryngitis, and some younger VO that typically does promos for "The Chew", he filled in for Rose on Windy City Live, and Roger Thompson did the news promos for a little bit. So even though Ratner did promos for the last two weeks, I still think he's filling in for Rose. Now if they are deciding to use Ratner more on the news side, I wish he could VO the new opens, should they change the opens up. And if they are pursuing Ratner for the news and want to keep Rose, he could be the secondary voice for promos, sponsor plugs and keep voicing Windy City Live. Speaking of Thompson, I haven't heard a lot of his VOs in recent days/weeks. I'm not too sure if they'd pulled the plug on him or not. He voiced the "Windy City Live's Pillow Talk segment" promo. But within the last two weeks, they had replaced Thompson's voice for Rose's voice on that specific promo. And ever since Windy City Live returned doing live shows on Thursday, they didn't include Rose's opening VO, assuming that they might've still been on vacation or something. So I don't think this is a foregone conclusion. So hopefully if we hear Rose's VO again, and we continue to hear more of Ratner, I'm hoping we'll see which VO do which show/promo, etc.. And besides, we have one more week of the 11am news. Anything could happen either within this week or after Friday, leading into next Monday's daytime programming change. And you know those network suits in New York are celebrating. But I don't think the locals here are feeling that same vibe. It will be sad to see the station from being the last O&O to air LIVE! at 9am to becoming the only O&O without having a midday newscast. Unrelated to this, I wished they can get rid of that Katie Couric repeat at 1:07am and reinstate the 10pm rebroadcast. I don't think Couric has enough numbers on its main airing to deserve a late night repeat. Let it air on late night, only if there's a pre-emption like a breaking news story or a college football game that airs during the holidays.

This probably don't mean much, but WLS just got a new 3-second "LATE NIGHT MOVIE" bumper graphic. The font used is the same as what they use on the news, with the new ABC 7 logo and callsign at the bottom. It replaced that 1997 one with that old cinematic camera. But the movie opening sequence from 1997 is still in use, at least for now. But it would be nice if we see that new graphic in motion should it ever be the case.

As of 3:58pm, they've changed the on air bug to new ABC logo, replacing the one that was used since last October 1st.

Just at 9:25pm tonight, on the 10pm tease, it appears those transitions, they'd replaced the Glossy-Glassy ABC logo to the new ABC logo.

The last time I've seen the streams, they'd used those customized 615-composed "Action News Arrangements" cues. I don't think they'd ever used any Gari theme. If Nexstar had the guts to get rid of Gari's News Station in Central New York after two decades of usage, despite using every update Gari has thrown to them, I don't think WKBW is safe, should Nexstar acquires it. I wished they would use the right MCTYW cues, instead of just using the main theme w/vocal from the opening/bumper/close. There are several cues of MCTYW they could use that would fit nearly all of its newscast, instead of just using that one cue for all the shows. It's more of a sentiment, as I explained back in 2008, and I re-elaborate it just a few months ago. The longevity of a news theme means more than anything else. A local station today don't even have any sort input into the music, and have that same music last longer than five years, longer than ten years and so on. Any new theme these composers make these days, the stations would immediately grab them, "oh it sounds okay, I'll use it". They'll just "change just for the sake of change". And when they feel the theme no longer has a purpose anymore, and they want something new, after using the theme for a short period of time, stations throw the older themes away. Absolutely no sentiment. Since my 2008 posting, WCSH 6, KTVU & KARE 11 sadly got rid of their longtime themes. Luckily WPVI, WJZ, WTOC, WAFB, plus KFSN, WPLG, WBNS, WABC, KABC, and probably a couple of others are still holding on to their longtime themes. The station groups companies however are getting involved, only because they want to unify the group with the same music, so they can cut cost and such, and with no local station input. 615 could face a double whammy should that Gannett/Belo deal closes. They lost when Gannett implemented the 2008 Pyburn/Rampage look. And I would just feel bad if the Spirit stations let go of Propulsion, after getting their best version of Propulsion. Only I can wish that Nexstar would show some sort of "heart" to keep MCTYW on WKBW. But as I stated earlier, what happened to WSYR, it's hard to say if Nexstar wouldn't do the same thing for WKBW. Shocking that Nexstar hasn't went to Arnold and have them composed a standardized theme, and if that's the case, they would probably have to composed two themes for the virtual duopoly partner, similar to what Gari did with the "A & B" themes for Hearst. Nexstar probably don't have all that capital to have them composed a commissioned theme. WLS, WPVI, WJZ and the others are the prime examples of having music that has sentimental value, not only towards the heritage, traditions and the hallmarks of the stations, but to the viewer that know exactly how that music resonates with that brand. You can't see that with other stations, even if they'd tried because many of the themes they use, they'll just throw it in the can after a short time. When a longtime theme gets dropped, it'll probably take eons for folks to get use to a new theme. Chroma Cues is staying strong for 25 years at the same station, WKBW had MCTYW for 31 years before letting it go for five years using that IMO not so good theme from 615, and bringing it back after their 50th anniversary celebration. And WLS is about to hit that 21 year mark in the Fall. Should Idler & Miles follow through and end up doing the inevitable, I don't even know what I would say. But I will say it will not be good. I feel that if its been here this long, why not let the theme keep on going. These newer themes today don't have that same style the older themes have. Longevity is key, and that's how many of. It may not work for many of the stations now, because they'll probably do their own tradition, to change their themes every so frequently (I cannot believe I'm calling that a tradition) it's like you hear one theme today, and the next theme tomorrow. Use your theme as long as you can, and that theme would have sentimental value. It won't work for the Nexstar stations, with their current portfolio and the ones that are coming forward should the ComCorp stations close and if they do acquire Granite. I already predicting that the Gari themes will go bye-bye anyway in Fresno duo, once KSEE/KGPE goes HD later this year. EDIT!: I just realized something, With the exception of KOFY since KGO produces news for them, and WTVH using Non-Stop's Momentum, all the rest of the stations are using a 615 theme. Should Nexstar take the entire group, most of their music may be changed to an Arnold theme. That would be another whammy for 615.

The question is which virtual backdrop they're going to use. Nevertheless WLOX ain't got nothing to worry about.

No Yellowstone & Idaho Broadcast Partners are/will be indirect subsidiaries of Frontier (no shell). Yellowstone ain't got nothing to do with Brady. Here's a list of what Jason Wolff (owner of Frontier) also owns. And here's Brady's list. I hope this shows some clarification.

One of the Frontier apps were greenlighted today. Today it's KCWY. So far that's two Sunbelt stations that gotten their apps approved by the FCC. If it goes at this rate the Idaho stations should not be far behind.

To be fair, WLS announced its 9am expansion of the Saturday Morning news (at the same time the announcement of their Windy City Live move to 11am in June) before WMAQ announce their 5am expansion of their news. It's just so happens that WLS has move their launch up by a couple of weeks (the initial date of implementation was September 7). Back this weekend, I saw the program guides and I saw the 8am portion got extended to 10am, and I thought it was a mistake, even that E/I block was out of pattern. But come to find out, its not. That Litton block will shift an extra hour from 10am-1pm.

I'm watching the stream now. Aerial doesn't sound right with WSYR. This just blows. I didn't feel this way since KTVU dropped the Randall theme three years ago. History and longevity went down the drain yesterday in Central New York.

Where's the proof? You have any aud/vid caption? If that is the case, this is some sad shit. Over two decades with the same music package, yet they've been using updates left and right throughout that two decade span. But you can't be too shocked because it had to been a corporate move since most of the Nexstar stations used an Arnold theme. If true, this is truly sad nevertheless.

I first heard Bill Ratner's voice when I first had KABC on satellite in 2000 (at that time, I didn't know his name), but since then, I sense that his voice is getting more deeper now, since that time that I mentioned, even after Channel 2 dropped him for Brian Lee.

Bill Ratner. He filled in for Roger Rose on the 5pm promos all week. Some of the time, they would use Roger Thompson, but like I stated on a previous post, they've been using him even less.

Yeah it does. Although I like the logo! The same font as the early 90s GMA.

At least how I see it: Chicago's #1 News - YES Chicago's News Leader - NO People Make the Difference - NO Your News Starts Here - NO Your News, Your Way. - NO When Idler showed up, he brought WTVD's "Keeping You Connected" slogan. That's been used from time after time in recent months. Before that it was a promo of "Stay Connected", promoting their news through the use of social media. The "Chicago's News Leader" was used from a promo (and it was one of the first appearance of current VO Roger Rose) when WLS showed their objection, after the announcement of that LNS was being formed by the four other Chicago stations. But I haven't heard it since then. I don't think they ever used the Your News Starts Here slogan, but it was used during those using the slogan "Your News, Your Way". And we all remember those 2003 "People Make A Difference" promos profiling each of 10pm anchor personalities. This was made after the departure of Diann Burns. But that slogan was carried on even after the 2005 graphic change. As those other slogans been used, the "People Make The Difference" slogan have been used less.

Well it's about time for this station to start a 5pm. Hearst's WMTW in Portland, ME will have a new 5pm newscast, starting Sept 9. Dr. Phil will be moving to 3pm, and Ellen DeGeneres will keep its 4pm slot leading in to the new 5pm news.

FCC greenlights KYMA's sale today. Will the KSWT app follow?

New Retrans Fight!!!!: And this is already a battle between Disney & Dish Network. The Daily Variety states, if there's no deal by September 30, there will be no ABC in eight markets, ESPN, Disney Channel and other cable networks. Disney is one of the broadcasters has already filed a lawsuit against Dish for its Ad-skipping DVR service Hopper.

I'm not sure but I'll make a heavy assumption based on this ratings chart of KDBC's TOC app from Cunningham to Sinclair, you don't see any Mexican stations. So I don't think it includes stations east of the border.

From a recent filing, the FCC approved a STA for WHTV to operate from where appears to be that tower you've mention in lower power while they're hooking up the maximized facilities. Here's WHTV's coverage area for the folks to see, and its similar to certain stations in other states where they are in the far fringes of other coverage areas (Flint, Battle Creek & Western half of Wayne County). It's almost like TBN's WWTO in LaSalle, IL, it serves the far-fringes to many Illinois markets, including some western sections of Chicago, yet Chicago proper can't get the signal (and who would want to watch that channel anyway?). To me its kind of a gray area because, even though it does have a huge coverage area, would the objectors would argue that this is consider WHTV as a "Lansing Station"? Even though it the majority of that coverage area greatly serves areas south of Lansing, almost close to the Ohio border (in tip-toes to Toledo). I'm still stunned that the Trib would use one of those Illinois side stations, since I really thought they would've have to use a shell to acquire KTVI, since that have this much full-powers in St. Louis. So if Fox wants to pursue to get WMYD, and they include WHTV on the voices chart (even if viewers in Detroit or western Wayne county probably can't view the stations), good luck trying to sell that to the FCC. Now I wanna get my two cents on WKBW & MCTYW, as I am a heavy proponent of that theme. I was thrilled almost five years ago when they brought back that theme song in tandem of the station's 50th anniversary. It was 2003 when they drop the theme they've used for 30 straight years, for some generic contemporary theme made by the folks at "Casa Quarter-Past-Six" in Nashville. To me it was all fine and dandy, until those horrendous in-house graphics and the HD launch. The use of the theme as a bumper & open to fit their nasty graphics is just look right. I love MCTYW and I don't want the station to drop it the second time, but I don't think its right for them to just use that one cut for the opening and the bumper. Hell, there not even using the proper right, assuming they too lazy to edit that bumper cue or whatever. Let me go over there at KB, or anyone else can carefully select the proper MCTYW cues to use for them, instead of using that same cue for open/bumper/close. But before they even do that, they need to tear down that set they've been using and throw those graphics in the garbage, or give them to some damn university, and those folks could compose better graphics than that. I would love KB to bring back the pre-2003 circle 7 logo, and hire a good firm (Hothaus, GO, etc) to compose them decent graphics. It's very safe to say nothing is going to happen, until a new owner take place. Granite is all but done in the TV business. Although you've seen Nexstar having Arnold themes left and right throughout most of their portfolio, I've seen them honoring some stations that have used non-Arnold material (at least for now), including WSYR with News Station (which used updated themes left and right since they'd first picked up the theme two decades ago) & KLRT with the Fox O&O theme (but I think they'll shove an Arnold theme in the non-too-distant future. Should Nexstar acquire KB, they'll probably do some heavy lifting, not like WPTY's transformation, but maybe similar to what they're doing for KSEE/KGPE in Fresno. And even if they do change their set and graphics and/or either Nexstar or whoever new owner would do the dummy and drop MCTYW for a 2nd time, for some new junk theme, I still think WKBW will stay a status quo, in terms of ratings, because no one will break habit from the market leader WIVB or 2nd place WGRZ. If they want to be competitive, they can put Mike Randall back to the evening shows. The dumbos that thought of bringing a weeknight personality to the mornings would get their ratings up was just plain dumb. Whoever runs WKBW will have tons and tons of work ahead of them. Good luck tackling that.

At least one blackout got lifted tonight. Raycom & Dish Network settled their carriage dispute. The Raycom stations will return on Dish within the overnight period.

WTMJ has been off for the past two weeks and now the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel states that three TWC customers have filed a class-action lawsuit because of the lost of Channel 4. With the retrans fights getting so fierce, the consumer is the true losers in all of this. Even if they get the deal done, the consumer is going to see a rate increase. So that's a double whammy.