Glimmer

ABC's been running promos teasing a one-week-only return of a mystery personality starting January 4th. I'm getting the feeling it may be Sam filling in for Ginger.

Big news in Boston... http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/89448/wcvb-adding-two-weeknight-newscasts WCVB is adding 4:30pm and 7pm newscasts to its lineup beginning January 11. The move shifts Ellen to 3pm, Inside Edition to 4pm and Meredith to the late night ghetto at 1:05am.

And now, in what would be the ultimate Hell Freezes Over story ever, MSNBC is said to be close to entering talks with Keith Olbermann to return to the network, possibly in his old 8pm timeslot. The article also seems to indicate that the 9pm and 10pm timeslots are safe. http://www.mediaite.com/online/exclusive-nbcs-andy-lack-to-meet-with-keith-olbermann-on-possible-msnbc-return/

Like the article mentions, Kornacki has been the primary substitute on Hardball in recent months so I bet he'll continue with that too.

NBC Semantics

MSNBC confirms Kate Snow anchoring 3-5; Chuck Todd's 5pm show will be called Meet the Press Daily. Changes take place September 28; primetime unchanged for now (though one site reported rumors of All In taking the empty 6pm slot and Rachel Maddow moving to 8pm, but again RUMORS)

PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton to become a weekly Sunday morning show; final weekday airing is next Friday with the new Sunday morning PoliticsNation beginning exactly a month later on October 4. Another rolling news hour will take its place at 6pm. Another unconfirmed rumor has The Rachel Maddow Show and All In with Chris Hayes swapping timeslots starting September 14, though again this is unconfirmed.

Consider this The Curious Chase of Chase Cain. A little over four weeks after joining WISN as its new morning anchor, Cain has mysteriously and abruptly left the station. http://www.duanedudek.com/blog/2015/08/20/the-mystery-of-wisn-morning-anchor-chase-cain/

If this goes down, I wonder if a job split will happen; perhaps Amy doing news the first hour and segments the second hour, Josh reads for hour two and does segments the first hour. Or is that too complicated?

If anything, I think if Josh comes back it'll essentially be to set up him lead anchoring the inevitable third hour.

In true 'Hell freezes over' fashion, ABC is said to be in talks with NBC and Josh Elliott to buy out the remaining two years of his contract at the peacock and return him to GMA in his former newsreader role, perhaps as early as September. Everyone involved is denying it right now, but it wouldn't be on Variety if there wasn't a germ of truth to it. http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/josh-elliott-in-talks-to-return-to-good-morning-america-exclusive-1201552833/

According to Twitter, KARE, WCNC and WOWT are on the air with live or taped newscasts right now. KPRC and KARK are also on the air.

Not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere here but Let's Ask America is not returning next season: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/syndication-and-distribution/scripps-lets-go-lets-ask-america/139088 Wonder what will replace it: more news? More RightThisMinute? Actual viable syndicated programming?

I wouldn't be surprised to see some ABC affiliates do this after the Oscars.

According to some sites, ABC is looking for someone with a news background to replace Rosie.

It's funny you say that because one of the articles about Rosie's departure said that network execs see Nicolle as the only current panelist that isn't expendable and see the future of the program featuring her

The most interesting part to me is how the article branded KDNL as ABC St. Louis. I wonder if that's the new branding.

Dunno where to put this, but I have NEVER seen a ratings book like this in Milwaukee (even though it's always been a competitive market). Only 0.4 ratings points separated #1 WTMJ and #4 WISN at 10pm in the October book. http://onmilwaukee.com/movies/articles/tighttvrace.html

The news director and assistant news director at WFTS get the booth; if the version of events here are true, good riddance. http://ftvlive.com/todays-news/2014/10/17/news-director-deuce-blown-out-in-tampa

My guess: Sinclair proper buys KSNV, shells KVCW and sells KVMY.

Diane is FINALLY back tonight.

Didn't know where to put this but on Monday in Milwaukee, Movies! Is moving from WMLW 49.3 to WISN 12.2. Yep, the last remaining major station in the market without a subchannel is finally taking the plunge.

Double post

The latest rumors have Fox Sports aggressively going after Elliott.

Could there be another big M&A coming around the corner? http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2013/12/10/wkbw-tv-subject-of-sale-speculation.html Scripps buying WBKW would probably bring an immediate improvement to product, and I'm sure having a duopoly in Detroit with WMYD is attractive to them.