Stumbled onto this thread......very interesting observations.
I cannot comment on a lot of the pre-2000's knockoff's.......but I can comment that a lot of the similarity in looks post 2000's mandate joint blame between the stations and design firms.
As the budgets for packages started to steadily decline from 2000 on recycling design 'elements' and 'concepts' started occuring more and more within firms. Stations at the same time began pointing to other looks and 'wanting that' (and hoping to pay less since there was no real design time). This of course compromised the concept of a custom design all around.
This mindset evolved into the now standard 'syndication' model that everyone is into.
Custom work is rarer....and even when it's custom, less face it: US Affiliate News is still married to 'big giant 3D' with glows and flares...all combined into some variance of gold/blue.....blue/white....red/white. (general opinion, of course there are exceptions).
Just some thoughts on 'knockoffs'. So many reasons as to ;'why'; this situation exists.
