GodfreyGR

WCCO did not go for "First Alert"... But say hello to "Next Weather"! https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2022/04/21/what-is-next-weather/

Doing your show from the nation's capital has some advantages... You main anchor stationed there when news breaks in America's largest city isn't one of them.

WCCO wins most time slots and demos in MN... Ratings discussions have the evidence.

Could another reason Today and GMA are phasing out outside pieces is due to pre-recording interviews and segments?

And with CBS right across the street doing more outside/Times Square stuff is important to re-establish dominance on the block Not that CBS has made effective use of their real estate outside of the first week of Gayle's relaunch...

Lead In. We know that in major markets that CBS is not first with even local newscasts (we have data for Chicago, Minnesota, et al on another thread) We can assume that CBS is not winning in other major markets (NYC, LA, DFW, the list goes on) and that does not help. Even in markets where CBS does well with news (WCCO, for example says they have #1 from 5-7 Central) the viewer is a creature of habit- what stops them from switching to GMA or Today at 7am?CBS not only needs to provide quality programming but also burdened with providing such good programming that the viewer breaks their normal habits. Same sentiment translates to CBSEN.

I could get on the Ann Curry train... She fits the CBS "straight news" mantra, and I was hoping she would have replaced Norah on the Gayle King Show. No chance she would likely overtake Lester Holt for the #2 spot, but nevertheless it would be a good chance to redeem herself for getting screwed over by Lauer on "Today". Even if she was the stop gap while a long-term host was groomed, it would transition nicely into a role at 60 Minutes.

Speaking of changing anchors every few years, another problem with moving Tony to Evening News is yet another casting change to the Gayle King Show... What are the chances they give a former anchor another shot? Pelley? Glor?

WBBM/CBS Chicago's website has a shiny new look that mimics the main CBSNews.com page. Huge emphasis on the CBS News Chicago branding- gotta look a little to see a CBS2 logo anywhere Edit: WCBS is rocking the new look as well

Coworker and I were talking about this yesterday (sorry I didn't think to post about this then). So- either FCC denies the KVRR sale and breaks up KVLY's duopoly (or would they be grandfathered in?) Or they allow the sale and the ownership rules are all out the door? That's how I feel this reads between the lines...

Update: Collin has landed a job in the Twin Cities reporting on the stories "she wasn't allowed to do in recent years at WCCO". https://www.startribune.com/former-wcco-tv-anchor-liz-collin-joins-conservative-site-alpha-news/600149396/

Question/Observation... For the renewals, KXMC (Minot, ND) is listed. However, KXMB (Bismarck, Hub of Nexstar's North Dakota operations), KXMA (Dickinson, ND) and KXMD (Williston, ND) are all not listed with the renewals. That said, Down in South Dakota, KELO/KDLO/KCLO are all listed individually. So... Are there still holdouts with Nexstar CBS Renewals? Or am I overthinking all this?

Fact Check time! KSTP's does use the new ABC logo- A quick scroll through the homepage of their website shows that... I counted 8 new ABC logos, 3 old logos. Since I watch their newscasts, click on any recent video and you will see the new logo used on all on-air graphics (except mic flags). And if we're bring honest, as small of a scale the ABC logo is the average/casual viewer probably doesn't notice or care about the change. Also- I'll go on the argument (again...) that it's not necessarily retro. The logo goes back to the red box/parallelogram a few times from the original inception. The most recent case in 2021, Fox9 switched to the new O&O look making every station's primary color a shade of blue (4, 5, 9, and 11). KSTP simply differentiated themselves by changing their color scheme to red/white/black.

Liz Collin has left WCCO after 14 years. The STrib sums it up pretty thoroughly.

I hear Matt Lauer is available CBS does like to find work for Today Show alums (Bryant, Couric, Morales)

But with everyone having wx apps on their phone which are more accurate for the temp thanks to location tracking etc, is time/temp really necessary on the screen? Or in the days of cleaner, simpler looks is it just clutter that can be jettisoned?

More writing on the wall- that shiny new Studio 57 set can probably make for an easy move for CBSEN back to NYC

It's the '98 Camry of news desks- CBS is gonna get 100,000+ miles out of that sucker!

But what I'm asking is why would Forum go for the waiver to get the full KVRR signal in the sale if that was going to be the move anyways? It seems that is the more difficult route to go...

Jon Ellis is reporting on the waiver application to buy the full power license/signal for KVRR... Notes the only time this move has worked was Gray in Sioux Falls, suddenly KVRR made it a three-way race for #1 in the market, and Forum would keep the two Fargo newsrooms separate (has any dupoloy ever actually done that?) https://www.northpine.com/blog/2022/01/22/forum-seeks-waiver-for-24m-purchase-of-fargo-duluth-fox-affiliates/

How competitive are the ratings there would be my question? If WJMN has had strong viewership, that might keep them afloat for a while at least?

Indeed. That's why they're proud of all their "regional news partners"! Watch for LOTS of filler from WOOD, WFRV, WGN, and for some reason they think people in the UP care about what's happening in Indy from WTTV!

Here's a first look of what WZMQ looks like as a CBS affiliate... At least logo wise. Posted this on their facebook page- Guessing it came from WICU since it's the same graphics?

Done. Let's get speculating!

Doesn't this belong in speculation? Wondering the same... For precedent, has anything like this happened before where a big three network just jumps affiliates literally overnight? And what kind of contract expires on the 21st of a month? Wouldn't you always do the first or last day of a month?