WWJ-TV CBS Detroit News

[e-dawg]

Will WWJ-TV ever produce a local newscast besides the morning weather/traffic update? Being #11 on the market and also an owned and operated station. Should WWJ-TV be producing local news at 5,6, & 11PM?

 

[Rusty Muck]

Given their failure in the late 90s with local news (even dragging down and destroying WKBD's news operation) I doubt that will ever come to pass. Even as WWJ/950 IS the only all-news station in Michigan.

 

[lugnuts6]

dont count them out yet...with this new guy the WCBS VP and ND also helming the CBS O&O stations group, ya never know ...

By the way ..look for all the CBS Detroit cluster going under one website just like NYC's CBS stations ... its started with CBSNewyork.com so here comes CBSDetroit.com

 

[MattParker]

Does anybody need to be producing local news any more? Audience is way down and what's left is demographically undesirable. In several large markets one of the four network affiliates have dropped local news. It's not just Detroit. With or without local news, the Evening News and the Morning Show trail badly. CBS can reach more people with re-runs.

 

[Garrett]

Does anybody need to be producing local news any more? Audience is way down and what's left is demographically undesirable. In several large markets one of the four network affiliates have dropped local news. It's not just Detroit. With or without local news, the Evening News and the Morning Show trail badly. CBS can reach more people with re-runs.

Local news is the main source of revenue for a local television affiliate, it is where a station makes the majority of money. CBS must have lost an unbelievable amount of money on their last local news attempt on the station for them to go this long without local news. One can only speculate that CBS only owns them as a platform for distributing network shows, and probably wishes to sell it. If you browse to the WWJ AM website, it goes to the CBS local web template that all major market CBS TV/radio clusters have gone to. Yet, WWJ TV does not show up on that site, and instead WWJ TV has its own website... I don't think CBS cares very much about WWJ TV.

 

[kilamanjero]

Does anybody need to be producing local news any more? Audience is way down and what's left is demographically undesirable. In several large markets one of the four network affiliates have dropped local news. It's not just Detroit. With or without local news, the Evening News and the Morning Show trail badly. CBS can reach more people with re-runs.

Local news is the main source of revenue for a local television affiliate, it is where a station makes the majority of money. CBS must have lost an unbelievable amount of money on their last local news attempt on the station for them to go this long without local news. One can only speculate that CBS only owns them as a platform for distributing network shows, and probably wishes to sell it. If you browse to the WWJ AM website, it goes to the CBS local web template that all major market CBS TV/radio clusters have gone to. Yet, WWJ TV does not show up on that site, and instead WWJ TV has its own website... I don't think CBS cares very much about WWJ TV.

I have found the WWJ TV situation quite peculiar for CBS. I guess CBS hasn't had to build a news operation from the ground up since the 1950s with their original slate of O&Os that it just wasn't worth it. However, I don't think WWJ brought down WKBD long time news operation. I believe CBS/Viacom just didn't care to continue with either back in 2002 after the start up on WWJ TV failed to cume major viewership, so they would like "screw it" with Detroit TV.

Another thing I have noticed is that all of their recent O&O acquisitions have news operations built from the ground up by another company then they took it over the semi-established operations. For example, KTVT had their built up by Gaylord and KOVR was maintained by Sinclair prior to the buyout.

 

[umfan]

WWJ-TV simply leveraged the WKBD newscast when they had the 30 minute broadcast that ended in 2002. They simply weren't generating enough revenue from it. The Detroit local TV news market is saturated and the potential return does not justify the investment that would be required to produce a newscast worthy of a CBS O&O. What might make money is something akin to what Channel 20 is doing leveraging a news operation in another city to produce newscasts for many markets.

What they've done in the mornings is not bad and they broadcast the CBS Evening News. Seems like WWJ is more than meeting its commitments.

 

[Rusty Muck]

dont count them out yet...with this new guy the WCBS VP and ND also helming the CBS O&O stations group, ya never know ...

By the way ..look for all the CBS Detroit cluster going under one website just like NYC's CBS stations ... its started with CBSNewyork.com so here comes CBSDetroit.com

If there is a CBSDetroit.com, that would involve WWJ-TV, WWJ/950 and WXYT AM/FM. And WWJ/950 would be providing all of the main local news content.

WDZH/98.7 and WOMC/104.3, being music stations, would be exempt.

 

[LouPerry]

On MAB Job opening is WWJ-TV looking for a news anchor.

 

[MattParker]

I guess CBS hasn't had to build a news operation from the ground up since the 1950s with their original slate of O&Os that it just wasn't worth it.

Local news on CBS owned stations was originally produced by the CBS News Division, so in a way they haven't had to build a news operation from the ground up since the 30s.

CBS already has a news operation in the market - on radio. In at least one other market, CBS did a TV newscast from their news radio station. They got video from the network and from local services that supply video to all the stations in the market (and probably some video news releases, too). Added video to wraps produced for radio. Put a fixed camera in one of the anchor studios. Had one of the radio presenters read the copy. It was cheap. It didn't look bad. It built on the news radio "brand" and even expanded it some. Other news radio stations send out radio reporters with video cameras and post the results on the station website, and even put together a daily newscast on the web. Again, cheap. Doesn't look bad. Builds on and expands the radio news brand. The original WWJ stations had a combined radio and TV news operation until they were spun off.

 

[umfan]

That type of product would be a good fit here. The WWJ radio operation has a great deal of credibility regarding news and this would enhance both the radio and television product. I suspect that the job posting relates to 'First Forecast Mornings' and that the Free Press seems to have pulled out. They've had Jill Washburn who has a wonderful presence but isn't a hard news type filling in and are likely looking for a CBS anchor to permanently fill that role. THis would be a good time to tie into WWJ radio.

I don't see an evening newscast coming though, nor do I think one is needed unless they will augment the weather done at 11 PM with a quick news rundown.

 

[DToTheJ]

Update: What has passed off as a local morning news program on WWJ has now gone by the wayside, as well:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/490826-Exclusive_WWJ_Detroit_Scrapping_Morning_News.php

 

[umfan]

A shame as Randy (traffic) and Jill (weather) were really good. I didn't think much of the 'anchor' and she may have been a factor in the failure of the program. It went downhill after Lori Pinson had left. Had she stayed on weather and Jill been the news anchor it would have been a much better show.

 

[lugnuts6]

I wouldn't worry about CBS62 ever starting up a newscast, at least not for a few more years that is

 

[1L6E6VHF]

I may also (agreeing with what you have said here) is that WKBD's 10 pm news operation started, before Fox, when it was the only 10 pm news in the market while 2, 4 and 7 all had their news at 11. With WKBD joining Fox at its beginning and the Fox network having a matching 10 pm local news window, WKBDs news became even more viable with Fox shows as lead-in.

The news operation became drastically less viable when WKBD lost its Fox affiliation. The lead-in traffic was decimated with UPN's far lower viewership, and they had WJBK to compete with for the 10 pm news audience.

I would have liked to see WWJ-TV enter the news race by "counter programming" the styles of WDIV and WXYZ. Fewer whizbang moving graphics with annoying noises, more detailed news and weather with less sports and Hollywood gossip.

 

[SarasotaJim]

I would have liked to see WWJ-TV enter the news race by "counter programming" the styles of WDIV and WXYZ. Fewer whizbang moving graphics with annoying noises, more detailed news and weather with less sports and Hollywood gossip.

We may never see that happen. The American public has been so dramatically dumbed down by a lousy public education system that few can even follow a lot of news items unless spot news is involved. Far too many Americans are absolutely ignorant of things going on in the world. They could not be less interested in sitting through 30 or 60 minutes of blabbering about stuff they've never heard of.

Want an audience? Give them Miley Cyrus and be sure to show lots of video of her obscene gyrations.

Is this what the United States has come to? I think the answer is undeniable. Just look at our major cities. Full of populations that can't even govern themselves. What would give anyone the idea they want to watch actual news and be informed?

 

[umfan]

And yet WWJ radio, the epitome of a hard news operation is consistently near the top of the Detroit radio ratings. Plenty of Americans seek and digest real news. The reality isn't nearly as bleak as you portray it. The business model of TV News has been adversely impacted by the rise of online content. More sources for news serving the same number of people means each operation competes for a smaller slice of the same pie and makes less money as a result. The dilution of talent does impact quality but this is something that will be worked out in time. It makes no business sense for WWJ-TV to have a local TV news product beyond weather. They gave it a serious shot with FFM, I give them credit for that, but see no additional attempts from them.

 

[SarasotaJim]

When I arrived in the Detroit market in 1971, there were seven radio stations that mattered. That's it. With a few notable exceptions, the FMs simply simulcast their AM counterparts. It was a simpler world. Today when I checked in with Radio-Locator, there are 79 signals they somehow conclude may serve the market. Yes, I question a lot of them...like 1590 in Marine City...but the fact is, while there are certainly not 79 radio stations that "matter," there are a lot more signals now that slice up the radio pie. TV isn't the only medium to suffer at the hands of too much competition to be healthy for the industry. And as long as WWJ continues to put out a quality product, they will continue to be a major factor in the market.

An undiscussed problem for TV news more than radio, at least among its purveyors, is that they turn away a sizable chuck of their potential audience with a decided political bias. That, as much as any other single factor, has helped send people to the internet to get honest information. Just one recent example of that is the reporting of the planned Million Muslim March on Washington (which drew exactly 21 people) and the almost complete non-mention of the 890,000 (by police estimate) bikers who gathered on the same day. And the list of other such "reporting" is infinitely long. A sizable chunk of America perceives that TV news just isn't being honest with them. So they go elsewhere. This would not be the time for WWJ-TV to invest in a start-up news operation unless the honchos made the conscious decision to be different than the crowd and actually report instead of being a mouthpiece for their favorite politicians.

Technology is always marching forward and its impact cannot be denied. At the same time, some folks refuse to recognize that the demise of the print media is being hastened by the same attitudes that permeate TV news. The market will always even the score.

 

[seatownmedia]

When I arrived in the Detroit market in 1971, there were seven radio stations that mattered. That's it. With a few notable exceptions, the FMs simply simulcast their AM counterparts. It was a simpler world. Today when I checked in with Radio-Locator, there are 79 signals they somehow conclude may serve the market. Yes, I question a lot of them...like 1590 in Marine City...but the fact is, while there are certainly not 79 radio stations that "matter," there are a lot more signals now that slice up the radio pie. TV isn't the only medium to suffer at the hands of too much competition to be healthy for the industry. And as long as WWJ continues to put out a quality product, they will continue to be a major factor in the market.

An undiscussed problem for TV news more than radio, at least among its purveyors, is that they turn away a sizable chuck of their potential audience with a decided political bias. That, as much as any other single factor, has helped send people to the internet to get honest information. Just one recent example of that is the reporting of the planned Million Muslim March on Washington (which drew exactly 21 people) and the almost complete non-mention of the 890,000 (by police estimate) bikers who gathered on the same day. And the list of other such "reporting" is infinitely long. A sizable chunk of America perceives that TV news just isn't being honest with them. So they go elsewhere. This would not be the time for WWJ-TV to invest in a start-up news operation unless the honchos made the conscious decision to be different than the crowd and actually report instead of being a mouthpiece for their favorite politicians.

Technology is always marching forward and its impact cannot be denied. At the same time, some folks refuse to recognize that the demise of the print media is being hastened by the same attitudes that permeate TV news. The market will always even the score.

I realize this thread is old. And, in fact, I pressed on the wrong thread (looking for Seattle) and landing on Detroit. Which got me wondering if CBS Detroit has any plans to return to local news. I also understand the changes in technology that you pointed out in 2013, but the fact is in almost every other top20 market, there is still a full slate of network tv affiliates offering many hours of local news. Perhaps there are factors in Detroit that prevent this, but it isn't a good excuse. Any updates, if any, would be appreciated.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

That type of product would be a good fit here. The WWJ radio operation has a great deal of credibility regarding news and this would enhance both the radio and television product. I suspect that the job posting relates to 'First Forecast Mornings' and that the Free Press seems to have pulled out. They've had Jill Washburn who has a wonderful presence but isn't a hard news type filling in and are likely looking for a CBS anchor to permanently fill that role. THis would be a good time to tie into WWJ radio.

I don't see an evening newscast coming though, nor do I think one is needed unless they will augment the weather done at 11 PM with a quick news rundown.

WWJ Radio operations are now done by Entercom since this thread was posted.