ABC 15 To Start New 4pm Show

[formeraa]

As I was perusing the ABC 15 jobs page, I found the following job listing:

4pm Local Host – If you have great passion for news and innovation, this is the opportunity you have been looking for! The E. W. Scripps Company is creating a local news program unlike anything you’ve seen before. This innovative news program, targeted at our 4pm audience, is a high-energy, up to the minute, interactive news experience that fully engages the audience on multiple screens.

Sounds like "Now@4"!

As I did some more research, it appears that it's going to be one of those local/national shows produced by Scripps. They will have national hosts and a local host to insert local segments. Probably a crappy lead-in to their 5pm newscast! It's time for 3TV to start GEAZ at 4pm!!

 

[Sammi Brie]

As I was perusing the ABC 15 jobs page, I found the following job listing:

4pm Local Host – If you have great passion for news and innovation, this is the opportunity you have been looking for! The E. W. Scripps Company is creating a local news program unlike anything you’ve seen before. This innovative news program, targeted at our 4pm audience, is a high-energy, up to the minute, interactive news experience that fully engages the audience on multiple screens.

Sounds like "Now@4"!

As I did some more research, it appears that it's going to be one of those local/national shows produced by Scripps. They will have national hosts and a local host to insert local segments. Probably a crappy lead-in to their 5pm newscast! It's time for 3TV to start GEAZ at 4pm!!

If KTVK and KPHO consolidate I do almost expect a 4pm newscast on 3, but I wouldn't be adding any newscasts with the sword of Damocles hanging over me.

 

[formeraa]

If KTVK and KPHO consolidate I do almost expect a 4pm newscast on 3, but I wouldn't be adding any newscasts with the sword of Damocles hanging over me.

+1 With the departure of Yetta and Bruce, it does look like 3 is beginning to cut back. My comment was meant to be sarcastic more than anything.

As I've said before, if 3 and 5 do indeed consolidate, my expectation is that 3 would have newscasts at 4pm (1 hour), 6pm (30 minutes), 9pm (60 minutes), and possibly 11pm (30 minutes, now more realistic since Arsenio Hall has been canceled).

 

[landtuna]

As I've said before, if 3 and 5 do indeed consolidate, my expectation is that 3 would have newscasts at 4pm (1 hour), 6pm (30 minutes), 9pm (60 minutes), and possibly 11pm (30 minutes, now more realistic since Arsenio Hall has been canceled).

There is not nearly enough news to fill that schedule.

 

[base12]

There is not nearly enough news to fill that schedule.

That has not stopped any other newscasts from repeating themselves over and over (even several days later) and/or digging up none news and calling it "breaking news".

 

[formeraa]

There is not nearly enough news to fill that schedule.

Apparently, we have enough wrong-way drivers in Arizona to fill hours of news... (said shaking my head in disbelief and with all due respect to those who have died or been injured as a result of these stupid idiots).

 

[Sammi Brie]

There is not nearly enough news to fill that schedule.

Except for the 11pm that is a completely rational newscast schedule—it's even the one I'd expect at this point. In many cases when two stations combine news operations they will have complementary evening newscasts; for instance, KHNL and KGMB air their network newscasts at different times and so have exclusive, one-station-only early evening newscasts. Expanding to 4pm just makes sense, KTVK is unchallenged at 4:30 (outside of Cronkite NewsWatch!), the 6pm allows 5 to keep its later arrangement for the CBS Evening News, and the 9pm, while not all that successful against KSAZ, still makes sense. I do think they'd expand their Saturday news to a full hour (The Insider airs at 9:30) and keep the 9:30 Sunday night sports show (which is now known as "Instant Replay").

In terms of other local programming, I also expect that 3 would take on more sports (Meredith says they want to try and get local sports — it's right there in the public interest statement that was filed with this acquisition), probably continue the Varsity Zone high school sports program, and keep public affairs shows. They already have a political show and Meredith has promised a new weekly public affairs program on 3. Your Life A to Z might continue at 10, though Meredith does have its Better program at 9.

There are other odds and ends local shows that KTVK has: AAA Highroads with Dan Davis, "Nuestra Causa" which is produced by CPLC and airs on the 2nd Sunday of the month, etc. which I think would all be kept. There's a great chance to brand 3 as an "Arizona station" based on its history, the whole Arizona's Family slogan, etc.

 

[formeraa]

@Raymie, I agree. Do we think that KPHO would just simulcast GMAZ from 4:30am to 7am, similar to Hawaii News Now.

 

[base12]

@Raymie, I agree. Do we think that KPHO would just simulcast GMAZ from 4:30am to 7am, similar to Hawaii News Now.

I think 5 will exclusively do the 4:30 to 7:00 and 3 will show those highly profitable infomercials at that time. (We will all learn haw to invest in real estate for a 3 easy payments and vacuum our floors with a shark.) Then at the magical hour of 7:00am 3 will do GMAZ and 5 will be do CBS This Morning (the best of the morning shows). THis won't duplicate programming and still keep the money machine going.

 

[base12]

5 til 7, 3 thereafter

I think 5 will exclusively do the 4:30 to 7:00 and 3 will show those highly profitable infomercials at that time. (We will all learn haw to invest in real estate for a 3 easy payments and vacuum our floors with a shark.) Then at the magical hour of 7:00am 3 will do GMAZ and 5 will be do CBS This Morning (the best of the morning shows). THis won't duplicate programming and still keep the money machine going.

Then we can have a new infomercial that I need. "Spelling and typing made easy" in 4 easy payments of course.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Running infomercials on 3 at that time is a waste. I don't see how they don't keep an evening news presence: the 4pm/6pm schedule is a perfect complement to 5. I could also see extra newscasts running on 3 at times when 5 is swamped with sports (e.g. during the NCAA tournament, when the news window is at 2 or 3pm).

For a station in a market with all four major sports 5 has a small sports department. It's the only station in town without a Sunday night sports show, and especially for a CBS affiliate its sports department is tiny. With Meredith not only acquiring 3 (which aired 9 Coyotes games last season) but also looking at other rights deals to get Arizona sports on 3, it is a no-brainer to keep 3's larger sports department. I especially see this if the Varsity Zone high school sports show is continued (I do see it moved from 10:30 to 10:35, but that's a trifling matter).

If this is a merger of equals and not a "we owned 5 first, let's gut 3" deal, GMAZ should be the surviving morning newscast, Royal joins the 5-based weather staff, and 5's evening anchors stick around (probably joined by one or two from 3) complemented by 3's sports team. The whole operation should be housed in 3's newer studio facility. If it sounds crazy, it's not, because the whole package takes advantage of each station's strengths.

 

[base12]

Running infomercials on 3 at that time is a waste. I don't see how they don't keep an evening news presence: the 4pm/6pm schedule is a perfect complement to 5. I could also see extra newscasts running on 3 at times when 5 is swamped with sports (e.g. during the NCAA tournament, when the news window is at 2 or 3pm).

For a station in a market with all four major sports 5 has a small sports department. It's the only station in town without a Sunday night sports show, and especially for a CBS affiliate its sports department is tiny. With Meredith not only acquiring 3 (which aired 9 Coyotes games last season) but also looking at other rights deals to get Arizona sports on 3, it is a no-brainer to keep 3's larger sports department. I especially see this if the Varsity Zone high school sports show is continued (I do see it moved from 10:30 to 10:35, but that's a trifling matter).

If this is a merger of equals and not a "we owned 5 first, let's gut 3" deal, GMAZ should be the surviving morning newscast, Royal joins the 5-based weather staff, and 5's evening anchors stick around (probably joined by one or two from 3) complemented by 3's sports team. The whole operation should be housed in 3's newer studio facility. If it sounds crazy, it's not, because the whole package takes advantage of each station's strengths.

What would make the make the most sense newswise and what makes the most money are not the necessarily the same thing. The merger has to be paid for some how. I don't see the two stations having newscasts on at the same time. They are not going to split viewers but on the other hand are going to say something like let's go now to the "Channel X" newsroom to see what they have coming up at "5pm" etc. therefore encouraging the viewers to watch both channels. Like it or not the network affiliate is going to have control. They are not going to duplicate in the morning afternoon or any other time. Take a look at the schedule in LA with Channels 2 and 9. That is how I envision 5 and 3 handling the merger. AS for which station is better it is a matter of taste. I personally prefer Nicolle Crites over Snooty Kelley any day but that is just me.

 

[formeraa]

@base12, a different model is Hawaii News Now which is on 3 separate stations (2 major network affiliates). They do simulcast for the morning news (5am - 7am) as well as some of the evening newscasts). Their wikipedia page outlines it all.

I would be very careful about tinkering with 3's GMAZ too much. It is very popular in the mornings. I could see adding an anchor now that Yetta's has decided to stay home. Perhaps that anchor is Nicole Crites. I really disagree about Kaley -- she doesn't come across the least bit snooty. She comes across as "intelligent", which I like in my anchors. If you prefer the "dumbed down" Nicole, then so be it.

 

[base12]

@base12, a different model is Hawaii News Now which is on 3 separate stations (2 major network affiliates). They do simulcast for the morning news (5am - 7am) as well as some of the evening newscasts). Their wikipedia page outlines it all.

I would be very careful about tinkering with 3's GMAZ too much. It is very popular in the mornings. I could see adding an anchor now that Yetta's has decided to stay home. Perhaps that anchor is Nicole Crites. I really disagree about Kaley -- she doesn't come across the least bit snooty. She comes across as "intelligent", which I like in my anchors. If you prefer the "dumbed down" Nicole, then so be it.

Believe it or not Phoenix has more in common with LA then Honolulu and KCAL 9 is my favorite station when vacationing in LA. They share reporters with 2 but different anchors. Their afternoon anchor Sandra Mitchell can dance circles around in Phx. anchor. This is what 3 should become.
As for anchor preferences as I said that is a personal thing. Especially at noon Nicole Crites gives the news straight without any opinion. To me (again personal preference here) Snooty Kelly belongs in Paradise Valley or North Scottsdale and no place else.

 

[formeraa]

Really? Why on earth would you compare Phoenix to LA? LA is a much larger, much more diverse market than our sandbox here.

I was simply pointing out that there are different models for shared staff. If they are not going to share anchors, then keep all the newscasts on both stations. That would require being able to broadcast two newscasts simultaneously.

Despite your personal attacks on Kaley, GMAZ is a FAR more popular newscast that the lowly (low rated) CBS5 Morning News. As such, I think that Kaley, Scott, Gina, and April are pretty secure in their jobs. If Meredith chooses to blow up GMAZ, then they are going to lose viewers to the other stations. I find the CBS 5 Morning News to be a circus (with Paul Horton being the ring leader). That said, CBS This Morning is the best and newsiest network morning show and I watch it everyday from 7am to 7:19am.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Today an amendment was filed to the KASW application in which, if a revised JSA and no SSA doesn't meet with FCC approval, KASW would simply be sent out of orbit and to a divestiture trustee who would then sell it to somebody.

I forgot this passage from the "Public Interest Statement" included with the KTVK and KASW applications:

Upon the purchase of KTVK, Meredith intends to continue its already extensive community affairs efforts and to conduct at least four town hall meetings each year. At these meetings, KTVK’s news anchors and managers would work with viewers to identify issues of importance to the community and to get feedback on and ideas regarding news stories.

We also learned that in the year since the Gannett-Belo merger was announced, KTVK/KASW has lost 35 employees.

 

[base12]

Really? Why on earth would you compare Phoenix to LA? LA is a much larger, much more diverse market than our sandbox here.

I was simply pointing out that there are different models for shared staff. If they are not going to share anchors, then keep all the newscasts on both stations. That would require being able to broadcast two newscasts simultaneously.

Despite your personal attacks on Kaley, GMAZ is a FAR more popular newscast that the lowly (low rated) CBS5 Morning News. As such, I think that Kaley, Scott, Gina, and April are pretty secure in their jobs. If Meredith chooses to blow up GMAZ, then they are going to lose viewers to the other stations. I find the CBS 5 Morning News to be a circus (with Paul Horton being the ring leader). That said, CBS This Morning is the best and newsiest network morning show and I watch it everyday from 7am to 7:19am.

Keeping two newscasts running at the same time does not make financial sense. That is my point. GMAZ would not have to be blown up just start at 7 when 5 is finished with their show. 5 could even change the name of theirs to one similar to 3's name. All the staff except for one or two main anchors will go back and forth from 5 to 3 and visa versa without a blink. This could include Gina, April, and the reporters. It won't be that big a deal. Also, we are going to have to agree to disagree as to which anchors are better as we both have different preferences. I disliked yours and you disliked mine which is fair enough. I think in reality the way staffing will work out is that the next contract up for renewal won't be renewed until they are at the staffing levels they want which is unfortunate but that is the way business works in the new millennium.

As for market comparisons both LA and Phoenix have large hispanic populations. For both cities they are the by far the largest non caucasian segment. That is not the case in Honolulu. Believe me with the possible exception of Tucson, the population of Phoenix although smaller has a similar distribution to and resembles that of LA.

 

[base12]

Don't assume it is GMAZ that is completely blown up. It will just be moved from channel 3 to channel 5 for the 4:30 to 7:00 possibly under a different but similar sounding name. But channel 5 anchors will be used in the 4:30 to 7:00 portion that will be on Channel 5.

 

[formeraa]

As I mentioned, there are different models for combined newscasts. I'm sure there are many across the country. Sinclair owns the Fox and NBC affiliates in San Antonio and they still maintain totally separate newscasts. I don't think LA or Honolulu or S.A. have a monopoly on formats. Meredith will choose the configuration that maximizes viewers and profit in the Phoenix market.

Since GMAZ is very popular in Phoenix, I doubt that Meredith would put the 4:30am to 7am 3TV audience at risk by airing infomercials (or syndicated fare) during that slot. GMAZ has been popular for 20+ years -- it didn't just start yesterday. It seems to me that they would at least simulcast on the two stations and try to pick up all the current viewers on 3 and 5.

After all, we are not building new audiences from scratch here. They have a ton of loyal viewers (e.g. base12 likes Nicole on CBS5 and formeraa likes Kaley on 3TV). It seems to me that Meridith will want to keep both of us watching. By the way, I'm a huge Pat McReynolds fan and have been since he was at KING in Seattle. I fear he will get lost in the shuffle as the two stations combine.

 

[Sammi Brie]

I personally think that if KASW is sold, it will be flipped to Spanish or become spectrum speculator bait.

Phoenix is Nielsen Hispanic DMA #9 (it's also DMA #18 for Asian-Americans and DMA #50 for African-Americans). Only San Antonio, San Francisco, Chicago, DFW, Houston, Miami, New York and LA beat it. Yet:

In San Antonio there are three full-power Spanish stations in the metro. San Francisco has six. Chicago has three. Dallas has six. Houston, six. Miami, five.

Below Phoenix are DMA H10 (Rio Grande Valley, which has border station influence), H11 (Sacramento), H12 (San Diego, again with border stations), and H13 (Albuquerque). DMAs H11 and H13 have 70 to 75% of the Hispanic HH count of Phoenix, and each has two full-power Spanish stations. Keep in mind that in normal DMA rankings, Sacramento and Albuquerque are lower on the totem pole (#20 and #47). San Antonio is general DMA #36. Then factor in that DMA H15, Denver, has four full-power Spanish stations.

Phoenix has two when it should be able to have at least three, probably four. Instead Estrella TV, MundoFox and Azteca América are all on LPTVs in Phoenix. This is the first time that a Phoenix TV station has gone on the open market AND had the potential to become a Spanish-language station in forever.

With a proposal in which KASW completely exits Meredith-Sander orbit, I see KPHO moving to the KTVK studios (which Meredith wants to keep) and KASW moving to the KPHO studios. KASW's syndicated property would then fall between KTVK, KUTP and KAZT, with either KTVK or KAZT taking The CW.

———

The KTVK assignment includes all the translators, including those for KASW:

K11LC-D Prescott
K38AI-D Cottonwood
K15HY Williams-Ash Fork
K25MG-D Flagstaff
K34EE-D Prescott and Cottonwood (KASW)
K41JE Williams-Ash Fork (KASW)
K14NA-D Globe and Miami

Two other translators of KASW are operated by Mohave County. A fifth listed on Wikipedia is almost certainly dark (41/Duncan).

KPHO already owns translators in Cottonwood, Flagstaff (still analog), Prescott and Globe. There is no KPHO translator in Williams, so I expect one of them to be converted to digital to rebroadcast KPHO (they'll need to hurry up on that).