-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Broadcast network coverage of Iran bombing
- Thread starter Larry
- Start date
Yes I seen ABC News cover it and it was initially reported as Israel bombs an area where Iran State TV is located due to the Nuclear facilities investigation. It became where we are today.
I know, I noticed the same thing. NBC and CBS just kept running their regular programming until 10 pm.
Moreover, none of the US networks have bureaus in Tehran due to the long-standing tension between Iran and the US. Most likely the nearest correspondents for any of the networks would have been in Jerusalem (or Tel Aviv).
I also would doubt any of our networks are rushing reporters to Tehran today.
I also would doubt any of our networks are rushing reporters to Tehran today.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Going back to ABC, out here in L.A. the network special report came midway through the local Eyewitness News broadcast, so they went to the network and that pretty much ended any chance of the newscast resuming. Whit Johnson*, who is the regular Saturday anchor for World News Tonight, anchored the report for the first hour and 45 minutes, leading up to the President's statement at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT, then David Muir was called in to anchor after that for about another hour.
What surprised me was that ABC did run the prime-time schedule out here, even though it had been pre-empted in all the other time zones about 15 minutes in. I would have expected the network to throw it back to the affiliates to run whatever local programming had been pre-empted by the special report.
That was certainly the case with ABC, which relied heavily on their senior foreign correspondent Ian Pannell, who reported from Tel Aviv.
*-If the name is unfamiliar, Johnson is one of the anchors on Good Morning America as well.
What surprised me was that ABC did run the prime-time schedule out here, even though it had been pre-empted in all the other time zones about 15 minutes in. I would have expected the network to throw it back to the affiliates to run whatever local programming had been pre-empted by the special report.
That was certainly the case with ABC, which relied heavily on their senior foreign correspondent Ian Pannell, who reported from Tel Aviv.
*-If the name is unfamiliar, Johnson is one of the anchors on Good Morning America as well.
If it had been new programming I am sure ABC would have done something else but considering it was reruns of game shows (and I love game shows) it probably made it easier (especially for the smaller affiliates) to just run them,
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
It was the season premiere of $100,000 Pyramid, according to my TiVo guide.
Chicken or egg? Something worth watching might change that.
What I found very sad is that I couldn't find any coverage (other than news headlines) on broadcast radio. With no live, linear programs at that hour of the weekend, there are no talk show hosts to jump in with real-time content, comments and phone calls.
Is it surprising that people are moving elsewhere?
Was there live coverage on Spotify? Did you try the all-news stations such as WINS?
TV ratings have been low on Saturday nights as long as I can remember. Why? Because most people have things to do on Saturday night. The choices have multiplied. Put something worth watching on Saturday night, and people will delay watching it until its convenient.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I was too busy watching ABC television coverage to check, but I would imagine that KNX-AM/FM here also dropped the news wheel to cover the situation non-stop.
And in this politically-charged era, I would be hesitant to put callers on the air in the wake of this sort of major development. It could too easily turn into a supercharged exchange with non-verified "statements of fact" offered by the callers.
I've always felt that the best way to retain listeners is to keep them engaged 24/7. Once they get in the habit of tuning away during low ratings hours they're less likely to come back. I could make the case that today's state of broadcasting proves it. In the long run it's probably more cost-effective to retain listeners than to cultivate new ones.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
And tonight, David Muir is anchoring World News Tonight instead of the usual Sunday anchor, Linsey Davis.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
As far as television is concerned, that no longer applies. DVRs and on-demand streaming has made that a non-issue and no one feels it is worth trying that old tactic.
Welcome to 2025.
There is no one-size-fits-all radio programming. You want live talk shows on Saturday night. But most people just want to hear their favorite songs.
The problem radio has today is financial, not lack of users. The owners aren't complaining about users. Their complaint is being able to monetize them.
Even with all the choices, broadcast radio still gets a lot of listening. Even though you were disappointed Saturday night, you'll be back listening on Monday.
But not necessary to the same station. It's a matter of loyalty.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Other than your own anecdotal experience, prove that's the case for the average listener. With cites, if you would.
Then why not just shut down broadcast TV? You always want to make the best of what you have.
In a previous post you said, "... no one feels it is worth trying that old tactic."
Prove it.