J
Joseph_Gallant
Guest
Broadcasting and Cable.com has an article (registration may be required) on the new look of WZMY-50 (formerly WNDS).
Interestingly enough, the article makes no mention of WZMY being a New Hampshire station; instead, it's referred to as a "Boston" station throughout.
While I think WZMY did a good idea in moving their early-evening newscast to 7:30 P.M. (which will catch many commuters, especially in New Hampshire, who do not come home in time to watch other local early-evening newscasts), I think they may be making a mistake by running Ellen DeGeneres' talk/variety show at 8 P.M.
I can see where WZMY co-owner/manager Diane Sutter got the idea from: In the 1970's and early 1980's, the Metromedia independents ran Merv Griffin's talk show in prime-time. In New York, Merv on Metromedia's WNEW-5 (8:30-10 P.M. weeknights, IIRC) usually got far more viewers than any other independent station and sometimes was competitive with first-run network shows.
While I also have to applaud WZMY for trying to be innovate with the local "My TV Prime" from 9 to 10 P.M., I have doubts that the show could work in prime time.
I believe WZMY would get better ratings with movies from 8 to 10 P.M., especially if they could upgrade their movie library.
What the new owners should really do is to buy WMFP-62, build a new facility with new equipment in Boston, use WMFP as the primary station and WZMY as a satellite of WMFP. I believe there are some areas in the Boston market south of the city where WZMY is not on any cable system, but WMFP is. By buying WMFP, they'd get on cable through the full market, and be able to have a studio facility much closer to (and if they want to, inside of) Boston, which might lead to better guests for local programs.
One thing in the article that will cause consternation among bowlers: The article referred to candlepin bowling as "'Duckpin' In Other Areas". Duckpins and Candlepins are not the same. Duckpins are small, fat pins and not as tall as Tenpins; Candlepins are skinny but about the same height as Tenpins. I believe both do use the same size bowling balls, but otherwise, there are no similarities.
But the article did conclude by claiming that the bowling show would be brought back at an unspecified future date with women's and junior competitions as well as men's matches.
Interestingly enough, the article makes no mention of WZMY being a New Hampshire station; instead, it's referred to as a "Boston" station throughout.
While I think WZMY did a good idea in moving their early-evening newscast to 7:30 P.M. (which will catch many commuters, especially in New Hampshire, who do not come home in time to watch other local early-evening newscasts), I think they may be making a mistake by running Ellen DeGeneres' talk/variety show at 8 P.M.
I can see where WZMY co-owner/manager Diane Sutter got the idea from: In the 1970's and early 1980's, the Metromedia independents ran Merv Griffin's talk show in prime-time. In New York, Merv on Metromedia's WNEW-5 (8:30-10 P.M. weeknights, IIRC) usually got far more viewers than any other independent station and sometimes was competitive with first-run network shows.
While I also have to applaud WZMY for trying to be innovate with the local "My TV Prime" from 9 to 10 P.M., I have doubts that the show could work in prime time.
I believe WZMY would get better ratings with movies from 8 to 10 P.M., especially if they could upgrade their movie library.
What the new owners should really do is to buy WMFP-62, build a new facility with new equipment in Boston, use WMFP as the primary station and WZMY as a satellite of WMFP. I believe there are some areas in the Boston market south of the city where WZMY is not on any cable system, but WMFP is. By buying WMFP, they'd get on cable through the full market, and be able to have a studio facility much closer to (and if they want to, inside of) Boston, which might lead to better guests for local programs.
One thing in the article that will cause consternation among bowlers: The article referred to candlepin bowling as "'Duckpin' In Other Areas". Duckpins and Candlepins are not the same. Duckpins are small, fat pins and not as tall as Tenpins; Candlepins are skinny but about the same height as Tenpins. I believe both do use the same size bowling balls, but otherwise, there are no similarities.
But the article did conclude by claiming that the bowling show would be brought back at an unspecified future date with women's and junior competitions as well as men's matches.