CBS SET TO LAUNCH NEWS/SPORTS SUB CHANNEL SOON ON WCBS

[gregg75]

Is this the same sub-channel that CBS O&O stations announced earlier this year?

Is NBC Nonstop so "popular" and profitable that it needs competition?

There seems to be a glut of news channels already, will the local aspect be enough to
attract (or share) viewers in NYC to a respectable level?

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai..._of_local_channels_and_s.html?r=entertainment

 

[dave73]

Is this the same sub-channel that CBS O&O stations announced earlier this year?

Is NBC Nonstop so "popular" and profitable that it needs competition?

There seems to be a glut of news channels already, will the local aspect be enough to
attract (or share) viewers in NYC to a respectable level?

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai..._of_local_channels_and_s.html?r=entertainment

In Chicago, NBC Chicago's Nonstop channel completely sucks. Showing a bunch of LX TV episodes, Talk Stoop, Nate Berkus, & a few other shows that don't come to mind right now, it's not really worth watching. To me, it's much worse than ABC's Livewell Network. So if CBS markets their subchannel similar to NBC's Nonstop, then I see it as a waste of a channel.

 

[gregg75]

That's what I was thinking.

This news & sports thing, I thought the original CBS sub idea was to have more variety.
More regular CBS programs seen at a different time. Now it looks like variety may be
out the window.

Most of the news, lifestyle, weather and sports subs are very boring. Made up shows for
a made up audience. Don't they see folks are standing in line at the Me-TV and Antenna
TV restaurants? All the others are full of empty tables.

They all can't be Me-TV, but it would be nice if more aimed for something other than boring.

 

[ansky212]

In Chicago, NBC Chicago's Nonstop channel completely sucks. Showing a bunch of LX TV episodes, Talk Stoop, Nate Berkus, & a few other shows that don't come to mind right now, it's not really worth watching. To me, it's much worse than ABC's Livewell Network. So if CBS markets their subchannel similar to NBC's Nonstop, then I see it as a waste of a channel. [/color]

It's the same deal in NYC on WNBC. NY Nonstop is a complete waste of a channel. From what I read several years ago I think the original plan for the subchannel was to be a news format, but then for a variety of reasons (mostly money I'm sure) they decided to go a different route.

 

[mgsports]

If you want 24/7 Local News theirs Baynews9,CFNEWS13 only on BHN and nobody else in Orlando area,Chicago TV Land and so on
I'm all for the channel if KCTV5 would added it.

 

[PhillyWatch]

IIRC, one of the first NBC O&O subchannels was "KNBC News Raw", something more similar to a cable news channel, airing live reports of breaking news stories from the KNBC newsroom. Unfortunately, that model didn't get the national treatment. The "Nonstop" channels, for the most part, are boring, save for a few innovative ideas like WNBC's late night talkshow & WCAU's "Out of the Vault" (airing local news reports & interviews from many years ago). I believe Chicago's Nonstop is also formulating a local latenight talkshow as well. LXTV and Nate Berkus reruns are torturous. Most of the other programs here on Philly's Nonstop are repackaged reports of different genres (investigative, consumer, etc.) in half-hour blocks. While competition isn't necessarily called for, it will only give the viewers more options, and if they perform well enough, will hopefully spur NBC to work on their offerings.

Also, LiveWell is a waste of airspace. Absolute shame many local weather channels were wiped out to make room for it.

 

[arnoldevns]

The problem I see with most of these efforts is that they are not actually news channels. If i could tune in to a local headline channel, that would be fine. Instead I see mostly shows on the best places to eat or shop.

 

[ajc_trw]

The problem I see with most of these efforts is that they are not actually news channels. If i could tune in to a local headline channel, that would be fine. Instead I see mostly shows on the best places to eat or shop.

I am in complete agreement.

For example if California Nonstop could be the newcasts of the bigger NBC affiliates in California (live & taped) the channel would be must see TV.

Instead we get shows that are a tiny step above infomercials used to fill time.

All IMHO, YMMV.

 

[arnoldevns]

I've suggested before that one of the networks could offer their affiliates a headline news service for subchannels that could be cut in with local news and weather. Maybe do it as a 50/50 ad split.

I would also not mind if one or more of the networks would offer a subchannel to affiliates featuring some of their best old programming. I know that Tribune already has Antenna TV and Weigel is offering Me-TV.. but this idea would be specific to each network. Even Fox is old enough to make this work. (In my opinion)

 

[formeraa]

I've suggested before that one of the networks could offer their affiliates a headline news service for subchannels that could be cut in with local news and weather. Maybe do it as a 50/50 ad split.

I agree. Let's go back to the future. The original cable headline news services used the national/local or regional/local news split concept. Fisher ran one out of Seattle for the Pacific Northwest, CNN Headline News used to have local updates when it was exclusively news, and so on. Time-Warner tried the concept around the country and still has a few. However, many didn't make it such as News (Snooze) 9 San Antonio. I love Belo's NWCN when I visit Seattle -- the only thing is that cutbacks in recent years limit the amount of FRESH news (it's often recorded hours earlier with updated weather forecasts).

 

[ShawnHill1]

In Chicago, NBC Chicago's Nonstop channel completely sucks. Showing a bunch of LX TV episodes, Talk Stoop, Nate Berkus, & a few other shows that don't come to mind right now, it's not really worth watching. To me, it's much worse than ABC's Livewell Network. So if CBS markets their subchannel similar to NBC's Nonstop, then I see it as a waste of a channel. [/color]

It's the same deal in NYC on WNBC. NY Nonstop is a complete waste of a channel. From what I read several years ago I think the original plan for the subchannel was to be a news format, but then for a variety of reasons (mostly money I'm sure) they decided to go a different route.

California Nonstop, IMO, isn't much to write home about either...a few decent, interesting shows here and there, but the rest is filler and fluff. I think what may make CBS' venture more of a success is that they have more resources to work with, thanks to having TV and radio stations in many markets. The CBS stations, radio and TV, produce a lot of content...what may happen with WCBS is having simulcasts of selected programs from WFAN, WCBS-AM, WINS, and so forth interspersed with hourly news updates and public affairs shows.

 

[arnoldevns]

I've suggested before that one of the networks could offer their affiliates a headline news service for subchannels that could be cut in with local news and weather. Maybe do it as a 50/50 ad split.

I agree. Let's go back to the future. The original cable headline news services used the national/local or regional/local news split concept. Fisher ran one out of Seattle for the Pacific Northwest, CNN Headline News used to have local updates when it was exclusively news, and so on. Time-Warner tried the concept around the country and still has a few. However, many didn't make it such as News (Snooze) 9 San Antonio. I love Belo's NWCN when I visit Seattle -- the only thing is that cutbacks in recent years limit the amount of FRESH news (it's often recorded hours earlier with updated weather forecasts).

Yep, that's exactly my point: CNN Headline News is gone. It's now just another gab-fest cable "news" channel. There's a market for what they used to offer. A subchannel like this could fill that need. It would not have to be flashy or expensive, just competent and interesting. The local stations could decide to cut in during the newswheel anywhere they wanted.. or not. Either way would be fine.