Could This Ever Happen?

[Baldecki]

With WRWB-TV Changeing to The CW, and WBGT-CA becoming a My Network TV affililate do you think any of those stations will start there own nightly local newscasts like 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM. Personally i think WRWB would have a better chance. But the only problem is they are owned by Time Warner, which also owns R News. So that would conflict a bit. If WBGT-CA (UPN 18) ever changes from LOW power to HIGH power, do you think they could get a newscast. Its just a wish I had cause i know other cities have newscasts on The WB and UPN. I think it would be a good thing for Rochester TV.

 

[Ima_Talent]

According to Fybush Clear Channel is supposed to be taking control of WB-16 from Time Warner. If I'm not mistaken it will rebroadcast the signal via their HD frequency. I highly doubt they will add a news product, and IF they did, I doubt it would be much different then the setup now between WROC and WUHF.

 

[Mark_Giardina]

According to Fybush Clear Channel is supposed to be taking control of WB-16 from Time Warner. If I'm not mistaken it will rebroadcast the signal via their HD frequency. I highly doubt they will add a news product, and IF they did, I doubt it would be much different then the setup now between WROC and WUHF.

Actually WHAM TV has both the staff and talent to pull off, I think, a successful 10 pm newscast to compete with both WUHF and R-News. The question is would that be a profitable venture for the station to attempt?

The WB, or soon to be called CW network, is geared towards younger viewers. And while I'm not saying the X or Y generations are oblivious to what is going on in the world, I personally think some of that audience might get a bit peeved if one of their shows is replaced by a local newscast.

Here is another thought. The “good old days” when people would stay up to 11pm to watch the news is over. Today they have the option of watching a local 10 pm newscast and I wouldn’t be surprised that in the future you find one of the secondary stations even offering a 9pm news. That’s because people’s viewing and listening habits have changed.

For example in radio, drive time is no longer 4 to 6 pm because more and more people drive longer distances to get home. Therefore that is why I suggested to my former employer that they expand the afternoon drive time shift to 7pm. That way those listeners would still be able to hear news the further away they drive from the city.

Personally I’m not waiting up until 11pm to see what is going on when I can turn to R-News at 9 or 10 pm or read the internet to find out what’s going on.

Someone in TV should give a 9pm newscast some serious consideration. After all if the secondary station is running some low-rated program that nobody watches, what harm would it be to air a newscast? The problem with the broadcasting industry today is that those in charge are afraid to take chances.

 

[dampier]

With WRWB-TV Changeing to The CW, and WBGT-CA becoming a My Network TV affililate do you think any of those stations will start there own nightly local newscasts like 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM. Personally i think WRWB would have a better chance. But the only problem is they are owned by Time Warner, which also owns R News. So that would conflict a bit. If WBGT-CA (UPN 18) ever changes from LOW power to HIGH power, do you think they could get a newscast. Its just a wish I had cause i know other cities have newscasts on The WB and UPN. I think it would be a good thing for Rochester TV.

I don't see any relevance for a newscast on either station. Youth audiences do not generally get their news from watching a newscast on television, and I suspect the stations could make a bigger impact counter programming something not news at 10/11pm. Rochester doesn't need every station to carry news, and considering the long term loyalty viewers here have, I doubt it would have much of an impact.

I can't imagine WBGT will ever have a full power facility here. A better bet is a deal with some other station to put them on a subchannel on their HDTV signal (especially if they buy/invest in them). I also can't even fathom WBGT having a newscast of ANY kind done in house. They are as low budget as you can get. Considering the stuff they are going to throw at us this fall when Fox:Low Budget Net starts, there is no sign of improvement on the horizon.