FOX to set a new "Extended Primetime" schedule come Jan, 2010

[JackBauer112]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/390799-Fox_Sets_Midseason_Schedule.php

It looks as FOX wants to compete on some nights with the other 3 major networks.

 

[FreddyE1977]

That should prove very interesting. Since Sinclair shut-down their news division many Fox stations have farmed out their news to a local network affiliate to produce a 10PM newscast for them. I have my doubts that these news partners will want to go head-to-head with their own 11PM newscasts on their own stations (or that the Fox stations will want to simulcast)

 

[azumanga]

By the looks of the schedule, the "extended primetime" is only for Sunday, 1/17. Though if the 10PM hour does well that night, no doubt Fox would continue on that concept in some form.

Of course, it ain't music to the ears of Fox's affiliates, most of which have news at the 10PM hour (9 Central & Mountain).

 

[dave73]

By the looks of the schedule, the "extended primetime" is only for Sunday, 1/17. Though if the 10PM hour does well that night, no doubt Fox would continue on that concept in some form.

Of course, it ain't music to the ears of Fox's affiliates, most of which have news at the 10PM hour (9 Central & Mountain).

Chicago's WFLD 31 (PSIP 32.1) is one of those O&O stations that's had news on at 9pm CT since they've been Fox in 1987 (they didn't have a news dept. as an independent). Their news competes with WGN-TV in the same time slot. If Fox does decide to expand primetime into 9pm CT, then that would force the Fox Chicago news to be on at 10pm, & it would add another newscast to an already crowded 10pm timeslot with CBS, ABC, & NBC. Then WGN-TV would have a monopoly on the 9pm timeslot.

 

[TheRob]

Yes, it's just one night.

 

[radioguy555]

I always wondered why Fox had never shown any interest in expanding to three hours of primetime to compete with the other networks. Maybe this is a sign that they're moving in that direction.

 

[dave73]

I always wondered why Fox had never shown any interest in expanding to three hours of primetime to compete with the other networks. Maybe this is a sign that they're moving in that direction.

If they expand to 3 hours a day Monday - Saturday, and 4 hours on Sunday (22 hours of primetime programming a week), then they're subject to stricter regulations that ABC, NBC, & CBS have with primetime programming than Fox, CW, & My have. I forgot the exact details of primetime, but they run less primetime programming, so they can be exempt from the stricter regulation. That's why they only run 15 hours of primetime programming a week (2 hours a day Monday - Saturday, & 3 hours on Sunday).

 

[stationi]

I always wondered why Fox had never shown any interest in expanding to three hours of primetime to compete with the other networks. Maybe this is a sign that they're moving in that direction.

Probably because the cost to program an additional 5 to 7 hours a week would likely run between $200-300 million in additional programming expenses. Not to mention the fact that it would also cut into their successful 10PM newscasts.

 

[imhomerjay]

A one-time move does not necessarily portend a move to make it permanent.

 

[nathannah]

Anyone remember years ago up until 1991-92 when Fox programmed to 11/10p on Sunday nights? Pretty much showed why they didn't do it further, as the 10pm show was the dreadful Comic Strip Live, which was pretty much yet another 'comic tells jokes in front of a brick wall in a dim room with those candle net jar thingies on each table' show that every cable network aired during that era of time.

 

[LKellerIII]

Anyone remember years ago up until 1991-92 when Fox programmed to 11/10p on Sunday nights? Pretty much showed why they didn't do it further, as the 10pm show was the dreadful Comic Strip Live, which was pretty much yet another 'comic tells jokes in front of a brick wall in a dim room with those candle net jar thingies on each table' show that every cable network aired during that era of time

Just an experiment, I'm sure. With networks losing share to basic and premium cable, not to mention all the other video distractions we have to choose from - this would be an incredibly stupid time to try to fill that extra hour.

And the affiliates would revolt if they were asked to turn their lucrative 10:00 news hour over to the network. Then they'd have to compete with the other 3 with an 11:00 news.

Not gonna happen.

 

[Mainedude2007]

Anyone remember years ago up until 1991-92 when Fox programmed to 11/10p on Sunday nights? Pretty much showed why they didn't do it further, as the 10pm show was the dreadful Comic Strip Live, which was pretty much yet another 'comic tells jokes in front of a brick wall in a dim room with those candle net jar thingies on each table' show that every cable network aired during that era of time

Just an experiment, I'm sure. With networks losing share to basic and premium cable, not to mention all the other video distractions we have to choose from - this would be an incredibly stupid time to try to fill that extra hour.

And the affiliates would revolt if they were asked to turn their lucrative 10:00 news hour over to the network. Then they'd have to compete with the other 3 with an 11:00 news.

Not gonna happen.

It may, maybe Fox sees NBC and the Leno experiment as something to go after...

 

[azumanga]

Anyone remember years ago up until 1991-92 when Fox programmed to 11/10p on Sunday nights? Pretty much showed why they didn't do it further, as the 10pm show was the dreadful Comic Strip Live...

Just an experiment, I'm sure.

And the affiliates would revolt if they were asked to turn their lucrative 10:00 news hour over to the network. Then they'd have to compete with the other 3 with an 11:00 news.

Not gonna happen.

I'm sure with "Comic Strip Live", affiliates with 10PM news were given an option to delay Comic Strip Live to 11PM.

 

[Garrett]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/390799-Fox_Sets_Midseason_Schedule.php

It looks as FOX wants to compete on some nights with the other 3 major networks.

Could it be the case that Fox is making a play for dissatisfied NBC affiliates?

 

[bpatrick]

If I were an NBC affiliate owner I'd have to look at something
more than Jay Leno's ratings--like the overall performance of
the Peacock Network, and isn't Fox ahead of NBC right now?

One thing no one mentions is that NBC stands to get a boost
with the upcoming Olympics from Vancouver. Unfortunately,
IMO, the quality of their Olympic coverage up to now has left
something to be desired (too many events on tape, worse than
ABC with the "up close and personal" stuff). Nevertheless, we'll
have to see if that gives NBC a shot in the arm (they also have
the Super Bowl this year but one night isn't going to have a long-
term effect).

 

[imhomerjay]

Look at the cash News Corp has invested in, and coming in from, its owned stations' 10 pm news. Sometimes a one-time stunt is just that; every time ABC ran Sound of Music or Ten Commandments past 11 p.m. it wasn't an indication that they were going to start programming later into the night.

 

[azumanga]

every time ABC ran Sound of Music or Ten Commandments past 11 p.m. it wasn't an indication that they were going to start programming later into the night.

Though in those cases, if these films are seen weeknights or on Saturday, ABC offers two feeds in (at least) the Eastern and Pacific time zones -- one that starts the film at 7PM, another that starts it at 8PM. This way, they can start the news on time (or as close to 11PM as possible), though it'll be at the cost of pre-empting the 7PM program the station usually show.

 

[dave73]

every time ABC ran Sound of Music or Ten Commandments past 11 p.m. it wasn't an indication that they were going to start programming later into the night.

Though in those cases, if these films are seen weeknights or on Saturday, ABC offers two feeds in (at least) the Eastern and Pacific time zones -- one that starts the film at 7PM, another that starts it at 8PM. This way, they can start the news on time (or as close to 11PM as possible), though it'll be at the cost of pre-empting the 7PM program the station usually show.

What my local ABC station has done is, they will air the 10pm news on Livewell HD. Normally, they repeat the news a half hour after it airs live on 7.1. The 6pm news will air at 6:30 & the 10pm news at 10:30pm on Livewell HD. I'm not sure if the news is taped on days that it's delayed, or if it's still live on 7.1. I know it's taped when it airs on Livewell HD on 7.2. This is WLS-DT.

If I were an NBC affiliate owner I'd have to look at something
more than Jay Leno's ratings--like the overall performance of
the Peacock Network, and isn't Fox ahead of NBC right now?

One thing no one mentions is that NBC stands to get a boost
with the upcoming Olympics from Vancouver. Unfortunately,
IMO, the quality of their Olympic coverage up to now has left
something to be desired (too many events on tape, worse than
ABC with the "up close and personal" stuff). Nevertheless, we'll
have to see if that gives NBC a shot in the arm (they also have
the Super Bowl this year but one night isn't going to have a long-
term effect).

I sometimes wonder if WNDU in South Bend Indiana has ever thought about changing affiliation. They've been an NBC affiliate since they signed on in 1955. The only time that a station changed affiliation in South Bend was in 1995, when WSJV went from being an ABC affiliate to being a Fox affiliate. Wikipedia states that Fox wanted WSJV to carry Fox, rather than Weigel's translator, W58BT (now WBND-LP) that only covered St. Joseph & Elkhart counties with city grade coverage. If I remember correctly, ABC was doing so poorly in ratings that that was the reason WSJV decided to drop ABC from their station. If it wasn't for Weigel Broadcasting, South Bend wouldn't have an ABC affiliate, since there's only 4 commercial stations & 1 non-commercial full power stations in the South Bend market. I'm surprised WSBT didn't try to carry CW on 22.2 when that network was formed in 2006, unless it had to do with WSBT airing some sports programming, that it would have pre-empted CW programming.

 

[Markxxx]

You have to remember national ratings don't translate into local ratings, necessarily that is.

You may have a poor NBC showing national but just fine locally. As long as the sales managers can sell time at a decent rate, they are fine.

Also just because a network slumps doesn't mean it stays that way. A few years back everyone on the board was talking about how awful ABC was and how they should give Saturday back to the locals. Then came "Desperate Housewives" and it all came back.

You just need one hit. Or something to tank. "American Idol" is the key to FOX and when that tanks FOX will have a hard time replacing it. They still have their cartoon Sunday and football, but it won't be the same

 

[Bluenoser]

That should prove very interesting. Since Sinclair shut-down their news division many Fox stations have farmed out their news to a local network affiliate to produce a 10PM newscast for them. I have my doubts that these news partners will want to go head-to-head with their own 11PM newscasts on their own stations (or that the Fox stations will want to simulcast)

Just for the record, here are the Fox stations that partner with other Big 3 stations in their markets:
source: TV Newscast Titles website
* station uses partner's news title
** digital subchannel of parent station

KASA Albuquerque (KRQE)*
KCIT Amarillo (KAMR)
WFXG Augusta, GA (WJBF)
KBFX Bakersfield (KBAK)*
WFVX Bangor (WVII)*
KFXO Bend (KTVZ)*
WVNS-DT2 Bluefield/Beckley/Oak Hill (WVNS)**
WBKO-DT2 Bowling Green (WBKO)**
WEMT Bristol/Tri-Cities (WCYB)
KBSI Cape Girardeau (WPSD)*
KFXA Cedar Rapids/Waterloo (KGAN)
WCCU Champaign/Urbana; WRSP Springfield, IL (WICS/WICD)*
WTAT Charleston, SC (WCSC)
WVAH Charleston/Huntington, WV (WCHS)*
KQFX Columbia/Jefferson City (KMIZ)*
WXTX Columbus, GA (WTVM)
WRGT Dayton (WKEF)
KDSM Des Moines (WHO)*
WFXP Erie (WJET)
KLSR Eugene (KVAL)
WSMH Flint (WNEM)
WFXB Florence/Myrtle Beach (WBTW)
KFTA Fort Smith (KNWA)*
KEQI Guam (KTGM-rebroadcast)*
WAWS Jacksonville (WTEV-SSA)*
WWCP Johnstown/Altoona (WJAC)
KFJX Joplin/Pittsburg (KOAM)
KTLJ Junction City/KTMJ Topeka (KSNT)*
WTNZ Knoxville (WATE)
WLAX La Crosse/WEUX Eau Claire (WEAU)
WSYM Lansing (WILX)
WDKY Lexington (WKYT)
WOHL Lima (WLIO)*
WMSN Madison (WKOW)
KEYC-DT2 Mankato (KEYC)**
WLMT Memphis/WJKT Jackson (WPTY)*
KARD Monroe/W Monroe (KTVE)
KCBA Monterey/Salinas (KION)*
WCOV Montgomery (WSFA)*
WFXI Morehead City/WYDO Greenville, NC (WCTI)
KMVU Medford (KOBI)
WVBT Norfolk (WAVY)
KDFX Palm Springs (KESQ)*
WTAP-DT2 Parkersburg (WTAP)**
KFFX Pendleton/KBWU-KCYU Tri-Cities (KHQ Spokane)*
WYZZ Peoria (WMBD)
KFXP Pocatello/Idaho Falls; KXTF Twin Falls (KPVI)*
WPFO Portland, ME (morning news from WLOB radio, WGME produces 10pm cast)*
WAGM-DT2 Presque Isle (WAGM)**
WNAC Providence (WPRI)*
CGEM Quincy (WGEM simulcast)*
WRAZ Raleigh/Durham (WRAL)*
WRLH Richmond (WWBT)
WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg (WSLS)
KXLT Rochester, MN (KTTC)
WUHF Rochester, NY (WROC)
WQRF Rockford (WTVO)
WBOC-DT2 Salisbury (WBOC)**
KKFX Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara (KCOY)*
WTGS Savannah (WJCL)
WOLF Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (WNEP until January, WBRE takes over after that)
KPTH Sioux City (KMEG)
KAYU Spokane (KHQ)
WGGB-DT2 Springfield, MA (WGGB)**
KSFX Springfield, MO (KOLR)
WTLH Tallahassee (WCTV)
WFXW Terre Haute (WTWO-SSA)*
WFQX Traverse City/Cadillac (WWTV)
WLOV Tupelo/West Point (WTVA)
KFXK Tyler/Longview (KETK)
KVCT Victoria (KAVU)
WNYF Watertown (WWNY)*
WFXS Wausau (WAOW)
WFLX West Palm Beach (WPEC)
WTRF-DT2 Wheeling (WTRF)**
KSAS Wichita (KWCH)
KJTL Wichita Falls (KFDX)
WSFX Wilmington (WECT)
WFXI/WYFX Youngstown (WKBN)

Delayed broadcast of partner's news:
KVHP Lake Charles (delays WGMB Baton Rouge's 6pm news by 3 hrs)

Partnering with INN:
KLJB Davenport/Quad Cities
WZDX Huntsville

Partnering in reverse:
WFFF Burlington/Plattsburgh, supplies branded news to LMA station WVNY