Inauguration Coverage

[Mario500]

Have you been keeping your ears open for the past month? People in this area shut their mouths after obama was elected. Most people aren't (admitting to) watching any of the coverage and I don't hear anyone talking about the presidential election or the inauguration. Out of site, out of mind. We're just pretending that none of this ever happened. It's really strange, and I just figured it out about a week ago... but what else would you expect from a very "red" area of the country. Also, as far a WEAR is concerned, they are a Sinclar station. Corporate agrees with the majority of the Gulf Coast locals. I doubt many people missed any of the ABC coverage or even knew they were missing it.

From 3:07 PM to 3:17 PM Central time, ABC aired a special report on today's celebrations in Washington, D. C. when stations were airing local programming, but in the case of WEAR-TV in Pensacola, Florida, the station was airing a tape-delayed version of the network's Saturday night re-run of "Desperate Housewives" after it was pre-empted for a second simulcast of WSRE-TV's (PBS station in Pensacola) one-hour program "DTV Answers". WEAR-TV pre-empted "Ugly Betty" for the first simulcast of "DTV Answers" and aired it on the following Sunday at 3:00 PM, when paid programming usually airs.

The folks at WEAR-TV have once again proven themselves unworthy to be affiliated with ABC as they have failed to figure out a better way to serve viewers who may have been interested in "DTV Answers" and/or the network programming that got pre-empted. I understand that ABC's special report seemed unexpected, but WEAR-TV should use good programming judgement at all times and prepare for anything.

You misunderstood my previous post. WEAR-TV aired the network's special report seven minutes into their tape-delayed broadcast of "Desperate Housewives" before returning to it at 3:17 PM.

 

[imhomerjay]

From 3:07 PM to 3:17 PM Central time, ABC aired a special report on today's celebrations in Washington, D. C. when stations were airing local programming, but in the case of WEAR-TV in Pensacola, Florida, the station was airing a tape-delayed version of the network's Saturday night re-run of "Desperate Housewives" after it was pre-empted for a second simulcast of WSRE-TV's (PBS station in Pensacola) one-hour program "DTV Answers". WEAR-TV pre-empted "Ugly Betty" for the first simulcast of "DTV Answers" and aired it on the following Sunday at 3:00 PM, when paid programming usually airs.

The folks at WEAR-TV have once again proven themselves unworthy to be affiliated with ABC as they have failed to figure out a better way to serve viewers who may have been interested in "DTV Answers" and/or the network programming that got pre-empted. I understand that ABC's special report seemed unexpected, but WEAR-TV should use good programming judgement at all times and prepare for anything.

Get melodramatic much?

If you undersand the special report was relatively unscheduled--at least in comparison to planning to bump the network shows--why, exactly, is the station unworthy to be an affiliate? Special reprots happen. Life goes on. People missed a whopping 10 minutes of a show. A bit frustrating, perhaps, but it sounds like the station made a good-faith effort to reschedule the program, but they can't control when news happens.

 

[Mario500]

If you undersand the special report was relatively unscheduled--at least in comparison to planning to bump the network shows--why, exactly, is the station unworthy to be an affiliate?

This is why:

The station airs "Nightline" at about 11:00 PM (or later to make room for a local high school football program on Fridays), airs "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 12:00 AM (or later) never aired "Port Charles", doesn't air the weekend editions of ABC's "World News", occasionally pre-empts two-hours of ABC's prime-time programming for a movie, and doesn't air ABC's "World News Now" live. There was a time when "World News This Morning" (now "America This Morning") did not air until a few years ago, when the program replaced another half-hour of a previously recorded "World News Now".

As for syndicated programming, WEAR-TV's recent moves of "The Jerry Springer Show", "The Maury Povich Show", and "Inside Edition" to "sister station" WFGX-TV in Fort Walton Beach, Florida leaves the Mobile side of the broadcast area without those shows. WFGX-TV also airs "The Daily Buzz", which used to air on WBPG-TV (licensed to Gulf Shores, Alabama), a "sister station" to WALA-TV.

 

[searadiofreak]

I understand that ABC's special report seemed unexpected, but WEAR-TV should use good programming judgement at all times and prepare for anything.

On the other hand, why was ABC interrupting supposedly-local programming for a special report on an inauguration? Since we already known about this way ahead of time, why was programming interrupted for ten minutes when the news wasn't really "breaking"?

That's because the news execs that spoon-feed us all this have decided to re-invent the term "breaking news". While it used to mean new information about an important story, now it means any information, new or old, about an important story.

 

[imhomerjay]

I understand that ABC's special report seemed unexpected, but WEAR-TV should use good programming judgement at all times and prepare for anything.

On the other hand, why was ABC interrupting supposedly-local programming for a special report on an inauguration? Since we already known about this way ahead of time, why was programming interrupted for ten minutes when the news wasn't really "breaking"?

That's because the news execs that spoon-feed us all this have decided to re-invent the term "breaking news". While it used to mean new information about an important story, now it means any information, new or old, about an important story.

Nonsense. Special reports have always been for both breaking news and for known/scheduled major events.

 

[tripinva]

As for syndicated programming, WEAR-TV's recent moves of "The Jerry Springer Show", "The Maury Povich Show", and "Inside Edition" to "sister station" WFGX-TV in Fort Walton Beach, Florida leaves the Mobile side of the broadcast area without those shows. WFGX-TV also airs "The Daily Buzz", which used to air on WBPG-TV (licensed to Gulf Shores, Alabama), a "sister station" to WALA-TV.

WFGX has a permit to relocate to WEAR's tower. It'll be a powerful signal on channel 50 (mapping to 35-1). I imagine it will be moving there soon; you might want to call the station and ask.

- Trip

 

[Poledo]

WFGX has a permit to relocate to WEAR's tower. It'll be a powerful signal on channel 50 (mapping to 35-1). I imagine it will be moving there soon; you might want to call the station and ask.

Hasn't the FCC denied that application to move twice already? What did Sinclar change to push it through this time? Include an envelope of cash with the application?

If this move really has been approved, how long before the other 3 Fort Walton stations follow WFGX to the Baldwin County tower farm?

 

[nathannah]

If you undersand the special report was relatively unscheduled--at least in comparison to planning to bump the network shows--why, exactly, is the station unworthy to be an affiliate?

This is why:

The station airs "Nightline" at about 11:00 PM (or later to make room for a local high school football program on Fridays), airs "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 12:00 AM (or later) never aired "Port Charles", doesn't air the weekend editions of ABC's "World News", occasionally pre-empts two-hours of ABC's prime-time programming for a movie, and doesn't air ABC's "World News Now" live. There was a time when "World News This Morning" (now "America This Morning") did not air until a few years ago, when the program replaced another half-hour of a previously recorded "World News Now".

As for syndicated programming, WEAR-TV's recent moves of "The Jerry Springer Show", "The Maury Povich Show", and "Inside Edition" to "sister station" WFGX-TV in Fort Walton Beach, Florida leaves the Mobile side of the broadcast area without those shows. WFGX-TV also airs "The Daily Buzz", which used to air on WBPG-TV (licensed to Gulf Shores, Alabama), a "sister station" to WALA-TV.

I haven't been that big a fan of Sinclair over the years (as someone in a market with a SBG duopoly), but they've pretty much reined themselves in since the failure of News Central and having to sell a few stations to pay off debt. I don't find any problems with what WEAR is doing at all.

·Friday night high school football is popular, period. People need to know scores and see highlights. Many stations do this already and WEAR is no different. Nightline still airs in the end, doesn't it?
·I like Jimmy Kimmel but some station groups like Cox and Allbitron showed caution about him being successful. They finally put him on at the regular time when they renewed their affiliation agreements, saw he worked well and no longer were obligated to air (insert 15 year-old sitcom here) at that time. SBG is probably still under contract with whatever airs at 11:35pm. The whole 'syndicated programs are better financially than Nightline' quandry has been a problem for years, with KMBC in Kansas City probably the worst in that situation.
·The station still does air WNN in some form at least. I would think if there's a breaking news event they'll move into the live broadcast, but otherwise it's rolling overnight news.
·Mobile might be better off without Jerry or Maury for now then. Those two shows belong quite fine on a MyNet affiliate, even one which doesn't reach into the main market city; those shows are not major network affiliate shows at this point. SBG might finally be working on bringing WFGX to Mobile when they can launch their DT transmitter, and this just adds some leverage to the schedule. Better this than paid or religious programming that the shows probably replaced
·Finally, you're complaining about the station interuppting a rerun of a program with a live special report? On most stations, they wouldn't even bother reairing a rerun at all when they pre-empt for local programming. The DTV transition is a priority and the stations need to let viewers know; I'm glad that the DTV Answers programming aired in primetime there. Here in Wisconsin I haven't seen one primetime DTV transition program unless it was on public television; those specials usually go in the Saturday night gutterball between local news and primetime.

 

[Mario500]

When ABC last aired "The Ten Commandments", WEAR-TV attempted to air the movie on a one-hour delay after their one-hour newscast at 6:00 PM, but instead the station joined the movie in progress as it was being fed by ABC. After the network broadcast ended, WEAR-TV showed the last hour of the movie again on tape.

 

[azumanga]

When ABC last aired "The Ten Commandments", WEAR-TV attempted to air the movie on a one-hour delay after their one-hour newscast at 6:00 PM, but instead the station joined the movie in progress as it was being fed by ABC. After the network broadcast ended, WEAR-TV showed the last hour of the movie again on tape.

What was the rationale behind that -- join a long epic film in progress, followed by the final hour again? Didn't ABC offer an alternate 7PM CT / 8PM ET feed for this film? (I recall they did.) Nevertheless, whoever did that was a few cards short of a full deck.

 

[johnnya2k6]

Back on topic, please:

In Canada, CBC's Peter Mansbridge, CTV's Lloyd Robertson, and Global's Kevin Newman will all be anchoring their inauguration coverage from the Canadian Embassy overlooking the Capitol.

But in Britain, the only broadcast network who'll have coverage is the BBC; nothing on ITV (what, they couldn't deploy Trevor McDonald to Washington?)!!! And of course, you've got Sky News.

As for independent stations like KRON (San Francisco) and KTVK (Phoenix)? They'll also air the inauguration; dunno if they have their reporters in D.C.

 

[KyDXIn]

When ABC last aired "The Ten Commandments", WEAR-TV attempted to air the movie on a one-hour delay after their one-hour newscast at 6:00 PM, but instead the station joined the movie in progress as it was being fed by ABC. After the network broadcast ended, WEAR-TV showed the last hour of the movie again on tape.

What was the rationale behind that -- join a long epic film in progress, followed by the final hour again? Didn't ABC offer an alternate 7PM CT / 8PM ET feed for this film? (I recall they did.) Nevertheless, whoever did that was a few cards short of a full deck.

Its so nice WEAR lets the high school media club run the station on the weekends!

 

[kms575]

Back on topic, please:

In Canada, CBC's Peter Mansbridge, CTV's Lloyd Robertson, and Global's Kevin Newman will all be anchoring their inauguration coverage from the Canadian Embassy overlooking the Capitol.

But in Britain, the only broadcast network who'll have coverage is the BBC; nothing on ITV (what, they couldn't deploy Trevor McDonald to Washington?)!!! And of course, you've got Sky News.

As for independent stations like KRON (San Francisco) and KTVK (Phoenix)? They'll also air the inauguration; dunno if they have their reporters in D.C.

I think ITV News has lost a lot of news credibility over the years, and they are going through serious cutbacks.
Nobody has any comments about CNN's freeze-fest over the weekend?

 

[Poledo]

Getting back off topic again... WEAR didn't clear Jimmy Kimmel Live until a couple years ago, the held out almost as long as WSB. Also, WEAR now delays Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live because they have a one hour late news broadcast, which in the end, airing more local news is actually a good reason to delay those shows. This has nothing to do with WEAR being contractually obligated to air another show after the late news, although they were delaying Nightline even before they went to a 1 hour late news, at least as far back as the mid 80's. For the longest time they showed 2 episodes of Cheers before Nightline.
I know this topic belongs somewhere else, but I just happen to have WEAR on my TV right now and I'm still half asleep so I couldn't stop myself from posting.

Sorry for the interruption. Mobile, Alabama now returns you to your regularly scheduled program already in progress.

 

[sfradio]

Chris Matthews and Keith Obermann must be euphoric when it comes to covering Obama's Inauguration. After all those two were rooting for the guy to win way back when he first announced his candidacy in January 2007.

Didn't MSNBC learn its lesson letting those guy play news anchor? They are commentators not news anchors. Plus they wear their bias on their shirt sleeves, yet they are critical of conservative radio talk show hosts. Talk about hypocrisy. :

What about the anchors on fox news? They are already talking about Obama crashing and burning.

 

[Mario500]

Getting back off topic again... WEAR didn't clear Jimmy Kimmel Live until a couple years ago, the held out almost as long as WSB. Also, WEAR now delays Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live because they have a one hour late news broadcast, which in the end, airing more local news is actually a good reason to delay those shows. This has nothing to do with WEAR being contractually obligated to air another show after the late news, although they were delaying Nightline even before they went to a 1 hour late news, at least as far back as the mid 80's. For the longest time they showed 2 episodes of Cheers before Nightline.
I know this topic belongs somewhere else, but I just happen to have WEAR on my TV right now and I'm still half asleep so I couldn't stop myself from posting.

Sorry for the interruption. Mobile, Alabama now returns you to your regularly scheduled program already in progress.

More local news time (at 10:00 PM and 4:00 PM) is not necessarily good in the long term, especially for a station that focuses more on the Florida side of a TV market like Mobile-Pensacola. WALA-TV continues to succeed with a one-hour newscast at 9:00 PM because the station has no network programming at that time, their newscasts report from many parts of the tri-state broadcast area (including northwest Florida and southeast Mississippi) while still serving viewers in southwest Alabama, and to me their newscasts are more informative.

Sacrificing convenience, like a good time slot, for more of the same things is not serving your audience, WEAR-TV. Learn from WKRG-TV's past mistake of delaying "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder" for re-runs of "Mama's Family" and "Coach" before they realized such programs limited viewers' time with the station before going to sleep and were not something the network would have approved of, even for the sake of more local advertising revenue.

 

[kms575]

Getting back off topic again... WEAR didn't clear Jimmy Kimmel Live until a couple years ago, the held out almost as long as WSB. Also, WEAR now delays Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live because they have a one hour late news broadcast, which in the end, airing more local news is actually a good reason to delay those shows. This has nothing to do with WEAR being contractually obligated to air another show after the late news, although they were delaying Nightline even before they went to a 1 hour late news, at least as far back as the mid 80's. For the longest time they showed 2 episodes of Cheers before Nightline.
I know this topic belongs somewhere else, but I just happen to have WEAR on my TV right now and I'm still half asleep so I couldn't stop myself from posting.

Sorry for the interruption. Mobile, Alabama now returns you to your regularly scheduled program already in progress.

More local news time (at 10:00 PM and 4:00 PM) is not necessarily good in the long term, especially for a station that focuses more on the Florida side of a TV market like Mobile-Pensacola. WALA-TV continues to succeed with a one-hour newscast at 9:00 PM because the station has no network programming at that time, their newscasts report from many parts of the tri-state broadcast area (including northwest Florida and southeast Mississippi) while still serving viewers in southwest Alabama, and to me their newscasts are more informative.

Sacrificing convenience, like a good time slot, for more of the same things is not serving your audience, WEAR-TV. Learn from WKRG-TV's past mistake of delaying "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder" for re-runs of "Mama's Family" and "Coach" before they realized such programs limited viewers' time with the station before going to sleep and were not something the network would have approved of, even for the sake of more local advertising revenue.

Wow, talk about hijacking a thread. Weren't we discussing coverage of the inaguration?

 

[charlestondxman]

In our area, none of the local stations had reporters in Washington, in the #99 market. They all relied on the network, and surprisingly, only WCSC had their own reporter there, and it wasn't even one of their staff, it was Judy Gatson from sister station WIS, on the "Raycom News Network."

WCIV relied on Washington reporters and the network, while all of the stations had extensive local reports. Both 2 and 5 in our area (NBC/CBS) interrupted the network at 5 o'clock, so they could air their local news. It was a big deal because a very rare snow event was occurring in the Charleston area.

 

[KyDXIn]

In our area, none of the local stations had reporters in Washington, in the #99 market. They all relied on the network, and surprisingly, only WCSC had their own reporter there, and it wasn't even one of their staff, it was Judy Gatson from sister station WIS, on the "Raycom News Network."

I believe I saw Judy on our local Raycom station (WAVE) at 7:30pm after our local 7pm eastern news.