Is There A Real Need For A 10 PM Newscast On Rochester TV?

[The Voice of Reason]

Let us take this issue, which was raised in another post, and elaborate on it here.
Personally I think having local news on at 10 o'clock is a good idea because like many others, I don't want to wait until 11pm to watch the news. Someone said comparing R-News and FOX 31 is like apples to oranges. That's true in a sense since R-News was designed to be a 24-hour news operation, while FOX 31 was not. But I must also agree with the opinion that when comparing the quality of news, R-News does look and sound more professional. Amy Young and Jim Aroune run circles around Lia Lando and Katrina Irwin when it comes to anchoring. And R-News reporters have been in the Rochester market a lot longer than most of 31's (or should I say 8's) news staff, therefore they have better contacts with the newsmakers. As for having live reports at 10, I've seen more live reports on R-News than on 31. Even if 31 has remote trucks, that doesn't mean they use them as much as they should; perhaps because they don't have the staff, who knows? Now there has been talk about WHAM-CW also getting into the 10:00 pm newscast fray. That would be a good idea because out of all the stations in town, 13 has the most experience. (Sounds like a promo doesn't it?) Yet with the pending sale of 13 by Clear Channel, I just don't see CC making a financial commitment to a 10 pm newscast. Why bother spending money on property one is going to sell?

 

[Rochwatcher]

Yes, there is a need for a 10 pm newscast in Rochester--no doubt. Unfortunately the 10PM product has been so bad all these years--that viewers have learned to live without it, and wait until 11pm or just not watch late news.

Never has a 10PM show in this town been properly funded, staffed and promoted. If it was, it would be very successful. We live in a day in age where people are working longer hours--staying up until 11 is practically unheard of for many professionals.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Yes, there is a need for a 10 pm newscast in Rochester--no doubt. Unfortunately the 10PM product has been so bad all these years--that viewers have learned to live without it, and wait until 11pm or just not watch late news.


Never has a 10PM show in this town been properly funded, staffed and promoted. If it was, it would be very successful. We live in a day in age where people are working longer hours--staying up until 11 is practically unheard of for many professionals.

Going back over a decade I remember when Donna Dedee left WHEC to become 31's news director. Before the program made its debut on WUHF we spoke in length about her plans to make the 10 o'clock news into a viable competitive operation.

Not only was Donna familiar with the Rochester market, but she had brought on board a professional staff that was more than eager to make it work.

Unfortunately, like in many cases these days, the company that owned 31 at the time changed hands and the new owner (Sinclair) didn't have the commitment to keep the news operation going.

Eventually most of the on-air staff either left on their own or were forced out and of course we are all familiar with the News Central debacle that replaced FOX 31 local news before Channel 8 came in and took over 31's news operation.

The sad part in all of this is that the general public just doesn't seem to care anymore what passes for news.

As for us "old timers" it is quite obvious that some of the so-called on air talent being hired today lacks the experience that was once available to up and coming reporters. That's because smaller market stations have also lowered their professional standards.

That's my two cents on the subject.

 

[therealjm12]

Going back over a decade I remember when Donna Dedee left WHEC to become 31's news director. Before the program made its debut on WUHF we spoke in length about her plans to make the 10 o'clock news into a viable competitive operation.

Not only was Donna familiar with the Rochester market, but she had brought on board a professional staff that was more than eager to make it work.

Unfortunately, like in many cases these days, the company that owned 31 at the time changed hands and the new owner (Sinclair) didn't have the commitment to keep the news operation going.

Yes, I have to agree with you. As I remember , I was pretty impressed by Fox 31 News when it was launched with Donna Dedee at the helm. I figured it would get better with time. Unfortunately it seemed decrease in quality almost as soon as it premiered. I do think what they have on the air now is better than News Central but it would have to be.