KDAF and KHWB News goes dark at end of 2007?

[Local First]

Per FTVLive -- stations with one newscasts per day will go dark, at the end of 2007.

Will this include KDAF and KHWB?

If this is true, this is sad because KHWB's newscast is actually watchable. Sherry Williams is a severely underrated anchor and she and Alan Hemberger both have great chemistry together.

 

[newsmark]

Tribune has not announced anything to those of us in Dallas.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Tribune has not announced anything to those of us in Dallas.

And they won't, until the axe actually falls. The new Tribune ownership is going to slash costs, and I'm sure has already decided that a single newscast in DFW and Houston isn't worth the expense, going up against tough competition in those markets. Were I on staff at either of those stations, the resumes would be flying everywhere.

Too bad for KHCW, which is a decent alternative to KRIV's often cheesy 9pm hypefest. But not a surprise if it gets blown out under the new regime.

 

[stevenNOLA]

I'd like to see them add a couple of newscasts to KHCW. Probably not too much extra expense since they already produce one.

 

[KERCAlum]

I'd like to see them add a couple of newscasts to KHCW. Probably not too much extra expense since they already produce one.

It might be a nice alternative to the big stations. Here in D/FW, I tend to watch TXA 21 between 7 and 9, just long enough to catch some weather and the top stories, because lots of times I miss the 6pm news and don't want to wait around to catch the 9 or 10. And since they're produced by KTVT/11, they have more of an air of professionalism (such as it is) than KDAF/33.

I rarely ever watch CW33, just because they seem so small-market (and I used to work in several, so don't nobody get their knickers in a knot). If they went away, I don't think it would be a great loss. If they expanded, it might be overkill in this market.

 

[snoman]

I'd like to see them add a couple of newscasts to KHCW. Probably not too much extra expense since they already produce one.

The problem is, that the ratings overall have been terrible for their Newscast. There has only been a handful of times in which it has beaten KRIV head-to-head. Tribune is notoriously cheap. Unless they see growth, they are not going to add anything. I think they should extend their 9pm to one-hour, like KRIV, just to see if viewers would pick them instead of KRIV. The reason I don't watch KHCW's news is because they don't go into detail with a lot of their stories. If they expand the 9pm newscast, they might draw some more viewers, increase the ratings, and then they could look at expanding their news programming. Alan & Sherry are great. And, Keith Monahan has won a lot of awards for his weather coverage. The only area that they are truly weaker to KRIV (talent wise) is sports, but so everyone else in town.

Based on lack of numbers though, it would not surprise me if Tribune's new ownership group did decide to dump the newscasts that aren't performing well. It is very costly to produce a newscast. If they could use that extra money in other areas to improve their stations, I'm sure they will look at it.

 

[arnoldevns]

Here's a post I saw:

In a cost saving measure, Tribune is said to be preparing to close news departments at a handful of its stations that produce only one daily newscast.

You can read that however you want. Does that mean that all Tribune stations that produce only one newscast will lose their news department? Or, does it mean that "a handful" of the stations that produce one newscast will lose their news department?

 

[intx]

If this happens, KHCW and KDAF will most likely still air news at 9p ... it'll just be produced by another station. Tribune has already done this in a few markets. The Tribune stations closed their newsrooms and laid everyone off, then they struck deals with other stations in the market so they could continue offering news. In San Diego, for instance, KSWB now runs news produced by NBC-owned KNSD.

 

[KERCAlum]

That would be very interesting - right now, KDFW/4 produces (or used to produce - I'm not sure they run them anymore) KDFI's mini-newscast after the Rangers (with Fox 4 talent); KTVT produces TXA 21's newscast, and KFWD runs a repeat of WFAA's 6 and 10 news. If KXAS produces KDAF's newscast, though (which is probably the only viable alternative if Tribune closes up the newsroom), would that possibly lead to an LMA between 5 and 33, much like what 5 and 39 used to have before 39 went Telemundo? Or because 5 and 39 are essentially owned by the same company (NBC Universal also owns Telemundo, right?), would that preclude them doing 33's news or setting up an LMA?

Or would the FCC simply turn a blind eye and let media consolidation continue to run rampant?

 

[arnoldevns]

That would be very interesting - right now, KDFW/4 produces (or used to produce - I'm not sure they run them anymore) KDFI's mini-newscast after the Rangers (with Fox 4 talent);

No, they quit doing that when My Network TV arrived in September of last year.

KTVT produces TXA 21's newscast, and KFWD runs a repeat of WFAA's 6 and 10 news. If KXAS produces KDAF's newscast, though (which is probably the only viable alternative if Tribune closes up the newsroom), would that possibly lead to an LMA between 5 and 33, much like what 5 and 39 used to have before 39 went Telemundo? Or because 5 and 39 are essentially owned by the same company (NBC Universal also owns Telemundo, right?), would that preclude them doing 33's news or setting up an LMA?

Or would the FCC simply turn a blind eye and let media consolidation continue to run rampant?

5 won't be producing a newscast for 33 unless Tribune ponies up a pile of cash. NBC has been cutting back on staff all over the country. They're not going to throw resources at a product that airs on a Tribune station without an assurance of a profit upfront.

If Tribune pulls the plug on 33's newscast, you'll likely see syndicated sitcoms at 9pm. I don't think they'll bother trying to get someone else to do a newscast there. My hope is that they'll keep the news at 9pm and put more resources behind it. It is not promoted well and the anchors are just not up to par with others in this market.

 

[adguy]

If this happens, KHCW and KDAF will most likely still air news at 9p ... it'll just be produced by another station. Tribune has already done this in a few markets. The Tribune stations closed their newsrooms and laid everyone off, then they struck deals with other stations in the market so they could continue offering news. In San Diego, for instance, KSWB now runs news produced by NBC-owned KNSD.

KHCW will just go dark if Tribune decides to shutter some or all of their local news operations. As stated earlier, it will be a shame in Houston because they have a very decent product for a cash strapped operation. Half-hour to half-hour I prefer KHCW's newscast to KRIV's "it's all about me" newscast. There's no way anther market station would produce or sell a 9P newscast for them, nor would I believe them to use an out-of-market produced product. Any out of market production would not generate any ratings compared to the very few points they have now. News is product that can take 10 years to develop in terms of ratings. KHCW is still a few years away from the consistency and longevity it takes to establish a following with demo ratings above 2. It took KRIV from 1985 well up to 1994 to establish itself as a long-term player as the market's 4th late night newscast. That's not only in the viewers' minds, but the advertisers' minds as well. KRIV did not start taking significant shares of late news ad dollars until about 1992 or 93 and it wasn't really until 94 or 95 when they started taking more ad dollar shares than KHOU and KPRC on significant pieces of business.

 

[jeffdfw]

I think Bob Goosmann is the best Meteorologist in Fort Worth/Dallas. I wish 11 had kept him. Seems like he'd be a good fit on FOX4 but someone would have to go... :-[

 

[stevenNOLA]

If this happens, KHCW and KDAF will most likely still air news at 9p ... it'll just be produced by another station. Tribune has already done this in a few markets. The Tribune stations closed their newsrooms and laid everyone off, then they struck deals with other stations in the market so they could continue offering news. In San Diego, for instance, KSWB now runs news produced by NBC-owned KNSD.

KHCW will just go dark if Tribune decides to shutter some or all of their local news operations. As stated earlier, it will be a shame in Houston because they have a very decent product for a cash strapped operation. Half-hour to half-hour I prefer KHCW's newscast to KRIV's "it's all about me" newscast. There's no way anther market station would produce or sell a 9P newscast for them, nor would I believe them to use an out-of-market produced product. Any out of market production would not generate any ratings compared to the very few points they have now. News is product that can take 10 years to develop in terms of ratings. KHCW is still a few years away from the consistency and longevity it takes to establish a following with demo ratings above 2. It took KRIV from 1985 well up to 1994 to establish itself as a long-term player as the market's 4th late night newscast. That's not only in the viewers' minds, but the advertisers' minds as well. KRIV did not start taking significant shares of late news ad dollars until about 1992 or 93 and it wasn't really until 94 or 95 when they started taking more ad dollar shares than KHOU and KPRC on significant pieces of business.

If KHCW's news operations go dark, KRIV should recruit "Chief" Keith since Cecelia Sinclair has decided to retire. He would be a good addition.

 

[adguy]

Not only should they recruit Keith Monahan, but they should try to bring back Joe Nolan as News Director and get rid of that poor excuse of an ND that they have now. Problem is, Joe Nolan left KRIV in 2000 as assistant ND to take the top job at KHCW (then KHTV). He's the best ND in town having garnered much of his experience at KPRC when they were a real news operation in the early and mid 90's. As logical as the Monahan move would be for KRIV, they'll blow it as they do most opportunities to improve their news operations. Monahan would be a great weather anchor at any station in a major market. He, along with the other KHCW anchors make for great chemistry for thier late news. If I were running KRIV, I would consider bringing in as much of their key talent as I could. KHCW overall has better anchors than KRIV with the exception of sports. Mark Berman is still the best sports "JOURNALIST" in probably any market.

 

[compubit]

Of the stations who could put on a newscast at KDAF and KHWB - I'd look to these:

Dallas/Ft. Worth: KXAS - 4 competes head-to-head, 11 does 21's, and 8 repeats on 52. Plus NBC already does this in Philly and San Diego

Houston: KTRK - Disney/ABC has precedent in both San Francisco (KGO 7/KBWB 20) and Raleigh (WTVD 11/WLFL 22). I don't see it coming from "Local 2" (not done elsewhere within Post Newsweek), 11 (Belo only does this on stations it owns or operates), or 26 (again head-to-head).

I enjoy the chemistry of 39's on-air talent. They've been stable since coming on the air as a newscast.

I hope they're still around a year from now!

Jim

 

[snoman]

Not only should they recruit Keith Monahan, but they should try to bring back Joe Nolan as News Director and get rid of that poor excuse of an ND that they have now. Problem is, Joe Nolan left KRIV in 2000 as assistant ND to take the top job at KHCW (then KHTV). He's the best ND in town having garnered much of his experience at KPRC when they were a real news operation in the early and mid 90's. As logical as the Monahan move would be for KRIV, they'll blow it as they do most opportunities to improve their news operations. Monahan would be a great weather anchor at any station in a major market. He, along with the other KHCW anchors make for great chemistry for thier late news. If I were running KRIV, I would consider bringing in as much of their key talent as I could. KHCW overall has better anchors than KRIV with the exception of sports. Mark Berman is still the best sports "JOURNALIST" in probably any market.

Agreed. Although, I think KRIV is going to hire Dr. Jim Siebert to the full time role of Chief Meteorologist. They seem to be happy with his fill-in work.

 

[GRAYWOLF]

I think Bob Goosmann is the best Meteorologist in Fort Worth/Dallas. I wish 11 had kept him. Seems like he'd be a good fit on FOX4 but someone would have to go... :-[

Kick out KK and put Bob back on 11!!!

I would hate to see him kicked out of DFW again. 4 is probably too tied up with Dan Henry to bring Bob in.