Or, at least, they want their viewers to believe it's local.
The local Azteca America affiliate, KPDF-CA 41, is scheduled to begin offering "local" newscasts in early 2007. However, the newscasts will originate from Davenport, Iowa, not from Phoenix, Arizona. Una Vez Mas has signed an agreement with Independent News Network (INN) to produce local news for KPDF, along with their other Azteca America affilates in Brownsville/Harlingen TX, Las Vegas NV, and San Antonio TX. The plan is to have one or more (bank on one) local reporter in Phoenix, but the anchors will be at the INN studios in Davenport IA. They are to visit Phoenix at least twice a year, they're supposed to familiarize themselves with Phoenix news and events, and the sets are supposed to have a Phoenix backdrop.
Yeah, right. Sounds like a slightly different flavor of NewsCentral to me. About 5 years ago, INN used to provide the "local" news for commonly-owned English-language stations in Butte, Great Falls, and Missoula, Montana. Reports were that it was awful and the company that owned the three stations soon canceled the newscasts. Maybe they've improved their product, but it's hard to believe that anchors in Iowa can fake familiarity with Arizona issues. The opinion of the INN Chief Technical Officer speaks volumes: “We don’t think the viewer should be able to tell their news is coming from Davenport.” Good luck.
Full story: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6374560.html?display=News&referra
The local Azteca America affiliate, KPDF-CA 41, is scheduled to begin offering "local" newscasts in early 2007. However, the newscasts will originate from Davenport, Iowa, not from Phoenix, Arizona. Una Vez Mas has signed an agreement with Independent News Network (INN) to produce local news for KPDF, along with their other Azteca America affilates in Brownsville/Harlingen TX, Las Vegas NV, and San Antonio TX. The plan is to have one or more (bank on one) local reporter in Phoenix, but the anchors will be at the INN studios in Davenport IA. They are to visit Phoenix at least twice a year, they're supposed to familiarize themselves with Phoenix news and events, and the sets are supposed to have a Phoenix backdrop.
Yeah, right. Sounds like a slightly different flavor of NewsCentral to me. About 5 years ago, INN used to provide the "local" news for commonly-owned English-language stations in Butte, Great Falls, and Missoula, Montana. Reports were that it was awful and the company that owned the three stations soon canceled the newscasts. Maybe they've improved their product, but it's hard to believe that anchors in Iowa can fake familiarity with Arizona issues. The opinion of the INN Chief Technical Officer speaks volumes: “We don’t think the viewer should be able to tell their news is coming from Davenport.” Good luck.
Full story: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6374560.html?display=News&referra