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More Changes at ABC15

ihEARDtHAT

ihEARDtHAT

Since somebody wondered how the other thread got sidetracked, I thought I would start a new one here.

As I mentioned on the other thread, Stephanie Sandoval (host of Sonoran Living) was not offered a new contract after 5 years at ABC15.

While looking up information about Iris Hermosillo I saw a post that mentioned Tim Vetscher also leaving ABC15. Today I found this post on Tim's twitter account:
First marriage then...new job! I've accepted a job as Managing Editor at @KJRH2HD in Tulsa, OK. Really excited but gonna miss AZ!
 
Good catch! You're good at finding these things...

Sad news, though. I thought Tim was one of their better reporters. Oh well, ABC 15 can hire new people from much smaller markets -- I expect several from Yuma and Palm Springs!! :D
 
formeraa said:
Good catch! You're good at finding these things...

Sad news, though. I thought Tim was one of their better reporters. Oh well, ABC 15 can hire new people from much smaller markets -- I expect several from Yuma and Palm Springs!! :D
Click to expand...

Or just give up and enter an SSA with Belo, combining KTVK and KNXV's operations under one roof. Something like that is inevitable, especially since ABC15 appears to have given up on any chance of being competitive in this market.
 
Eric Stein said:
Or just give up and enter an SSA with Belo, combining KTVK and KNXV's operations undeone roof. Something like that is inevitable, especially since ABC15 appears to have given up on any chance of being competitive in this market.
Click to expand...

The interesting thing is that there is still a place for a non-hyper, solid newscast that covers the Northern 2/3rd of Arizona. 12 News used to be that station until they systematically got rid of every reporter with gray hair. ABC 15 could fill that role. Of course, they would have to open a staffed bureau in Flagstaff to cover Northern Arizona. They could join forces with one of the Tucson stations to cover Southern Arizona. ABC 15 could easily become the top station in the market if they put in just a bit of effort.
 
formeraa said:
The interesting thing is that there is still a place for a non-hyper, solid newscast that covers the Northern 2/3rd of Arizona. 12 News used to be that station until they systematically got rid of every reporter with gray hair. ABC 15 could fill that role. Of course, they would have to open a staffed bureau in Flagstaff to cover Northern Arizona. They could join forces with one of the Tucson stations to cover Southern Arizona. ABC 15 could easily become the top station in the market if they put in just a bit of effort.
Click to expand...

One of my pet peeves is Phoenix media branding themselves as "Arizona" (KNXV, KPHO, KTAR) yet failing to adequately cover the state.
 
justthenumbers said:
One of my pet peeves is Phoenix media branding themselves as "Arizona" (KNXV, KPHO, KTAR) yet failing to adequately cover the state.
Click to expand...

They will tell you they do.....just nothing of interest ever happens outside the Valley. ;D
 
formeraa said:
Eric Stein said:
Or just give up and enter an SSA with Belo, combining KTVK and KNXV's operations undeone roof. Something like that is inevitable, especially since ABC15 appears to have given up on any chance of being competitive in this market.
Click to expand...

The interesting thing is that there is still a place for a non-hyper, solid newscast that covers the Northern 2/3rd of Arizona. 12 News used to be that station until they systematically got rid of every reporter with gray hair. ABC 15 could fill that role. Of course, they would have to open a staffed bureau in Flagstaff to cover Northern Arizona. They could join forces with one of the Tucson stations to cover Southern Arizona. ABC 15 could easily become the top station in the market if they put in just a bit of effort.
Click to expand...

Scripps doesn't seem to be the right company for this. The suits in Cincinnati seem to care more about saving a few dollars than making their stations reflective of the markets they serve. Their corporate Director of Content came from Phoenix, but they treat KNXV like the "black sheep" of the group. They have NO syndicated programming inventory outside of the shows Scripps has an interest in or ABC provides them ("Katie"). They have to give away iPads and money to attract attention to their programs and newscasts. This whole "one size fits all" concept for replacing "Wheel of Fortune" and Jeopardy!" is backfiring, despite all the positive spin they are giving the trades. They really should have channeled the old Group W "PM Magazine" market franchise idea instead of creating low-cost shows consisting of videos from YouTube, but that's just me.

Scripps had every chance of gaining traction for their newscast in the past 18 years. Either Corporate is holding them back or they haven't tried hard enough to create a solid brand. As much as the SSA idea is disliked by "media watchdogs" and such, that may be their only option.

((end of rant))
 
Eric Stein said:
Or just give up and enter an SSA with Belo, combining KTVK and KNXV's operations under one roof. Something like that is inevitable, especially since ABC15 appears to have given up on any chance of being competitive in this market.
Click to expand...

Which would probably put ABC back on Channel 3 as soon as the ink dried.
 
KeithE4 said:
Eric Stein said:
Or just give up and enter an SSA with Belo, combining KTVK and KNXV's operations under one roof. Something like that is inevitable, especially since ABC15 appears to have given up on any chance of being competitive in this market.
Click to expand...

Which would probably put ABC back on Channel 3 as soon as the ink dried.
Click to expand...

Which wouldn't be a bad thing... GMAZ from 4:30am to 7am on 3, continuing from 7am to 10am on 15.
 
KeithE4 said:
Eric Stein said:
Or just give up and enter an SSA with Belo, combining KTVK and KNXV's operations under one roof. Something like that is inevitable, especially since ABC15 appears to have given up on any chance of being competitive in this market.
Click to expand...

Which would probably put ABC back on Channel 3 as soon as the ink dried.
Click to expand...

I'd think ABC would still be on 15 until at least 2015 because of Scripps' contract with the network. I'm not suggesting a full-on LMA, where Belo takes over 15's programming and sales departments. With an SSA, each station would still control their own programming and sales departments. 15 would benefit by the strength of 3's promotions/marketing department, a stronger overall news presence, and knowledge of reaching out into the community. 3 would benefit by moving into 15's much larger facility. I can't see five separate TV news organizations competing in the long run, especially with declining ratings and revenues in broadcast. Newspapers realized this two decades ago.
 
Two interesting points here:

1. Pat Costello comes from BELO-owned KING/KONG (yes, they are sister stations :D) in Seattle.

2. KING's newscasts are serious with very, very little hype, compared to most markets. If he brought the same type of newscast to Phoenix, it would be instantly popular -- less chit-chat, less commentary about the stories, banter limited to weather and sports, and definitely "newsier".

Frankly, they need to pair Steve Irvin with someone other than Katie Raml (Diana Williams is still in the Phoenix area).
 
formeraa said:
2. KING's newscasts are serious with very, very little hype, compared to most markets. If he brought the same type of newscast to Phoenix, it would be instantly popular -- less chit-chat, less commentary about the stories, banter limited to weather and sports, and definitely "newsier".
Click to expand...

You mean "No chit-chat, more news?" Deja vu 1996 all over again? ;D
 
KeithE4 said:
formeraa said:
2. KING's newscasts are serious with very, very little hype, compared to most markets. If he brought the same type of newscast to Phoenix, it would be instantly popular -- less chit-chat, less commentary about the stories, banter limited to weather and sports, and definitely "newsier".
Click to expand...

You mean "No chit-chat, more news?" Deja vu 1996 all over again? ;D
Click to expand...

You got it. :D

But, seriously, just tone down the hype, replace Katie with a solid new person, and do the news. The viewers will come.
 
formeraa said:
KeithE4 said:
You mean "No chit-chat, more news?" Deja vu 1996 all over again? ;D
Click to expand...

You got it. :D

But, seriously, just tone down the hype, replace Katie with a solid new person, and do the news. The viewers will come.
Click to expand...

They will come if they have the right mix of programming and promotion. No more of this third-rate knockoff of "Inside Edition" leading into the 5pm show. KTVK became number one in the late-'80s by 1) having decent lead-ins ("Oprah" and "Donahue," and at a time when ABC was a stronger network) and 2) reaching out to the viewers (remember the "Arizona USA" road trip?). Would the bottom-line oriented management at Scripps allow for something like that?
 
formeraa said:
Two interesting points here:

1. Pat Costello comes from BELO-owned KING/KONG (yes, they are sister stations :D) in Seattle.

2. KING's newscasts are serious with very, very little hype, compared to most markets. If he brought the same type of newscast to Phoenix, it would be instantly popular -- less chit-chat, less commentary about the stories, banter limited to weather and sports, and definitely "newsier".

Frankly, they need to pair Steve Irvin with someone other than Katie Raml (Diana Williams is still in the Phoenix area).
Click to expand...

Just read the news and let the viewer decide? Gads man, are you mad?
That's a concept I would love to see in the Phoenix market. The drivel between Hook and Lane (as an example) drives me nuts, especially when Lane is trying to ad lib and Hook just says a few words and nails it.
As for Diana Williams, might you meant Diana Sullivan? It would be sweet to see Ms Sullivan back in the chair, albeit on 15.
 
KeithE4 said:
formeraa said:
2. KING's newscasts are serious with very, very little hype, compared to most markets. If he brought the same type of newscast to Phoenix, it would be instantly popular -- less chit-chat, less commentary about the stories, banter limited to weather and sports, and definitely "newsier".
Click to expand...

You mean "No chit-chat, more news?" Deja vu 1996 all over again? ;D
Click to expand...

Five more words: We Won't Waste Your Time!
 
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