Shocking news, WPVI 6ABC takes over 10 PM newscast on WPHL 17

[Jul]

Effective 9/15: http://www.myphl17.com/about/statio...-prime-time-on-phl17-20120827,0,5476637.story Thoughts on this and why WCAU is no longer doing the 10 PM newscast?

 

[DToTheJ]

Maybe it's yet another cut from Comcast corporate?

 

[AdamfromPhilly]

In the end who did it really benefit? Comcast/Kabletown/NBC really was not interested in this joint venture and PHL17 needs someone to do their news. Enter ABC/Disney who likes the sound of their voice more than one else. It is a shame, since I refuse to watch 6ABC's version of the news. It is at least better than the dribble that FOX29 puts out. I guess I will watch CW57s news @ 10......last best option.


But the real question why did Aditi Roy go from Weekday morning co-anchor to borrowed network reporter to evening anchor (PHL17) to weekend morning anchor? It seems to be a free fall thru the ranks of NBC10. She is very good, and deserves a weekday spot.

 

[ding12]

Since WCAU no longer has a deal with WPHL which likely had exclusivity strings attached, it may permit Comcast to show NBC10 news on TCN. The 7pm newscast on 10.2 and and another 10pm newscast or something else.

I think there is news saturation however and unlike Cablevision, Cox or Time Warner, Comcast isn't that big on cable local news anyways.

Comcast and Tribune: the two are somewhat adversaries as Tribune's goal is to extract the most possible retransmission consent from cable companies for its stations, while providers want to pay the least possible.

The arrangement was never extended down to Washington DC, where the NBC affiliate WRC has a strong newscast, and the Tribune station is newsless. So, maybe there was lack of mutual satisfaction from the arrangement.

WPHL anyways winds up better off with Action News at 10.

 

[Jefferson Ward]

Julius, this is not shocking at all. To be honest, I am surprised that WCAU continued to do the WPHL newscasts for this long. Julius, times change. We have to deal with the changes. There are several stations across the country (Fox affiliates, My TV affiliates, etc) who switch stations to produce thier newscasts. These types of changes are not uncommon at all. As mentioned earlier, maybe this is a cost-cutting move by Crapcast. Who knows. What are your thoughts and opinions on this change Julius? What does you think? Why or why not?

 

[ding12]

If it turns out well, Disney could consider buying out WPHL. This would ensure Action News stays at 10pm and eliminate the cross-arrangement issues. While today the two companies are content with the arrangement, one year from now one might not be so content. Also, it's easier if you own the station than dealing with another entity to split the profits for the venture.

However, the Tribune CEO mentioned that he doesn't want to sell stations piecemeal, and Disney hasn't run a duopoly. But, there would be synergies gained (likely in staff cuts over at WPHL). Disney could also run a Katie rerun at 9pm giving that show greater exposure like Dr.Phil on WLNY and WFMZ, although MyNetwork, as far as I know, is a free or low cost syndicated service to stations, so possibly worthwhile keeping it.

 

[Bill_W]

not really Shocking news, WPVI 6ABC takes over 10 PM newscast on WPHL 17

I actually like that Action News will be on at 10pm. I've been an Action News fan since I was a child. I wonder if Action News will be on in the morning eventually on PHL 17 from 7-9 like CBS has on the CW. I'm surprised that channel 6 just didn't do a 10pm newscast on 6.2. If you have Comcast or Verizon, you have 6.2 in SD and HD. NBC 10 news at 10pm on 10.2 starting next month?

 

[tmanokc]

If it turns out well, Disney could consider buying out WPHL. This would ensure Action News stays at 10pm and eliminate the cross-arrangement issues. While today the two companies are content with the arrangement, one year from now one might not be so content. Also, it's easier if you own the station than dealing with another entity to split the profits for the venture.

However, the Tribune CEO mentioned that he doesn't want to sell stations piecemeal, and Disney hasn't run a duopoly. But, there would be synergies gained (likely in staff cuts over at WPHL). Disney could also run a Katie rerun at 9pm giving that show greater exposure like Dr.Phil on WLNY and WFMZ, although MyNetwork, as far as I know, is a free or low cost syndicated service to stations, so possibly worthwhile keeping it.

ABC has apparently made it clear that it isn't interested in duopolies, they don't own a second network like NBC, CBS and Fox do (Live Well doesn't count as it's a subchannel-only service), so they wouldn't have anything to gain from it. Not to mention that I doubt that ABC would want to run a station affiliated with a "programming service" run by one of their network competitors (Fox). Also, there's no guarantee what will happen to Tribune Company, they're better off pulling a Media General and keeping the TV assets but unloading most or all of its newspapers since the stations are the money makers for the company (the digital media assets, Zap2It, Metromix, etc., also should be kept)... that or splitting the publishing unit and most of the Media Services properties and the broadcasting unit/digital media assets similar to what Belo did two years ago.

Julius, this is not shocking at all. To be honest, I am surprised that WCAU continued to do the WPHL newscasts for this long. Julius, times change. We have to deal with the changes. There are several stations across the country (Fox affiliates, My TV affiliates, etc) who switch stations to produce thier newscasts. These types of changes are not uncommon at all.

Yes, it is (relatively) common for stations to switch partners in news production if they outsource newscasts, it's about to happen in Louisville with CW affiliate WBKI (whose newscast will be produced by SSA-partner-to-be WDRB after having been produced by WHAS for several years) and it happened at the beginning of this year in Wichita with KSAS switching its news production from KWCH to KSNW (though KSAS didn't have much choice in that regard since KWCH started producing a 9 p.m. newscast for its CW-affiliated sister KSCW). What makes this situation different is that Philly is that WPHL is the only non-network owned affiliate in the area (ABC owns WPVI, NBC owns WCAU, CBS owns KYW and WPSG and Fox owns WTXF). Inevitably, as long as WPHL remains separate from the other stations, WPVI will be the only news share partner it will have (barring hooking up with WCAU ever again) since WTXF is not an option since Fox-owned stations don't produce newscasts for other stations co-owned or not (WWOR doesn't count as its news department is technically separate from WNYW, even though they share some on-air staff) and KYW already produces WPSG's 10 p.m. news. WPHL only chose to enter into the NSA with WCAU to keep news on the station after it shut down its in-house news department in 2005, these agreements don't last forever with stations that have no relation to one another.

The arrangement was never extended down to Washington DC, where the NBC affiliate WRC has a strong newscast, and the Tribune station is newsless. So, maybe there was lack of mutual satisfaction from the arrangement.

WPHL anyways winds up better off with Action News at 10.

It is puzzling that WDCW doesn't have news, you would think Tribune have had invested in a news department or entered into a news share agreement with WRC, WUSA or WJLA when it was trying to get its then-WB stations that didn't have news programming at the time to add some around 1999/2000. They do produce some local programming, mainly public affairs shows. Back to the subject, seeing as WPVI has been #1 in Philly for decades, the agreement could benefit WPHL and help it become a stronger competitor in the 10 p.m. news slot against WTXF (and indirectly, WFMZ). There's no guarantee though that WPVI's success will translate down to WPHL, though, but time and audience will tell.

 

[stilldustyvinyl]

I guess John Clark will be gone as the Phils after game show host, unless thats a freelance deal and not tied to NBC10. Don't know how that works.

 

[DToTheJ]

... I refuse to watch 6ABC's version of the news...

You're not in very good company - same theme music since 1970, and they've been #1 for just as long.

 

[ding12]

ABC has apparently made it clear that it isn't interested in duopolies, they don't own a second network like NBC, CBS and Fox do (Live Well doesn't count as it's a subchannel-only service), so they wouldn't have anything to gain from it. Not to mention that I doubt that ABC would want to run a station affiliated with a "programming service" run by one of their network competitors (Fox). Also, there's no guarantee what will happen to Tribune Company, they're better off pulling a Media General and keeping the TV assets but unloading most or all of its newspapers since the stations are the money makers for the company (the digital media assets, Zap2It, Metromix, etc., also should be kept)... that or splitting the publishing unit and most of the Media Services properties and the broadcasting unit/digital media assets similar to what Belo did two years ago.

Duopolies have been very profitable for CBS and Fox. It's a shame ABC wouldn't consider it in Philly, despite the lack of experience operating one.

Action News could also be extended from 7am-9am on WPHL if owned by Disney as well. It wouldn't be a bad thing for Disney if WPVI running GMA was #1 in the morning and WPHL running Action News was #2 in the morning here in Philadelphia.

They could dump MyNetwork, if running the Fox service bothered them and instead programmed Millionaire at 8pm, and Katie at 9pm like I mentioned. Both of those shows are owned by their company.

You're right there is no guarantee what will happen to Tribune. Fox could make a deal to buy out WPHL and gone is the 10pm Action News on WPHL. The WPVI-WPHL arrangement is just as fluid as the WCAU-WPHL arrangement.

 

[ding12]

It is puzzling that WDCW doesn't have news, you would think Tribune have had invested in a news department or entered into a news share agreement with WRC, WUSA or WJLA when it was trying to get its then-WB stations that didn't have news programming at the time to add some around 1999/2000.

I don't think WJLA/Allbritton would deal since they already operate a cable news channel.

 

[ding12]

Operating MyNetwork on it if Disney bought it out might not be bothersome. ABC's top show 'Modern Family' is a Fox show. It's not a big thing having a Fox operated service there. The benefit to keep it is the station is network branded and Fox wouldn't have to find another affiliate.

 

[recto101]

Not Shocking to Me because other ABC O&O's do this such as WTVD in North Carolina they air the ABC11 News on a CW station in the market. Incidentally TV 20 in San Francisco once aired NBC Bay Area News in 2002 but pulled out once NBC had Full ownership of KNTV 11. Since 2007 TV 20 had agreements with Disney to air KGO's ABC7 News at 9 on KOFY TV 20.

 

[Irishfl]

I guess John Clark will be gone as the Phils after game show host, unless thats a freelance deal and not tied to NBC10. Don't know how that works.

Probably will finish out the season. NBC10 anchors have also been anchoring the Mummer's Day parade ever since the partnership with phl17....so I expect 6abc anchors will take over hosting duties of that event.

BTW, myphl broadcast always maintained its own custom theme intro even with nbc10 doing the broadcast. It will be interesting to see if Action news on 17 will have a different (aka modern) news intro, or if MCTYW is just brought on over. My guess is MCTYW will be used, but the shorten one used during mornings & sweeps.

 

[wprt949]

gonna be Intresting too see if WXTF fox 29 cuts its newscast from an hour to 30 Miniutes

if i remember in the 90s 10 o-clock news was from 10pm-10:30

 

[[email protected]]

I love Action News.....but isn't Disney a little news "Crazy".....We have Action News at 4:30 - 7: 00 AM.....Do not like Temela Edwards. So I don't watch that. Then at 12:00 PM, 4:00 - 6:30 PM. Now at 10:00 PM Too!! Then 11:00 PM, On the weekend at 11:30PM. Most of that is weekday new casts.

There must be some salesmen at Channel 6 that are getting well paid where they need all that news to sell spots around it.

Action News has more stories looping all day because of the Chopper and people sending really crappy pics of cars and houses burning.

I think Brian Taff will end up at ABC NEWS in NY.....he looks network. Or end up as Gardner's replacement when he retires.

Who said we wanted to see that news?? Did they ask us? Way too much news and displaying greed.

 

[Irishfl]

Well to be fair to ch6, they have been playing catch up when it comes to expanded news coverage. Ch3 was the one who started morning news, and then expanded morning news to to start at 6:00, and then later 5:30. Ch6 was the last of the big 3 to have a 4:00PM news. ch6 was the last of the big 3 to have weekend morning news, and now they're the last to have a 10:00PM news.

Can't blame a network for wanting to keep up with the competition.

 

[Jefferson Ward]

Julius: Since you brought up the topic, what are YOUR thoughts on WPVI producing the 10:00 newscast on WPHL? What does you think? Why or why not?

Mike: Why would Fox 29 cut their newscasts back to 30 minutes? I do not understand that logic at all. Having an hour-long newscast benefits Fox 29 and the audience that wants to watch the news before 11pm.

 

[Jul]

Julius: Since you brought up the topic, what are YOUR thoughts on WPVI producing the 10:00 newscast on WPHL? What does you think? Why or why not?

Mike: Why would Fox 29 cut their newscasts back to 30 minutes? I do not understand that logic at all. Having an hour-long newscast benefits Fox 29 and the audience that wants to watch the news before 11pm.

Its about time that WPVI gets a 10 PM newscast. FOX 29 doesn't deserve to be number 1 at 10 PM. Their news product sucks.