Subtle Changes at WJAR in Providence

[johnnyboots]

Over the last week I have seen some suttle changes at WJAR. New Music beds are being used and new camera angles on the anchors. Any other changes coming?

 

[jg]

I think you mean "subtle."

 

[Garrett]

This is probably due to the fact that NBC sold the station, and so there's a new regime in charge, and they are leaving their mark.

 

[Skynet74]

Well WJAR is Media Generals new Toy. So I guess they want to play with it.

 

[truthandjustice]

This is probably due to the fact that NBC sold the station, and so there's a new regime in charge, and they are leaving their mark.

I would hope the new owners of WJAR. Would stop playing musical weathermen. Ley on at noon & 5pm,6pm.
Ghiorse on at 5:30pm & 11pm. I'm pretty sure the average viewer would find it confusing. If Gary Ley is
WJAR'S Chief Meteorologist. He needs to go back to being on starting at 5pm right till 11pm.

On the flip side. WPRI has no problem with promoting Tony Petrarca as their Chief Meteorologist.
And he is on starting at 5pm right till 11pm. If the new owners of WJAR really value their stations heritage.
They need to be consistant. Especially in New England. Where the weather changes daily.

 

[Skynet74]

Gary Ley is by far my favorite Meteorologist in Rhode Island. I agree. Put him on at night where he belongs. It seems out of place to have him on during the daytime and I don't like it. So stop it already WJAR. Thank you.

 

[formeraa]

Ironically, John Ghiorse was Southern New England favorite weatherman on WJAR during the 70's and early 80's. Everyone tuned into to see what "The Ghiorse Factor" would be for tomorrow.

Then, WLNE threw SERIOUS money at him (IIRC, $1 million over 6 years, which was a very high salary for Providence in the early 80's) as part of an attempt to be a serious news operation (anyone remember WLNE News). John went to channel 6, Gary Ley was brought in to replace him at WJAR, and the rest is history.

It is definitely different to split the weather duties like WJAR does. On the one hand, I'm sure that Gary likes going home early. On the other hand, it does seem to dilute his title of Chief Meteorologist. Obviously, someone felt that Ghiorse had better viewership at 11pm. Isn't Ghiorse ready to retire sometime soon, anyway?? Or is he planning to be the next Art Lake??

 

[JohnnyPancakes]

Gary Ley was "demoted" some months ago, because WPRI had beaten WJAR at 11:00 during a recent ratings period. I don't know how the weather guy affects the ratings that much. Unless, they figured out that people were turning off Channel 10 when Gary Ley came on, and were switching to Channel 12 to watch Tony Petrarca.

Also, Dylan Dreyer is now doing weekend weather at WHDH in Boston. She is no longer at WJAR.

What the hell is The Ghiorse Factor anyway?

 

[formeraa]

It's a rating of tomorrow's weather...it's part of Ghiorse's schtick! I don't know if there is a formula or formal calculation.

 

[Skynet74]

Ghiorse factor is simply a rating. On a scale from 1 to 10 tomorrow will be a 9. Beautiful day with warm temperatures. Friday will be a 2. Cold and Rainy. It's as simple as that.

PS. I like WJAR's new music beds. Very good change!

 

[jg]

I'm sorry, looking at the misspelled headline was driving me nuts! Can you imagine that in a chyron?

 

[JohnnyPancakes]

Thanks. I never knew what it was...until now!

 

[AKLes]

I'm sorry, looking at the misspelled headline was driving me nuts! Can you imagine that in a chyron?

Not all misspellings are typos.

Trust me. I did overnight engineering at 6 in the 1970's and had a hand in some weird spellings that taunted a certain news personallity (like his name corrupted) on late-night 'casts.