THE BEST TELEVISION MARKETS IN AMERICA!

[sctvman]

I think that Chicago is the best television market because you have many heritage stations including WGN-TV, great news and local programs. New York and Los Angeles are honorable mentioned as well.

As far as the medium-size markets: I like Indianapolis because of their news coverage and graphics.

Can you think of other markets you would like to post?

 

[arnoldevns]

Dallas-Fort Worth is the best TV market in America - period. We've had more stations and more programming options than other markets for decades. Furthermore, all of the news operations run rings around anything you'll find in NY, LA or Chicago. The primary reason for this is WFAA-TV. For years they put on a newscast that was the best in the country. It was network quality. The result of this was that all the other stations had to be MUCH better than average to compete. You could take any of the other stations and put them in any other market and they'd be far and away the tops in the market.

WFAA has fallen on hard times of late, but they seem to be making a comeback this year with news in HD. I've seen news in NY, Chicago and LA.. none of them come close to anything in the DFW market. It really is remarkable.

We've had more independent stations than most other markets for a long time. Back when I was growing up in the 70s, we had 3 network affiliates and two strong independent stations. KTVT was a heritage independent station until 1995 when they became a CBS affiliate. They used to put on a lot of local programming that was very popular. Even KXTX Channel 39 had its moments before it became a spanish station a few years back.

 

[Markxxx]

I have to say Chicago was a great markets. However we pretty much always had three O&O network stations so that limited any variation in news. All the network stations and now with WGN and WFLD (FOX) just run the exact same news story in a bit of a different order.

There has never been any break through news. Today news is simply about rating. Chicago's main news period came to a peak in the early 70s. That is when The Chicago Daily News (always the leader in investigating reporting closed. The rivalry between the investigative Daily News and Tribune forced the Tribune to go after news. After that the Tribune became complacent. As seen when WFLD overtook WGN for a brief period in the rating (WFLD owned the Sun-Times which abosorbed the Tribune.

The mid 80s were good for Chicago as the independent stations always had older movies and a lot of good local programming. By the mid 90s Chicago lost whatever independence it had and with the media consolidation and such, all the stations are cookie cutter copies of NYC.

The sole bright spot is WCIU and WWME-CA

 

[dhett]

I think Glendive, Montana is the best television market. At #210, it's dead last in market size, but #1 in effort. That old Wilford Brimley-looking fella at KXGN puts on a heck of a newscast, and being in a town of 5000 residents and in a market of around 15,000 in such a large area, that's quite an accomplishment.

 

[formeraa]

I vote for Seattle. Seattle is one of the best markets in the country. The three network affiliates have solid newscasts. In particular, KING and KOMO has distinguished themselves in news over the past 4 decades. While KIRO lagged in the 60's and 70's, they introduced the "friendlier" Eyewitness News concept to the market in the 80's and rose to stardom during that decade. With the addition of NWCN with 24 hour coverage on cable and Q13's local morning program, Seattle has a solid news reputation.

 

[sctvman]

Dallas-Fort Worth is the best TV market in America - period. We've had more stations and more programming options than other markets for decades. Furthermore, all of the news operations run rings around anything you'll find in NY, LA or Chicago. The primary reason for this is WFAA-TV. For years they put on a newscast that was the best in the country. It was network quality. The result of this was that all the other stations had to be MUCH better than average to compete. You could take any of the other stations and put them in any other market and they'd be far and away the tops in the market.

WFAA has fallen on hard times of late, but they seem to be making a comeback this year with news in HD. I've seen news in NY, Chicago and LA.. none of them come close to anything in the DFW market. It really is remarkable.

We've had more independent stations than most other markets for a long time. Back when I was growing up in the 70s, we had 3 network affiliates and two strong independent stations. KTVT was a heritage independent station until 1995 when they became a CBS affiliate. They used to put on a lot of local programming that was very popular. Even KXTX Channel 39 had its moments before it became a spanish station a few years back.

Yes, Dallas/Fort Worth is one of the best markets in the country because of WFAA & KTVT (which was a strong independent station before 1995). KTVT is now a CBS station. Also, when KDFW was a CBS station (now FOX), I think it was one of CBS' strongest stations.

Also, WFAA is a very strong station in Dallas and their newscast and graphics looks great!

 

[sctvman]

I vote for Seattle. Seattle is one of the best markets in the country. The three network affiliates have solid newscasts. In particular, KING and KOMO has distinguished themselves in news over the past 4 decades. While KIRO lagged in the 60's and 70's, they introduced the "friendlier" Eyewitness News concept to the market in the 80's and rose to stardom during that decade. With the addition of NWCN with 24 hour coverage on cable and Q13's local morning program, Seattle has a solid news reputation.

Yes, Seattle is a great market for news. However, I have to question if the Seattle stations are ready for HD? I think KING and KOMO's new graphic packages are not attractive to me. Also, KIRO needs a new look.

 

[KeithE4]

There has never been any break through news. Today news is simply about rating. Chicago's main news period came to a peak in the early 70s. That is when The Chicago Daily News (always the leader in investigating reporting closed. The rivalry between the investigative Daily News and Tribune forced the Tribune to go after news. After that the Tribune became complacent. As seen when WFLD overtook WGN for a brief period in the rating (WFLD owned the Sun-Times which abosorbed the Tribune.

The Daily News' last edition was March 4, 1978 and the paper had been owned by the Sun-Times since 1959. The Field family sold a majority interest WFLD to Kaiser in 1972 but got it back 5 years later, selling the station to Metromedia in '83.

The Trib has always been complacent, at least when it comes to City Hall. ;D

 

[Garrett]

My vote is for Boston.

 

[e-dawg]

I vote for San Francisco, with 21+ signals, and 5 English Newscast (not counting 2 Spanish and 1 Chinese station) compete at 5 & 6PM for local news ratings.

 

[BRNout]

My vote is for Boston.

Yes, Boston is a market that features much slicker newscasts and station-produced programming than its market position would imply. Within that market I have to give props to New Hampshire's abc-affiliate, WMUR. This station serves a population of about 1.2 million, but has an excellent news department and a great committment to local programming. WCVB does an excellent job in Boston and, frankly I like WHDH's hard-hitting style too. Their tabloid newscasts aren't for everyone - but the newscast moves along at a fast pace and the information is generally accurate.

On the flip side is Philadelphia. This is supposedly a top 10 market, but their collective newscasts and local programming look strictly small market when compared with Boston. In fact, local news is much harder to find in Philly on a weekend morning - while excellent newscasts are on multiple channels in Boston. Even WMUR has more weekend news coverage on the weekend than ANY Philadelphia station. Their #1 newscast is like watching the American Museum of Old Newscasts. WPVI features a circa 1972 theme song and the weather cast ends with writing on some cyber thing that is supposed to be a cloud. Truly awful - yet made popular by millions who apparently don't know any better.

Interesting to see one or two personalities (like Carrie Lee Halkett) who have "moved up" to Philly from Boston. I wonder what they think of being involved in a lower quality newscast that just happens to be in a larger market.

Seattle, Denver and Salt Lake City are also excellent news markets, given their respective market sizes.

 

[bpatrick]

Dallas/Ft. Worth has been at the top of my list
since I moved out there in '76. I'd put Minneapolis/
St. Paul on the list (WCCO and KSTP have long had
strong reputations for their local news, and KARE
came from practically out of nowhere to be a factor).

Among the medium-sized and smaller markets, I've
got to say Nashville (I've heard you can't get a bad
newscast there but I'm familiar only with WTVF),
Louisville, and Lexington.

 

[rapking]

My vote is for Boston.

Boston is AWFUL ! TO MANY MISTAKE ON THE NEWSCAST ! Talking about one story , and showing another story at the same time .

 

[BRNout]

My vote is for Boston.

Boston is AWFUL ! TO MANY MISTAKE ON THE NEWSCAST ! Talking about one story , and showing another story at the same time .

No it's not. Most of the evening newscasts in the market are professionally done and there are no more errors there than in any other local market. In fact, quite a bit less than most. Even the national networks make lots of mistakes - most Boston stations are no worse in that way than CNN or Fox news.

Check out the news in a smaller market like Providence (lots of mistakes) or New York with its poor level of "local" coverage (local as in where people actually live) - then you'll see what I mean.

On a different note - I agree that Dallas/Ft. Worth is a very strong market for local news. In fact, many of the best consultants who work with news talent are based in the D/FW area.

 

[major]

I vote for any market that has a true independent in it. Not one that just buys up the syndicated trash that's on in every market, but something different. How about something local, instead of just news. Like the "old days"

 

[hammondo]

Too bad it's not 1968. Today, you'd have to buy your "trash" as that's what's out there.

I know, lets put SKY KING and ROCKY & His Friends on instead of Maury. Maury is probably CHEAPER as it's mostly BARTER and you'd have to pay CASH for those other 2 shows.

 

[major]

You may be missing my point. Every market has stations that show the same thing. You can't tell the difference until they show their local commercials. That's what I don't like. In the old days, there were different programs on different channels.

For example, in Cincinnati, where I grew up, WLWT had Paul Dixon, a local talent, from 9-10:30AM. This was the old Avco Broadcasting days, so his show was also aired in Indianapolis, Dayton, and Columbus. Ditto, the Ruth Lyons 50/50 Club, from noon to 1:30. WCPO had Uncle Al, a children's show from 9:00-10:30, and WKRC had Skipper Ryle, another kid's show.

I don't believe the argument of these shows being "Too expensive to make" argument. I'm sure it is more expensive, but.... I think stations are just too lazy. It's too easy to plunk something off the satellite.

Cincinnati probably had the most live local shows during my younger years and I was spoiled by it.

 

[johnnya2k6]

I think Glendive, Montana is the best television market. At #210, it's dead last in market size, but #1 in effort. That old Wilford Brimley-looking fella at KXGN puts on a heck of a newscast, and being in a town of 5000 residents and in a market of around 15,000 in such a large area, that's quite an accomplishment.

You must be joking, right? On the old TV News Talk board we used to poke fun about Glendive a lot!

Seriously, I'll have to say Los Angeles. Once upon a time, they had FOUR independent stations (compared to the then-three in New York). Now three of them are with the networks, and KCAL 9 is the only true indie left...although they started out as an NBC affiliate in its first few months until KNBC signed on.

Honorable mention goes to Biloxi/Gulfport, Miss., thanks to the New Orleans stations seen on cable.

Jonathan Allen

 

[hammondo]

Major,

You said, "Not one that just buys up the syndicated trash that's on in every market"...

You may have missed MY point. The shows you want are NOT too expensive to MAKE, but (real cash - not barter) expensive to BUY.

ALL of those stations that "show the same thing" are BARTER shows. The court shows, Maury, etc. are syndicated to the stations with this deal; the station plays a commercial or 2 that is the "cost" of the program from the syndicator. No cash from the tv station (or maybe only a few bucks tops).

The "less run" old programs are that way because they cost REAL CASH - not a "barter."

 

[mjlarochelle]

If there's a best market, then there's also a worst market. Detroit, considering its size, is the worst market. There are only three stations with news, as the CBS O&O WWJ/62 doesn't have news at all (their slogan even is "Where No News is Good News"). WDIV/4 is just awful now - the morning show is the Local 4 Morning Powercast, and of course Detroit has a FOX O&O, which is never good. WXYZ/7 is left as the only viable looking news operation.

It's sad because Detroit used to have three very respectable network affiliates, and two great independents, one of which had news as well. Everything turned south in the 90s...