What would you do to fix the country's worst television stations?

[Sammi Brie]

Like said on a earlier post,dump these so called networks on once indi.stations.Two channels here in Connecticut Channel 18 Hartford
and Channel 26 from New London were real bad on quility with video and sound back in the 1980's.The on air broadcast tapes look like they were prerecorded in EP on a reused cheap store brand VHS tape or Beta3 speed for you beta fans.They got alittle better but not much.The others are great.If it ain't broken,Don't fix it.

WLGA, a CW that lost its affiliation due to Pappas bankruptcy (then went off the air soon afterward), as an independent played things from tapes...and you could even see the "Play" and "Tracking" displays! Yeah...that's model independent television.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

KUSI (IND) San Diego

KUSI has built itself as a good station overall, but a lot of the things they do is so amateurish, not to mention they have news talent who should not be working in the seventh biggest city in the United States.

They need to get rid of Dan Plante (son of CBS' Bill Plante) who obviously has gotten himself at KUSI because of daddy's connections, Bridget Naso (a non-talent who reads fairly well but is "viagra-proof"); and Dave Scott, the station's weekend meteorologist -- why a San Diego station needs a meteorologist I'll never understand). He comes on the air with his ill-fitting clothes, bow ties, and his Mrs. Brady-like demeanor. His occasional news packages are overall kind of lame. He is like he is stuck in the late 1980's.

Lately they now show all of their programming -- albeit in standard definition (SD) -- in 16:9 -- fake HD. Programming in SD 4:3 is pillarboxed. They run way too many infomercials when they could capitalize on their strong San Diego branding by running limited infomercials and by actually running real programming overnights. As far as I'm concerned, you have a crappy sales team working if they can't find anyone to buy airtime overnights as not everyone is asleep. I've known really good stations using overnights to sell cheaper advertising spots whose clients eventually ramp up to start advertising during the day.

The station is notoriously cheap, pays badly, and looks very 1980's in how they come off. They need to perhaps cut back on personnel and invest in quality vs. quantity.

 

[Rollo-Smokes]

I've got an idea.

Since the Digital Transition has left us with fewer channels, why don't we petition the FCC to get rid of all the clutter -- stations that air nothing but infomercials, home shopping and paid religion (at least 75% of the time to qualify) should either be forced to alter their programming or prepare to surrender their licenses. This would apply to the main feed as well as any and all subchannels, whether they are programmed locally or off the bird.

The same should also apply for similarly-formatted LPTV stations (the original premise of LPTV has been lost anyway).

For the stations that remain, there should be a new rule: A station can broadcast no more than 15 hours of infomercials, home shopping or paid religion each week.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that duopolies, triopolies, and LMA/JSA/SSAs should be disallowed, with nothing grandfathered in? This would give many stations (like the Fox-owned MyNetworkTV outlets) the choice of either standing on their own with new ownership, or risk going dark.

If the FCC took my advice, that means we'd say goodbye here in the New York market to WRNN (as DtotheJ mentioned previously), WSAH, WTBY, and a most of the LPTVers in the region. WWOR-TV, a heritage station (and that's a stretch) , and WPXN-TV would be given an opportunity to shape up. And perhaps WABC-TV, WPIX and WNET could find a free UHF frequency to move to just to escape digital VHF.

The syndicators reducing their fees for programming would also help trememdously. And, do we REALLY need SEVEN over-the-air, English-language, commercial broadcast networks?

 

[dhett]

For the stations that remain, there should be a new rule: A station can broadcast no more than 15 hours of infomercials, home shopping or paid religion each week.

Why just go after those categories of programming? While we're at it, let's trash PBS as well, since many people don't like what they're programming and certainly don't like how it's paid for. Then all we will have is commercial TV, paid for by endless commercials.

The "paid religion" the you call clutter is a valuable service for many people I know. And it's funded the way it is because no tax dollars are spent on it, and no business has the guts to sponsor it. When you think about it, because much of "paid religion" is funded by donations from its viewers, it is as close as you'll see to democracy on TV. It's only on because people are willing to pay to have it. Otherwise, the only way "paid religion" different than any other educational TV is that you don't like it.

As for the infomercials and home shopping, I don't like them either, but there is a percentage of the population that does, which is why those services are profitable. I don't expect all TV to serve me or to kowtow to my preferences alone.

 

[Rollo-Smokes]

For the stations that remain, there should be a new rule: A station can broadcast no more than 15 hours of infomercials, home shopping or paid religion each week.

Why just go after those categories of programming?  While we're at it, let's trash PBS as well, since many people don't like what they're programming and certainly don't like how it's paid for.  Then all we will have is commercial TV, paid for by endless commercials.

The "paid religion" the you call clutter is a valuable service for many people I know.  And it's funded the way it is because no tax dollars are spent on it, and no business has the guts to sponsor it.  When you think about it, because much of "paid religion" is funded by donations from its viewers, it is as close as you'll see to democracy on TV.  It's only on because people are willing to pay to have it.  Otherwise, the only way "paid religion" different than any other educational TV is that you don't like it.

As for the infomercials and home shopping, I don't like them either, but there is a percentage of the population that does, which is why those services are profitable.  I don't expect all TV to serve me or to kowtow to my preferences alone.

Please allow me to clarify: when I say "paid religion," I'm talking about the "pay-for-pray" national televangelist types.

I would have no problem with such programs if they were locally-produced as a public service to the community, like it was done 30 years ago.  I'd rather see local church or temple services instead of Benny Hinn, "Pat" Robertson, Jack Van Impe, John Hagee, Rod Parsley, Joel Osteen, or whomever the new televangelist flavor of the month is (Billy Graham would get a pass).

Heck, I'm not a religious person, but I'd like to see more diversity in religious programming instead of it being 99 percent Christian.

Noncommercial educational programming, though not perfect, has its merits.  So I would NOT trash PBS.  It is the for-profits that I went after.

 

[imhomerjay]

You don't have to like it, but we don't need to use everyone's tax money to enforce your definition of what does or doesn't appeal to other people. Never mind that whether a show boasts a local preacher asking for donations or a national one is a distinction without a difference--if the guy from somewhere else is that appeals to someone who wants to watch him/her. And if the audience for religious shows is Christian, so be it. That's what the market supports.

 

[ding12]

Rather than going after categories of programming, the best way to correct the market is to remove must-carry requirements. Must-carry in its nature isn't market driven.

Local independent outlets would be in a sink or swim mode. The NAB has fought for stations so that they are guaranteed to stay afloat to turn profits.

For a station that can't swim, some other party could buy it and take over the license and make a go of it. I'd support a break up of duopolies/ triopolies, etc. but it's too late.

Once something is permitted and it's happened, these station groups would be able to appeal any law forcing them to break those duopolies up.
On a positive note, an existing strong station could buy a weak station and make the weak station a lot stronger with the duopoly synergy.

 

[azumanga]

an existing strong station could buy a weak station and make the weak station a lot stronger with the duopoly synergy.

Though even here it has controversy -- in the Hartford market, Tribune owns Fox affiliate WTIC and CW station WCCT, in addition to owning a local newspaper, The Hartford Courant. According to this thread on the New England TV board, Tribune said that they bought WCCT, as that station was "failing", yet two local newspapers disagree, saying that Tribune's properties in Connecticut should be split up.

 

[Sammi Brie]

@RolloSmokes Yeah, I never did get why stations air HSN on OTA TV...but I hate duopolies with a passion. (I agree with the newspapers that want WTIC-WCCT-Courant broke up in Connecticut.)

 

[formeraa]

Here in Phoenix, we like to make fun of ABC15 (and there is a lot to make fun of). However, if you take a look at their news team bios, you will note that they really have a large news department -- particularly when you consider how many hours of news that they do.

 

[kilamanjero]

Like said on a earlier post,dump these so called networks on once indi.stations.Two channels here in Connecticut Channel 18 Hartford
and Channel 26 from New London were real bad on quility with video and sound back in the 1980's.The on air broadcast tapes look like they were prerecorded in EP on a reused cheap store brand VHS tape or Beta3 speed for you beta fans.They got alittle better but not much.The others are great.If it ain't broken,Don't fix it.

WLGA, a CW that lost its affiliation due to Pappas bankruptcy (then went off the air soon afterward), as an independent played things from tapes...and you could even see the "Play" and "Tracking" displays! Yeah...that's model independent television.

Now without a 5 OTA TV station, the Columbus (GA) television market sucks. Pappas should have just sold WLGA to somebody in a fire sale so it could have remained a CW affiliate because WLTZ subchannel as a CW affiliate isn't offered to most local Charter customers on the basic package. It's embarrassing how pathetic the Columbus market operates.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Here in Phoenix, we like to make fun of ABC15 (and there is a lot to make fun of). However, if you take a look at their news team bios, you will note that they really have a large news department -- particularly when you consider how many hours of news that they do.

I'd have to agree...they do have a solid foundation, they just don't have the loyalty (of course), and this is a market with a lot of older AND a lot of newer people.

 

[JeeperOne]

Here's how I would fix the Denver TV stations. NOTE that I don't mention the station, it will be because I either don't have anything good or bad to say about it or I've never watched the station (The Latin stations would apply here) to have anything to say about it to begin with.

That said - Here I go.....

KWGN 2 (CW) - Its obvious heritage & history aside, why does this station exist? What was once THE ONLY Indie in town before network affiliation has now been reduced to dumping grounds for a sister station whose heritage & history has always been on UHF (That being none other than Fox affiliate KDVR 31). In fact, it's probably safe to say they get MORE viewers who tune in to watch the Colorado Rapids MLS games than they do with their 7:00 PM news & CW network programming afterwards.

KCDO 3 (RTV) - The only reasons I include this station are its news & persistence is running informercials whenever they're not airing news or network programming. It's news is imported from Iowa & is fed to them by SATELLITE sister station KGWN 5 (CBS/Cheyenne, WY). If they're going to have newscasts, THE LEAST they could do is have LOCAL anchors & MORE REPORTERS (Denver is a Top 20 market ya know)

This station would also benefit from having 7:00 AM 5:30 & 9:00 PM newscasts as well. This, as well as off-network Classic TV fare not in reruns, local & International sports & other locally produced shows would help to offset the number of hours currently taken up by informercials (In fact, during its America One days, they were the place to turn to for Austrailian Rules Football)

This station hasn't even scratched the surface of the things they can do IMO

KCNC 4 (CBS) - Two things - Stop running that STUPID promo for the morning news (The one where the anchors appear to be "Lost" in the mountains & are trying to figure out how to read a road map) & START APPEALING TO YOUNGER AUDIENCES. The only programming they have that does this are the two soap operas & the so-called "Reality" shows (All network fare). As viewers of the average age that CBS as a network appeals to slowly dies off, CBS itself will find itself in a world of hurt unless it changes its ways

KMGH 7 (ABC) - Before its collapse in the early 1980s, KMGH was once a powerful CBS affiliate. But when Bob Palmer jumped ship & boarded KCNC 4 (Then an NBC affiliate & known as KOA-TV), the station's ratings in the news sunk while then-KOA-TV 4's climbed with Bob Palmer at the helm. Then came September 1995 & the switch from CBS to ABC. The switch alone did little to improve ratings. In fact, that only led to Natalie Pujo & the Real Life. Real News debacle.

Enough with the history lesson. Suffice to say that ever since KMGH rose from the aforementioned Real Life. Real News debacle which came to an end upon the (Thankfully merciful) departure of Natalie Pujo, it has done nothing but become perhaps one of ABC's best affiliates (In fact, ABC always seems to sing praises at every opportunity it gets, especially when it comes to news ever since the Columbine tragedy).

Is there room for improvement? Of course there is (And the station management is finding it). That said though, stations across America could learn from this example.

KUSA 9 (NBC) - The switch from ABC to NBC has done nothing to degrade the quality of the product this station produces. That's a lot considering what I can say for.....

KTVD 20 (MyNetwork TV) - See KWGN 2 (Minus the history as this station has none to speak of). Additionally, like KCDO 3 (And perhaps more accurately more like KWGN 2), this station could also benefit from local OTA rights to games featuring the local teams (In fact, it wasn't until last season till it landed the local MNF broadcast rights whenever the Denver Broncos are on)

I mean we're talking about a station that dumped the Colorado Rockies games (Produced by FSN) AND never did make any attempt whatsoever at preserving the OTA rights to the Nuggets & Avalanche games when they moved them from FSN to Altitude (True the latter was not the fault of Gannett, but still)

That said though, KUSA 9 should do something in the way of using 9.3 (Universal Sports) for local sporting events (More on that in my next post)

KDVR 31 (Fox) - Whatever they're doing - KEEP IT UP as I can't find a thing wrong with this station

KPXC 59 (ION) & All Religious Stations - Go off the air. These stations are a complete wasteland IMO.

That's how I'd fix Denver TV if given the chance.

Cheers

 

[JeeperOne]

As I said before, I can think of a network that could use some tweaking.

That is Universal Sports, NBC's sports channel that makes use of Digital TV subchannels instead of trying to survive as a cable/satellite channel as it (Unlike FSN) doesn't have the infrastructure to support such an operation.

The way to tweak Universal Sports whereas it actually stands a chance in hell of competitng against Versus (Let alone all the other cable/satellite channels) would be for NBC to let their affiliates use the slot to air local sports programming IN ADDITION TO the network programming. This is something that not even FSN (Fox Sports Net for those who don't have an FSN outlet near them) can lay claim to.

On top of that, NBC could also strike a deal with the NHL where it airs games on nights when Versus is not broadcasting games. Universal Sports could also be used to air games BEFORE Christmas while NBC is focused on Notre Dame football & SNF.

Universal Sports could also pick up games from the MLS, Arena Football, Minor League & Little League Baseball, UFL, UFC, WWE & a whole host of other sources on a non-exclusive basis too.

In fact, in the event that an NFL game that's NOT originally scheduled for or flexed to Sunday Night be moved there for whatever reason (Games moved by the NFL because the home team stadium was in use by MLB for the World Series on Sunday & the Pittsburgh/Miami game that should've been moved to Monday Night due to a Hurricane but never was moved for some strange reason come to mind here), said game could be moved to Universal Sports nationally & televised locally by the affected NBC affiliates. It'd be like what ABC has done several times when it had MNF & ESPN has done at least once I can remember since it acquired MNF from ABC

I'm sure there are many other useful purposes for Universal Sports too. I just haven't thought of them. Feel free to add to this list though

Cheers

 

[dhett]

Please allow me to clarify: when I say "paid religion," I'm talking about the "pay-for-pray" national televangelist types.

I would have no problem with such programs if they were locally-produced as a public service to the community, like it was done 30 years ago. I'd rather see local church or temple services instead of Benny Hinn, "Pat" Robertson, Jack Van Impe, John Hagee, Rod Parsley, Joel Osteen, or whomever the new televangelist flavor of the month is (Billy Graham would get a pass).

Heck, I'm not a religious person, but I'd like to see more diversity in religious programming instead of it being 99 percent Christian.

Noncommercial educational programming, though not perfect, has its merits. So I would NOT trash PBS. It is the for-profits that I went after.

I understand fully your reference and those are the preachers I'm talking about. Not everyone holds your opinion on "pay-for-pray" and your characterization (and others') of televangelism as such is inaccurate. Also inaccurate is your implication that these ministries are for-profit; they are no more for-profit than PBS and I would dare say that the ministries invest more in their local communities than PBS does.

 

[azumanga]

KCDO 3 (RTV) - It's news is imported from Iowa & is fed to them by SATELLITE sister station KGWN 5 (CBS/Cheyenne, WY). If they're going to have newscasts, THE LEAST they could do is have LOCAL anchors & MORE REPORTERS (Denver is a Top 20 market ya know)

As I recall, KGWN produces their own newscasts for their own viewers -- why couldn't they produce one for KCDO, instead of relying on a distant third party?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Um, Pat, you said the soap operas on CBS 4 appeal to younger viewers? Was that a typo?

 

[Sammi Brie]

@Pat in re PTBoard...Really, CBS soap operas and younger viewers might be best as antonyms. I do agree.

@Pat in re his long post: The Denver switch of 1995 affected fewer stations in the short run than it did in Phoenix, but without the "local news rock of Gibraltar" that was created here and lasted 13, 14 years because of KPNX's, uh, persistence. KCNC spiralled down as it became clear that the network robo-news people were running the show especially with things like the departure of Bob Palmer. KUSA probably should have done the same (for different reasons), but because of NBC's buoyancy in the decade after 1994, 1995, that never happened.

@Pat in re Universal Sports: I think we might be the largest market where UniSp is not cleared here in Phoenix.

 

[charlestondxman]

Here in Charleston, there are several things that need to be cleared up with our local stations.

WCBD 2 (NBC): Still no HD except for network shows. Media General barely spends any money on the station, just like most of their other markets except Tampa and the Upstate. Add HD (or at least wide screen) news. Get a sports anchor on weekdays (they only do sports three days a week). Get a news chopper and try to be daring.

WCIV 4 (ABC): Allbritton's low on the totem pole station. It doesn't get any of the tools that its bigger stations get. Stop running the same promos all the time. More hard news stories. Best sports in town and no-nonsense weather, but still #3. Needs to have more promotion in town.

WCSC 5 (CBS): One of the better stations in the state. Goes over and beyond in their news commitment. Bill Sharpe (the main news anchor) is getting up there in age, and can be really annoying. Should get a weekend morning news (Charleston is a growing market and needs one). Cut down the hype and just produce a good newscast. Move some of Live 5+ (their second channel)'s best shows to Channel 5.

WTAT 24 (Fox): Doing well as a Fox affiliate, and meets their expectations. Too many court shows during daytime, and does a credible job with news. Could have more news and the sports should be at the end of the hour-long 10pm news, not in the middle.

WMMP 36 (My): The most improved station on the Charleston dial. Doing well with high school football coverage, and improving their syndicated product. Could have some better local promos.

WLCN 18 (Ind): Pretty good product, but needs to improve their signal. Only people within a 15-mile radius of the transmitter can get it. Better than it was at the start, when most of their on-air personalities came from the church that WLCN is a part of.

 

[mleach]

KCDO 3 (RTV) - The only reasons I include this station are its news & persistence is running informercials whenever they're not airing news or network programming. It's news is imported from Iowa & is fed to them by SATELLITE sister station KGWN 5 (CBS/Cheyenne, WY). If they're going to have newscasts, THE LEAST they could do is have LOCAL anchors & MORE REPORTERS (Denver is a Top 20 market ya know)

This station would also benefit from having 7:00 AM 5:30 & 9:00 PM newscasts as well. This, as well as off-network Classic TV fare not in reruns, local & International sports & other locally produced shows would help to offset the number of hours currently taken up by informercials (In fact, during its America One days, they were the place to turn to for Austrailian Rules Football)

This station hasn't even scratched the surface of the things they can do IMO

Even though KCDO is available on cable in Denver and the suberbs really the only purpose for that 30 minute newscast is to provide a least some sort of local news sevice to those Fort Collins/Greeley/Loveland viewers who get Dish Network and Direct TV since unlike the cable system in Fort Collins, Direct TV & Dish Network can't offer KGWN's Northern Colorado CBS 5 ( KCNC would never allow it ) so in order for them to reach those viewers they had to do business with a third party that being KCDO. It was the only way to get their product on DBS and to be able to get into the Denver DMA at the same time.

Yes it would be nice if KCDO would offer more local news and actually do it in Colorado but lets face it, they just won't be able to compete with those Denver stations. Take weather for example. Would viewers up and down the front range be willing to give up watching Denver's Larry Green, Mike Nelson, Kathy Sabine or Dave Fraser, weather people who had spent years in that market in favor of some 20 something-fresh out of college-new to the business-unknown weather dude? Doubt it and I am sure KCDO knows that. Hey it takes money to make money and I highly doubt KCDO has as much money in their bank account as the Denver stations have in theirs.