WLNY News about a year later, LI still left out

[islanddxer]

I remain disgusted and dissapointed with WCBS TV over their news operation at WLNY. There is barely any Long Island news at all, and it remains a rehash of the WCBS 2 News, except for a token minute segment with Richard Rose, and the half hour Exit 10/55 every week. This despite the transmitter and City of License based on Long Island. It is a disservice to us Long Islanders to have no choice other than News 12 for TV News, which is only available on cable. Verizon Fios 1 news has gotten much worse too, no longer is it a LI exclusive newscast and instead is the entire region. Somehow it seems the Dolan family has a complete monopoly on Long Island news coverage, and we are without unless we pay for Cablevision, which in every aspect (other than news) is inferior to Fios. CBS sure isn't gaining anything by this as their WLNY ratings remain low, and their lack of Long Island news coverage is a violation of the license IMO. Anyway I will be sure to share my thoughts with the FCC on this.

 

[Rollo-Smokes]

Come on now, did you really believe CBS was going to put a Long Island-centric newscast on WLNY?

Better question: is Exit 10/55 even produced at the "renovated" WLNY studios on the L.I.E. South Service Road in Melville? Probably not.

Two years ago I interned at News 12 Long Island...my internship ended right before the sale of channel 55 to CBS was announced. The competition between News 12 and WLNY was a no-contest then, but at least 55 made an effort in spite of their technical limitations (i.e. no ENG). With CBS making them NYC-focused, Cablevision's monopoly is even more pronounced now.

I have never seen Fios1 so I can't comment on what they do. I should note that my first day at News 12 was also the first for their main evening anchor, Stone Grissom -- who was poached away from Fios1. How's that for irony.

 

[islanddxer]

I think since News 12 is the only Long Island newscast, it should be ruled "must carry" on Fios, Dish, and even over the air. Heck let them buy WLNY from CBS for OTA coverage, CBS hasn't done a thing to improve it's ratings.

 

[ansky212]

I think since News 12 is the only Long Island newscast, it should be ruled "must carry" on Fios, Dish, and even over the air. Heck let them buy WLNY from CBS for OTA coverage, CBS hasn't done a thing to improve it's ratings.

There is zero chance of this happening. News 12 is a cable network owned by Cablevision. Cablevision uses it as it's #1 selling point to attract customers. There is no way they would ever make News 12 available to any competing TV service. Besides, "must carry" only applies to over air stations anyway. If you really want to watch News 12 they stream online 24/7 for a monthly fee.

I see plenty of Long Island news on WABC, WNBC, and every other local channel. They seem to cover Long Island more than any other suburban area.

 

[islanddxer]

Still it's hard to argue that the sale of WLNY dealt a big blow to the availability of local TV news on Long Island. Yes News 12 is Cablevision's #1 selling point and I'm sure they are happy about what has happened with WLNY, heck they may have even gained subs because of it. I just can't understand how one company can go unchallanged on Long Island for local news, and it's not even just TV, Newsday has the whole paper media market too, Long Island Press is fading esp now that it's only monthly. I just don't understand why Verizon can't give us a News 12 equivalent, the company is worth well more than Cablevision, surely they could afford it.
As for CBS, I think WLNY has lost viewers since they bought it. Eventually I think WLNY will get sold again, and sadly probably become a leased access. CBS just hasn't put anything into it. They need to make it a Long Island station, no one from NYC will watch it. The Couch has been a flop too.

 

[Rollo-Smokes]

As for CBS, I think WLNY has lost viewers since they bought it. Eventually I think WLNY will get sold again, and sadly probably become a leased access.

The rumors a year ago were that CBS would eventually sell the frequency (channel 47) to some spectrum speculator or wait until the expected FCC auction of all stations above channel 40; the WLNY programming stream would continue for cable/satellite viewers and as a subchannel of WCBS-TV. Essentially, a cash grab for all intents and purposes. We'll see if that scenario plays out.

CBS just hasn't put anything into it. They need to make it a Long Island station, no one from NYC will watch it. The Couch has been a flop too.

Got any numbers to back that up?

But at least it isn't as bad as what happened to WWOR-TV after it became subordinate to WNYW. Give CBS credit for that at least.

 

[ansky212]

As for CBS, I think WLNY has lost viewers since they bought it. Eventually I think WLNY will get sold again, and sadly probably become a leased access. CBS just hasn't put anything into it. They need to make it a Long Island station, no one from NYC will watch it.

CBS bought WLNY for the purpose of making it a bigger station, similar to KCAL-9 out in L.A. They want it to be a station with broad appeal to the entire NYC TV market. I'm not a big fan of CBS news in general, but their 9pm newscast is pretty good. It wouldn't make good business sense to only focus on Long Island as then you would have 10 million other people in the market that would never tune in.

I agree they should be doing a lot more with the station. The daytime schedule is littered with court shows and repeats of other CBS-2 shows.

I remember reading a while back that eventually they would shut down their OTA broadcast and become a cable-only station. I think they need to stop calling themselves "10/55", it sounds silly and confusing. They should just be "WLNY" or "TV 10" as most viewers watch them on channel 10 cable anyway.