Worst Local TV News Markets

[PhDance]

I nominate Gray Television's WCTV/Tallahassee. I understand that it is not the biggest market, but it is the capital of Florida. You'd think for a station that recently upgraded its newscast to HD, they'd do something about the terribly dated set with circa 90's era CRT monitors. The music interludes/jingles are from that same era. Also, their newsanchors are so monotoned I'm asleep 5 minutes into the newscast. As for the news itself, there motto must be "if it bleeds, we'll leave it for the competition to cover". Their headline for last night's 2/14 11pm newscast? A woman who used 3 counterfeited $20 bills at Piggy's BBQ -- not making this stuff up folks. Here's a clip which also shows the set: http://www.wctv.tv/floridanews/headlines/Deputies_Arrest_Two_in_Counterfeiting_Scheme_116188819.html

Meanwhile, WTXL (the ABC affiliate) opened with a story featuring Governor Rick Scott.

 

[Sammi Brie]

The news theme WCTV currently uses was composed for WKYT in Lexington, Kentucky (another important Gray station) in 2002. 'KYT has since updated its music twice, once to a new custom composition by the same guy (Phil Copeland, a guy who's written three packages for them) and then to Heart of Our City.

Ironically WTXL used to be Sinclair's domain. Since it relaunched under new owners, it seems to have significantly improved, from what I've heard.

 

[PhDance]

Thanks, Raymie. WTXL is MUCH better these days. I like their current news theme much more than WCTV, but I preferred their last (circa 2002) news theme (it was the same one used by KYW, I think). They were the first in the market to go HD, and I'd say a lot of improvement happenned around that time. Unlike WCTV which gives too much attention to South Georgia news stories, WTXL does cover Florida topics well. Also, with the local newspaper (Gannett owned) now operating on a subscriber-only model, WTXL's web site has picked up much traffic.

WTXL does spend a little too much time covering high school sports (IMHO). While they are good covering college sports (Seminoles/Rattlers), I would like to see them cover the Jaguars (NFL). However, since it is a little over 2 hours away I can give them a pass, no pun intended.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Thanks, Raymie. WTXL is MUCH better these days. I like their current news theme much more than WCTV, but I preferred their last (circa 2002) news theme (it was the same one used by KYW, I think). They were the first in the market to go HD, and I'd say a lot of improvement happenned around that time. Unlike WCTV which gives too much attention to South Georgia news stories, WTXL does cover Florida topics well. Also, with the local newspaper (Gannett owned) now operating on a subscriber-only model, WTXL's web site has picked up much traffic.

WTXL does spend a little too much time covering high school sports (IMHO). While they are good covering college sports (Seminoles/Rattlers), I would like to see them cover the Jaguars (NFL). However, since it is a little over 2 hours away I can give them a pass, no pun intended.

Arizona stations are kinda horrid with high school sports coverage. The NBC has a show during football season, and KTVK runs a show year-round, but the latter is dry despite airing at 10pm. Neither of the other stations seem to care.

 

[bpatrick]

WCTV is actually licensed to Thomasville, GA, which explains
the amount of Georgia coverage it does (just as Mobile's ABC
affiliate WEAR, which is actually in Pensacola, does mostly
Florida news). WTXL is a Tallahassee station, so Florida would
be its first priority.