Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Our 58 Update

That's 58, as in what you get when you add "3" to "55" for this update:

WKYC HD: We've noticed, in watching Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC/3's new HDTV newscasts, that not everything is "there" yet for the debut week. This morning, meteorologist Hollie Strano apologized for not having her usual morning quiz graphics, saying "not everything's been converted yet" to HD. While she said that, we couldn't help but notice a flat screen monitor just above her head...which appeared to still be wrapped in plastic. The things you notice...

We also noticed that so far, none of the station's stories originating from the Akron/Canton Bureau have either widescreen or HD video. We'll assume the WKYC outpost at Main and Market has yet to be retrofitted with such equipment. The twice-nightly newscast produced there for Time Warner Cable is obviously not in HD, unless there are plans afoot that we don't know about.

We'll assume, though, in the general scheme of things, that WKYC will also add HD equipment in Akron...and even if the live HD transmission paths are probably still a ways off, they could still send live video to Cleveland in 16x9 SD...

WBNX SCHEDULE CHANGES: It's been tipped by contributors to our item below about WB affiliate-to-become-CW affiliate WBNX/55, but we've now found the confirmation.

According to this graphic found on the WBNX website, the station plans to air syndicated reruns of the hit show "Friends" in the weeknight 10 PM slot starting on June 11th. (We've edited the graphic down for space, to the top and bottom parts.)

That time slot is very significant...currently, it's occupied by "The Ninety and Nine Club", a religious talk show hosted by none other than WBNX owner Rev. Ernest Angley. We don't have any word on where Rev. Angley's show will move in the schedule.

UPDATE: We're told that Angley told viewers of his show that it would still air in its morning time slot - 9 AM - when we're told he sometimes does the show live. WBNX also apparently plans, if what we're being told is correct, to add an additional subchannel to the upcoming WBNX-DT, alongside digital/HD programming for the main channel. No matter what WBNX does as far as programming this subchannel, it'd probably provide an opportunity for Angley to get an evening time slot for his show on the new second outlet.

He's moved "Ninety and Nine Club" on his own station once before. The show's name refers to its old time slot of 9 PM weeknights, a placement Angley abandoned when he agreed to affiliate WBNX with the then-new WB network...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just an FYI: The 90 & 9 title never referred to a time period. Rather, it's part of a scripture where Jesus was explaining that if a "good shepherd" had a flock of 100 sheep and one was lost, he'd even leave the ninety-and-nine to find & rescue the one lost lamb.

Also, with the live program airing in the morning, the advent of DVRs (and other types of video recording) essentially make the evening encore unnecessary, at least until the digital channel is operating. Makes pretty good business sense, too.

Anonymous said...

You are right on the reference part. If and when he places his show on a sub channel maybe he will start a independent channel with reruns and movies in addition to his show. I thought he owned some low power staions that is airing shopping. If that is the case maybe he will have analog low power and digital full power so he can get max coverage in the area. Why doesn't has sunday morining show air on WBNX anymore. I know the schedule is packed but you would think they could find atleast a hour for it. Also why don't they air actual religious shows. They being a christian station (secular with christian owners) you would think they would have a few shows in there for the sake of spreading the gospal of Jesus which would not be a bad thing. BTW could this be the start of a WBNX buys a 10'oclock news but we are working out the details kind of thing. They are known to rotate the schedule alot thoughout the year. I would not be shocked if CBS told them it would be best if they had a 10'oclock news or at the very least some form of secular programming at 10 pm to lead out of the CW. Between this and the future of ch 67 it looks like Cleveland TV will be making some serious changes.

Anonymous said...

A little off topic but what is going on with ch 67. Ever since the announcement of the sut down of shop at home and the sell of the stations what is going to happen. Will they sell to a christian like daystar, shop nbc, or a long shot a spanish like univision. Is there a chance that ch 67 stays and becomes paired with ch 5. How powerful is the analog of ch 67 and 17? Do they reach Cleveland and most of the market or are they weak rim shots. And for that matter how about ch 23. How powerful are they and is their analog still set up to provide little or no signal to Cuyahoga county and the city of Cleveland from when they were a abc station. Because if these 3 can hit most of Cleveland via OTA then at least in the case of ch 23 and 67 there could be a shot for Cleveland to get another independent tv station. Does anyone know?

Anonymous said...

RE: comment #2

You must be kidding...ANOTHER newscast? Yeah, that's JUST what we need. 3, 5, 8, 19, 43, 23, CNN, ad nauseum. Thank heavens for an alternative (Friends) to all the repetitive crap, such as 19/43's sensationalistic paid-exposes. The CW's demo is not a new-watching group, anyway. They're a generation who operates online and via radio, if they care about a newscast at all. No, grandma and grandpa can tune in for Goddard and Co., while the money-spenders watch elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Actually ch 23 has not had a newscast since last year but if either ch 3 or 5 did a news share and produced ch 55 a newscast it would be different. I do agree with the whole concept of a sitcom at 10 pm and it would be better than a newscast but their choice may not have been their best. At least they could team it up with everybody loves raymond or fraiser but a hour worth of friends in my opinion would not be my first or second choice but it is better than 19 action news at 10 with the BS they claim as news.Now if only ch 55 could throw some classic shows into the mix we would be all set.

Anonymous said...

Now that friends is leaving ch 43 what will happen to its timeslot? What else do they have to fill the one hour a day? 2nd run of the simpsons? south park on weeknites? I notice that there line up is getting worse everyday. I bring this up because every time cheap skate WUAB drops or loses another show their replacement is either a paid program or a ch 19 reject show. At least WBNX is trying to obtain programs and give viewers the best programs instead of the crap they pass off on everybody. WUAB better find a way to keep the cavs happy or they will offically have nothing but a newscast that likes sleeze and nudity and tabliod trash. Here is a promo from 1986 that shows WUAB when they were a real independent that actually bought and showed programs : http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/1759/

Anonymous said...

http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/1759/
WUAB promo from 1986

Anonymous said...

That little nugget on retrojunk was for a contest to see "Transformers : The Movie", which to any young male in the 80's was the holy grail.

With 55 having poached "Fraiser", "Friends", and The CW from 43, it makes you wonder what they are thinking at Reserve Square.

WUAB-the home of LeBron James, English telenovelas, and Carson's Comedy Classics!

Anonymous said...

It's the worst-kept secret in town that Raycom is trying to peddle the shell-of-a-station. 43 and 61 may have been the only UHF alternatives decades ago when we were young, but they're now just pitiful dying paid-programming shams. Just wait'll the Cavs decide to air their games on STO or form their own cable-outlet. There'll be nothing but more infomercials & 700 Club telethons left for WUAB.

Anonymous said...

If you look at 43's post "Friends" schedule, they might just add another "Simpsons" episode at 7pm.

And to fill the 11:30pm hole, they'd just move everything from midnightand after up 1/2 an hour and add an informercial.

If WUAB goes this route, that would mean that on a 7 day schedule, they would air around 100 half hour infomercials per week!

That's almost PAX like.