Thursday, July 12, 2007

Thursday's Here

And in keeping with our schedule, this may be the last update until early next week. Please keep checking, though, in case of breaking items.

Or we could say something like - "At OMW, When News Breaks, We FedEx It Back And Wait For A Replacement"...

THE GLORIOUS NEW SET WORLD: We scratch our heads over this one.

In the two years we've been doing this - we missed our anniversary late last month! - we've seen very few topics that touch a hunger for information like the upcoming new set for FOX O&O WJW/8 "FOX 8" in Cleveland.

We've gotten E-Mail from all over. People want to see it. People want to know what it looks like.

We now know when it'll debut.

We haven't seen it here, but a number of readers say the station is teasing a July 16th unveiling, with promos hinting at the new "FOX 8" logo change...and since it is WJW, they're assuring viewers that the "same great people" are going to be there.

Considering the station's own 'up in the air" status re: the announced sale of the FOX O&Os in Cleveland and smaller markets, maybe that's needed more than ever.

But we will say that with a News Corporation deal to buy the Wall Street Journal apparently imminent, and even reported being complete in some apparently premature reports, we haven't heard Peep One locally or nationally about any potential buyer.

Even if the WSJ deal gets done, our gut feeling tells us that WJW may end up staying in the FOX family. (Not to be confused with the old FOX Family Channel, now owned by ABC.) It's just a feeling, folks.

Anyway, back to the set. The new "FOX 8 News" set, that is.

"FOX 8 News In The Morning" roving reporter Kenny Crumpton weighs in with a blog item posted earlier this week:

I think you guys will like the set. It looks just like the set we have in New York. We will do our first show from the set next week . Todd Meany will give you guys a tour of the set on the show. I can tell you it has lots of lights and cool camera shots.

It really looks something you would see in a bigger city. Everyone here is pretty happy about it.

Mr. "Kickin' It With Kenny" Crumpton tells readers that they're practicing on the new set this week in preparation for its launch.

Local TV news set design has always been rather muted compared to some of the larger markets, even nearby (like, say, Detroit). But in New York City, ABC O&O WABC/7 has long had a bare bones approach. It's the personalities that are larger than life, there.

On that "why is half of Northeast Ohio apparently interested in this topic" question: We guess it's because WJW has been something of a local TV touchstone for long-time local viewers, going back to the pre-FOX days as the market's long-time CBS affiliate, where it dominated with "NewsCenter 8" and the like for many, many years.

And a fear, perhaps, that FOX will dump the "Cleveland's Own" slogan and even philosophy entirely.

Fear not. Look how long it took a certain long-time late night movie/sketch show to be nudged off the station's stage by FOX corporate brass in NYC...

WELCOME TO STO HD, DISH NETWORK FOLKS: Now, both major satellite providers are offering HD games from local regional sports network SportsTime Ohio.

STO's HD Indians games are available starting now, says a release from the folks at Dish Network, on that service's channel 381.

DirecTV has been carrying STO games in HD for some time, but we believe DirecTV subscribers need to have the MPEG-4 receiver/dish required to pick up the local HD over-air channels (WKYC/3, WEWS/5, WJW/8 and WOIO/19).

We have also never been able to nail down what channel the HD STO/Indians games air on DirecTV, so if anyone could clarify this as a comment to this post, it'd be helpful. One of our readers has been asking about it, and we don't have a "test case" for him.

One difference here: As far as we know, Dish Network is concentrating on national channels, and has not added a large number of markets' local channels in HD - including here in the Cleveland market.

Since we are tied to the good folks at Time Warner Cable, we'll let others answer some of these questions for us...

"AKRON IDOL 2"?: We haven't heard much of the activity surrounding Akron market talk WNIR/100.1 "The Talk of Akron" and its effort to replace former morning drive co-host Maggie Fuller.

But we did hear someone using the name Sally Ride on the show otherwise co-hosted by Stan Piatt, Steve French and Jim Midock the other day.

Someone help us with this - wasn't there a Cleveland-based traffic reporter using that rather obvious "traffic name" a few years ago? We don't know if that's her, or not, and we can't remember which station(s) the Cleveland "Sally" was on. (At least she didn't use the name "Holly Copter", which was stuck on female traffic reporters for years at sports talk WKNR....)

At least she'd be a professional radio person, if it was that "Sally Ride". At times, we're not sure if the folks at "Broadcast Park" have any idea how to hire outside radio pros who have no existing connection with the station.

As for Ms. Fuller, we're reminded that she has expressed an interest in returning to the airwaves, somewhere, on her own website. We'll have to assume that'd have to be somewhere outside of Akron, for presumed non-compete reasons...

DOVER/NEW PHILLY TV: OMW hears from readers in the Dover/New Philadelphia area that the local cable TV programming operation is back on Time Warner Cable channel 2.

The channel is now being run by a Tuscarawas County outlet called Prestige Creative Marketing and is called "PCM TV". We're told it runs news and weather crawls, some video, and news updates from WJER/1450. (We're not sure what runs on the video portion, though.)

Then-Adelphia channel 2 went "dark" for local programming when the previous operator ended its run producing the channel's local output.

The new "PCM TV" replaces a simulcast of WKYC/3's "NBC Weather Plus" feed, which continues on digital cable channel 183.

And for whatever reason, we're told that the WKYC-produced "Akron/Canton News" has disappeared from the TWC Tuscarawas County system - at least according to our reader, who says infomercials have taken over the channel once used for the Akron-based newscast, channel 72. Perhaps it'll show up somewhere else on another channel...if it has not already...

NEW SITE: And finally, a short one...OMW hears that NextMedia Canton talk WHBC/1480 "NewsTalk 1480" has a new website.

It bears the station's new logo and other features, including news, and a promise of both live Internet streaming and podcasting.

OMW hears that a live 1480 stream is due very soon, along with the other new features...

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, the Sally Ride on WNIR is the former Cleveland traffic reporter. She has been a sales rep at Clear Channel and at the Beacon.

Anonymous said...

Here's the story on the REAL Sally Ride:

http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96may/ride.html

Anonymous said...

I thought Kenny's comment that the news set "...looks like something you would see in a bigger city" is a nice slam on Cleveland. And what's the deal with the flashing colored lights on the set? Will they flash red, much like Star Trek did during a red alert, during breaking news?

All of the Fox O&O's will have the same set and same graphics. Just go to any other Fox O&O to see the set and the new look.

A set does not make a station, the people and the news content make a station. I wish GM's would learn that just because you change the graphics or adjust the set, you do not have a better product. Focus on the product and stay away from smoke and mirrors. The audience is smarter than that.

Just look at the mess at the CBS Evening News. They spent $2.9 million on a new set, hired a high priced talent, and now have lower ratings than before. They should have focused on the product.

Anonymous said...

WOIO appears to change its anchor line-up...again.

David Wittman is now anchoring the 10 p.m. news on WUAB with Sharon Reed and Paul Joncich is now anchoring the 11 p.m. news on WOIO with Denise Dufala.

I guess they're really desperate for ratings. We'll see...for now.

Anonymous said...

DirecTV shows STO HD on Channel 96. Early in the season they aren't always good about getting the program guide updated, but the games are always there. Now they seem to have it updated on time.

Anonymous said...

I always wondered why WKNR didn't call their morning traffic reporter "Helen Copter".

I remember Thor Tolo pressing the first Ms. Copter about the last name, asking for the nationality. Thinking quickly, she retorted, "its an American name".

oh.

Anonymous said...

Hey, whatever happened to Holly Copter, anyway?

Anonymous said...

E* (dish network) added STO HD showing only the HD sports at this time, later as they move more towards MPEG4 and channels offer more HD content they will likely give it 24 hour placement.

E* has been focused on HD Nationals more than locals...

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-hd-discussions/100929-scotts-rumor-confirmed-seven-new-hd-nationals-coming-dish-august-september.html

E* (Dish Network) is planning on adding a lot of new national HD channels come august/sept.

I would think as E* moves more towards MPEG4 that the cleveland locals could not be to far down the road on the horizon.

Anonymous said...

the new FOX 8...all style, all hype, all Idol, no substance. can't wait.

Anonymous said...

Heard the new Fox8 set is great, especially the new HD graphics. I agree about too many Idol stories, but if any station had Idol, they would do the same. Bottom line is, right now, WJW is dominating the market and the new set won't hurt them.

Bob said...

Agree with the style over substance comments. As a former tv journalist, I rarely watch tv news anymore, but if I do, I am looking for information (what little there is), and don't care one bit about the set, the fancy graphics, etc. Bells and whistles don't make me choose a station. Then again, maybe I am in the minority.

Anonymous said...

I must admit that, as a former radio / tv journalist, I do tend to look past the graphics and designs and toward the content. I'm not really sure about all that goes into a set being "good".

I do admit that a very bad set (looks like its made of cardboard) would cause me to wonder if the station has the money to provide a good newscast. But I feel strongly that the news content was much stronger in the 1960's, when the sets consisted of little more than a desk and chair with a Wx center that was no more than an easel and a marking pen or pointer.

Anonymous said...

HEY NEIL IN RADIOLAND!!!! WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING DUDE????

Anonymous said...

The set and graphics change is a good thing. Remember WAKR- their news looked like it was broadcasting out of the 70s. The clips they showed from the 80s and 90s looked the same. WJW's old set looked OK, but with other stations upgrading, they need to also. And since this set is similar to NY and LA, that really makes me think that WJW might not be sold. Since the stations are being sold so Murdock can buy Wall Street Journal, why would they put this much money into something they are going to sell, and no buyer for any stations has been announced(sounds like a publicity stunt?) ut if the station is still for sale, we can hope someone like Paxon or value vision does not buy WJW.
With SKYFOX HD, HD news, a new website and now the set, it looks like WJW will be owned by FOX for a long time.

Anonymous said...

If WKYC wants the Akron Canton News to be successful they need to go over the air and STOP DEPENDING ON TIME WARNER CABLE! At one time, the news was not on in parts of Summit County and now its gone in Tuscarawas County. Even here in Akron its been moved between channel 23, 17 and 15. There is no advertising or listings for the news. If it was on WKYC-DT2 or even WBNX, there would be more viewers.

Also, while I'm in Time Warner land, whats up with channel 1 in Akron? They're showing some TV menus.

Anonymous said...

What am I smoking? I don't smoke at all.

But that astronaut lady is the person I invariably think of when I hear the name Sally Ride.

Anonymous said...

The problem with STO HD on Dish is that they put it on a Sat that very low in the sky here in NE Ohio at 129 Degrees West, A lot of sub's, such as myself get their HD from 61.5 Degrees West, which is suppost to be a mirror of 129, except for the the LILs and RSNs.

Anonymous said...

On the topic of WJW, check this out:
http://clevelandclassicmedia.blogspot.com/2007/07/christmas-in-julyfrom-wjkw-tv-8.html

Anonymous said...

I got the WJW promo's about the set on my DVR... I will upload them to YouTube tonight... They are from the HD feed of WJW so there will be gray bars at top and bottom..

Anonymous said...

Channel 96 on DirecTV is the channel for STO and FSN HD broadcasts. Full 1080i with Dolby Digital. They only show the first run of the pre-game show and the game. They do not show replays of the games or any other programming on the channel. In most cases, very little of the post game show is shown in HD as the signal is abruptly cut off soon after the game is over (usually at the first post game commercial break).

It requires the MPEG4 receiver and the 5 LNB dish for reception (as will all of the upcoming HD channels that DirecTV will be launching in the Fall).

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZB1X6p86sM

Anonymous said...

oa-HAPPY BELATED ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for keeping us up to date with what happens in Ohio media and not permitting comments to go vulgar.
As far as TV8 goes, I wish Tim would UNRETIRE. He is a fair and honest newsman who really cares for his community. In my first full time job from college, i sold him some Florsheims for a family run store in Bedford, Ohio. I enjoyed seeing Tim and Ted grow up on Cleveland TV news over the last 30+ years. I agree with the other posters that the content of the news is more important than the looks of the anchor or how flashy the set is.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the link to the FOX 8 commercial.

Anonymous said...

FOX 8 now has this link on myfoxcleveland.com now...

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=3765406&version=9&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=5.7.1

Anonymous said...

Now they're saying 5pm. That sounds like a time when they are going to officially announce the new set. We might get to see it in the morning or even Sunday night, if they do a ''dress rehearsal'' to make sure everything works.