Rare, Collectible, & Otherwise

Tag: format

News Update

Since mentioning the news product shakeup at our local CBS affiliate, I feel obliged to follow-up. An earlier post mentioned the exciting changes KOTV had incorporated in their 10 pm newscast, including rattling some dinosaur-ish tradition bones.

Unfortunately, it may be nothing more than another graphics paint job.

I was thrilled to see what I thought was a tossing out of the old 1950’s formula (1. anchor at desk 2. reporter introduced 3. news subject speaks 4. pompous reporter standup closer 5. back to anchor at desk). Last night, Emory Bryan’s appearance punctuated that alterations were nothing more than cosmetic change.

He was back in an opening standup – the new graphics caught him off-guard and the split screen showed him fumbling around with the microphone as the anchor tossed it to him. He missed it.

Another split-screen had Terry Hood awkwardly smiling while the camera should have been pointed at her co-anchor. Not her fault. The director dropped the ball, which makes the anchors look bad. Graphics.

The only formulaic change of any note had a weather story immediately before shifting to the meteorologist. What a simple method to avoid those awkward moments when Travis Meyer has to segue from a story showing a horrible crash scene to a map showing sunny and bright.

Maybe the control room will work out the kinks with the new graphics. They’re attractive, but they aren’t news. Done badly, graphics are only an expensive distraction. It’s a shame the consultants are back to spray painting a bright finish on a rusty old hulk. The prospect of real innovation was invigorating. Ah well.

Everyone believes that change is difficult. I just never believed it to be impossible.

Meanwhile, the state of the panicky broadcasting industry is fodder for authors:

Altered Egos

Well! What a shock at ten o’clock! Familiar news music, entirely new graphics on KOTV Channel 6. Change is difficult for everyone, and there will be critics – but here is a list of what is great about their new approach.

They kept the music. Not that it’s special, necessarily…but maintaining that familiarity keeps a continuity with the past and eases the burden on viewers who are disinclined to having their product tinkered with.

Sacred cows have been brought down.

No more of that foolish “Asking questions – so you’ll know more” label. I’m not sure they were even the right questions.

Tradition. News has always been this way. Why? Who says the old way is the best way? Since the 50’s it has always been an anchor at the desk, who introduces a reporter out somewhere with a microphone, who introduces the subject of the news item, who says a sentence or two. The reporter is shown again with the microphone clutched to the chest for the close, followed by the pompous identification and newscast-slugline.

The new format tosses aside much of the old tradition. Graphics introduce some of the stories with an anchor voiceover. Straight to the news video. No opening standup. The best part? Multiple clips from the news subject to emphasize points. The package-style has been altered. For the better. Tera Vreeland voiced a package without a single on-camera appearance. (Ironically, she is one of the few who professionally delivers news without affectation. Meanwhile, Chris Wright was seen with his standard pompous closer.)

The weather and sports had minor changes. They could have been shaken up for the better, but any start is something.

Television news has been mired in routine for decades (and radio even longer). The sameness has been disguised by new and powerful graphic capabilities. Sort of like opening a can of chocolate frosting and spreading a thick layer over an old moldy layer cake. Who wants a bite of that? They’re baking it up new at KOTV and even if the recipe needs a dash of this or that – it’s certainly a fresh visual treat.