CBS Detroit adding local news in '22

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Paul Murray

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Dec 15, 2021, 11:43:23 AM12/15/21
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In 1994, when Fox was new and the then-CBS affiliate in Detroit (WJBK) switched to them, CBS raced to get on the air, ultimately buying low-powered UHF station WGPR-TV, then upgrading the signal and converting it to the current WWJ-TV.

After some half-hearted stabs over the years at creating local news programming, such as partnering with WWJ-AM radio and the Detroit Free Press, the station gave up on local news and just plays sitcoms or other programs in those traditional time slots. (They do have a five-minute 11 pm weather forecast in the additional hole before the sitcom at 11:05-11:35.) I seem to recall reading quotes from a previous station manager gloating about the profitability of them not running local news.

Now the station claims it will launch 40 hours of weekly local news coverage in the late summer or early fall of 2022 ... along with live streaming news for an additional 97 hours per week (?!?).



It sounds like reporters will have to be a one-person crew, including shooting and editing their own reports.

Earlier this year, sister station WKBD-TV launched a 30-minute local newscast at 10 pm M-F, so it's not like they're starting completely from scratch ... but it all sounds pretty ambitious.

Brad Beam

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Dec 15, 2021, 12:48:24 PM12/15/21
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The streaming figure would be live CBSN coverage, with 40 hours of simulcasting the OTA newscasts.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 15, 2021, at 11:43, Paul Murray <pmur...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> 

Paul Murray

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Dec 15, 2021, 3:27:35 PM12/15/21
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Nope. From the Freep article (emphasis added): The station says it will be offering "a 24/7 streaming service with live *local* news coverage from 4:00 AM to 11:35 PM, Monday-Sunday, for a total of 137 hours per week."

Paul Murray

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Dec 15, 2021, 3:31:59 PM12/15/21
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To clarify: Yes, 40 hours are simulcasting the local OTA broadcasts. But the other 97 hours also appear to be locally sourced, based on the quote, which I suspect is straight from a press release.

Mark Jeffries

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Dec 15, 2021, 4:03:36 PM12/15/21
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Similar to the other local CBSN channels attached to the CBS O&Os.  They are all available on the regular version of Pluto TV (not the version with Comcast Xfinity X1).

The only other CBS O&O affiliated with the Eye right now without a CBSN is WFOR in Miami (and MyTV sister WBFS).  The others are WCBS/WLNY NY, KCBS/KCAL LA, KPIX/KBCW SF, KOVR/KMAX Sacramento, KCNC Denver, WBBM Chicago, WJZ Baltimore, WBZ/WSBK Boston, WCCO Minneapolis, KYW/WPSG Philadelphia, KDKA/WPCW Pittsburgh and KTVT/KTXA Dallas. CBS also owns stations in Tampa, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Seattle, all but one CW affils.  And with WWJ in Detroit is C-Dub affil WKBD.
 
Mark Jeffries
spotl...@gmail.com


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