NY
Note: This post refers to Fox Television Stations, Inc., the company that owns and operates Fox and MyNetwork TV stations and
not
the Fox News Channel.
On August 8th, FTS CEO Jack Abernathy said that the company will be “retiring the typical anchorman and replacing him with multi-skilled personalities and journalists'' and to "effectively" incorporate and use social media resources. Abernathy said that due to the long time successes of the current local news markets, many companies are unwilling to change but FTS is currently evolving the way its local stations do the news.
The article is here: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/fox-television-stations-ceo-jack-abernethy-we-are-retiring-the-typical-anchorman_b99998
This announcement comes after FTS recently acquired a duopoly in Charlotte, North Carolina and most notably, closed down the news department at one of its duopolies.
The Secaucus, New Jersey based WWOR, which serves the New York City market (it relocated to New Jersey in 1983,but moved physically in 1986 as part of a deal with then-owner RKO General and the FCC to not shut down the station so long as they cover New Jersey faithfully) had its already depleted* news department shut down after 42 years and was replaced the following week with a political show "Chasing New Jersey" which Abernathy calls "TMZ for Local News".
The plan is to ultimately add more "Chasing" shows in FTS markets and the show is produced by a company owned by the general manager of FTS's Philadelphia outfit WTXF. The move was not well received, as two NJ senators, Robert Menendez and Frank Pallone and the newspaper Bergen Record called for the revocation of WWOR's license. WWOR's news director, Dianne Doctor defended the newscast in a video editorial , transcribed by TVspy.com:
* Not long after FTS acquired WWOR in 2000, they were slowly laying off employees and removing the station's stronger programming for WNYW's weaker programming. WWOR originally cancelled its long-time 10PM newscast, "My9 News at 10" and moved it to 11PM, but that newscast was dropped for a shorter "The 10 O'clock News" ( a callback to WNYW's newscast) that ran five days a week. The final newscast aired July 2nd and the announcement was made as staff were preparing the following night's newscast.
Prior to the shutdown, FTS was (and is still) under investigation by the FCC for misrepresenting the number of employees at the station and the hours the station to NJ-related events.
Not long after the new show was implemented, it was revealed that FTS also trademarked other '' Chasing ( insert name here)'' shows and now Los Angeles's KCOP announced that its newscasts which are produced by sister station KTTV will be ending in September.
The question is what will become of this revolution? More "Chasing" shows despite it not catching on in New Jersey? Will the plan work in markets at all?
On August 8th, FTS CEO Jack Abernathy said that the company will be “retiring the typical anchorman and replacing him with multi-skilled personalities and journalists'' and to "effectively" incorporate and use social media resources. Abernathy said that due to the long time successes of the current local news markets, many companies are unwilling to change but FTS is currently evolving the way its local stations do the news.
The article is here: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/fox-television-stations-ceo-jack-abernethy-we-are-retiring-the-typical-anchorman_b99998
This announcement comes after FTS recently acquired a duopoly in Charlotte, North Carolina and most notably, closed down the news department at one of its duopolies.
The Secaucus, New Jersey based WWOR, which serves the New York City market (it relocated to New Jersey in 1983,but moved physically in 1986 as part of a deal with then-owner RKO General and the FCC to not shut down the station so long as they cover New Jersey faithfully) had its already depleted* news department shut down after 42 years and was replaced the following week with a political show "Chasing New Jersey" which Abernathy calls "TMZ for Local News".
The plan is to ultimately add more "Chasing" shows in FTS markets and the show is produced by a company owned by the general manager of FTS's Philadelphia outfit WTXF. The move was not well received, as two NJ senators, Robert Menendez and Frank Pallone and the newspaper Bergen Record called for the revocation of WWOR's license. WWOR's news director, Dianne Doctor defended the newscast in a video editorial , transcribed by TVspy.com:
Quote:
“You’d think these politicians and the editorial writers of the Record would encourage the development of innovative newsgathering, especially during a financial crisis [...] “Maybe I missed it, but despite these huge newspaper cutbacks [in New Jersey], not one member of the state’s Congressional delegation expressed any concern. Maybe they should take a page from the students and faculty at Montclair State University, who have created a facility to rescue journalism and pave a real path for the future. Maybe after watching ‘Chasing New Jersey,’ you’ll see a little glimpse of that future, and wonder why anyone would criticize us for trying something new.”
* Not long after FTS acquired WWOR in 2000, they were slowly laying off employees and removing the station's stronger programming for WNYW's weaker programming. WWOR originally cancelled its long-time 10PM newscast, "My9 News at 10" and moved it to 11PM, but that newscast was dropped for a shorter "The 10 O'clock News" ( a callback to WNYW's newscast) that ran five days a week. The final newscast aired July 2nd and the announcement was made as staff were preparing the following night's newscast.
Prior to the shutdown, FTS was (and is still) under investigation by the FCC for misrepresenting the number of employees at the station and the hours the station to NJ-related events.
Not long after the new show was implemented, it was revealed that FTS also trademarked other '' Chasing ( insert name here)'' shows and now Los Angeles's KCOP announced that its newscasts which are produced by sister station KTTV will be ending in September.
The question is what will become of this revolution? More "Chasing" shows despite it not catching on in New Jersey? Will the plan work in markets at all?
Last edited by NYTV on 10 August 2013 4:33am - 2 times in total