What an NBC station should look like

[reednavy]

If we could just get ABC and NBC here to split, which would probably be for the better, we could increase the appeal of our television market.

One thing that many people I talk to want to see is a more eye-catching or modern news opening, along with music. WJXT's new HD is ok, but could do w/o the "Home of News4jax.com" crap. It actually does bug me.

The FCN needs to be broken up, and the new Gannett graphics are an upgrade for our market, but others, such as WXIA, has made it look embarassing.

Ideas for WTLV, these come from WXIA in Atlanta(old intro) and KGW in Portland.

WXIA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FYOls0Dvns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2gCNO_zzVk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTLmL7c0sZc

KGW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP6U5AD4g94&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLLcrg8_BYg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBs1o47PgK4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoJTFKzng1o

[stjr]

Gannett's ABC 25 and NBC 12 remain the only two local stations that I can not receive digitally with rabbit ears.  Anyone else having the same problem?

[downtownparks]

WXIA is Gannett owned, and if you were to go get their new opens/graphics you will see they are identical to FCNs. All of Gannett went to the new Graphics look back in October. Some are red, some are blue. All are generated at KUSA (denver) thought the G3 group (gannett graphics group)

stjr, you are not alone. Hopefully this will be solved sooner rather than later.

[downtownparks]

XIA new look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5NkbrOKV34
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r27GuDpWdK8

[copperfiend]

I hate the idea of the four major networks being controlled by two companies in Jacksonville. The Fox30/CBS47 outfit is a complete disaster. I  have seen better quality in a high school A/V class.

[reednavy]

Isn't that the truth. As far as I know, we are the only large market to be as such. CBS47 would be much better off by casting away FOX30.

DP, I know about the new Gannett Graphics, and for WXIA, it was a huge step back from using the Tower V3 music and related graphics. By Gannett making a uniform package for all stations, it really made certain market stations lose character.

Here is a great CBS station, one of top 5 in the nation, WTVF in Nashville, that CBS 47 should really try to become.

WTVF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7wMAODdXkY&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLRAI14vbGk&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnegoRDyeWE&feature=PlayList&p=086E4D700ACFBB12&playnext=1&index=30

[downtownparks]

I dont disagree at all. I think generic graphics do tend to kill personality.

[downtownparks]

BTW. Ch 17 has been sold.
http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-01-28/story/wcwj_tv_17_sold_to_texas_based_broadcaster

[tufsu1]

I hate the idea of the four major networks being controlled by two companies in Jacksonville. The Fox30/CBS47 outfit is a complete disaster. I  have seen better quality in a high school A/V class.

this is the trend in the indsutry...and you can thank the FCC's decision (under Bush II) to ease the ownership restrictions of media companies for it.

[downtownparks]

When Gannett bought WJXX, it was 5th in the market, and wouldn't have been under those restrictions (based on market strength, not affiliation). Clear Channel owned Fox and UPN prior to the pick up of the CBS affiliation. Both dual ownerships occurred prior to Bush (The CBS affiliation on 47 occurred after)

[stjr]

TV stations are beginning to suffer the same fate as newpapers like the T-U and are working to cut costs as well.

I once called Channel 4 to comment on something and remembered telling them several years ago that if they didn't improve their product (i.e. remove the brainless fluff and puff from newscasts) they would be headed for trouble because internet TV was on the way and it would knock them off their feet.  That time is about now.

Like the T-U, local TV's strength is to cover substantive local news.  The pervasive CNN clips run almost simultaneously on every station, not to mention hours earlier on CNN's web site, are a total waste, as are all the celebrity gossip, health news, oddity stories, etc.  Nothing unique or timely with this drivel.

My mantra is content providers need to be focused and consistent in playing off their strengths and avoid diluting their product by trying to be all things to all people.  MJ needs to be taking notes as well.

[jtwestside]

Gannett's ABC 25 and NBC 12 remain the only two local stations that I can not receive digitally with rabbit ears.  Anyone else having the same problem?

Same issue here. I'm hoping once the analog cutoff takes place this will no longer be an issue.

[tufsu1]

When Gannett bought WJXX, it was 5th in the market, and wouldn't have been under those restrictions (based on market strength, not affiliation). Clear Channel owned Fox and UPN prior to the pick up of the CBS affiliation. Both dual ownerships occurred prior to Bush (The CBS affiliation on 47 occurred after)

yes...the old rule allowed ownership of 2 TV stations as long as they weren't both in the Top 5....so you're telling me that ABC and NBC weren't in the Top 5 here in Jax....and that Fox and CBS weren't either...seems hard to believe.

[Karl_Pilkington]

Gannett's ABC 25 and NBC 12 remain the only two local stations that I can not receive digitally with rabbit ears.  Anyone else having the same problem?

Yep, it pisses me off!  When I lived at the Beach before DirecTv had local stations the reception for ABC and NBC sucked.  I went as far as to petition DirecTv to allow me to get the New York feed due to the crappy local reception, but was denied. 

So I wrote to ABC/NBC to complain and got a response that basically said that their antenna is in Middleburg, so they were sorry, but nothing they could do.  Now I get WJXT, Fox, CBS, PBS and UPN in HD, but not ABC or NBC and I live downtown, so my issue with them is that if I live downtown and I'm not getting their signal then who is?

Lastly, if I were an advertiser with the local ABC/NBC station this is the type of issue I think I should be worried about and I hope they are!

[stjr]

Karl, an UPDATE: 

With rabbit ears, I can now get Channel 12 (NBC) in digital in southern Duval but only on my big screen TV, not my smaller one in the kitchen.  I am guessing the larger TV's have better electronics or built-in receptors as all stations are easier to receive on them for me.  I still can not get Channel 25 (ABC) on any TV.  I hope they increase the power and/or fix both signals soon.

Interestingly, with analog, Channel 12 was at the top in reception (with 4 and 7).  Now my easiest and most stable station in digital appears to be Channel 7 followed by Channels 4, 30, and 47.  Of all the stations, I would say that Channel 7 (PBS) is overall the best due to ease of reception, the programs they run (like Nature) in showing off HD, and for exploiting their digital spectum (5 stations now) for us rabbit ears folks.  I do look like the 24/7 weather radar, temps, and times on Channel 12-2.

Channel 4's HD news picture (not necessarily content) is far superior to all the others.  Channel 30's (and I suppose their sister station, Channel 47) video news clips look like they have a washed out color, milkiness, look to them.  You can really see the contrast in color and clarity when they lay graphics from the studio over the pictures.  I suspect they haven't modernized their equipment and it really shows.

Recently, the Grammy's looked great on the big screen.  And the opening aerial scenes of CSI-Miami.