Sara Underwood Joins Fox 25
By Michael Page | September 2, 2008
FOX 25 announced today that they have hired Sara Underwood, former anchor at WBZ-TV. Earlier this year her contract was not renewed after being with the station for 8 years.
Sara will begin with FOX 25 on September 3 as the weekend co-anchor and a weekday field reporter, according to the station.
Her weekend co-anchor will be Frank Mallicoat.
Looks like a pretty good team to me.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WFXT (Channel 25) | 25 Comments »
Hearst Sends Crews to Gustav
By Michael Page | August 30, 2008
Hurricane Gustav is now in the Gulf and has its sights set on Louisiana. As this major news story develops just three years after Katrina (almost to the day), Hearst-Argyle is bringing extra reporters into the region.
WDSU-TV, the Hearst station in New Orleans, has been in continuous coverage all day. As I was watching this storm coverage, a familiar face popped up. Sean Kelly of WCVB was reporting on the evacuations along I-10. I also saw reporters from Oklahoma City reporting for WDSU. So, Hearst has sent in extra reporters to help its local station deal with the storm.
On a national note, this major storm will likely disrupt the coverage of the RNC which is scheduled to start on Monday. To track the storm, visit www.hinghamweather.com.
Update: I should mention that as of Sunday Victoria Block was reporting from New Orleans for WHDH.
Topics: National, WCVB (Channel 5), WHDH (Channel 7) | 8 Comments »
2008-2009 DMAs
By Michael Page | August 28, 2008
Nielsen has announced the list of 2008-2009 DMAs. As you probably know, Boston is market 7 out of 210 markets nationwide (Boston was number 5 in 2005-2006 but slid to market 7 beginning in the 2006-2007 year).
For the first time in 10 years, the list of top 20 markets remained unchanged from 2007-2008 to the upcoming 2008-2009 year. In this new year, Boston boasts 2,409,080 TV households (2.105% of the national total). Last year our market had 2,393,960 (2.122% of the national total). I should also note that market 6 (San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland), extended its lead on us to 67,370 households. Last year their lead was 25,480. At the same time, market 8 (Atlanta), is catching up to us. Our lead on that market has gone from 83,470 last year to 39,300 this year.
Elsewhere in New England, Springfield fell from market 109 to 111, and Hartford moved from 29 to 30. Portland also slid one from 76 to 77. Providence remained unchanged at 52.
The overall trend in market movements this year continued one which has been evident in years past: Southern and Mountainous markets are growing while most Northern markets are shrinking. For example, Austin moved from market 51 to 49, Las Vegas continued its upward trend moving from market 43 to 42, Palm Springs moved from 144 to 142, Salt Lake City moved from 35 to 33 and Butte-Bozeman moved from 194 to 190.
You can read the full 2008-2009 DMA list here.
Topics: National | 2 Comments »
Rebrand for TV 38
By Michael Page | August 25, 2008
Beginning tonight, the TV 38 News at 9 PM is going by WBZ News. In introducing the switch this evening, Kate Merrill said the rebrand reflects the fact that those who put together the TV 38 News also create the WBZ shows and thus makes sense to treat them as the same thing. The graphics have also been altered to reflect WBZ’s.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WSBK (Channel 38) | 16 Comments »
Convention Plans
By Michael Page | August 21, 2008
As you probably know, the much anticipated Democratic National Convention begins next week in Denver. The Republican National Convention begins the following week in St. Paul. The media circus surrounding both conventions will be impressive to say the least, especially with all of the hype around this political season. Most of our local Boston media will be there in some fashion, so here is how it all breaks down.
WBZ: WBZ will not have anyone on the ground at either the DNC or the RNC. From what I have seen, this is the case with most other CBS O & O’s as well.
WCVB: Ed Harding will be in Denver for the DNC, and Janet Wu will be in St. Paul for the RNC.
WHDH: Byron Barnett will be with the democrats, and Dan Hausle will be out with the Republicans.
WFXT: Joe Battenfeld will be covering both conventions.
NECN: Jim Braude and Alison King will cover both conventions as well. They will host special shows from the convention each night they are there from 8-11:30 PM.
That leads to my question…do you think the local Boston media needs to be live at the conventions? It is not easy or cheap to cover it, so do you as a viewer think it is necessary?
Topics: NECN, National, WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 23 Comments »
BZers Hit Big Screen
By Michael Page | August 16, 2008
A few ‘BZers are hitting the big screen! Kathy Curran, Lisa Hughes, and Paula Ebben will be part of the new movie, “Edge of Darkness”, which is being filmed in Roslindale. WBZtv.com reports that they will “act” as TV News personalities. The movie includes big names such as Mel Gibson and Robert DeNiro.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 20 Comments »
FOX 25 Dropped in Westport
By Michael Page | August 6, 2008
SouthCoastToday.com reports that Charter Communications will be dropping WFXT-TV from their TV line-up in Westport, Massachusetts on September 23. Westport, located in Bristol County on the South Coast, is actually part of the Providence/New Bedford DMA, leaving the FOX Providence station WNAC-TV the right to exclusively show FOX programming in the area. For several months Charter has blocked out prime time programming on WFXT so Westport residents had to watch FOX shows on WNAC. Now, Charter has decided to drop WFXT altogetherrather than have part of the channel blocked out during the day. Many Westport residents, including town leaders, have expressed frustration with this decision.
Topics: WFXT (Channel 25) | 12 Comments »
July Sweeps ‘08
By Michael Page | July 31, 2008
The July sweeps period is now over. In general the July sweeps are not as important as other ratings periods, but still, it does give us a good idea of who is watching what. Overall, WCVB remained the dominant station in town. WBZ held on tough to many second place spots, showing that they may be making progress in attracting and holding new viewers. They also won the 11 PM time slot as they did in May as well. WHDH was still stuck in third for most time slots. Below you will find the viewership numbers for the various news shows Monday through Friday.
5-6 AM
WBZ: 35,000
WCVB: 29,000
WHDH: 26,000
WFXT: 24,000
6-7 AM
WCVB: 70,000
WHDH: 63,000
WBZ: 52,000
WFXT: 46,000
Noon
WCVB: 92,000
WBZ: 62,000
WHDH: 61,000
- Note: WCVB lost viewers in May while WBZ and WHDH gained viewers as compared to May.
5 PM
WCVB: 145,000
WBZ: 84,000
WHDH: 70,000
WFXT: 24,000
6 PM
WCVB: 174,000
WBZ: 84,000
WHDH: 77,000
- Note: In May WHDH was in second place.
9 PM
WSBK: 23,000
- This is up 28% from July ‘07
11 PM
WBZ: 143,000
WCVB: 113,000
WHDH: 111,000
WFXT: 61,000
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 35 Comments »
Boston TV Leader Dies
By Michael Page | July 30, 2008
Jim Thistle, a Boston TV News leader, died today at age 66. Thistle, who served as News Director at all of the major network affiliates for a time, later became the director of BU’s broadcast journalism program. He died at Beth Israel Hospital following a battle with cancer.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WHDH (Channel 7) | 1 Comment »
HD Is Coming
By Michael Page | July 29, 2008
JULY 29 UPDATE: After months of waiting, WHDH finally went HD today! There has been a lot of speculation about this (just read below, I have been covering this since December!), so it is nice to finally have it done. I still feel like Boston has been far too slow in making the HD transition for news though, as many smaller markets are all or mostly HD by now.
I also want to thank the many people at and close to 7 who have given me sneak peeks at the graphics, music, or passed along pictures of the set construction over the past several weeks; it really helped me convey what was going on each step of the way. If you go back and read the previous posts, you will see that things pretty much turned out as expected!
If you missed the launch, here are some links to give you a look at what has changed:
Breaking News Graphics
News Desk
JULY 23 UPDATE: The HD launch should finally happen on Monday or Tuesday (July 28 or 29) at 4 PM. I am told HD Promos will start running late this week and into the weekend.
JULY 16 UPDATE: I just wanted to give you an update on how the new newsroom is going to look once HD goes live (very soon, hopefully!).
Balcony Level:
- Behind the sports offices, there is a cityscape design.
- The new large projection screen is in place on the center of the balcony between two blue light boxes.
- The banner which lines the balcony is back to red with several “7 News” logos.
Main Newsroom:
- The new flat screen monitors have replaced the small monitors on the back wall.
- The new newsdesk is in place, too. It has a large 7 on the front, with an overall WSVN look in my opinion.
JUNE 28, UPDATE: A reader posted some information which I wanted to share about the new look of the 7 studio. I have seen a sneak peak at the construction, and I think this description from Insider is a good one (the full comment can be read below the post):
“The newsplex revamp continues “behind the green screen”. The projection screen is in place up on the balcony, there are new lighted columns going in on either side of the screen, the balcony lightboxes have been downsized to accomodate the screen, the area above balcony will be changing colors and the new monitor wall is starting to take shape. You 7 fans will flip at this revamped newsplex, it’s going to look GORGEOUS in HD. As in typical 7 fashion, we’re using alot more red in the revamp.”
JUNE 16 UPDATE:The green screen is now in place, and was used today on the noon newscast. From what I understand, everything for the HD transition is in place aside from the set which is being worked on right now. The timeframe for an HD launch is still early to mid July.
APRIL 30 UPDATE: Last week I posted about WHDH using a green screen behind the anchor desk to hide construction in the newsroom. That construction will involve work on the back wall, mainly the replacement of all the small monitors on the back wall. Also, a large projector screen will be put in place on the back wall as well. If you have watched 7 this week, you can tell that screen is not yet in place. So, I asked the station what was going on. I was told by 7 that the green screen option is still likely in coming weeks, which means we would see a looping image of the newsroom behind the anchors instead of the typical live newsroom. The station also said it is considering constructing part of the new set outside of the station (to be brought in and assembled later on) in order to reduce the amount of time for which the screen would need to be used. When asked their time-frame for going HD, they said their goal is the Olympics and that the transition to HD in the studio and control room is ongoing. We can also expect to see new graphics with the switch to HD, along with a revamped music package. The weather department may also get a graphics spruce up. More as I get it.
FEBRUARY 20 UPDATE: We continue to hear that everything for the HD switch is in place at 7, except for a few set pieces which will be installed before the switch which will take place no later than this summer. Those set pieces include the Breaking News and News Desks and the upper balcony. Also, I am still trying to learn more about this new music package, but from what I am hearing now, it will be done by Chris Crane again.
JANUARY 2 UPDATE: I am told that tests with HD cameras continue at 7, and that the station is also running make-up tests with various personalities.
DECEMBER 29, 2007: It seems that WHDH is preparing to go HD sometime this year. From what I am hearing, 7 has been testing new HD cameras. I am also being told that the goal for going HD is sometime by this coming summer, barring any setbacks. It also seems that 7 will be getting a new music package, but will only see minor set touch ups to make the set more HD friendly. More details if/when they become available.
Topics: WHDH (Channel 7) | 327 Comments »
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