Local TV Now

Episode 35 - The One That Was A Day Late

localtvnow — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:47:21 +0000

In this slightly delayed episode, we talk to Erin Carlson from The Business Insider about the Comcast/NBC merger, and try to figure out why Jeff Zucker continues to run that company. Plus, more mystery. We try to decipher why anyone would want to buy Ion (the former Pax Network). Then, a great story about this picture and how it might be the worst TV marketing idea in a while. Hint: Just look at the talent on the left, and then read the Twitter headline on the right.

Links:

Guest:
Erin Carlson, writer, The Business Insider

A Day Late But Not a Dollar Short

localtvnow — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:48:36 +0000

We’re delaying this week’s episode of the podcast a day. We had am interview lined up for Friday that had to be rescheduled, but we’re going to do it tomorrow morning and then put Episode 35 online.

Thanks for understanding. I hope it’s worth the wait, and come back on Monday.

Episode 34 - The Doctor is In

localtvnow — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:50:49 +0000

In this week’s episode, the DTV coupons have expired. What? You still have one? Too bad. Plus, we talk about website branding and ask whether it’s better for your website brand to be tied to your on-air brand or to go in another direction. Then, NBC is restructuring Leno. What does that mean for affiliates? All these questions are answered and more.

Links:

Episode 33 - Is it farewell to Oprah?

localtvnow — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:14:55 +0000

In this episode, we tackle some big issues like: Is the nation’s number one syndicated show about to move to a small digital cable network? Plus, we talk about retransmission fees from cable companies and discuss how local stations can get a bigger piece of the pie…maybe with the help of their network partners. Then, we’ll talk to the folks at Grass Valley about the new mobile television technology they’re rolling out, and we’ll finish by discussing Apple’s foray into subscription television.

Links:

Guest:
Richard Fiore, senior director for transmissions and mobility at Grass Valley

Episode 32 - What the CEA Has to Say

localtvnow — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:55:41 +0000

In this episode, we get the other side of the pending spectrum battle from the Consumer Electronics Association. Last week, we got the TV industry’s side from Harry A. Jessell at TV NewsCheck. Now, we bring you an interview with one of the people in charge of lobbying for the consumer electronics industry in Washington. He tells us why getting more spectrum is imperative, but the two of us may disagree a bit on where that spectrum should come from.

Links:

CEA Not Advocating A ‘Spectrum Grab’

Guest:
James Hedlund, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Consumer Electronics Association

Episode 31 - Rant Against the Machine

localtvnow — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:03:12 +0000

In this week’s episode, Doug’s angry, and he rants about the Olympics (now just 100 days away) and NBC’s monetary policy when it comes to The Jay Leno Show. However, he is very sensible when it comes to WGCL’s decision to turn over their TV sports department to a sports talk radio station and mobile DTV deployment. He’s kind of a two-headed monster that way.

Links:

Episode 30 - Hey, Where’s My Spectrum?

localtvnow — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:39:52 +0000

We talk to Harry A. Jessell in this special, mid-week episode about the possible, upcoming fight against cash-for-spectrum. Will the FCC and consumer electronics manufacturers push for television stations to give up their spectrum? We’ll discuss, plus we’ll tell you how over-the-air mobile television and local HD news plays into this issue.

Links:

Guest:
Harry A. Jessell, Editor and Co-Publisher, TVNewsCheck.com

Episode 29 - How Much is that Hulu in the Window?

localtvnow — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:36:19 +0000

In this week’s episode, we chat with Programming Insider Marc Berman to break down the winning and losing networks and shows in the fall season so far. Plus, we chat about the many rumors and floated ideas about Hulu becoming a paid site. In addition, we talk about the wish of affiliates that the Eye Network would not have so much time between the end of their 10 p.m. shows and the start of the late local news, and we break down the advantages of cable shows that are heading into syndication.

Links:

Guest:
Marc Berman, Programming Insider for Mediaweek

Episode 28 - Balloon Boy Is Big Business in Denver

localtvnow — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:48:14 +0000

In this week’s episode, we talk about Balloon Boy and how it helped KUSA in Denver do huge numbers on TV and the web. Plus, added DVR viewers are helping keep some shows from being canceled, and we talk to reporter Matthew Flamm about LX New York’s not-so-good first weeks on the air.

Links:

Guest:
Matthew Flamm, Senior Reporter at Crain’s New York Business

Episode 27 - All TV Station Have Websites…Except for Two

localtvnow — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:22:59 +0000

In this episode, we dissect the new RTNDA research about TV station websites, who has news, and what kind of content is important. We also talk about Comcast’s rumored interest in NBC Universal. Plus, the Associated Press is looking to charge websites to get a half-hour jump start on releasing AP stories. Um…I’ll give you three guesses what we think of that idea.

Links:

Episode 26 - 74% of People Still Get Their News from TV

localtvnow — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:16:28 +0000

In this episode, we talk to the pollster behind a new study that finds that people still watch a lot of TV and still get news from TV regularly despite projections by some that TV news is in permanent decline. Plus, we talk about NBC’s local news ratings which are down double digits in major markets following Leno. And lots of talk about syndication including MyNetwork TV’s move to be a syndicator instead of a network.

Links:

Guest:
Raymond P. Howell, president of Howell Communications

Episode 25 - Week 1 Ratings & Non-Profit Journalism

localtvnow — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:17:48 +0000

In this episode, we dissect the ratings from the first full week of the fall season. We look at winners and losers, day-by-day. Plus, there’s a leaked memo from CBS about their hatred of Hulu, and we talk about the new initiative from San Francisco’s PBS station to help start a non-profit journalistic enterprise. Then, we finish up with Sony spending a LOT of money to get almost every channel to run their movie trailer.

Links:

Episode 24 - What Does the X Stand For?

localtvnow — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:17:10 +0000

This week, we talk about the launch of LX New York, the replacement for Live at Five on WNBC. However, we still don’t know what the “X” in “LX” stands for. Can anybody help? And what will this new show mean to news viewers in New York and beyond? Plus, we talk about the continued expansion of hyperlocal blogs and NBC Miami’s lack on news online…well…except for the news that links to a competitor.

Links:

Episode 23 - Fall Season, Here We Come!

localtvnow — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:15:30 +0000

We chat with Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star and TVBarn.com about the new fall season in this special, mid-week episode. From Jay Leno to the continued dominance of CBS, we cover it all.

Guest:
Aaron Barnhart, TVBarn.com & television critic for the Kansas City Star

Episode 22 - Back to School

localtvnow — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:32:32 +0000

We talk to a couple of journalism school leaders about the growth of students interested in journalism despite the fact that there aren’t supposed to be any jobs in this industry. Oh yeah, and they both say their students are finding jobs too. Plus, they tell us how new media has affected what and how they teach.

Guests:
Mark Lodato, News Director & Professor of Practice, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University

William McKeen, Professor and Chairman, University of Florida Department of Journalism

Bonus Link:
Mike and Doug’s favorite podcast: The Tony Kornheiser Show

No New Episode This Week

localtvnow — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:03:34 +0000

We’re taking a week off this week for the Labor Day holiday weekend…not just because it’s a holiday though. Actually, we have an interview in the can, but a technical meltdown of my Windows machine has put a hiccup in the process.

We’ll definitely be back next week. Until then, I thought I’d post my Fall TV Preview. I write this up every year for my friends, and I thought I’d post it here too. Yes, I watch both geek TV and the TV of a 13-year-old girl. I think it makes me diverse…you might call it odd.

A note about the preview, it ignores the Jay Leno Show which will air weeknights at 10 p.m. on NBC. I won’t be watching. Now, onto the rest of the preview.

Monday

Returning Shows I’m Watching: How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 8/7, One Tree Hill (CW) 8/7, Gossip Girl (CW) 9/8, Lie to Me (FOX) 9/8, Big Bang Theory (CBS) 9:30/8:30, Castle 10/9

New Shows I’ll Be Watching: Accidentally On Purpose (CBS) 8:30/7:30

New Shows I Won’t Be Watching: Trauma (NBC) 9/8

Notes: I’ve given up on Heroes on Monday nights…sad but true. I’m excited by Accidentally On Purpose (premiering Sept 21). Starring Jenna Elfman, I think this show has a lot of potential. Elfman’s character finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand with a younger guy, so they move in together. I think this show goes really well in the CBS Monday comedy block. Trauma, on the other hand, looks awful. It’s about first-responder paramedics, but, from what I’ve seen, none of the characters look really interesting. I’ll pass. What I won’t be passing on is Castle (returning Sept. 21). I loved this mid-season replacement last year. It’s a funny and smart procedural, and I hope it gains viewership in year 2.

Tuesday

Returning Shows I’m Watching: 90210 (CW) 8/7, So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) 9/8

New Shows I’ll Be Watching: Not sure yet.

New Shows I Might Be Watching: NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) 9/8, Melrose Place (CW) 9/8, The Forgotten (ABC) 10/9, The Good Wife (CBS) 10/9

New Shows I Won’t Be Watching: Shark Tank (ABC) 8/7

Notes: The new Tuesday night shows are all borderline for me, so I’m not sure what I’ll be watching. The original Melrose Place never did anything for me, so I’m not sure if I’ll be watching the new one. NCIS: LA is rumored to be better than the original NCIS (which I never really got into), so I might sample that show. Then at 10/9 both The Forgotten and The Good Wife leave me a little cold. The Forgotten is about a team that tries to identify unidentified bodies. The Good Wife is about a mother who re-enters the work force after her husband, the politician, does something illegal and gets thrown in jail. I’ll probably sample all 4 of these shows and see if any of them stick.

Wednesday

Returning Shows I’m Watching: So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) 8/7

New Shows I’ll Be Watching: Glee (FOX) 9/8, The Beautiful Life (CW) 9/8, Cougar Town (ABC) 9:30/8:30, Eastwick (ABC) 10/9

New Shows I Won’t Be Watching: Hank (ABC) 8/7, Mercy (NBC) 8/7, The Middle (ABC) 8:30/7:30, Modern Family (ABC) 9/8

Notes: ABC’s got an all-new Wednesday night line-up. Every single show on that night is new, and the first three look not-so-good. I think Cougar Town (premiering Sept. 23) with Courtney Cox has potential. However, I’m not a 40-year-old divorcee, so I might not get the jokes. Eastwick is interesting. It’s definitely got potential, and it’s a little supernatural, so it’s right up my alley, but I think it also has the potential to get canceled after three episodes. The Beautiful Life is about the lives of young, good-looking models (one of which is played by The O.C.’s Mischa Barton), so how can you go wrong with that!

Thursday

Returning Shows I’m Watching: Bones (FOX) 8/7, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 9/8, Fringe (FOX) 9/8, Private Practice (ABC) 10/9

New Shows I’ll Be Watching: Flash Forward (ABC) 8/7, The Vampire Diaries (CW) 8/7

New Shows I Won’t Be Watching: Community (NBC) 9:30/8:30

Notes: Flash Forward is the highest concept show coming to TV this fall. That means it could be awesome (see Lost), or it could die a horrible death (see The Nine). I’m betting on good (but not as good as Lost when it first came out). As for the Vampire Diaries, I’m not much for the movie Twilight, but I’m a sucker for a good teen romance from the CW, so I’ll give it a try.

Friday

Returning Shows I’m Watching: Ghost Whisperer (CBS) 8/7

Returning Shows I’m Adding: Dollhouse (FOX) 9/8

New Shows I’ll Be Watching: None

New Shows I Won’t Be Watching: Brothers (FOX) 8/7

Notes: I still watch Ghost Whisperer for my wife, and it remains just OK. My mom swears by Dollhouse, so I’m going to start watching the DVD’s now and watch it in the fall assuming I like it. UPDATE: I’m through the first DVD of the first season of Dollhouse, and it’s great. Joss Whedon…I should have never doubted you! I will be watching this fall.

Saturday

Um…do they still make TV on Saturday? Answer: not really.

Sunday

Returning Shows I’m Watching: The Amazing Race (CBS) 8/7, Desperate Housewives (ABC) 9/8, Brothers and Sisters (ABC) 10/9

New Shows I’ll Be Watching: Not sure yet.

New Shows I Might Be Watching: Three Rivers (CBS) 9/8

New Shows I Won’t Be Watching: The Cleveland Show (FOX) 8:30/7:30

Notes: The Amazing Race and Brothers and Sisters are still two of the best shows on TV. As for Three Rivers, it’s another medical show…this time about a transplant doctor. I’ll try it for a week or two and see if I like it.

Full list of premiere dates

Episode 21 - Ted Kennedy Coverage, Overnight Wake-Up Calls, and the Boston Market

localtvnow — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:53:11 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Karen Meyers from New England Cable News about the coverage of the death of Senator Ted Kennedy and the post-midnight wake-up calls for anchors all-over Boston. We also discuss the SEC’s crazy-strict media policy, the release of the new DMA listing (find out where your station ranks), and The Weather Channel selling music. And, yes, you read that last part right.

Links:

Guest:
Karen Meyers, Freelance Anchor, New England Cable News

Episode 20 - Shawn vs. Puppet The Psycho Dwarf

localtvnow — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:50:17 +0000

In this episode, it’s a slow news week, so we take a break from the serious news and chat with guest host Shawn Tempesta about various topics including his recent run-in with midget wrestler Puppet the Psycho Dwarf that left Shawn bloody. Plus, a new marketplace where TV talent can buy and sell clothes as the days of the clothing allowance come to an end. In addition, Michael’s microphone sounds terrible for some inexplicable reason. We’ll fix that for next week.

Links:

Guest Host:
Shawn Tempesta, WNAC Rhode Show Host
Shawn’s Twitter

Episode 19 - The AP might be OK

localtvnow — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:24:59 +0000

In this episode, we cover a bunch of serious topics and one really fun one. First, we break down the future plans of the Associated Press revealed by the Nieman Journalism Lab this week, and we discover they might not be as bad as we first thought. They might, in fact, be good… didn’t see that one coming.

We’ll also discuss YouTube’s News Near You, the upcoming ratings service from the major networks, and NBC’s centralizing of creative services. Plus, we’ll decide who a reporter’s Twitter account really belongs to. And to finish up, we’ll chat with Brett Larson of Good Day Live about his crazy web show.

Links:

Guest:
Brett Larson, host of Good Day Live Online
And technology & environmental reporter, WNYW

Episode 18 - Bold, Scientific Predictions for the Fall Season

localtvnow — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:30:43 +0000

In this special episode, we spend the whole show talking about the fall season. We talk with Gary Reisman of New Media Metrics whose company has once again predicted what shows will be popular this fall. They’ve done this for four years now, and they’ve been roughly 85% accurate over the years.

So here’s their prediction for the Top 10 shows in the 18-49 year-old demographic:
(three way tie for first)
1. TWO AND A HALF MEN
1. CSI
1. GREY’S ANATOMY
4. CSI: MIAMI
5. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
6. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
7. AMERICA’S FUNNIEST VIDEOS
8. EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION
9. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
10. BIG BANG THEORY

Top New Shows in the 18-49 year-old demographic:
1. FLASH FORWARD (11TH OVERALL)
2. THE JAY LENO SHOW - TUES (12TH OVERALL)
3. NCIS: LOS ANGELES (20TH OVERALL)
4. ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (21ST OVERALL)
5. THE JAY LENO SHOW - THURS (27TH OVERALL)

Guest: Gary Reisman, Principle, New Media Metrics