Sunday, April 5, 2009

Channel 7 Turns Off the Tonight Show

Maybe they should: Slow Saturday Special: Obama Bombs on Tonight Show

I never watch him anyway.


I don't like network or cable television much anymore for some reason.


"WHDH-TV snubs Leno as 10 p.m. program; Channel 7 opts for news battle, drawing NBC's ire" by Johnny Diaz, Globe Staff | April 3, 2009

WHDH-TV Channel 7, Boston's NBC affiliate, is refusing to air Jay Leno's new talk show in the lucrative 10 p.m. hour in favor of its own hourlong local news show, and NBC doesn't like it one bit.

"WHDH's move is a flagrant violation of the terms of their contract with NBC," said John Eck, president of NBC Television Network. "If they persist, we will strip WHDH of its NBC affiliation. We have a number of other strong options in the Boston market, including using our existing broadcast license to launch an NBC-owned and operated station."

The decision to program local news instead of Leno, the longtime host of "The Tonight Show" who grew up in Andover, follows the runaway success of the 10 p.m. newscast on rival WFXT-TV Channel 25, Boston's Fox outlet....

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

NBC getting its ASS HANDED TO 'EM by FOX!!!!!

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

On some nights, WFXT's newscast beats network shows in the city, with help from lead-ins such as "American Idol" and "House." Leno's show is scheduled to launch in September. Ed Ansin, owner of WHDH and WLVI, believes a local newscast at 10 p.m., which he plans to simulcast on both stations, will draw better ratings than Leno.

:-)

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

"We feel we have a real opportunity with running the news at 10 p.m. We don't think the Leno show is going to be effective in prime time," Ansin said yesterday. "It will be detrimental to our 11 o'clock [newscast]. It will be very adverse to our finances."

Ansin wants to air Leno's show at 11 p.m., but he said NBC told him that "would not be feasible." For now, Ansin doesn't plan to air Leno at all, instead airing a local news show at 10 p.m., following it with the current news half-hour broadcast at 11, and Conan O'Brien's show at 11:35 p.m. when it begins this summer.

"There are a lot more viewers available at 10 o'clock," added Ansin who also owns Miami's WSVN-TV, a Fox affiliate that reaps strong ratings and revenue with its 10 p.m. newscast. Said Ansin, "It fundamentally is a better financial plan for us." Of WHDH, he added, "We are already suffering from weak lead-ins."

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

After dominating the lucrative 11 p.m. news race for more than a decade with its flashy graphics and focus on sports news, WHDH has seen its 11 p.m. newscast plummet to third place in the ratings in the last year, behind WBZ-TV Channel 4 and WCVB-TV Channel 5. The station laid off its executive news producer and two anchors, including longtime newsman Randy Price, who was replaced by Kim Khazei.

Related: The Gay Globe

The station recently unveiled its late night anchor team of Khazei and Frances Rivera - the only female duo on a Boston anchor desk. Channel 7 also redesigned its news desk and revamped its graphics to broadcast in high-definition.

Yeah, the pretty faces will win over viewers (whack, whack)!!!

Also see: The Attack of the 50-Foot Newswoman

How the Magicians at Boston Globe Made Julie Donaldson Disappear

Globe's all for womens' rights, huh?

Industry officials have noted that having Leno at 10 p.m. would cost a fraction of what a network might pay for a scripted series in that hour. The refusal to air Leno in prime time in the country's seventh-largest market could cost NBC much-needed ratings. The network has been in a ratings slump in recent years.

Awwww, NBC in a slump!!!!

NBC officials are hopeful about Leno's arrival in prime time. His show will be similar to "The Tonight Show," which is a late-night ratings leader. "The NBC affiliates are very excited about the new Leno show weeknights at 10 p.m.," Michael Fiorile, NBC affiliate board chairman, said yesterday in a statement to the Globe. "Jay is a true star with enormous appeal."

--more--"

The NBC television network is insisting that its new prime time talk show, hosted by Jay Leno, is a go in Boston despite the plans of network affiliate WHDH-TV (Channel 7), which intends to air a newscast in its place.

"Jay Leno fans will not be disappointed," said John Eck, president of NBC TV Network, in a statement yesterday. "Make no mistake, the new Leno show will air at 10 p.m. weeknights in the Boston market on NBC."

Like I give a shit!

CLICK!

NBC officials stood by their threat to pull WHDH's affiliation license if it pursued plans to bump Leno's new show, scheduled to debut in September. An executive familiar with the situation said NBC has options in the area to broadcast its programming. That may include WNEU-TV, the local affiliate of Telemundo, which NBC owns. NBC could also find another independent station in the region to air NBC shows, the official said.

I'd mail it back to 'em with a NOTE!

"We have a number of other strong options in the Boston market, including using our existing broadcast license to launch an NBC owned and operated station," Eck added....

*********

"What Fox25 does well is that they translate that 'American Idol' audience to their newscast so they are playing to that audience," said Steve Safran, a media consultant in Natick who works with New England Cable News.

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

NBC getting its ASS HANDED TO 'EM by FOX!!!!!

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

Safran called WHDH's move a bold one.

"Local affiliates need to create more original programming and show it on their own terms to survive," he said. "In central and mountain time, they get their news at 10. There's more of an audience at 10 o'clock, and that's why the local affiliates need to be empowered to make up their own minds. And at 11, there are more entertainment shows that are simply more enjoyable to watch before you go to sleep."

He obviously means the DAILY SHOW!!!!

NBC's lead-ins haven't helped....

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

First the newspapers, now the tv stations!!!

--more--"