KUTV & KJZZ Join Forces!!!

[Agent86]

At last, the sixth sign of the end of the world... Larry Miller was forced to concede in Utah.

Without going into the long winded discussion I heard on the 10PM show from the GM, this is basically what's happening. CBS and LMC have signed a deal to put one-hour of news programming on at 9PM weekedays as a compeditor to Fox 13. I'm assuming it will pretty much be a live feed from the KUTV studio to them.

PLUS! Kiss those crappy sports shows on KJZZ goodbye, as they have been replaced by "Talkin' Sports" on Saturday from 9:30-10.

Now, if only Miller could wise up, buy the Ultimate Combat show, buy them brand new equipment, and promote it heavily on this new partnership both stations have, he might actually get THREE shows that pull a 3.0 rating or higher.

[JamesAnderson]

This is not the first time that KJZZ has done a newscast fed by another station.

In 1991, there was a short-lived arrangement by the then-KXIV-TV and KSL to run a half hour of news. This was a straight KSL newscast save for the fact that it had KXIV-14 logos on where you would see KSL-5 logos. This was also done at 9pm.

No other shows were run, the newscast ended after probably less than six months.

[wallywombat]

Maybe now we can at least get closer to a real news broadcast at 9:00. Fox 13's version of Entertainment Tonight just doesn't cut it.

[SamSpade]

KJZZ did do their own unique "Fast Cast" here about 2 years ago. Apparently kids programming was more valuable...

It was in the morning, a repeating half-hour loop similar to Headline News without an anchor but instead just a voiceover (then later, they added an anchor or two). This also aired at 11 am if I'm not mistaken.

It was still more interesting than the "Daily Buzz"

[Amanuensis]

We (meaning my family and I) prefer to watch news at nine instead of ten, so we were REALLY happy to hear that a QUALITY newscast will soon be available to us.

[wallywombat]

So what is everyone's thought about 2 News on KJZZ?

My impression so far is that is definiely better than what Fox has to offer. It's nice to have limited fluff rather than the large quntities that Fox offers. My only suggestion would be to replace Roland Steadham with Sterling. He seems so disinterested in his job at times.

[Amanuensis]

It is a much better newscast than KSTU's. A few things do need to stop, however. Like bringing Channel 2's Consumer reporter on the set for the sole reason of pitching the report that he will be doing on Channel 2 at 10. I was watching the news at 9 that night because I did not want to stay up till 10. So seeing a story about "here's the REALLY good stuff that we could be telling you now, but we won't" is annoying.

[wallywombat]

I would have to agree with you there.... Unfortunatley I have seen them do it for other stories as well. It's definitely off to a good start, and should give FOX some competition which hopefully will force them to improve their product.

[x]

Fox13 is noticing. {1} I saw a promo this weekend essentially saying "We were here first, so don't you go anywhere."


{1} In other obvious news, sun to rise in morning!

[SamSpade]

Yes, 13 is extensively running "we're the HERITAGE news station" since I guess all 4 of 'em (although Runge seems to be semi-retired?) have been doing this for 15 years?!?

I've seen them especially in the 9:30 half-hour.

[Amanuensis]

Its funny that KSTU is citing 15 years of experience as a reason to watch them. By that guideline, we should all watch KSL, since Dick Norse has been their main anchor for longer than I have been alive. Early childhood memories of watching Dick Norse, Bob Welti, and Paul James. Bruce Lindsay once mentioned on air that he first thought of going into broadcast news for a career back when Dick Norse came to his HIGH SCHOOL for a career day kind of thing. And Bruce Lindsay has been an anchor at KSL since the early 80's (if not earlier).

So if KSL should happen to again find a UHF station that wants them to provide a 9 p.m. newscast, what would KSTU point to THEN as a reason to still watch them?

[Agent86]

The REAL meaning behind Fox's promos:

When you want a 9PM News show, stick with the jerks who did it first! Because our company only has 2 hours of Prime-Time programming, we're forced to fill the gap left by brilliant people who canned such shows as Futurama and Firefly to bring you such fine shows as Temptation Island and The Simple Life.

And don't forget, at 10 we have the Simpsons baby. A show that kicks ABC4's 10PM show on a nightly basis. You KNOW you want to watch the syndicated episodes over and over, despite being on DVD and downloadable on the net.

Fox 13 News at 9. We're here by circumstance, not choice.

[x]

At least Fox brass gathered enough brain cells together to realize that bringing back Family Guy was a good idea.

[yellow]

Before 2news at 9:00pm on KJZZ, my options were (1) watch FOX or (2) watch the first segment of a 10pm newscast. I usually chose the second.

The only reason I watched FOX13 news (which was maaaaaaaybe only once a week) was because of it's time slot. I like getting my news a little early so I can get to bed sooner. Now I'm glad I have a real newscast to watch at my preferred 9:00 time slot!!!

[x]

Without getting specific on the 9PM cast on KJZZ, how good is KUTV's news? Most of the CBS O&O news operations in the largest markets have horrible reputations (and from those that I've seen, it's deserved.)