http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/04/03/whdh_tv_snubs_leno_as_10_pm_program/
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. WFXT's newscast averaged 210,600 total viewers in the March ratings sweeps, while the 10 p.m. newscast on WHDH sister station WLVI-TV Channel 56 drew 43,800 total viewers. 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. "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." 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. 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. 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. 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." Ansin said his contract with NBC differs from those of affiliates that are owned and operated by the network. "We have the option of not airing Leno at 10 o'clock." Johnny Diaz can be reached at [email protected]. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "World News Now Discussion List" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/wnndl?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
