Things are suddenly looking up for WJAR NBC 10 in Providence, which is on many of the same cable systems.
-----Original Message----- >From: Richard de Give <[email protected]> >Sent: Apr 3, 2009 4:10 AM >To: World News Now Discussion LIst ABC's <[email protected]> >Subject: (Peacock) Jay, Jay whatdya say? No-WHDH > >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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
