How do you create and produce a 4 PM program? First, you get as many "experts" as you can. In every category imaginable. "Insiders" too--then combine features on health, finance, real estate and social media with traditional news coverage. (To at least fool the viewer to think they're really watching "news" as opposed to basically a well-thought, institutional infomercial for the TV station.)
4 PM news programs are mostly idiotic and arcane; the epitome of artificial news designed to make it look authentic when the only authenticity are the ingredients in the cooking segment. That's big in TV--cooking segments. Can you just imagine what the Today Show's third hour would be like, devoid of a cooking segment?
So really--if you're home looking for real, god-honest news, just ex-out any 4 PM local news. They're frauds, really. I mean, c'mon, please.
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they are easy to produce.. cheaper than syndicated programming and ... most importantly ... create a hardship on your already smaller staff...
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the new KRON 4 O'clock newscast. But, I find it hard to believe that it could be any worse than the "news" half-hour infomercial that they used to do for that scruffy looking financial advisor, who obviously purchased the entire block of time, and sold portions to colleagues in the field.
ReplyDeleteThere are way too many newscasts across the board. Most of it is nonsense. If it's "news" I've probably already read about it on the internet. And besides, more often then not they tell you to go to their website for the "full story" or for "much more". Why should I make an appt to watch your newscasts anyway? Tell me the full story while you have my attention.
ReplyDeleteI watch ABC 7's 4 P.M. newscast and I like it. But i'm and info junkie so.....
ReplyDeleteCh 7's newscast is nothing like you are talking about Rich. No cooking, no infommercials.. just news
ReplyDeleteLove the comment about Mr. Scruffy; I too have already forgotten his name!
ReplyDeleteA four o'clock show can work pretty well, so long as the station (or its parent network) doesn't demand big numbers, which of course it will not get. But if it's aimed right, that is, if it makes no bones about programming to stay-at-home moms, middle and older-age-group women, and offers something different than what will be seen at 5 and 6, and does not take the easy way out by offering weather every two minutes, then why not try to offer an alternative to syndicated blather?
ReplyDeleteCaveat: I am on the Monterey Bay, so I cannot really see what KGO's 4 pm broadcast looks like.
Where's Oprah when we need her? Oh, that's right, she's gone before she unretires from that disasterous OWN thing of hers and, what's that? Shows like Oprah do what? They cost MONEY? Say it ain't so! They don't like spending money in tee-wee land either? Who'd a thunk?
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