some info from the Charlotte Observer in regards to WCCB
Q: Will Fox Charlotte drop its newscasts?
This is the one certainty: No. WCCB has a sizable investment in its news operation and its high-definition studios at One Television Place beside Bojangles’ Coliseum. It programs four hours of news in the morning and an hour at night. It is a profit center.
Losing the newscasts would also be a loss to the city. Though it has the smallest TV news department in town, it provides a voice other stations don’t match. It has never been big on illustrating the police scanner with video. Instead, it has police Chief Rodney Monroe come in to address viewer questions.
Its thoughtful “Defend Charlotte” series on the region’s growth challenges and more recent “Reboot Charlotte,” focusing on the post-recession climate, have dug into issues that other stations ignore in favor of the latest wreck or robbery. “Fox News Rising” and the late night “Fox News Edge” are largely popcorn shows aimed at the young adult audience, but they too serve a niche.
Q: How long will it continue calling itself “Fox Charlotte?”
Probably at least a month. WCCB quit using its call letters a decade ago and branded its local news and sports programs with the Fox name. When it figures out what it is going to become and what it wants to be called, you can expect a big campaign.
WCCB also has the most clever promotions department in town, known for its out-of-left-field approach, such as dressing anchor Morgan Fogarty like June Cleaver of “Leave It to Beaver” in old-style black-and-white ads. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see it count down the final weeks of the network affiliation as “Un-Fox Charlotte” or something equally as coy.
Q: Which station will pick up the Fox programs?
Likely WJZY (Channel 46). Fox networks already own the rerun program service carried on WMYT (Channel 55) and would probably leave it there.
Q: Will WCCB pick up the CW network carried now on WJZY?
Likely, but there could be other scenarios. Also, the CW contract with WJZY has more than two years left to run, and the network could require it to be carried there if it wanted to. But the CW’s best hope would be to land at WCCB, whose viewers would remain somewhat loyal to the station, particularly if it continues its newscasts.
WCCB would probably leap to the top 10 in strength of local CW affiliates nationally, though the network’s programs draw only a fraction of the ratings that Fox shows get.
Q: Will WJZY launch its own news department?
Almost certainly. Fox likes its affiliates to have strong local news, and as an owned-and-operated station, it would invest heavily. WBTV (Channel 3) now provides nightly 10 p.m. newscasts to WJZY and that contract runs through the summer, giving Fox time to build a team.
Adding a newsroom at WJZY’s studios in south Mecklenburg would be a snug fit. Fox can be expected to consider moving its operations to University City, where it owns Speed channel and has room to grow.
Read more here:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...ws-team.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy
