WNBC overhauling local news operation
Michael Gay May 7th, 2008
NBC Local Media is starting a 24-hour local news channel in New York, and rebranding WNBC as a “content center,” according to the NY Times.
NBC’s plan calls for rebuilding Channel 4’s newsroom and melding its content closely with the coming news channel, the existing local Web site, and out-of-home video displayed in locations like gas pumps and back seats of taxicabs. NBC will even take WNBC’s name off its local news Web site, simply calling it NBC New York.
The report says John Wallace, president of local media, says there will be no layoffs because of the new strategy, but that’s doesn’t mean there won’t be major changes for employees:
Among other things, Mr. Wallace planned to tell the employees that the moves NBC was initiating would not entail layoffs but would mean many producers and other staff members would have to undergo extensive retraining, and would likely be working different shifts.
“We look at our content and we believe it’s relevant content,” Mr. Wallace told the Times. “It’s just not convenient because of the way people’s lives have changed with technology.”
Wallace told TVWeek ‘that In order to remain successful, local stations must put the appropriate weight on the additional platforms beyond their core television station. Consumers are demanding relevant content, round-the-clock, on the platform of their choice.’
5 Comments Add your own
1. Aaron | May 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am
The money quote is buried 9 grafs in:
Local TV stations will never be competitive on non-TV platforms until they adopt this mentality.
Cover the news. Generate content. Put the some of that content in the TV product, and all of it online. As long as you’re only generating content to fill 30-minute newscasts, you’ll never succeed online.
2. thirtyrockin | May 7th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
i will be very interested to see how this develops. besides the obvious NABET issues if they have producers doing tech jobs and what opposition that raises from that leadership. i wonder if this will be a news twelve type format where they only are live for part of the day and rerun the newscasts otherwise?
3. RG | May 7th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
It’s a lot about pushing content to their digital channel 4.4 … their lousy [as of now] website … and repurposing a lot of people. NABET gave away jurisdiction on non-linear editing 20 years ago … and AFTRAns or anyone else can shoot video with small handheld cameras [sans tripod] … Sure the union guys will do the heavy lifting as far as live shots go …
4. Z | May 8th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Unless they decide to do Skype/Mobilius live shots instead.
5. aidian | May 9th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Did I read that right — “NABET gave away jurisdiction on non-linear editing”?!?
Wow. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard about in a long time. Not quite Xerox giving up the mac operating system, but same idea
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