I hate to harp on this Live Desk concept at Fox 13, but it is unwatchable. I tuned in on linear (KJZO) at 1:30 and watched until 2:10 Friday (I will never get that time back, alas) in hopes of seeing something good and useful. Instead I see 4 or 5 segments of news show title graphics edited together for a full 1:20, apparently because of continuing problems with going from streaming to live TV. The half-hour started with a 5-7 interview joined in progress with two people talking about dead and damaged trees, so viewers are going in cold. That was followed a couple of packages thrown in as filler with no interview or reporter supers, and only reporter sig out. Then the last interview of the half-hour was badly upcut at the end. I decided to stay with the program when Matthew Smith took over at 2, but it was full of repetitive copy with looped video, strained ad-libbing, and Smith repeatedly using the word AGAIN, to recap facts for the second or third time. (he probably said it 6 times in 10 minutes).
I don't know if anyone in charge at the station is watching the linear jumblefest, but you are killing your station's credibility, despite it being on the duopoly channel at midday. Is anyone minding the store in the corner office? I truly feel bad for the control room team and Smith.
Oh, and has Washington Sports Wrap changed its name to Seattle Sports Live? That's what the repeated graphic interstitial said. And the graphic for The Spotlight show had no spotlights but an awful pic of David Rose, looking like his shorts were too tight.
I'll try again, maybe, if they can clean up the linear version. One extra note, on Saturday afternoon I checked the weekend stream and it was rerunning material from Friday. And they call this the LIVE DESK???????
It is truly a train wreck.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect phrase. The GM and ND need a huddle - and fast. In fact, if I were ND there, I don't think I would leave my office.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how often GM's and ND's will meet, but with current GM Amber Eikel overseeing the FOX station in Los Angeles on top of her duties here in FOX Seattle, ND Jake Wiederrich is pretty much in a knot since 13 just let go his #2, Kelly Hatmaker. I don't know if this Bloomberg-like setup was something that network management decided on for their O&O's or it was a local agreement, but it really hurts the station's creditability and operation. It is such an eyesore going from one box to another. With all the newscasts going on, whether pre-taped or live, on the linear or the cable, this is a crack that is going to get bigger and wider and unless something is done rather quickly, it is all going to collapse. I remember the off-colored remark news management here often said "don't call me unless the Needle has fallen". It is not going to look pretty when you have a breaking news situation all the while you have a streamed or pre-taped newscast in progress. My suggestion is that they invest in a drone for ariel coverage, so at least they don't have to pay lease for a helicopter and hiring a pilot as well. Then again, what do I know? It really is sad to be seeing local news being turned into something like this.
ReplyDeleteJake certainly has a lot on his plate right now. With Amber splitting time between Seattle and Los Angeles, he really needs an assistant news director to help him with the day to day running in the newsroom so he can put more time into addressing all of the changes Fox 13 has made in recent weeks and making the adjustments needed to get them on the right track.
DeleteAgreed. Strange layoff decision when you are triggeriing major changes.
DeleteThanks for doing a totally thankless job, take the weekend off….with pay!
ReplyDeleteRich
Your're very kind. Thank you. No pay here, just nuggets.
ReplyDelete