Can confirm that with the departure to KIRO by KOMO traffic reporter Tyrah Majors, the station has decided, at least for now, to forego daily anchored traffic reports in the morning, presumably leaving traffic issues to news anchors and computer generated images as needed. Plus, they can always call up WSDOT and SDOT cams. How much you wanna bet Live Desker Steve McCarron is picked?
How this will change when school resumes and the weather worsens remains to be seen, but it appears smartphone maps, alerts and whatever is available is jumping over on-camera traffic. They do have a KOMO Traffic Hub online.
Meanwhile, Fox has the dean of Seattle TV traffic Adam Gehrke, KING has Shante Sumpter, and KIRO has relative newcomer Paola Tristan Arruda. One thing a sharp reader mentioned was that traffic apps don't add context, but a dedicated anchor can. Good point, but could AI be chosen to fill that gap??? Could this be a trial run to see if it is at all missed by viewers? We shall see.
I still think having someone specifically on top of traffic has value, especially when major events/accidents/fires cause significant disruptions. Interestingly, KIRO can dispatch Tyrah to those as well as having the in-studio component. Double header.
BTW, I killed morning Metro Traffic Reports at NWCN in 2005-06. Just didn't work for regional cable with serving multiple markets. On the other hand, when I started the regional cable channel in the DC Metro in 91, we pioneered using traffic cams and completely changed the market's approach on TV.
As an aside, I see Jennifer Dowling doing a competent job covering weather at KIRO.
ReplyDeleteWho hasn't? Ottille, Raju, Brandon, Thompson and now her? Sheesh. Nice versatility, no credibility.
DeleteWhen did Dowling join KIRO? She is still listed on Fox 13's "Meet the Team" page.
DeleteMaybe he meant Fox weather??
DeleteHe probably did. I've seen Jen doing weather on Q13 and she handled it last weekend for them. I'm guessing with Torres no longer there to be the station's jack of all trades, Dowling has effectively replaced Nikki in that role
DeleteThat makes sense. I've also Jen do the weather for Fox 13 in the past.
DeleteTotal Traffic has pretty much eliminated on-air traffic reporters due to iHeart's ongoing budget slashing. They have all but two or three folks in the iHeart building here in Seattle with most being filed by their operations manager and their #2. Also, for those wondering, KOMO-TV was the first station in the area that introduced DOT cameras here and incorporated them into their traffic reports on TV. Elisa Jaffe is the one you should give credit since she used the then-new technology for a story back in 1989. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteAm I understanding this right? KOMO had a major role in WSDOT's introduction of traffic cameras?
DeleteBefore my time!
DeleteThank Felt
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if you ever actually watched Tyrah do traffic, but she offered no context, just read a map, and poorly.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't miss anything
ReplyDeleteTyrah is the most overrated on air person in the market. Look at me approach with zero substance. The opposite of Adam who is GREAT and is a must watch in the morning for those of us who do commute.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Her IG posts are loaded with that approach.
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected. It was FOX13 that I saw Jennifer covering the weather.
ReplyDelete