What would you change at channel 6?

Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 209

If I was to lay out the plan to pull them up, I'd want to be compensated for my advice. I'll will go so far as to say, I would imagine a prime time newscast is out of the question because of network programming plus, I view it as counter productive. Between 5pm and 10:35 pm KAUZ is currently running 3 local newscasts. Is another really needed?

I'll leave you with this thought though. If their numbers stay in the tank, they might do better to drop the 6pm news and offer re-runs of Wheel in that time slot.

Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 1047 Location: Wichita Co. TX

stinky99 wrote:

cookietwo wrote:

The one option that you didn't give is the one that I will suggest. If Ch 6 know that folks are not watching their presentations, don't know the names of the presenters, with this going on for 20 years, shut it down.

Shutting down KAUZ would leave TWO large cities, plus many outlying communities without a CBS (major network) affilate.

You can shut down the local news operations and remain the local CBS affiliate (I think).

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Leeds WY

stinky99 wrote:

Cookie, I don't know much about how you Brits handle issues with the telly, but in America the FCC governs all broadcast entities. I haven't really kept up with rule changes, but I'm pretty sure that all changes in ownership and major changes to operations (such as shutting it down) require approval by the FCC. Shutting down KAUZ would leave TWO large cities, plus many outlying communities without a CBS (major network) affilate. They likely would approve a management change, ownership change, merger or something of the sort. Shut it down, not likely.

Thanks for that, it's always useful for me to discover information such as this.

What would happen then if the station ran out of cash and could no longer pay it's bills. Would that warrant a change of ownership, or if there were no takers, would those major cities be without a CBS network ? Do CBS not broadcast on Satellite, and if so, would this be one way that folks could get their feeds ?

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2449

JFK- I misread Cookies reply. I assumed he meant shut down the station.
I think they can remain CBS and have no local news, however, I am not reccommending that. I would NOT want to start the hate monger thread from the remaining staff!

Cookie, I don't know the answer to the cash issue. It's been years since I kept up with FCC rule changes. In the old days, every effort would be made to keep it on the air.

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Leeds WY

stinky99 wrote:

JFK- I misread Cookies reply. I assumed he meant shut down the station.

LOL. You did'nt misread, I really did mean shut it down, lock stock and ....

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

I think one of the main reasons Channel 3 has been so successful is the community involvement. They seem to always be involved with something....Sr. Focus, Kids Fest etc.

When the faces of the news mingle with the locals it creates a "loyality" to those people. I know even when Rick posted on here I was more apt to watch the morning broadcasts etc. just because of him.

Now keep in mind.....it has to be involvement in a POSITIVE light. I know when the KAUZ folks joined here and made fools of themselves I quit watching and I am not sure I have watched since.

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2449

Different generation. I originally signed on here as Stinky, because I didn't want my OPINION to reflect badly on my employer. That is not an attitude shared my a younger generation.

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Leeds WY

My daily intake of news (Local, National and International) comes from trusted sites on the internet when I am at home and to a certain degree elsewhere. When I do watch the TV news, I prefer watching a channel where the presenters have (and I hate this word) good "chemistry" with humour and a little bit of stupidity built into their dialogue. One such show is Fox 11, which is a national, local and international station. Their early morning show (0600 - 0900) with three presenters is called "good day LA". The middle aged anchor, the well dressed and attractive co-anchor and the "do everything else" bimbo makes for good viewing. It has to be that way I suppose to get me to watch. And when watching from afar http://media.myfoxla.com/live/ I love being able to see what they get up to during sponsor breaks, which is something you do not get to see when watching on a TV set.

And like Stinky, I too critisise my employer in the press and elsewhere, hence I guard my real name.

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2449

There used to be a staion out of Abilene or Lubbock, not sure which, but when they pulled out for the wideshot there was an old Bloodhound. Sometime he was sleeping, scratching, looking around, etc.

Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 1

There's no need to change on air talent. That is not the problem. The problem has been content or the lack there of local content. But I also believe that they've been very under staffed for a while, thus limiting the amount of local news they can cover.
I really like the way their meteorologist present the weather far better than what you get on the other stations. They seem to localize it a bit more and give more information that I can use. Also, keeping me informed on bad weather events.
It's good to see a new sports guy, so Chris Horgan can put all his focus on news.
Let's see what new ownership does. I believe they can help turn things around!

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2449

I watched the 6 o'clock yesterday. The girl did a great job. Sports guy...okay. He will get better with experience.

Joined: 01 May 2009 Posts: 2

Okay, I'm usually just a lurker of these boards but this topic really strikes me as interesting.

Let me preface my comments with this...
I'm a former employee of KAUZ, I survived the transfer of management, but nevertheless decided that my time was better served else where.

Most of the employees of the station during my time there were devoted hard working individuals that(like myself) just lacked experience and training.
Some where hard working employees that just needed better guidance in there specific sphere of influence.
Those issues coupled with lack of proper management(IMO) only added to things not going right.

If I were the boss:

I would NOT(emphasis on the NOT part) start changing faces and logos...
People don't care about all that in local news anyways(people still watch ch7 even tho there graphics look like they're out of the 70's)

People watch local news for what? LOCAL NEWS!!!
If people want national/world news they will go to CNN, FOX, the internet etc...
I'd put bodies on the street, have them look for relevant stories and report those stories. If I didn't have alot of bodies would push my reporters to cover more that just one story a day. Not full 30 min stories but a pkg and a couple of different vo-sots.
Making sure we get to every event, every meeting, every game.
People would see the involvement and naturally come to watch.
Yes, reporters are going to misquote, photogs will forget to white balance, editors will make jump cuts...But through all these mistakes I(me being the Boss) would be guiding and correcting these issues and directing my staff to strive for better.

Overtime and it would take time, things would turn around.
Maybe current management is trying these very things and I hope that things have turned a new corner.
There is no ONE right answer here, just my honest opinions gathered from personal experience.