Re: WMTW TV 8 anchor leaving

["Dan Billings" <billings@suscom-maine.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "SteveOrdinetz" <steveord@bit-net.com>
To: <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: WMTW TV 8 anchor leaving

> Stupid question dept:
> Channel 8 (and WMTW radio) seem to be the recipient of much bashing on
this
> list.  It's been years since I've seen channel 8 and have never heard WMTW
> radio...what is so horrible about them?

Beating up on WMTW is kind of like knocking the Cubs or the Red Sox.  The
station has always been a distant third so they are easy to pick on.

I think the main problem with the station over the years is that they have
traditionally not wanted to spend money so they were usually about 5 years
behind the other stations in the market.  Their production used to be much
worse than the other stations and their reporters were often people who
would have never got hired by WGME or WCSH.

More recently they have upgraded their production and their on-air people
are mostly better.  They are really not as bad as they used to be.

They still do seem to have the problem of trying something new every 12 to
18 months.  They are always trying new sets, new formats, or new graphics
instead of working on a consistent product.  Losing Dougherty fits with that
pattern.  Moving their noon news team to 6 after doing heavy promotion for
them in the mornings and at noon fits that pattern.

> As far as tv newscasts in general go...what makes one more successful or
> "better" than another?  I rarely watch tv, but can't say that when I do I
> see a dime's worth of difference between newscasts within a given market
> (obviously there will be a difference between a major market like Boston
> and a smaller one).

There used to be a big difference between WMTW and the other stations here.
WMTW was more like the Bangor stations or even smaller markets.  There is
not as much of a difference today.

I think Garrett's answer is correct.  The success of the networks also plays
a role.  In Portland, WGME (then WGAN) was the top rated station through the
1970's and into the 1980's.  WCSH made some changes to be a stronger
competitor but their rise to the top of the local new ratings also happened
at the same time that NBC became a strong network.

WMTW has not been able to grow even during the times when Jennings was
getting strong ratings nationally.

-- Dan Billings, Bowdoinham, Maine