RE: WVNY TV (22) News gone...

["Bill O'Neill" <billo@shoreham.net>]

Garrett writes:

> Not that it makes any difference: WCAX is to that market what WSB is
> to Atlanta.  WVNY has always been the weak sister (going back to the
> days when it was WEZF-TV) and has gone through several periods without
> significant news presence, not to mention outright darkness during the
> 1970s.  I think it had just come back on the air in 1978 when we moved
> to Burlington.  (Not that it mattered to us, since their OTA signal on
> Austin Drive was unwatchable.)

We were able to catch the Ch. 22 signal pretty well with a Terk 50 antenna aside
the house. We now get locals via Dish Network.

No question that we consider Ch 22 news as third tier, yet worth a watch.  They
did run weather early, (Ch 5 second, Ch 3 third).  That was a plus.  Anchors
balanced their lack of experience by minimizing happy talk.  IMO, Ch. 3 is the
better overall operation, while WPTZ Ch 5 is rising and its meteorology team is
the best of the three (Tom Messner, etc.)  Ch 3 is the only of the three that
dedicates a full hour at six.  Ch. 5 has a new half hour at 5, and the half at
6.  All have 11 p.m. and weekend coverage.

When visiting the folks in the TownaDracut, I watch the local tv news with the
volume lowered and with an askance look.  The intensity is consistently high,
bumpers, stagers, big-boy liners all-around, with more "coming up" than ever
comin' atcha.  Amazingly slick, professional, packaged, but no longer as easy a
viewing as I recall in the past.  Not sure if Boston TV new is actually
different than it was in 2000 or if my Burlington/Plattsburgh viewing has become
more ingrained.

Bill O'Neill
Shoreham, Vt.