CBSN LOCAL - CBS to accelerate local channels nationwide

The new mic flag design is CBS EYE / CBSN (insert city), with the last two sides being station IDs. In New York and LA, it'll have the CBS 2s on one side and the sister station logos (KCAL/WLNY) on the other side

I found a picture. It was from that brief, late 2010/early 2011 era when they swapped Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez for Chris Wragge and Erica Hill. Around the same time, they also swapped the main desk and update desk with much uglier ones.

It looks as though CBSN painted it, put different lettering in the front, and put a bigger glass top on it.

Damn I knew cbs was cheap but not that cheap.

LOL. Im sure all the network news divisions have storage spaces with loads of unused set pieces. CBS just happens to repaint and reuse theirs. Cheapskates. Well it is cheap route to go, but their thriftiness resulted in a profitable operations. Too bad CNN Headline News couldnt figure this out. (Yet Zucker still has a job)

I know there’s space for it, probably hidden away somewhere in the Broadcast Center basement. But it’s a sharp contrast to NBC and them playing desk roulette (maybe NBC’s scenic shop does them but CBS has one as well in NYC) and even ABC to an extent.

CBSN sharing the feed from CBSN NY makes for some really strong coverage of the blackout as compared to CNN and others. WCBS anchor Jessica Moore is doing a great job as an anchor explaining things while keeping things together between the different live shots.

Well it looks like CBS isnt wasting anytime launching their CBSN LOCAL channels at their O&O stations nationwide. It looks like bottom-feeder affiliate WBBM will be one of the next after Boston and San Francisco channels to launch in 2020 alongside KYW and the Dallas afilliate. Boston is a really crowded news market with NECN and WHDH doing loads of newshours a day now WBZ joins the crowd, that doesnt include WCVB and NBC Boston. Broadcast and Cable has the latest:


https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/all-cbsn-local-launches-to-happen-by-early-2020?utm_source=mixdex.com&utm_campaign=MixDexLink&utm_medium=referral&ref=MixDex

It's really a shame that they don't carry CBSN local on their OTA subchannels, it really does seem like a missed opportunity, especially since most subchannels are absolute garbage.

Ehhh. Streaming is so big right now and CBS has really planted their flag in that arena. So it get the strategy. Somehow they are able to make the advertising model to work for the channels to make a profit so clearly they are on to something.

Interesting that NBC are still pretty much dipping their toes into OTT news streaming while CBS are making a definite play to own this sector, not only nationally (CBSN, CBS Sports News, ET Live), but with a local service for each of the cities where they have an O&O station.

Meanwhile NBC's 'NBC News Now' is a pretty crappy offering, probably worse than the 'NBC News Signal', which was the orignial NBC experiment in this area.

I guess it is purely a financial call - they'll get paid for the garbage channel they do put out and by going OTA these channels suddenly have a broadcast cost again them which possibly sends them into the red. In addition they'll be an expectation I imagine to then replicate them on cable.


How are these being distributed though - is it through CBS All Access which presumably has an app for smart TVs and most cable operators so they can be viewed on screen.

TBH this is the model the BBC should be using for BBC Parliament - they nearly got there with Democracy Live but it was axed before it took off. And on a local level I've always felt ITV Local was ahead of it's time and although maybe not as a continuous looped streaming channel I do think there would be some mileage in reviving it as a TV app with on demand news and features, and perhaps the ability for extra live content when it is required.

These CBS channels are nothing to do with CBS ALL ACCESS, they are part of the separate CBS NEWS App. OTT streaming viewing has nothing to do with Cable Operators. So if you have a streaming device such as Amazon Fire, Roku, Apple Tv which allows these channels and operators to completely sidestep Cable Operators and their unending greed. Though they do, for now, get people to play for internet. But with 5G coming that monoply will end. So currently people are sidestepping the traditional cable operators and choosing streaming "cable" operators, Playstion VUE, Youtube TV, Philo, AT&TTV, SlingTV, Fubotv. I would imagine they are similar to NowTv (I know now offers Tv and Internet service in the UK), but doesnt use a proprietary box. Also these services have no contract, so you can cancel at anytime.

One of the biggest developments in the recent year is the adbased free content channels and services like PLUTOTV and XUMO. Viacom just bought one of the biggest ad-based free content providers. PLUTO TV launched in 2014 now has over 100 hundreds of channels and have signed deals with various content providers such as the BBC. There is a rolling DR WHO channel, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. ITV licensed a free rolling MIDSOMER MURDERS channel. There is a BRITISH CHANNEL. Featuring various UK series. There are multiple news channels. SkyNews and CBSN being the only 2 real channels. CNN and NBC both provided "best of content" channels and WEATHERNATION is featured. SInce the service is now owned by VIACOM they have gone all in. THere are specific channels based on 1000s of hours of content that sat on VIACOM shelves. MTV's THE HILLS channel. And MTV's THE CHALLENGE and actual music channels. Which have died for the most part in the US TV. So They have YO MTV Raps channel, They launched a special VMA Perfomances Channel for awards show in the next few weeks. All free and ad based. Apparently PLUTOTV takes a cut as so does the content provided , such as the BBC. So everyone is happy and content makes money rather than sitting on the shelf. They claim its 8 mins of ads per hour.

Check it out if its not geoblocked -https://pluto.tv/live-tv/channel-lineup

So streaming is the place to be. Or at least there is money to be made.