Thursday, November 13, 2008

Thursday's Bits and Pieces - 11/13/08

Here's our daily update of what's happening at the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center.

Tonight's WKYC Evening Programming Schedule:
6:00 PM: Channel 3 News at 6 PM
6:30 PM: NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams
7:00 PM: Channel 3 News at 7 PM
8:00 PM: My Name Is Earl
8:30 PM: Kath & Kim
9:00 PM: The Office
9:30 PM: 30 Rock
10:00 PM: ER
11:00 PM: Channel 3 News at 11 PM
11:35 PM: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

WKYC and HH Gregg Team This Weekend

Are you counting down the days to the DTV transition? Is your TV set ready for the big change. WKYC is teaming up with our friends at HH Gregg this Saturday and Sunday at all locations across Northeast Ohio. We'll have hands on demonstrations about how to get your old TV set hooked up and tuned in for All Digital Television coming this February. Of course, it wouldn't be a bad idea to buy a new HD TV in the process and enjoy the best television has to offer, picture quality wise.

A Bad Economy Could Be Good For Local Viewership

With a worsening economy, one benefit for local television stations, including WKYC - in fact, the only benefit we see at the moment - could be an increase in viewership. People are tightening their budgets on things like eating out, movie theaters, other entertainment and activities that take them away from their homes and TV sets. However, the wild card in this is all remains how many choices are available to viewers, with more being unveiled regularly from satellite, the internet and such.

More Women Coming to NBC and WKYC on Saturday Nights

The popularity of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live has caused the show to add more women to its cast of characters. First is Abby Elliott who is the daughter of comedian Chris Elliott and a former member of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Also added to the show is Michaela Watkins who has done several guest spots on comedy shows in addition to performing with the Groundlings. (Courtesy Variety)

NBC Renews "Days Our Lives"

NBC made a commitment with Sony Pictures Television to keep 43-year old daytime soap "Days of Our Lives" on the air for another 18 months, reports Variety. NBC's production agreement for "Days" was due to expire next March and with this new extension the soap will air through September 2010 with another year tacked on if certain parameters on the show are met taking it to September 2011. The previous production contract between Sony and Corday Productions was for five years and the new shorter time frame points to NBC's possible reluctance to keep funding the daytime drama which reportedly costs $1.7-$1.8 million per week. The new contract also includes possible casting changes. (Courtesy: Cynposis & Variety)

NBC Cancels "Enemy" and "Lipstick Jungle"

NBC has had enough of "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Lipstick Jungle" after dismal fall performances by both shows. The Christian Slater show sank to a 1.8 national rating among the coveted 18 to 49 year olds according to Nielsen. Brooke Shields couldn't help her show much either with a 1.2 rating this week...translating into only 3.3 million viewers - although Lipstick did better this week than last.