Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

Update: In case you missed the interview live at 7, you can watch it below. ----- NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams will join us live on Channel 3 News at 7 PM following his national broadcast from Green Memorial High School in Summit County where he is following John McCain and Sarah Palin. During Nightly News, Brian will share an interview he did with both earlier today. Be sure to join us at 7 PM for Brian's thoughts on the election, now less than 2 weeks away - and how important Ohio is once again. Brian Williams on Channel 3 News at 7 PM Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director, joined us live in the studio

Don't worry! Brian Williams remains in the anchor chair at Rockefeller Center, but tonight a new voice emerged from behind the scenes. Michael Douglas has been named the new announcer to introduce the evening news program from 30 Rock. The Academy Award winning actor has been on the big screen himself for nearly forty years. Now, he takes on a new role with NBC News. Howard Reig, long-time NBC staff announcer, retired in 2005. However, he his voice had continued to be heard through the magic of recording technology since. Whenever the show was on the road or a new substitute anchor was employed, Reig recorded a new introduction in a Miami studio where he currently lives. But those weeknight introductions for Brian Williams were officially retired on Friday, December 14, 2007. Michael Douglas starts a new tradition for NBC Nightly News. And now you know because you read the "Director's Cut Blog" - quickly becoming the "must read" blog for fans of NBC and WKYC...

For the sweep, "Nightly News" averaged 9.211 million total viewers, a 1% advantage (+98,000) over ABC "World News with Charles Gibson's" 9.113 million, and a tremendous 37% lead (+2,475,000) over CBS "Evening News with Katie Couric's" 6.736 million. NBC has now placed first for 32 of the last 35 sweep periods, and the last six consecutive November sweeps. Among the key demographic adults 25-54, "Nightly News" also outperformed the competition during the November 2007 sweep. The Williams-led newscast had a 2.3 rating, 5% more than ABC's 2.2 rating, and a 35% lead over CBS' 1.7 rating. "Nightly News" has now placed first in adults 25-54 for 40 of the last 43 sweeps (eight ties), and the last 11 consecutive November sweeps. Among even younger viewers, adults 18-49, NBC placed first with a 1.7 rating, ABC followed with a 1.6 and CBS had a 1.2 rating. This represents the 41st out of the past 13 sweeps (six ties) in which ...

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams broadcasted live from the Flats in downtown on Cleveland Monday, November 12th. Unfortunately it was pouring rain and lightning when the show started at 6:30 PM. Before that, he visited the Channel 3 studios to talk with us and others in the community about the state of Cleveland and the country. Timeline of Brian's Visit: Around Noon: Brian arrived at WKYC to meet with staff, take pictures, tour the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center 2:30 PM: Began working on final preps for NBC Nightly News.. his staff and him meet for over an hour to go over the show in our News Directors office. 3:30 PM: Heads to main news studio to begin taping promos with Tim White and Romona Robinson. 4:30 PM: Brian leaves WKYC and heads to his remote location near the Superior Viaduct. 5:45 PM: Brian does a talkback with Tim & Romona from his broadcast location for the 6 PM show 6:30 PM: Nightly News airs with a stormy background. A thunderstorm passes over just as the sh...

Just a reminder "NBC News with Brian Williams" will debut its brand new studios Monday Night at 6:30 on WKYC . Pictured left is the old studio which last saw service this spring. Since then, "Nightly" has been using temporary studios in preparation for Monday's big debut. Also, MSNBC which is moving into "30 Rock" will debut their new studios Monday Morning ending their presence in Secaucus , New Jersey where they have been since launching the network with Microsoft. NBC also announced recently they are selling their legendary studios in Burbank, CA - longtime home to "The Tonight Show" after Leno signs off in 2009. They will be building new studios nearby where Conan O'Brien will debut as "Tonight Show" host at that time.