June 2nd, 2009 
joel If there was a “go/no go” pre-launch check for WICU/WSEE merger on Monday ala the Apollo 13 movie, it could have gone like this:
- “audio” – “no go”
- “video” – “no go”
- “graphics” – “no go”
- “master control” – “no go”
- “medical” – “no go”
I thought I was going to need oxygen just watching WSEE’s debut at 6:00 from 35th and State last night. Not just in a perfect world, but in the normal world when you do major change like this, you plan each element carefully, do several dry runs, and work out the kinks before launch. Nothing at 35th & State was normal yesterday.
It was apparent that not nearly enough planning had gone into actually producing the news products that both stations are responsible for before launch yesterday. The primary goal seems to have been to get “something” on for six and eleven, and they did. However, despite the chaos, everyone was coping with the situation, and things will get better over the coming days.
Now it’s time to work out the final schedule, figure out who will be updating the websites (as of 6 AM Tuesday, WSEE’s hasn’t been touched since Friday), and remember which logo goes on the flat screen in front of the news desk for each cast. Management of microphone flags also needs to be thrown in the mix.
Finally, if you were wondering how the stations would navigate doing two morning shows, here’s how it went at least for today: WSEE began taping at around 4:20 AM. I’m assuming that WICU dropped their first half-hour today, and went live from 5:30 to 7:00. The new Mornings Live has Stephanie Schelkun at the smaller dark desk with the newly bearded Ray Petelin. They will look better once they work on their chemistry and Ray gets a chance to express more of his humor.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Loading ...
It was, in essence ,a train wreck plain and simple. Asside from all of the deceipt and lies to employees, this could have been a great chance for the launching of something innovative and different, an alternative for TV news viewing. But Nnnnnnoooooooo! WJET could now put a test pattern up for the half hour newsblock and still beat the other two affiliates.
(Heaven forbid that I give the front office at Nexstar any ideas for future programing)
I thought it was funny when I was watching WSEE this weekend and there was a commercial for Morning’s Live featuring Raychel and Ray. They may want to pull that promo.
Used to Tivo the 12:00PM news on WSEE to watch on my lunch at 12:30PM through my Slingbox. On Friday I turned off some Chef program. Then I read about this ‘merger’ and ‘changes’ so I changed also, to record Action News 24 on WJET at 12:00PM. Goodbye WICU and WSEE!
When I watch Newswatch, I dont want to see 12News with different anchors. And thats all it was. I feel sorry for the WSEE folks. They are mere puppets now. Its obvious watching they are just the red headed step child of the family.
There’s a lot of changes that need to be made at WSEE. Here’s my comments:
The “supers” for WSEE’s newscasts are way oversized while the text on them is too small. The text on the lottery number graphic is also too small.
The newscast music is not loud enough.
Someone needs to move (physically, as in location) and/or adjust the cameras in order to get better shots.
One news story used WICU graphics while another story showed a WICU microphone flag even though both were airing on WSEE.
Also, notice how the reporters now use a generic “signal out.” It’s now “John Rupolo, reporting” instead of “John Last, WICU 12 News” or “Stephanie Schelkun, WSEE Newswatch, Watching Out For You”.
What happened to the three weather Live Eye camera feeds? That definitely made the station stand out from the rest of the crowd.
I could go on and on with critical analysis of the new WSEE newscasts. Let’s start here and hope someone will resolve these issues soon. But, there’s plenty more that still needs done…
New slogan for WSEE NEWSWATCH: “IS IT LIVE? OR IS IT MEMOREX?” I just couldn’t resist
The chemistry between Stephanie and Ray will change sure. But good luck finding a team that can work together the way Ray and Rachel did. No more fun in the AM. It takes two to tango.
I don’t know her personally, but Stephanie Schelkun seems that she has a tremendous amount of potential. Ray is a natural talent.
It’s like radio, where a morning show loses a personality and brings in someone knew. Eventually, the on-air chemistry becomes more natural.
Uh, that would be *new.
Wow, sorry I missed it. I’ve been involved in my share of newscast start-ups and re-dos over the years. The successful ones have been thoroughly planned out and rehearsed for MONTHS. The others have been train wrecks. I hate to sound trite, but in my opinion, it’s truly that simple. This sounds like a rush job in which management had no foresight. Just get something on-the-air. Typical of today’s over consulted thinking…that being, our viewer isn’t intelligent enough to know good from bad…as long as somthing is on-the-air, they’ll watch it. Hey wait, maybe they’re right, they’ll watch Action News. Lou and Bob and everybody else, congrats ! The way just got easier.
Maybe Lilly should sell now, while his stations are still worth something.
Tim, live or memorex, CLASSIC.
It’s kinda obvious to me that Lilly is trying the patience of the 35 folks. A technical glitch every 2 minutes, forcing 35′s folks to work ungodly hours, taping newscasts. Yet, 12 is looking better all the time. Well, wasn’t that the point?
As I watch the NOON cast, what comes on…”You’re watching Newswatch at 6.” Bremner’s response… “no, you’re not.”
Wow, maybe it’s Brian Lilly back in master control.
Beginning to wonder if the plan isn’t to drive people crazy, prompting them to leave — possibly even walk away from their contracts — and saving the owners $$$.
Would a new control room solve the problem at WICU/WSEE?
That could well be the case. I’m sure those that BL kept probably have personal service contracts that he didn’t want to buy out. So instead, he’ll piss them off with a lousy show, they’ll get fed up and walk…and he saves big $$$. However, what remains to be seen is how many viewers will he lose on both 12 & 35?
You nailed it, Greg! That is the plan: to make people so miserable and so fed up that they quit! Easiest way for Brian Lilly to save $$$
I realize the times are changing – but this is no way to treat people. Is this what has happened to society? So obsessed with the almighty dollar that people have to treat one another like s**t!?
I for one am deeply offended that Brian Lilly thinks all of us in NW Pennsylvania are so stupid that he can pull the wool over our eyes by airing VIDEOTAPED newscasts with Radar images that are several hours old!
What would happen if this were still winter? See where I am going with this? 2 Words for you: LAKE EFFECT!
JET should seize on the whole “Is it live or is it Memorex?” controversy and start airing some promos. In severe weather … when your safety’s on the line … do you want hours-old information? Something along those lines …
Greg, that is a GREAT idea for a promo!
The merger of WSEE AND WICU news is not going to work. I dont think airing Jeopardy on WICU at 5:30 pm is a good idea either. I would air inside edition or a comedy rather than a game show.
WSEE news does not look good at all.
It would seem that mergers work better in radio than they do in the television world. Automation and voice tracking works to dupe radio listeners. What do they do with television? Use cardboard cutouts, possibly?