Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Monday, April 10, 2006

Will Couric as Anchor Revive News at Night?

The truth is, no one can revive broadcast news because the networks are stupidly fighting several trends in American society. When you broadcast at 6:30pm the only people around are senior citizens, just home from the early bird special. It doesn't take a multi-million dollar news division to uncover these simple truths:

1) There IS a younger audience that the networks could target - working professionals. But these folks don't usually get off work until 6 or 7pm. How many lawyers are going to leave work at 5:30 to catch the evening news?

2) Even if people technically get off in time to watch Couric, traffic is worse than ever at a time when people live further away from home. The long commute puts the broadcast out of reach for too many people.

3) In the 1970s and early 80s, few people worked out. Today, millions of working professionals are hitting the gym. The busiest time at gyms across the country are at 6:30-7:30 pm. Thus, people are doing curls, rather than curling up on the couch to watch TV news.

The solution to revitalizing network news, which is still a superior product, is airing the broadcasts at 7:30- 8:00PM - which is the new 6:30 for young people who work hard and have active lifestyles. For the life of me, I can't understand why this is news to television executives.

7 Comments:

Amen. You'd think it would be common sense by now.

The NBC affiliate in my area now airs the local news at 7pm. The usual 5-6:59 spot now continues with talk shows and Judge Judy.

Times are changing, and the traditional TV schedule will have to as well.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/10/2006 1:04 PM

The networks also need to put out a product that people want to watch, and be genuinely truthful and balanced on their 'casts, without relying on things such as forged documents a la CBS during 2004.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/10/2006 1:19 PM

Yes those forged documents were an intentional plant to discredit a 'liberal' newscaster. A good start would be to get rid of faux (fox) news.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/10/2006 2:45 PM

I don't want to pass judgment until they find an actual journalist to fill the spot. Maybe they think the evening news needs for "perky" and tips for staying slim for summer. Couric is less a legitmate news anchor and more a valium supplement for pablum-addicted housewives.

--Johnny in Minneapolis
posted by Anonymous, at 4/11/2006 12:51 PM

Johnny in Minneapolis, you must have thought your post was good enough to post twice or was that really a mistake?

ANYWAY, You just past judgement when you made your remark/s.

Ms. Couric is a good reporter and hopefully she will bring more integrity and honesty to the show.
She's beyond "perky" fella, she's a viable news caster and I welcome her. Surely the ratings will go up and more people will be able to get a good coverage of the news. ALSO I would like to see her devaste FOX!
posted by Anonymous, at 4/12/2006 12:54 AM

Yes, 6:30PM is "early," but note that many midwestern and west coast cities air the network news as early as 5:00PM, which works for "housewifes" who are making dinner and waiting for hubby to come home from work. Local stations make more money with local news than by showing the network news at 6:30PM. (This sexist comment was pre-approved by the Christian Republican Party.)
posted by Anonymous, at 4/12/2006 2:56 PM