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Fox, NBC Stations Form Local News Service

Nov 13, 2008  •  Post A Comment

Fox Television Stations and NBC Local Media are setting up a local news service to generate general video news coverage and thus reduce costs.
The service will start in January 2009 in Philadelphia, where Fox owns WTXF-TV and NBC owns WCAU-TV, stations that have been testing the concept since summer.
The service is scheduled to roll out later in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Dallas and Washington, D.C., each a market in which Fox owns and operates two stations and NBC owns and operates an English-language station.
The announcement was made Thursday by Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations Inc., and John Wallace, president of NBC Local Media.
Both entities will manage the service, whose footage will be available to other local media outlets.
Managed by the Fox Television Stations and NBC Local Media group, the news service’s footage will be available to interested local media outlets in each market, including TV and radio, newspapers and digital.
Both station groups’ parent companies already are partners in the video sharing Web site, Hulu.com.
“By allowing us to save on duplicate expenditures we can be even more competitive with NBC and other stations through signature pieces and investigative reporting,” Mr. Abernethy said in the announcement.
“By pooling resources to provide video coverage of general market events, we can ensure our stations are covering the news of the day, and at the same time, focus our efforts on the type of specialized reporting that defines our brands and differentiates our stations within their communities,” Mr. Wallace said.
(Editor: Baumann)

10 Comments

  1. At first glance, anyhow, this item makes no sense. Fox and NBC are putting together a new news service in large markets. Where they already have large news staffs. To compete against NBC?
    Please tell me what I’m missing. Admittedly, I’m not familiar with the term “NBC local”.

  2. No Chance,because is too big

  3. NBC Local Media is the same thing as the NBC Station Group. It refers to the 9 Owned and Operated NBC stations. NY, LA, CHI, Phily, Dallas, DC, San Fran, San Diego, and Hartford.
    Any yes, this thing will have to work. People can bitch and complain about this, but the bottom line is that if these stations don’t change now, then we will not have any local tv news in 5 years.

  4. The terms “duopoly” or “shared services agreement” seem carefully avoided in this article….
    Bottom line, instead of having two cameras from competing stations at an event, there’s just one. Both stations get the same footage, soundbites, etc…just make sure and use different shot sequences for each station’s vo.
    We’ve been doing it for years, for better or for worse.

  5. Sounds like a Winner to me. How do I sign up. Call me. Over 22yrs at ABC Station in Philadelphia ( WPVI ) Ready to GO. 215-407-0472. RonTvGuy@aol.com Email me

  6. I guess they are pushing out the freelancers. Time to look for a new business.

  7. Great to hear local coverage will be moving to these markets!

    • Definitely, this will be great for us!

  8. Wonderful news.

  9. Hello.This article was really fascinating, especially since I was investigating for thoughts on this subject last couple of days.

    http://google.co.mz/url?q=https://www.google.com/maps?ll=42.638298,-83.326198&z=16&t=m&hl=en&gl=US&mapclient=embed&cid=18076696521438692304

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