What I found to be most striking, is how Channel 4 blew the riots coverage. “Civil Unrest”???
I can see why WWJ 4 had so many problems in the 1970s. Luckily, Post Newsweek bought the station and brought the station back.
Some registered account users are experiencing password recognition issues. The issue appears to have been triggered by a PHP update last night. If this is occurring, please try logging in and using the "forgot password?" utility. Bear in mind auto-generated password reset emails may appear in your spam folder. If this does not work, please click the "Contact Us" option near the lower right hand corner of the index page to contact me via email.
Thank you for your patience!
- M.W.
Thank you for your patience!
- M.W.
Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
Re: Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
Last edited by Deleted User 7620 on Mon Dec 26, 2022 10:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
Civil unrest is often a polite term for a riot.CircleWXYZ wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 5:04 pm What I found to be most striking, is how Channel 4 blew the riots coverage. “Civil Unrest”???
I can see why WWJ 4 had so many problems in the 1970. Luckily, Post Newsweek bought the station and brought the station back.
Donald Trump… In your guts you know he’s nuts.
Re: Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
Since calling the riots a “Civil Unrest “ had a major negative impact on the station, one that took them years to recover, downplaying such a horrible event was not wise at all. Channel 7 portrayed it exactly what it was, a riot. This was why WXYZ eventually went to the top. They earned the trust of Detroit viewers where at the time, Channel 4 lost it. In a way, it could be good as it eventually caused Channel 4 to change, once it became WDIV in 1978. It obviously was not a ratings success overnight but them having to rebuilt the station did eventually lead to them being back by the 1984-85. NBC rising to the top did help as well.
I think this is exactly why WDIV is the way that it is today. They’ve learned from past mistakes.
I think this is exactly why WDIV is the way that it is today. They’ve learned from past mistakes.
Last edited by Deleted User 7620 on Mon Dec 26, 2022 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
It may have hurt them but it’s not really fair in the least bit:CircleWXYZ wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:09 pm Since calling the riots a “Civil Unrest “ had a major negative impact on the station, one that took them years to recover, downplaying such a horrible event was not wise at all. Channel 7 portrayed it exactly what it was, a riot. This was why WXYZ eventually went to the top. They earned the trust of Detroit viewers where at the time, Channel 4 lost it. In a way, it could be good as it eventually caused Channel 4 to change, once it became WDIV in 1978. It obviously was not a ratings success overnight but then having to rebuilt the station did eventually lead to them being back come the 1984-85. NBC rising to the top did help as well.
I think this is exactly why WDIV is the way that it is today. They’ve learned from past mistakes.
The trade to The Washington Post was a big help. I’m under the impression that the Evening News Association wasn’t putting forth a great product and the new owners cleaned house. Let’s not forget that around 15 years ago they were 2nd to 7. 4 Then hired Marla Drutz away from 7… she brought them back up to the top. That’s not a coincidence. Now those dials are rusted in place. But from 2003-2009 they were in the wilderness.Civil unrest include RIOTS, demonstrations, threatening individuals or assemblies that have become disruptive.
Donald Trump… In your guts you know he’s nuts.
-
- Posts: 482
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2022 9:24 pm
- rugratsonline
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 1:20 pm
Re: Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
It especially showed in Washington when the ENA got WTOP-TV, which they renamed WDVM -- don't know how they did with news, but they went on a preemption spree for many years until Gannett acquired the station, becoming WUSA-TV.
Interestingly, from 2005 to 2015, the Detroit Free Press, which Gannett swapped for the Detroit News years earlier, held the license for WUSA until the creation of Tegna, which took Gannett's broadcasting properties.
Re: Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
True!MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 10:37 am Very fitting that the WWJ-TV calls are being used on an also-ran of a station today given how crappy channel 4 was during the 70s.
-
- Posts: 222
- Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:03 pm
Re: Going 4 it: The inside story of the rise of WDIV
They're working on replicating that.MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 10:37 am Very fitting that the WWJ-TV calls are being used on an also-ran of a station today given how crappy channel 4 was during the 70s.