CNN to Revamp Mornings Again (Again)

CNN   TVNEWS 

image: CNN PR 

            CNN has been through a lot of change this year: they've lost Jeff Zucker, and they have new owners (again!)  The new head of CNN, Chris Licht, has decided that mornings needs to be reshaped, again.  "New Day" which was started by Jeff Zucker in 2013 to replace the last morning show that CNN did that replaced a morning show before it, is now being replaced. 

        So far there's no name , but there is talk of  a fresh name (ooh) , fresh format, and fresh set (picked freshly hopefully)  but they have announced whom shalt be the new hosts of this program.  Well, that will be Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins.  Licht says they have a 'rare and palpable chemistry' I hope that's good.   The show is start 'later this year'. 

      Don Lemon currently hosts the primetime two hours of "Don Lemon Tonight" he started in that time slot in 2014, he'll be leaving that slot to come to this morning show, now CNN has to find something for those two hours, along with 9pm ET hour they have yet to fill. Poppy Harlow currently co-anchors "CNN Newsroom" from 9-11amET. 

    The current "New Day" hosts  John Berman and Brianna Keilar will continue for now, and CNN says they will be given new roles at the network in the future. 

      The idea is that a new CNN president wants to eschew stuff from the old president and since "New Day" was the main baby it's gone.  Licht has also indicated he wants CNN to move closer to the center, though that does make the opinionated Don Lemon getting the morning co-host slot interesting.  Collins was a White-House correspondent for CNN during the Trump years and also there was some fire between her and the administration.  

     The only consistent thing is how inconsistent CNN been with mornings.  "American Morning" was their first morning show that wasn't in hometown Atlanta ,but flashy New York, and that show went host changes.  Then in 2012, "Starting Point" took the slot, then Zucker came in and launched "New Day" which revamped a few times, here we go again!

 Meanwhile, their sister network HLN  has one of the longest running cable morning shows and consistency with Robin Meade. 

 

Press release from the jump

Days of Our Lives Leaving NBC After 57 years

NBC Peacock Soaps TV News  Opinion 

            It's been awhile since soap news has been presented here, and really the last big move was in 2011 when ABC announced the ends of One Life to Live and All My Children those soaps then ended up in some development  hell , streamed for a while then ended  after that.  There's only 4 network soaps left. NBC has been down to one soap since the cancelation of Passions in 2007 for a 4th hour of "The Today Show". 

        Wednesday, Vulture reported that Days of Our Lives will be moving from NBC to the  NBC Universals owned streaming service, Peacock, from September 12th. After 57 years on NBC and network TV, this means the show will be moving to an on demand pay platform and that NBC, the network, is out of the soap business themselves. (The chance of them making a new soap is probably higher than winning the lottery, but lower than being struck by lightning)  As of this writing, NBC hasn't said what's happening to the hour long slot.  NBC is replacing it with a new show called "NBC News Daily" 

        Days has had some streaming life, episodes run on Peacock, and it even had a spinoff "Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem" which has had 2 seasons and 10 episodes.  Vulture also notes of the 4 daytime soaps it's the lowest rated.  NBC and Sony, who make the show, have come close in the past few years with nearby cancelations, though it was recently renewed in 2021 for two more seasons.  

     The unknown question is if this will help the soap or will this cause it wither and  eventually just go away? In other words, can the daytime show model work in streaming? That also seems to be test try as Amazon has been trying with another daytime mainstay, the court show and Judge Judy with her new series "Judy Justice".  The idea of a soap was a daytime serial , new episode each day, but at a set time and watched during the day. When Soap Net existed, it did offer a chance to see it again, and with on-demand options as well, but there is something about having a linear slot and space that might not be in the advantage of moving this show. That's hard too tell. I'd hope that there would be something that keeps it going for a long time. 

  

     Will it drive people to the streaming service? Uhhhhh, again unknown. The other thing will this encourage  CBS or ABC or both to decide to move their soaps to their corporate streaming sisters?  That opens the possibility of an idea that could happen, but it's hard to know for the best. On the bright side, there won't be any news preemptions. 

         It's not like NBC, or any other network is going to replace a soap with anything that might be fun to watch or even a new soap, they'll find some cheaper, maybe news or talk based because it's easy and less risk.  ABC has a third hour of GMA as a  daytime show, CBS has The Talk as a replacement to a soap slot. 

   

     I hope the best for  Days and hope it can continue to do well enough to continue, in this "Streaming is the Future ™" world or something.  Anyway, these truly are the Days of our Lives.  

Press release after the jump

Nexstar to Launch Rewind TV

TV News  Digital Networks 

        Nexstar Media is launching a new digital network that will complement  Antenna TV called Rewind TV.  Rewind TV will be airing classic TV shows from the 1980's and 90's. This gives Antenna TV which has been airing shows from the 50's to 90's  some breathing room in their line up.  

       Rewind will be airing some series that have been airing on Antenna TV  such as, Murphy Brown, Growing Pains,  Wings, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Who's the Boss, and Family Ties, and new addition The Drew Carey Show.    Antenna TV will still air shows from 50's through 70's and the weeknight re run of Johnny Carson. 

    The station will launch May 1st on Nexstar stations on newly added or replacements of existing digital channels. (Court TV airs on many of the former Tribune Nexstar stations maybe leaving due to it moving to Ion sub channels)  

 You can visit their website here : www.rewindtv.com.

Read the press release after the jump 

First Watch: WGN America does News in Primetime

WGN America News Nation  Cable TV News  Opinion 

     From 1978 to 2014,  WGN America (known of a few years as Superstation WGN) beamed WGN TV channel 9 from Chicago to America.  It aired Chicago sports and WGN News. During the last decade of that time it aired WGN's  last hour of Midday news and the nine pm news. You even got the lottery.  WGN America pulled that in 2014.   Viewers who missed WGN Chicago news could watch online as modern world had allowed for that, but it was a change.

    In 1980, Ted Turner launched CNN, the first 24 hour cable news channel, over time though the idea of a cable news channel being there just for the news has kind of died.  In 2014,  Al Jazeera America tried and put on a good product , but it had low  ratings and when oil prices dropped AJ thought it would be better to cut loses and give up in 2016.  (AJ is owned by the Qatari government)   Most  American cable news is more about how to keep viewers watching with excessive use of breaking news, debates and annoyance.   MSNBC started as a news channel with NBC News and Mircosoft found success in not doing that and instead having opinion shows that lean politically left, doing the mirror of FOX News leaning to the right. 

              Cable news has  an average of 700,000 viewers watching their daily prime time programming, FOX news leans towards the 2 million mark, MSNBC in the 1 million. CNN tried middle of the road and doing the news, but their prime time has filled with panels or the anchors being talking heads themselves.    The prime time programming has become more join a camp you like and get daily affirmation.  It does make the country look more divided and like Twitter, doesn't offer a full picture of society because  they are fighting for a small amount of viewers compared to the population.  Most Americans trust local news over any  other media, with The Weather Channel  being the highest in trust for a national news channel.

       In 2019, Nexstar, a large local media conglomerate, bought the Tribune Company, which owned WGN and WGN America.  Nexstar owns mostly local TV stations whose main thing is local news. They have alot of them, the largest owner in the country. They have reporters at stations who work in the television markets  most national stories are someone's local story.

more after the jump

Fox Business Network Changes line up From October 15th

TV News Fox Business 

    FOX Business Network is changing their line up  from October 15th extending their live programming all the way ending at 10pmet.   

    Current 2PM host, of the Intelligence Report , Trish Regan moves from that slot to a prime 8PM slot with a re-branded show called  Trish Regan Primetime . Meanwhile, taking her current slot will be Charles Panye and his program "Making Money"  which currently airs at 6PM.  The next to  the line up include a new 5PM show called "Bulls and Bears" which will be hosted by David Asman. The name is a return  after original iteration on FOX News Channel ended this year due to a change in weekend programming. Asman prevously hosted the original Bulls & Bears as well.  Due to Asman's new show  he is leaving  the show he currently co-hosts the 4PM show, "After the Bell".  Melissa Francis will continue to co-host that with Connell McShane taking Asman's role.  The Current 5PM program, "The Evening Edit" ,hosted by Elizabeth MacDonald will be moving to 6PM.   Kennedy's show will be re-branded as "Kennedy Live"  will be live at 9PM moving from 8PM.

  Here's the schedule  All Times ET
2PM   Making Money with Charles Payne
3PM   Countdown to the Closing Bell with Liz Claman
4PM    After the Bell with Melissa Francis and Connell McShane
5PM    Bulls & Bears with David Asman
6PM   The Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald
7PM   Lou Dobbs Tonight
8PM   Trish Regan Primetime
9PM   Kennedy Live


Press release after the jump

CBS Announces Jeff Glor as "CBS Evening News Anchor"

TV NEWS   CBS 

    CBS News  has named  Jeff Glor as the anchor of CBS Evening News, replacing Scott Pelley who left the program in June of this year.  Anothy Mason, who was the interim anchor will still continue to be at CBS News anchoring , "CBS This Morning : Saturday" and their senior national correspondent.

  Glor  will the the youngest of the network news anchors at 42  (one year younger than David Muir) .He previously anchored "CBS Evening News" on weekends until 2016.   

   His start date has not been full announced yet, but CBS says it will be later this year. 


press release after the Jump

Fox News Channel finds Kelly replacement

Fox News Channel  TV News 

image: fox news channel 

     Two days after the announcement that Megyn Kelly was leaving Fox News Channel for NBC ; they have announced their replacement for the 9PMET slot.  Current 7PMET host, Tucker  Carlson, host of "Tucker Carlson Tonight" which started in November of 2016, after  Greta Van Susteren left will take the 9PMET  slot starting January 9th. Megyn Kelly's final "Kelly File" is  January 6th.

       Meanwhile, this leaves 7PMET open, Martha MacCallum -current co-anchor of their morning news show ,"America's Newsroom"- will host a  show called  "The First 100 Days". The program is to focus on the early days of the Trump administration. Starting January 16th.  She will also co-anchor the network's Inauguration coverage on January 20th.   While Shannon Bream , their Washington reporter , will be co-anchoring "America's Newsroom"

   via Fox News Insider :

Tucker Carlson Tonight is moving to 9:00pm ET beginning on Monday on Fox News Channel's top-rated primetime lineup.
"Tucker Carlson Tonight" - which currently airs at 7:00pm ET - had a record-breaking launch in November, fast becoming one of the most buzzed-about cable news programs on television.
"In less than two months, Tucker has taken cable news by storm with his spirited interviews and consistently strong performance. Viewers have overwhelmingly responded to the show and we look forward to him being a part of Fox News’ powerful primetime line-up," said Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox and Executive Chairman of FOX News.
Martha MacCallum will anchor a new 7:00pm ET show called "The First 100 Days," beginning on Monday, January 16.
"Martha is a versatile and skilled anchor who has proven to be an essential component of our news programming. For the last 12 years, our viewers have trusted her reporting and we are pleased she will be part of our primetime line-up for the first 100 days of the new presidency," said Murdoch.

• 784 likes

MacCallum, who recently signed a multi-year deal with Fox News Channel, will also anchor the Inauguration Day coverage on Friday, January 20th alongside Bret Baier.
MacCallum has anchored "America’s Newsroom" alongside Bill Hemmer since 2010 and has played a pivotal role during the network’s presidential election coverage since 2004.

and tweet from Shannon Bream

---

STOP! HEMMER TIME! Cannot wait to spend the 1st 100 days of the new administration with my buddy @BillHemmer #wegotthis

— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) January 5, 2017

Frasier coming to COZI TV

Sitcoms Cozi TV classics   

                                                                 COZI 

    The 90's hit sitcom  Fraiser is coming to Digital classic channel , COZI  TV , September 12th , airing weeknights at 7pmet/6ct.
     This series  joins  Little House on the Prairie and Quincy, Medical Examiner  as part of  their line up.  According to TVNewsCheck ,   "Little House " starts September 19th  airing weekdays 10amet-12pmet and 5pmet,  and "Quincy" airing daily at 2pmet starting the same Day.

Cozi should be announcing any other schedule changes soon.
      To find out where it is in your area  find out here

        

VH1 Classic becoming MTV classic

TV News 

    Viacom's VH1 spinoff channel ,VH1 Classic, is getting re branded on on August 1st , which also happens to be the 35th birthday of the launch of  sister network, MTV to MTV Classic.

As announced by a video on the VH1 Classic Twitter account

Sorry we've been quiet for so long. Been working on something BIG! Take a sneak peek. #MTVClassic pic.twitter.com/8RWb7I4JZQ

— VH1 Classic (@VH1Classic) July 18, 2016

     This also continues a renaming that Viacom has been doing to it's music group's spinoff channels  over the past year with  MTV Jams being renamed under the BET James banner, Palladia being renamed as the American version of MTV Live,  VH1 Soul became  BET Soul , and CMT Pure Country became  CMT Country.

  VH1 Classic was launched in 2000 as channel that aired older VH1 music videos  but move to also air other music themed programming  and had  more focus on Adult hits and rock.
    From previews of the new line up it seems to be airing older MTV shows like "Unplugged", "Daria" , "Beavis and Butt-Head", TRL related stuff , and possibly more.  This is also looks to be the end of VH1 named channels besides VH1.

 If we get more information ,we will update this article....

Updated: 7/28/2016

    The Launch day will be at 6amet ,replacing VH1 , the first program will be the airing of MTV's first ever hour  in it's entirety , this will air at 6amet , 12pmet and  2amet.

CW and Tribune renew affiliation agreement (with one exception)

TV NEWS 

  After much wondering and probably some wrangling  Tribune Media, one the larger owners of CW affiliates has renewed their deal with the network this means KTLA 5 Los Angeles,  KWGN 2 Denver,KDAF 33 Dallas, WPIX 11 New York, KIAH 39 Houston, WCCT 20 Hartford, WDCW 50 Washington DC , WSFL 39 South Florida, WNOL 38 New Orelans , WGNT 27 Hampton Roads, KPLR 11 Saint  Louis, KRCW 32 Portland,OR,  will remain with the CW.  Tribune's former deal was made at the launch of the CW in 2006.  The one change is WGN-TV in Chicago which will be leaving the network on September 1st.  It is moving to Fox  owned WPWR -50 , which is currently a My Network TV station (My Network TV is also owned by FOX).

     WGN-TV says they will focus on their sports commitments  which includes rights to games from Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox , Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Blackhawks.   Due to CW  agreements they couldn't air as much Cran's Chicago Business Reports.   This could also be a boost to the low rated Chicago Station, WPWR-TV, to air the CW programs as a way to gain viewers. The MyNetwork TV programming will most likely be moved to another time slot.

   This will be the first time since 1995, WGN-TV will not be affiliated with a network , WPWR was affiliated with  UPN from 1995 to 2006 , when CBS (owners of the UPN) and Time Warner (owners of The WB along with Tribune) decided to merge their operations and create the CW.

press releases after the Jump

Antenna TV Announces Summer Saturday Marathons

Classics   NEWS 

                           antenna tv 

   Classic TV network, Antenna TV will be airing marathons of series on their channel , all summer  long.   The marathons will air Saturdays  1PMET to 10PMET.

 June 4th  : Webster
June 11th  : Sabrina the Teenage Witch
June 18th : Mr.Belvedere
June 25th :    Mork& Mindy
July 2nd:    Barney Miller
July 9th : The Partridge Family
July 16th : Bewitched
July 23rd:  I Dream of Jeannie
July 30th:  Green Acres
August 6th : Good Times
August 13th : The Jeffersons
August 20th : Newhart
August 27th:  Small Wonder
September 3rd: Doogie  Howser.



source : http://antennatv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Saturday-Summer-thons-2016-Lineup.pdf

NBC Mid season show premiere dates

NBC  TV Look  Midseason 

   NBC is setting up a Sunday Comedy block, much like FOX does and what ABC and CBS don't .  A New variety show hosted by Steve Harvey  Little Big Shots starts March 13th at 8/7c  airing Sundays at 8/7c  then  The Carmichael  Show  returns for it's 2nd season on Sunday March 13th at 9pmet with two back to back episodes  there will be preview the week before on March 8th at 10:30pmet.   It will air Sundays at 9/8c.   The Following Sunday  a new series  Crowded premieres March 20th at 9:30/8:30c, airing  Sundays in this slot.

    Moving on to  other nights  Starting Wednesday, March  23rd at 8/7c with a preview the night before at 9/8c. Heartbeat  premieres   this replaces  The Mysteries of Laura  which has its season (possibly series) finale  on March 2nd.      On Thursday Nights Game of  Silence will replace  Shades of Blue  at 10/9c starting April 7th.

Press release with show info  after the jump

Al Jazeera America shutting Down

Medialine News 

       The Cable news channel , Al Jazeera America,announced Wednesday that  it will be shutting down on April 30th.  After almost 2 1/2 years and 3 years after the big announcement that they were buying Current TV from Al Gore.

   The reasoning per Al Jazeera America's website:

        Al Jazeera America will shutter its cable TV and digital operations by April 30 of this year, the company announced Wednesday. The decision by the AJAM board was “driven by the fact that our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace,” said AJAM CEO Al Anstey.

   The Network attracted alot of journalists to join it  such as John Seigenthaler (former NBC News anchor) , Ali Velshi (former CNN) , and others , but it's ratings were never as strong  as it's competitors.  It also had problems with carriers at the very start and recently a controversy over a report about  sports players alleged doping, which they defended as accurate.    The Company says they will expand digital operations in the U.S .  It is unknown what happens to the channel space: if it is removed all together, sold  One  America News seems to want it , or Al Jazerra English takes it's place.

Partridge Family Marathon on Antenna TV

Classics 

    Antenna TV   will be celebrating the  45th  anniversary of show's beginning. (It premiered  on September 25th ,1970) It starts  August 15th at 5PMET   and will run for 22 and half hours of  45 memorable episodes of the series.    "The Partridge Family" ran on ABC from 1970-1974 and  had 96 episodes.

To  find where Antenna TV is in your area  go here 

"Fuller House" coming says John Stamos

TV News    Lookback TV   Netflix 

      Apparently Today is a lookback TV day , and it was announced last night  that a spinoff of the 90's sitcom "Full House" is coming to Netflix (guess we gotta make that a category now, our first post about something on Netflix  )  with a 13 episode run.


 Actor John Stamos, was on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last night and announced the news  of the reboot -spinoff thing.   Saying the show will focus on Candace Cameron (playing D.J Tanner) and her 3 sons.

Deadline has more about the show here 

And video of the announcement after the jump

What's Old is replayed again : So Little Time coming to Nickelodeon

TV News   Lookback TV 'Nickelodeon 



                                    
   In an interesting  move , Nickelodeon will be airing  the sitcom "So Little Time" , starring the Olsen Twins starting next week (April 27th)  at 7:30pmET/PT.  The Series ran on Fox Family in 2001 until 2002, when it was canceled by ABC Family  (after Disney bought the channel).   This is also first time the series has been seen on US TV in years.  So if you were a fan of this show , record it or watch it , never know how long it will last , and you might want to save those 26 episodes the show had.  And always  they could change their minds.



source:  Nickelodeon promo

NBC Suspends Brian Williams for 6 months, No Pay

TV News  NBC 

  

      NBC has decided to suspend  "NBC Nightly News" anchor and managing editor  , Brian Williams for 6 months and no pay.  This stems from the revaluation that  the story he told about being in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2003 was false.  He apologized on February 4th , on February 7th it was announced that he was going to take a few days off from the Nightly News  , now as of February 10th  it was announced that he would suspended with no pay.

NBC News president , Deborah Turness  wrote :

All,


We have decided today to suspend Brian Williams as Managing Editor and Anchor of NBC Nightly News for six months. The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately. We let Brian know of our decision earlier today. Lester Holt will continue to substitute Anchor the NBC Nightly News.

         [ Later on]  

While on Nightly News on Friday, January 30, 2015, Brian misrepresented events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003. It then became clear that on other occasions Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues. This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position.


In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field.


As Managing Editor and Anchor of Nightly News, Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times.

full letter here 


      Will Brian be back  to NBC  News or is this just a time off to figure how to remove him permanently ? That is unkown.

 

What CBS will be doing with the time between hosts on "Late Late Show"

CBS  Late Night TV  TV News
     

    CBS has announced what  they will be doing with the "Late Late Show" during the period of January 5th  , until James Cordon takes over March 6th .  They will have roating hosts and  special late night editions of their popular daytime show, "The Talk" .

Via Press release :

CBS will broadcast special editions of THE LATE LATE SHOW featuring rotating guest hosts and a special late night version of THE TALK, Monday, Jan. 5 - Friday, March 6, 2015 (12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT).
As previously announced, the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated host Craig Ferguson will step down as host of THE LATE LATE SHOW on Friday, Dec. 19. The multi-talented performer, host, writer and producer James Corden will take the reigns as host on Monday, March 9, 2015.
Actor, host, comedian and producer Drew Carey will bookend the block of special editions when he guest hosts the first week, Monday, Jan. 5 - Friday, Jan. 9, and the final week, Monday, March 2 - Friday, March 6. Other guest hosts will include filmmaker Judd Apatow, actor Will Arnett, Emmy and GRAMMY Award-winning actor, host, singer and improv comedian Wayne Brady, comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, comedian and actor Billy Gardell, actor, producer and Emmy Award winner Sean Hayes, writer, comedian and actor Thomas Lennon, GRAMMY Award winner John Mayer and actor Kunal Nayyar.
CBS Daytime’s THE TALK will broadcast original after-dark editions from their own set for THE LATE LATE SHOW time period. THE TALK will be broadcast Monday, Jan. 12 - Friday, Jan. 16 (12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT).
Guests and further scheduling details will be announced shortly.

CBS Holidays TV 2014 announcement

TV NEWS   CBS  Christmas TV  

         CBS is ready for Christmas , they have announced their 2014 Thanksgiving to New Year's program highlights for this year.

via press release 

“RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER”CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY!“The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS”Kicks Off the Network’s Holiday Season of Special EventsNew Entertainment Special “A Very GRAMMY® Christmas”
Will Feature Performances by Ariana Grande, Maroon 5,
Tim McGraw and Pharrell WilliamsWill Feature Performances by Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, Tim McGraw and Pharrell WilliamsVictoria’s Secret World-Famous Angels Star in“The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” in London“I Love Lucy Christmas Special” Will FeatureTwo Classic Episodes, Including the Newly Colorized“Job Switching,” a.k.a. “Chocolate Factory”“The 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors” to Celebrate Singer Al Green,Actor and Filmmaker Tom Hanks, Ballerina Patricia McBride, Singer-Songwriter Sting and Comedienne Lily Tomlin
CBS’s holiday programming this year will be highlighted by the 50th anniversary celebration of the perennial favorite RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. The festive season, which kicks off with THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ON CBS, will also include festive specials and beloved animated classics.Music-laden specials include the new entertainment special A VERY GRAMMY CHRISTMAS, with performances by singer/songwriter Ariana Grande, three-time GRAMMY Award-winning group Maroon 5, three-time GRAMMY Award winner Tim McGraw and seven-time GRAMMY Award winner Pharrell Williams; THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW, featuring the world-famous VS angels; and THE 37th  ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS.In addition to RUDOLPH and FROSTY’s annual visits are encore broadcasts of the animated holiday specials THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, FROSTY RETURNS, THE STORY OF SANTA CLAUS and YES, VIRGINIA.Following is the schedule for CBS’s Holiday Programming:
Thursday, Nov. 27:THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ON CBS (9:00 AM-Noon, Live ET; 7:00 AM-10:00 AM, Live MT; 9:00 AM-Noon, Delayed PT) “Entertainment Tonight’s” Kevin Frazier and “The Insider’s” Thea Andrews will anchor what is now a CBS Thanksgiving tradition in its 54th year, which will feature portions of the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live from New York City. The parade will include musical performances by the Broadway casts of “Matilda” and “Pippin.”
Friday, Nov. 28:FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT)Frosty, that “jolly, happy soul” whose old silk hat full of magic has turned him into a musical Christmas legend, once again demonstrates his unique showmanship. Narrated by Jimmy Durante, the special also includes the voices of Jackie Vernon (as Frosty) and Billy De Wolfe (as Professor Hinkle).  (Rebroadcast)
YES, VIRGINIA (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT)This animated special is based on the 1897 true story of Virginia O’Hanlon, an 8-year-old girl who inspired the most famous newspaper editorial of all time by asking “Is there a Santa Claus?” Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Alfred Molina voice key characters. Beatrice Miller voices the role of Virginia. (Rebroadcast)
Saturday, Nov. 29:
THE FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) An animated holiday special about a young reindeer with ambitions of becoming an expert flyer like his father, features the voices of Emma Roberts and comedian Norm MacDonald. (Rebroadcast)
THE STORY OF SANTA CLAUS (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT)An animated musical holiday special featuring the voices of Edward Asner, Betty White and Tim Curry, the story revolves around a gentle toymaker whose only wish is to deliver a toy to every child on Christmas. (Rebroadcast)
Friday, Dec. 5:
A VERY GRAMMY CHRISTMAS (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT)Singer/songwriter Ariana Grande, three-time GRAMMY Award-winning group Maroon 5,three-time GRAMMY Award winner Tim McGraw and seven-time GRAMMY Award winner Pharrell Williams will perform on this new one-hour entertainment special. Also, the nominees for Album of the Year will be announced.
Sunday, Dec. 7:I LOVE LUCY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) – Features two back-to-back classic episodes of the 1950s series, including the seldom-seen “Christmas Episode,” and an all-new colorized version of “Job Switching” (a.k.a. “Chocolate Factory”). Both were colorized with a vintage look, a nod to the 1950s period in which the shows were filmed. The main titles and end credits of the two episodes are seamlessly combined into one set—at the beginning and end of the hour, with no interruption between the episodes. (Rebroadcast)
Tuesday, Dec. 9:RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) The classic holiday special celebrates its 50th anniversary! Narrated by Burl Ives, who is also heard as the voice of Sam the Snowman, this favorite is a music story based on the popular song of the same name by Johnny Marks. It recounts the tale of a shy reindeer whose Christmas spirit is dampened because his shiny nose has made him the laughing stock of all of Christmasville.  (Rebroadcast)
THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT)  This year’s show from across the pond in London will feature world-famous Victoria’s Secret Angels Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Behati Prinsloo, Karlie Kloss and Lindsay Ellingson. The show, which merges fashion, fantasy and entertainment into a runway spectacle, will be seen in approximately 200 countries, and include musical performances, pink carpet interviews, model profiles and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the world’s most celebrated fashion show.
Saturday, Dec. 13:FROSTY RETURNS (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT)The magic still in his old silk hat, the holiday season’s perennially popular original dancing snowman continues his adventure and skates on the edge of danger.  Jonathan Winters is the narrator with John Goodman as the voice of Frosty. (Rebroadcast)
Friday, Dec. 19:A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT)The special tells touching stories about adoption from foster care to raise awareness for this important social issue. Inspirational stories of families are enhanced with performances by some of today’s most popular artists.
Tuesday, Dec. 30:THE 37TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT)Singer Al Green, actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks, ballerina Patricia McBride, singer-songwriter Sting and comedienne Lily Tomlin will receive honors. Seated with President and Mrs. Obama, the Honorees will accept the thanks of their peers and fans through performances and heartfelt tributes.

CBS and Weigel announce a new digital network

TV News  

       Chicago based Weigel broadcasting , owners of national network METV, co-owners of Movies! and WCIU-TV in Chicago , and CBS corp have announced they are launching  a new digital network for CBS O&O's in 2015.
                                          

Via Press release

“Decades” to Feature Vast Library of More Than 100 Television Series,Plus Theatrical and Made-For-Television MoviesOriginal Programming to Include “Decades Retrospectical^SM,”A Daily Topical Show That Will Offer Viewers an Opportunity to Relive, Remember & Relate^SM
To Historic Events with Footage From the CBS News and “Entertainment Tonight” ArchivesTo Historic Events with Footage From the CBS News and “Entertainment Tonight” Archives CBS-Owned Television Stations to Serve as Launch Group            NEW YORK and CHICAGO – The CBS Television Stations group, a division of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS), and Weigel Broadcasting today announced plans to launch DECADES, a new national entertainment programming service for distribution across local television stations’ digital subchannels – broadcast channels that utilize a local station’s available spectrum to provide a companion to that station’s primary channel.  For example, in the New York market, WCBS-TV will continue to be available digitally as Channel 2.1 and DECADES will be available as Channel 2.2. In addition to being available as an over-the-air broadcast channel, DECADES will appear on numerous local cable systems and other multichannel video programming distribution services along with the stations’ primary channels.
Utilizing a library of more than 100 classic television series, including select titles from the CBS library such as I LOVE LUCY from the 1950s, STAR TREK from the 1960s, HAPPY DAYS from the 1970s and CHEERS from the 1980s, as well as a wide selection of theatrical and made-for-television movies and footage of historical news events from the archives of CBS News and ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, DECADES will provide viewers with a new way to experience our shared historical and cultural past.
As the ultimate TV time machine, DECADES will differentiate itself from other subchannel programming services by varying the classic series and movies that appear on the network every day.    “DECADES is the most ambitious and creative subchannel programming service that has ever been created,” said Peter Dunn, President, CBS Television Stations. “We are thrilled to partner with Weigel Broadcasting, the leaders in this space, to make smart use of our stations’ spectrums and our companies’ considerable programming assets. This service will be a tremendous new business for CBS and all of the other stations across the country that participate, regardless of their primary network affiliation.”“DECADES takes the digital broadcast network platform to a new level. Viewers will ‘Relive, Remember & Relate’ to the events that touched their lives and generations past. The events, themes and programming possibilities are endless. We are truly honored to be chosen as the company to develop the CBS Television Stations’ diginet product, and look forward to the launch of DECADES next year,” stated Norman H. Shapiro, President of Weigel.
DECADES will take viewers into a daily time capsule presentation of entertainment, popular culture and news. The service will feature DECADES RETROSPECTICAL^SM, a daily one-hour program that will be produced around the news events and cultural touchstones of a specific day, week or other time frame or theme. The TV series and movies presented each day will reflect that day’s theme or commemorative event.
For example, DECADES will look back at classic series such as HAPPY DAYS and its “jump the shark” episode, explain its historical significance and then broadcast that episode. Viewers will also be taken back in time to rediscover events that shaped our world, such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, the Beatles’ U.S. debut on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW and the birth of software and technology companies like Microsoft and Apple. DECADES will connect these events to what people were watching on television, seeing at the movies and experiencing as a nation.
            DECADES is expected to debut during the second quarter of 2015, with the 16 CBS-owned stations that are part of the CBS Television Network serving as the new service’s launch group. This includes the CBS stations serving New York City (WCBS), Los Angeles (KCBS), Chicago (WBBM), Philadelphia (KYW), Dallas (KTVT), San Francisco (KPIX), Boston (WBZ), Detroit (WWJ), Minneapolis-St. Paul (WCCO and its satellite stations KCCO and KCCW), Miami (WFOR), Denver (KCNC), Sacramento (KOVR), Pittsburgh (KDKA) and Baltimore (WJZ).
Weigel will be responsible for securing affiliation agreements with other stations across the country.