TLC Joins The CBS 2 Information Network

WCBS-TV New York and cable television’s TLC have reached an agreement to collaborate on programming content for the CBS 2 Information Network, it was announced today by Joel Cheatwood, Executive Vice President of News, CBS O&O’s and WCBS-TV News Director. The new partnership will launch this month on CBS 2.

The agreement provides for the CBS 2 Information Network to televise reports based on upcoming specials and series from the cable network that are relevant to viewers in the tri-state communities. TLC’s long-format, in-depth segments will be televised on the station’s 11PM newscasts.

For more information, click here.

US News Joins The CBS 2 Information Network

Today on The News at 6:00, Stephen Clark said that US News & World Report has become a new CBS 2 Information Network partner. This evening, US News and CBS 2 did a CBS 2 Reports together. The logo linking to the USnews.com website is now on the CBS 2 page on the cbsnewyork.com website.

Joel Cheatwood, Mark Danon, and Radio City

The Daily News reports that in one of the acts of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, there's a film montage including the city's weather forecasters, like Al Roker, Sam Champion, Storm Field, and Mark Danon. Mark Danon was fired from WCBS-TV in May after buying cocaine near the CBS 2 studio. News director Joel Cheatwood would like to replace Mark Danon with current chief meteorologist David Rogers, but that would cost Channel 2 $70,000 to $100,000. The article also says that Mark Danon's next court date is on Friday, December 8th.
(Thanks to Michael for sending me this article!)

CBS 2 at Noon, Up 25% And Still Winning

The Daily News reports that, while CBS 2's "The News" isn't winning any other time period, they are still winning the noon news race. Not only are they winning, but their viewership is up 25% from last year, when Jim Rosenfield and Cindy Hsu were anchoring News 2 at Noon (and it was before the Fifth Avenue studio)! Currently Michael Pomeranz and Angela Rae anchor The News at Noon from Studio 59A.

Michelle Murray Named Assistant News Director

Michelle Murray has been named CBS 2’s Assistant News Director, it was announced today by Joel Cheatwood, Executive Vice President, CBS O&O’s and News Director, WCBS-TV New York. The appointment is effective immediately.

Murray joined CBS 2 on May 24th as Executive Producer of the station’s, daily 5PM newscast. “From the beginning of her tenure at CBS 2, Michelle has demonstrated the kind of leadership ability and creative insight necessary to guide a rebuilding newsroom like ours,” said Cheatwood.

For more information, go to the CBS 2 Press Releases page.

More News On The Hour

"News on the Hour" appears to only be a morning and afternoon thing. Michael tells me that this morning at 11:00, Michael Pomeranz did the hourly news update. At 1:00, it was with Angela Rae. And at 2:00 and 3:00, Todd McDermott did it.

"CBS 2 Soapbox"

Michael sends in the following about last night's 11:00 news:

For the last two commercial breaks, right before they went to commercial , after they said what was coming up, Dana said, "Here's what people had to say about the election on tonight's CBS 2 Soapbox." Then it showed a graphic with a square with New Yorkers in Times Square commenting about the election. Underneath the box with the people was a CBS 2 Soapbox graphic. I think the reporter was Vince DeMentri, too.

It looks like this is something new, and it began last night!

News On The Hour

Today at 3:00, I saw "News On The Hour". It appears to be hourly 30-second news update. It began with the "Breaking News" music and the ticking sound of a clock. It had the CBS 2 Information Network animation, then a logo that said, "NEWS ON THE HOUR". The announcer said, "From the CBS 2 Information Network, news on the hour." Todd McDermott had a quick look of the two top stories, and then a quick (5-second) weather forecast. At the end, he said, "More news in one hour."

Dr. Laura Moves to 2:07am

The New York Post and the New York Daily News reports that "Dr. Laura" will move from 3:00pm to 2:07am, which the Post says, "is typically a death blow for syndicated TV shows." "Martha Stewart Living" will move from 9:00am to replace "Dr. Laura" at 3:00pm. "Curtis Court" and "Inside Edition" will move from the early morning timeslot to 9:00am. The changes begin on Monday.
(Thanks to David and Michael for sending in this information!)

CBS Broadcast Plaza Closer To Being Completed

In the summer of 1999, the CBS Broadcast Plaza was beginning to be constructed for CBS's new morning program, "The Early Show" (the show celebrated their one year anniversary last Wednesday, November 1st). For over a year, construction appeared to be taking place by the plaza. Today on CBS 2's 4:00pm show, "New York Live!", Ira Joe Fisher, Stephen Clark, and Dana Tyler said that the CBS Broadcast Plaza was closer to being finished. Much of the construction has been completed, and opened up. The new area now includes a few more steps leading up to a platform, which could make room for more "Early Show" concert performances. There also appears to be a fountain.

Election Night Coverage

As you probably know, the next president of the United States is still undecided! Here's a quick look at how CBS 2 covered this election last night and this morning. Coverage began Tuesday morning on The News This Morning, then on The News at Noon. In the afternoon, more coverage on The News at 5:00 and 6:00. At 6:30pm, Dan Rather came on from CBS News Headquarters in New York with a special election edition of the CBS Evening News. At 7:00pm, Dan Rather was back with Ed Bradley, Bob Shieffer, Anthony Mason and Lesley Stahl at the desk. Then at 7:23, and every thirty minutes after that, CBS 2 came on with local election coverage for five minutes (from Studio 59A). CBS 2 also used slightly different graphic with the "Campaign 2000" logo on the left. This morning, there was no local morning news, just the updates on the :23s and :53s. The Early Show began at 7am.

Campaign 2000

This morning, CBS 2 used a different opening. First came a different CBS 2 Information Network animation, not the one normally used for the news openings. Then they used the Campaign 2000 animation with the CBS 2 logo underneath it. They also used the Campaign 2000 music. The first announcer said, "You're watching the CBS 2 Information Network..." and the second announcer said, "Now, Campaign 2000 from The News This Morning."

CBS Health Watch segment

Today on The News at 5:00, the "Health Watch" segment with reporter Paul Moniz was renamed to "CBS Health Watch". This change is most likely because cbs.healthwatch.com is one of the many sources of the CBS 2 Information Network. The animation is mostly the same, except the CBS Health Watch logo is used.

Interview Set Changed For Campaign 2000

Friday night, when The News at 11:00 had a special CBS 2/Court TV report, Stephen Clark introduced the story from the interview set, and then introduced Court TV reporter Helen Lucaitis, who did the story.

Now about the set, it appears as if the interview set changed the background to a "Campaign 2000" election background. It's a red and blue background, with white stars, and a few CBS eye logos.

Also, one more thing to note, the weekend edition of CBS 2 is called "The Weekend News" (before the change to the CBS 2 Information Network, it was called "NEWS 2 Weekend").

Campaign 2000 Coverage on CBS 2

Tuesday, November 7th is Election Day 2000! This morning, CBS 2 put their plans for Campaign 2000 coverage on their website. "Count on CBS for the most comprehensive on-air and on-line election night coverage anywhere." Every 90 seconds, the cbsnewyork.com website will report election results, right down to your county!

On television, the CBS 2 Information Network kicks off with The News This Morning and continues throughout the day. CBS News coverage begins at 7 pm, with CBS 2 providing local updates throughout the night, concluding with a special edition of The News at 11, anchored by Stephen Clark and Dana Tyler. CBS 2 will remain on the air until all major area races are decided. We'll call all of the presidential, Senate and key House races, as well as votes on key referenda.

(Thanks to David for sending in this information!)