Mid-Michigan Now

[autolab]

It appears that Fox66 may be changing it's name. Go to midmichigannow.com and it brings you to the WSMH web page. Wonder when the new name will take place? Why would they go away from their network affiliation?

[organman95]

It appears that Fox66 may be changing it's name. Go to midmichigannow.com and it brings you to the WSMH web page. Wonder when the new name will take place? Why would they go away from their network affiliation?

Doubtful an affiliation change. WFQX was changed to "Local 32" but still has the FOX affiliation.

[Luke]

Fox 66 changing its name? EXTREMELY unlikely.

This is nothing more than an effort to develop a digital brand, not unlike "clickondetroit.com" or "upnorthlive.com."

They did it in Dayton. https://dayton247now.com

[organman95]

Exactly. In Dayton, one news operation covers two stations - ABC 22 and Fox 45. These stations still ID as "ABC 22" and "Fox 45" on air, including during newscasts.

Because the news operation is unified, it makes sense to direct all web traffic to one web site instead of having two, separate web sites.

Same with WPBN/WTOM & WGTQ/WGTU. "UpNorthLive" One umbrella, but still different stations.

[Luke]

Looks like they may be updating to the new Sinclair graphics package too. https://nbc25news.com/news/local/a-new- ... chigan-now

[audiophile]

I'll be damned. So the branding is going to be used both for their digital assets *and* for the on-air newscasts.

I do not like the move as far as the on-air product goes. All it will do is create viewer confusion. Plus, it sounds extremely gimmicky.

Which is hilarious because after the NBC25 morning show, the anchors say “We’re heading over to FOX.” I guess continuing to sit where you currently are with a different graphics package means you are physically moving.

Exactly. It sounds very weird for them to say that.

[DAC]

I'll be damned. So the branding is going to be used both for their digital assets *and* for the on-air newscasts.

I do not like the move as far as the on-air product goes. All it will do is create viewer confusion. Plus, it sounds extremely gimmicky.

Which is hilarious because after the NBC25 morning show, the anchors say “We’re heading over to FOX.” I guess continuing to sit where you currently are with a different graphics package means you are physically moving.

Exactly. It sounds very weird for them to say that.

It doesn't sound that weird to me, but that may be because I'm a sports fan who is accustomed to the beginning of some games being "bumped" to other networks if other games run long; i.e., Yesterday's MSU football game was scheduled to be on FS1, but due to an earlier game running long, the first 8 minutes or so of the game was on Fox Business Channel. When they said "we're moving over to FS1, it didn't seem unnatural to me.. Saw plenty of that during the baseball playoff's too, as overlapping games on TBS were temporarily bumped to TNT for the same purpose. However, I will concede that it wold be weird to say something like that in a situation where the current channel has programming following that you'd assume they want the majority of the audience to watch.

[Luke]

Talk about overanalyzing the crap out of something. Is it really that big of a deal?

[organman95]

Not much of a difference from previous from what I can tell. Except for the opening. I like that.

[Realist]

Not much of a difference from previous from what I can tell. Except for the opening. I like that.

Thinking it’s a Sinclair mandated thing given the “UpNorth Live” at their 7&4 stations in Traverse City.

[Herm]

Not much of a difference from previous from what I can tell. Except for the opening. I like that.

Thinking it’s a Sinclair mandated thing given the “UpNorth Live” at their 7&4 stations in Traverse City.

I think “UpNorth Live” was started while they were still owned by Barrington.

[organman95]

Not much of a difference from previous from what I can tell. Except for the opening. I like that.

Thinking it’s a Sinclair mandated thing given the “UpNorth Live” at their 7&4 stations in Traverse City.

I think “UpNorth Live” was started while they were still owned by Barrington.

I don't think so. If memory serves, it was right after Sinclair bought the stations.