KSN Changes

Thanks again to the comment about noticing Paul Petite live out at a shooting last night and not behind the desk. I kind of noticed it, but in someways I didn't. I guess it proves that I was growing tired of the act on KSN. I still wonder if the change is permanent. I went to the KSN website and if you click on his name he is listed now as a "Reporter/Anchor" where Anita is listed solely as an "Anchor." Maybe for Paul this always was the case, because if you read in his bio, it still lists him as a 10PM anchor. On the other hand, maybe they haven't updated the bio, yet. I must admit I have made my comments known in the past that I don't care for Paul behind the desk. After the fact last night, and the more I thought about how it, I like Paul reporting in the field with breaking news such as the shooting. I must say I thought he did a real fine job. Then Tonight at 10PM, he was reporting and I was reminded why I don't like his on air presence. It wasn't a breaking news story and his reporting live tonight was more of the song and dance you see at 5PM and not as authentic. Maybe he needs to head to KAKE and do nothing but breaking news. He'd do good live on the scene stories and probably be one of their best (and that isn't a slam to KAKE's current reporters). Next question would be is KSN now looking for a new co-anchor to join Anita or would they go back to Anita being solo? I seemed to remember they have done this before only to go back to adding an anchor after a period of time. If they are or ever do add a co-anchor with Anita, whoever takes the job might want to be leery because those who have joined her the past few trials haven't lasted long term next to her.

But the move of Paul off of the 10PM anchor desk, must have been only the beginning of the changes for KSN. I noticed things a little different at the beginning of the newscast with the introduction and all last night, but thought it might just be do to the weather watches and warnings. Another comment Today suggested I go to the KSN website and look at a blog by Jason Kravarik. (It has since been taken down.) I'll take the phrasing as a commenter quoted it from earlier in the day, "you'll get a new segment called, 'Weather First,' right off the top even before the news starts." The blog continued "it's because people constantly tell us that weather is the most important reason you turn into our newscast." With this in mind watching the newscast at 10PM you can definitely see a philosophy of Dave, Dave, and more Dave. I am curious if people (what people) told them they like weather as a whole or if they specifically said KSN weather. Then in the middle of the newscast Tonight after a story about damage from last night storms, Dave and Anita suddenly started what seemed like a version of "Coffee Talk," (lets call it "Latte Talk" because of it being 10PM at night) talking about the severity of last night's weather. Just when you thought he was going to show tonight's weather again (he had just lead the show with a quick forecast of tomorrow) the bit ended and they went on with the show. He was merely brought in to talk about the weather with Anita, without maps. Will that continue every night? Maybe they needed to move Paul off to make room for more Dave on the desk? I don't think it is just irony that Paul's move to a 10PM reporting position and a new increased weather emphasis happens at the same time. It must be KSN's latest, in a long line of efforts to improve ratings. I'd be curious what sort of odds this would get of working at a Vegas casino.

That now leads me to the poll question. If you were in charge at KSN what on-air cosmetic change would you make. I know they already have made a change with Paul, but lets say that hadn't happened yet. I'm leaving Jim out of the equation because since I started this blog I have only had a few times where his name has been brought up. Please vote, only once. -Hal