Waking up to Denver morning TV news

[Colorado Media Newsroom]

From The Denver Post:



There’s a new unease in the mornings on Denver TV news. A scrambled anchor team, a crazy new set and enough fluff to send you screaming to cable for actual news.

The big, empty 7News set, a display of video technology on multiple screens, looks big and empty. When I walked around it in person, I hoped it would play better on camera. It doesn’t, and the anchors appear awkward moving from one spot to another. Does standing without an anchor chair add anything? It’s a distraction. This is KMGH’s first big set redesign in 15 years so maybe we’ll get used to it. In terms of tone, Channel 7 is the speed racer — at night as well as in the morning — sacrificing depth to volume. Anne Trujillo keeps things solid while eager newcomer Eric Kahnert pushes to break through. Weather, traffic, weather, traffic. If you don’t have a smart phone or a radio, you might need that.

The still congealing staff on 9News, formerly the unbeatable team fronted by Kyle Dyer, is trying to regain their mojo. Work-horse Gary Shapiro attempts to hold things together with trooper Cheryl Preheim, while former cheerleader and dancer Corey Rose and well-traveled TV vet Marty Coniglio take turns*When you build a newsroom around big personalities rather than, say, content, it hurts when a popular anchor leaves. (Speaking of which, Becky Ditchfield returned Friday after maternity leave.)

Elsewhere, Fox31 does well with what it does: down and dirty crime stories, lots of hustle, a youthful presentation and not too much thinking.

CBS4 is fast on the street, less concerned with packing a dozen stories into every five minutes, accustomed to delivering a more traditional newscast and sticking with basic principles (ie. it’s not all about the personalities).

The ratings for September 2014 show 9News still on top but by decreasing margins compared to years past, particularly among younger viewers, while 7News has made significant gains.

In the most relied upon news demo, viewers age 25-54, from 6-7 a.m. counting 8/28 through 9/24/2014, 9News blows away the competition with a 1.4 rating and 15.7 share (or percent of the viewing audience). 7News is second with a 0.8 rating and 9 share. Fox31 is third with a 0.5 rating, 6 share.

But look at the younger crowd: Among 18-49-year-olds, 6-7 a.m., 9News draws a 0.9 rating and 12.2 share, 7News is next with a 0.7 rating, 10.2 share. Fox31 is next with “Good Day Colorado” pulling a 0.5 rating, 7.5 share.

We’ll see if the new personality mix at 9News settles into a morning show, and whether the new 7News set ends up helping or hurting.

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