First Katie, now the Internet.
The CBS Evening News, the lowest rated evening network news broadcast, made headlines a few months ago when it announced that longtime Today Show host Katie Couric would take over the anchor desk in September. While the reception to the announcement was mixed, it certainly generated attention.
Now, CBS will become the first network to simulcast the nightly news on the Internet, a move that in our opinion could do more for viewership than Ms. Couric.
However, this raises more questions on the constantly changing media landscape. For example:
- Network and local newscasts have always played off of one another to bolster rating for the local affiliates, and local news is usually one of the largest expenses of a local station's budget. Will this move add viewers that weren't watching at all (and expand the audience) or cannibalize the local stations?
- The shows will also be available for on-demand download after the broadcast. The on-demand showings, according to reports, will not show commercials. Will viewers choose to wait an hour and watch the broadcast commercial-free, or choose instead the simulcast?
- The news can often provide a lead-in to other programming, either syndicated, local or that evening's network line-up. If viewers move from the CBS Evening News to YouTube instead, what will that mean from a line-up standpoint?
An interesting move, and one that will be interesting to watch in the coming months.
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