New Look for News Channel 8
Posted by Paul Spingola, Director, Promotion & New Media on March 7th, 2010 at 10:10:58 pm, 2369 viewsIf you were watching the Academy Awards on News Channel 8, you probably saw a revealing new promo announcing a logo change "Coming Soon". Yes, after 14 years, the News Channel 8 logo will exit stage left around the end of April. So why the change? Did the News Channel 8 logo do something wrong? Not at all. The News Channel 8 logo has served us well, but just as the world has changed significantly over the last decade, so too has the way people consume their news.
No longer is local news only watched on tv. Digital products including mobile and online now often serve as either the primary or complementary choice for accessing news and information. In fact, a survey released March 1st by the Pew Research Center uncovered these two fascinating facts: 1) The internet has surpassed newspapers and radio in popularity as a news platform on a typical day and now ranks just behind TV, 2) 33% of cell phone owners now access news on their cell phones.
If that's the case, then the "Channel" element in the News Channel 8 logo no longer effectively represents everything we stand for. Over the past decade, WTNH has been a leader in bringing you the best local news coverage online at wtnh.com and more recently on the go to your mobile device. We’re now even on Twitter and Facebook, as well on your computer desktop through our new iPulse “widget”.
So, now is the time for a new logo that more clearly identifies our news, showcases the best places you can access our coverage, and represents our commitment to the bold, hard-hitting, "no bull" news coverage that you'll get no matter where you are.
We hope you like it as much as we do.
Exit, stage right
(WTNH) -- It seems I have been remiss in my duties and not written about two dear colleagues who have taken on new roles outside News Channel 8.
Anchor Changes at WTNH
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (February 11, 2010) -- Changes are coming to WTNH News Channel 8. Starting Monday, February 15th, there will be new anchors on every newscast produced by the television station.
A change in Style
With the coming change in season from autumn to winter, change is also in the works for our noon hour lifestyle show "Connecticut Style".
Regis and Kelly and Dr. Phil
For those of you who haven't seen the promos on WTNH/News Channel 8 and WFSB, there is a program switcheroo taking place next week.
The Readers Digest condensed version of the story that Regis and Kelly is contracted to air on WFSB for the upcoming season and WTNH/News Channel 8 has acquired Dr. Phil.
The change takes place starting at 9:00 a.m. August 24th.
New boss for WTNH/WCTX
News Channel 8 and MyTV9 have a new boss. An e-mail went out to the staff this morning announcing Mark Higgins as the Vice President, General Manager of WTNH-TV/WCTX-TV.
Health care program and protest
"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech ... or the right of the people peaceably to assemble...." That of course is an abbreviated version of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. We're seeing both of those elements played out today here at News Channel 8.
Now and then
No flashy ceremony, no champagne corks popping -- just a simple push of a button took WTNH and WCTX out of the analog era and solely into the digital broadcasting age.
Shortly before Noon WTNH/WCTX engineer Al Kacerguis pushed a small button on a giant piece of hardware and ended Channel 8's 174 kW Effective Radiated Power (ERP) analog signal.
Compare that to the early-1950s below, when our big Channel 6 WNHC transmitter put out 36 kW VHF signal.
Right now, with our digital transmitter, we are at the maximim power output currently allowed. If you're not seeing WTNH and you're not on cable or satellite, you may need to fiddle and adjust that antenna. The FCC has a nice DTV Reception Map where you can see what signals you should be able to receive free and over the air. Also check out AntennaWeb.org for a guide on getting the best reception. We have more information, links and a replay of our most recent online chat on WTNH.com.


