Usually this time of the year, local stations add, drop, or swap syndicated programming. This year so far has been a major shakeup not seen in years.
KATV finally dips its toe into syndicated HD fare, although their trio of long-time popular syndicated shows (
Wheel, Jeopardy, Oprah) remain mired in the SDTV purgatory.
KARK drops a one year experiment for 11am news, while Live With Regis And Kelly return to the Central Arkansas airwaves. Without further ado....
KARK (NBC--Nexstar)The Little Rock NBC affilate makes a few moves although its 7am-11am timeslots are occupied by NBC programming. Three hours of Today, plus the fourth hour of Today (the Hoda and Kathi Lee Gifford segment) make up most of KARK's morning programming. Rachel Ray (formerly seen on KATV 2007-2009) roosts in the 11am-12 noon time slot. Local news takes up the first Noon half hour followed by infomericals to round out the 12:30pm-1pm where NBC's remaining soap Days Of Our Lives takes over. No changes after 2pm. The Doctors (medical talk), Judge Joe Brown (2 episodes), and Judge Judy fill out the afternoon before KARK's 5pm newscast.
Gone: The Insider (to KARZ)New: Rachel Ray (from KATV)KATV (ABC--Albritton)
Change comes slowly to KATV in most things, and no huge shakeups here. The biggest news is that Oprah (4pm) and Jeopardy (11:30am) remain broadcast in SDTV despite both shows being produced and distributed in HDTV since 2008. If there is a weak spot in KATV's lineup, its the 3pm-4pm slot. Several shows have roosted here in past years, notably Martha and recently, Rachel Ray. Another Oprah spin off, Dr Oz debuts in its rookie season and is KATV's first syndicated HDTV show. However, the show that Dr Oz spun off of, Oprah remains broadcast in standard def to Central Arkansas. At least ABC shows Good Morning America, The View, and the soap General Hospital give HD viewers a reason to watch KATV.
Gone: Rachel Ray (to KARK)New: Dr Oz (first season) KTHV (CBS--Gannett)
KTHV has only one loss from its syndicated fare....the game show Deal Or No Deal moves to KARZ leaving infomericals in the 9:30am-10am time slot. There are plans for CBS to upgrade its network morning news show The Early Show to HDTV sometime this year. Also the long time CBS soap Guiding Light will air its last episode tomorrow (September 18) and replaced next month by a revial of Let's Make A Deal (via CBS). Both of KTHV's afternoon syndicated talk shows Dr Phil and Ellen are broadcast in HDTV.
Gone: Deal Or No Deal (to KARZ)KLRT (FOX--Newport)
KLRT has perhaps the biggest changes to their daytime lineup this season. Mornings from 6:00am-8:30am remain a jukebox of infomericals and E/I programming. Syndicated entertainment show Extra moves to KLRT from KASN and into mornings at 8:30am. Live With Regis And Kelly return to Central Arkansas after a 6 month absence. Live has made the rounds of several Little Rock stations in the past including an early run on KASN, and later KATV and KTHV before ending up on KWBF's morning lineup until the station was sold. Live was the only show not to make the transfer to the rechristened KARZ. Martha moves to 10am, while another KWBF-KARZ refugee The Bonnie Hunt Show takes the former 11am airing of Maury (which aired twice last season on KLRT).
Afternoons are another huge shakeup. After a absence in 2007-2008 Jerry Springer returned to its traditional noon time slot last season. Springer has been booted back two hours for the rookie talker The Wendy Williams Show (*not* the infamous 1980's shock rocker Wendy O Williams). 1-2pm is still in flux and Andy Griffith reruns pass the time between Williams and Springer. More trash talk at 3pm with Maury. Judge Mathis rounds out the afternoon at 4pm.
Gone: Steve Wilkos (to KARZ), Tyra Banks (to KASN)New: Live With Regis And Kelly (from the former KWBF), The Bonnie Hunt Show (from KARZ), The Wendy Williams Show (first season), Judge Mathis (also aired on KASN).KASN (The CW--Newport)
My closest UHF station (by transmitter location) continues a "court show" centric daytime lineup. The usual suspects are there: Judge Mathis, The Peoples Court, Divorce Court (2 airings at noon) between two airings of Judge Jeanine Pirro. The 3pm-5pm timeslot is simply "Tyralicious" as Tyra Bank's talk show airs a 3pm repeat and a new show @ 4pm. Tyra is a staple of the KASN daytime lineup and its only current talk show. The two airings of Tyra replace The CW's block of sitcoms that have aired since the The CW went live in 2006.
Gone: Judge David Young, The CW Sitcom block.KARZ (MyNetwork TV--Nexstar)
The Z's first full season of programming features some changes. The talkshows Bonnie Hunt, The Morning Show With Mike And Juliet are gone. KARZ drops the KLRT cast-off The Steve Wilkos show into the 9am timeslot with his form of tough love. KARZ is still an infomercial jukebox: the 6-9am as well as 10-11am, and 12pm-12:30pm, and 1pm-1:30 remain a wasteland of huxters. Among the shows remaining, Judge Alex gets 2 airings, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire gets a move into daytime, and Access Hollywood remain. The Insider moves from sister station KARK. The 4pm-5pm is the sitcom, The King Of Queens.
Gone: The Morning Show, Eye For An Eye, Bonnie Hunt (to KLRT), Live With Regis And Kelly (aired by KWBF until 2/09 --now to KLRT for 2009-2010 season).
New: The Insider (from KARK)
KARZ Little Rock AR broadcasting syndicated news/talk program, The Daily Buzz in SDTV/4x3 aspect ratio. The Daily Buzz debuted HD yesterday and KARZ broadcast the show in High Def, but its not the case this morning. Is Nexstar not wanting to have KARZ upstage its more established sister station KARK and its SDTV newscast? Or is The Daily Buzz on the chopping block to be replaced during the 6-7AM hour for infomercials? Stay tuned for further developments.
Yes, that is Kia Malone walking in the background on The Daily Buzz set. 