Scripps Pulling Back on The Now
/Speaking of Scripps....
Sources tell FTVLive that in a budget move, Scripps is changing their show "The Now" from a locally produced show to a nationally produced show.
FTVLive FIRST told you about The Now back in July 2014.
The Now was launched about two years ago on a number of Scripps stations. The show is an hour and was to be about what was happening "now" with viewer interaction and up to the minute news.
The show has been struggling in the ratings. Sources tell FTVLIve that starting Today the show will now be produced in Denver and the segments will be fed to the stations in the afternoon. Locally there will be cut-ins throughout the hour, but about 75% of the show will be national content.
A number of Scripps stations hired some staff for the show, but with it moving to a national show, many of those people are being laid off.
As FTVLive has been telling you, layoffs have been going on throughout Scripps, including about 30 people at corporate and each station has been reducing staff across the board including behind the scenes and not replacing people who leave.
Regarding The Now, this move to a national show with the local staff laid off is exactly what happened with Scripps "The List". Local staff was hired and then about two years later, that staff was laid off and the show was produced nationally.
Another Scripps show, "Pickler & Ben" has been renewed for a second year, but the ratings have been very bad, except in Nashville where the show is produced.
You can expect that show to not have a third year.
Stay tuned...
