In St. Louis, NBC-affiliate KSDK is set to unveil a new programming lineup that includes local news at 4:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. As Brian Stelter points out in The New York Times, KSDK is one of many stations across the country that are beefing up local programming and expanding their staffs.
Stelter lists three trends that have led to the gradual rebound of local TV: 1) advertisers have returned; 2) cable and satellite companies are ponying up retrans fees; 3) the downturn shook stations out of convention.
Here’s Stelter…
This is what the rebound in local television looks like. Three years after the business buckled under the weight of the advertising recession, the more popular stations in markets like St. Louis are adding newscasts and in some cases employees — though not as many as were dismissed during the downturn. (Full article)