TVNewsCheck
The chairman of the NBC affiliates board yesterday praised the network for its decision to move The Jay Leno Show out of primetime at 10 o’clock, a slot where the show’s weak ratings are hurting the late newscasts of affiliates that immediately follow and that count on a strong lead-in from network programming.
“This is a great move for the affiliates, the network and, most importantly, the viewers,” Mike Fiorile said in a prepared statement released at the TCA press tour after NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin confirmed that Leno was out at 10 o’clock.
Fiorile, CEO of the Dispatch Broadcast Group, which owns WTHR, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, also thanked NBC for being responsive to the needs of the affiliates. “We admire their willingness to innovate, and their willingness to change course when it didn’t work for us.
“We were delighted to collaborate on the launch of the 10 p.m. show, and we look forward to continuing to work with [NBCU] CEO Jeff Zucker and the entire network leadership team as we set a new direction, build on our long history together and contribute to the impressive legacy of NBC.” More…