WMAR-TV cancels newscast, moves 'Square Off'
WMAR-TV (Channel 2) will cancel its 6:30 p.m. Sunday newscast next month replacing it with Richard Sher's public affairs show "Square Off." which now airs Sunday mornings. It is the latest in a series of moves that Baltimore's ABC affiliate has made in the last year to reposition its news programs in the market.
"We have been thrilled with 'Square Off' so far, but feel that its current time period is hurting the potential success of the show," Bill Hooper, general manager of WMAR, said in email response to questions about the move. "We want to counter program our competition with strong local community oriented programming and 'Square Off' is the perfect answer. Richard Sher has brought in a 'who's who' of panel guests to discuss today's many issues. This will start on December 6th, and run until further notice."
Hooper said the station will continue to produce an 11 p.m. newscast on Sundays.
Sher said he is happy about the move, which will give "Square Off" two plays on Sundays during December -- one at 9:30 a.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m. In January, it will start airing in its new 6:30 p.m. time period only.
"My partner, Howard Maleson, and I are thrilled that ABC2 Vice President and General Manager, Bill Hooper is moving 'Square Off 'to 6:30 p.m. Sunday evenings beginning in December," Sher said in an email. "The early success of the 'Square Off' revival is proof positive that Baltimore television viewers have long missed this local, often heated, discussion of issues. We are overwhelmed by the response and cannot thank Billy and Hassan Murphy and The Murphy Firm enough for being our major sponsor."
Comments
Gosh, first WMAR axes the sportscaster, then the Sunday broadcast...MaryBeth, you might be reading news alone from a broom closet soon!
Posted by: Kathy D | November 10, 2009 7:37 AM
I grew up on the old Square Off and remember it to be a real 15 'Rounder, just like the old Conference Call on WFBR... I caught the show last week, and it was pretty lame by comparison. And please, don't give us Kendel Ehrlich as your token conservative... Another week of that and I will may as well tune into MSNBC...
Posted by: Toastmaster | November 10, 2009 11:15 AM
Is this the same Richard Sher who co hosted "People Aren't Watching" ?
Where is Charlie Eckman when you need him?
Posted by: Kelly | November 10, 2009 2:53 PM
Richard and Management should cancel all the news and really be orgasmic. They are way too excited over what Z too nicely and rather naively describes as Channel 2's "repositioning" of its news programs.
That's the first time I've been described as being "too nice" lately -- I'll tell you that. Z
Posted by: BobEsq | November 10, 2009 2:54 PM
As I mentioned before (here?) I'm very surprise that many people watch local news. Usually the info is old, the presentation is poor and stretched out with numerous teasers but little real content and too much goof ball banter.
...
Posted by: rich | November 10, 2009 4:48 PM
Jeez, man, why doesn't Scripps sell WMAR to another company, like BELO or Media General? If Scripps keeps WMAR, it might end up like WTWC-TV in Tallahassee Florida; a station with no full length newscast.
Posted by: RM | November 10, 2009 8:55 PM
"People Aren't Watching"
LOL! Good one!
Posted by: Larson | November 11, 2009 10:05 AM