Watching CBS's New News Now

CBS is trying its hand at hubbing a newscast.

The network launched a series of new hybrid, national-local newscasts across the country starting yesterday.

CBS launched 10 new newscasts, all branded around the word “Now,” in markets across the country in either the 9 or 10 p.m. local timeslot.

A former Seattle newsie watched the “Now” product and gives his review.

In other words, he watched, so you don’t have to.

Opening block ran 11 minutes, local news for first 7 minutes, then switched fully to national material.   

Main anchors, Anne Makovec from KPIX San Fran and Tom Hanson (bios indicate he works for CBSN, the net's streamer).

Darren Peck did weather and he is a former KING 5 weather freelancer 

Anthony Monzon, most recently of KIMT, Rochester, MN, did the lead package on King County WA Covid.  He is not shown as a member of KIMT's news team any longer, so must be local here now.  Did a standup from Seattle location.

The first segment was predominately voiceovers, with the exception of the Covid package and an anchor package voiced by Hanson on the Uvalde report.

Second block started with 'Crime and Punishment' package from Andrea Lucia from KTVT, CBS Dallas, and had Dallas homicide info/stats only.  No relevance to Seattle or WA.   It ran almost five minutes including anchor ins and outs, including a tease on the series continuing, next with a report from Chicago.

Third segment was another weathercast with Peck.

Fourth segment....Europe heat wave led the block and a toss to a CBS Dallas meteorologist (Collin Myers) for a report on high heat and wildfires in the U.S.

In the second half-hour, there was an Anne Makovec rehash of the Seattle news block that opened the program.  Then a Seattle sports report anchored by Charlie Walter out of San Fran, which  had ZERO news about Julio Rodriguez second place finish in the Home Run Derby.  Very bad look and a tipoff that the show is all canned stuff.  Old sports news from the weekend.  Weather followed again with Peck....full replay of previous segment.  Then, a toss to Brittany Rainey, another meteorologist from CBS Dallas with a deeper dive into causes of US/Europe heat waves.

Next segment, health package voice by anchor Hanson and a week long series begins on Money issues

Next segment, full weather again, followed by a nightly segment on 'The Power of Hope.'    Puhleeze.

Five weather hits....new indoor record???

It was what it was....choppy, generic and cheap looking.