UPDATED: KOHD Bend Outlines Streamlined News Strategy

Brief news "updates" match viewer trend in "uncertain times"

By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/5/2010 12:13:57 PM

KOHD Bend (Ore.), which is replacing its newscasts with shorter news "updates", says it's simply adapting to the evolving habits of its viewers. The Chambers-owned station will air its last traditional newscast at 11 p.m. March 5, and 14 staffers are departing.

"A news team will remain at KOHD, providing solid local coverage for the Bend market with news and weather updates--both on-air and online--throughout the day," GM Jerry Upham said on KOHD.com. "These updates will air more frequently than the current long form shows, including reports every half hour in the morning, weather updates every hour during the day and news updates again in the evening at 5, 6 and 7 p.m.

KOHD will also air a 10 minute mini-news at 11 p.m.

The ABC affiliate's break from traditional-length newscasts was previously reported on the media blog Oregon Media Central.

KOHD is relatively new to the local news game in DMA No. 189, launching its product in high def in September 2007. Management said viewer interest has not been enough to sustain the costs of full-scale news gathering. "Changes to the local television landscape in Central Oregon, and the broadcast industry overall, have been significant during the last three years," KOHD said in a statement. "The ripple effects of the worst economic conditions since The Great Depression have dramatically impacted advertisers and due to the high start-up costs associated with bringing a fully high definition station to market, KOHD has been especially hard hit." 

Besides KOHD and KEZI, Chambers Communications owns Oregon stations KDRV in Medford and KDKF in Klamath Falls.

Upham says KOHD will not be a bureau for sister station KEZI Eugene.

Upham saluted the 14 departing KOHD staffers. "We thank each of them for all that they have done on behalf of the station," he said. "We also want to thank those viewers and advertisers who have supported the station's efforts. We will continue to keep them top of mind as we take these necessary steps to maintain station operations during these challenging and uncertain economic times."