CBS News Atlanta starts next Monday at 6 and 11pm, fronted by Jobina Fortson-Evans (from WANF) in CBS’ VR setup.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution even has the pilot photos in their report (region-locked):
Morning forecast inserts started last month.
Meanwhile, CBS Mornings is moving out of Time Square on the 29th.
Two major breakfast shows vanished away from Times Square.
Manhattan rents are no joke. Ask me how I know.
Purely speculative, but I wonder what the future holds for CNN and CBS News 24/7 if the Paramount acquisition of WB goes ahead? Wonder if one brand would prevail?
CNN on CBS?
CBS News Network.
Like CBCNN in Canada but one letter changed and much lower ratings.
(Of course that name will go down like a lead balloon with local stations.)
And now, the first editions…
The different virtual surroundings for sports looks cool - thought it was original, but it came from their Miami sister. Weather is probably the weakest link, as they’re pre-recorded remotely at the moment.
News wise, I like that community input idea - they can look at Sacramento for more segments along the same lines. There’s quite a lot of small news headlines though, not sure if that’s typical of US local news or them really emphasise they’re ‘on the streets’?
The behind the scenes, as featured on CBS Mornings:
Surprised how small and makeshift the newsroom is.
Speaking of Mornings, the streaming-only morning news has moved into the Evening News set, with the background graphics modelling after that.
The beige and orange looks more subtle than the usual bright orange. The on-screen titles and supers now feel more like a mishmash - wonder how they’ll mix the new EN-esque style with the existing Mornings one.
Last day for CBS Mornings from Times Square - some sneak peeks of the new set from the show and WCBS:
The main desk design looks dated, but otherwise a warm and bright setup. Can imagine the backdrop is doing a lot of heavy lifting to make the studio look bigger.
Meanwhile, the Detroit team is apparently “getting answers” - right at the start of their bulletins:
Apparently, it was a new editorial intiative that started earlier this month:
CBS Mornings news intro and set:
KIRO-TV - CBS Mornings 7 AM West Coast open & new set launch (September 29, 2025)
Set, music and GFX all look great. The lower thirds during teases/openings look fantasitc, are they new? A much stronger positive vibe than I ever remember before.
Meh. I guess it’s all fine, but they have almost completely concealed all of the character that studio had before. It had real brick, nice hardwood floors, a contemporary and versatile table, good lighting, and even a real streetside window. It wasn’t the grandest studio, but it was certainly something that nobody else hald.
Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I really do like a hard set with unique elements instead of the “video walls and virtual backdrops everywhere” trend that every network is now doing. This design may be from 2012, but I think it held up really well and didn’t need to be overhauled so much:
I quite like it to be honest. I do feel it needs more physical elements though.
One of my main gripes with it, is the home base backdrop is not logical. The design of it appears to be acting as a room extension, but the bottom screen border ruins it as does the way the screen is just cut off at the sides. I get what they are trying to do but it comes off poor
As well as that, the elements I saw of “bookcases etc” those only work if you have the correct VR extension set enabled like they do at abc. Example, the backdrop tracks with the camera to give real life perspective. Flat fake bookcase backdrops etc just don’t work, it may also aid in fixing the home base backdrop as well.
Overall though it’s a nice look.
Semi related. Here’s a good video about the Cronkite map that was featured on that set.
Agreed - watching on their streamer last night, the throw from Morning News to… a CBS-branded backlot??? was much less impressive than Times Square.
The location difference also mattered, but the screens could maybe be more mobile to split and reveal the view behind, something like curved tracks like cameras?
I also felt like the older desk could look better, but roundtable feels more breakfast-esque, I guess…
FWIW, Plus also took the new package with more muted trumpets. Think the watermark is a bit large, bit otherwise looking good:
I still prefer the previous version of studio 57 used by CBS News 24/7. The new one looks too busy and orange.
Funny enough that’s their actual studio the rest of CBS News headquarters on W 57th St.