Tegna has been introducing new websites for its station group that include a simplified look that de-emphasizes color coding each section. The new design sheds the previous look that was based on a design created for Gannett’s newspaper USA Today, dating back to when Gannett served as the parent company for both newspapers and television stations.
Diversification: Broadcasting’s New Alter Ego
TV station groups are realizing that broadcasting is no longer enough — that, while it may be a solid business, it is no longer a great growth business. So they are looking to reinvent themselves by moving into new businesses like digital media and programming that can provide some upside.
A new TVB analysis finds that people sought emergency weather information from local TV stations’ digital platforms in record numbers during recent East Coast and Midwest blizzards.
Exclusives
The new website is designed to serve advertisers, investors, employment candidates and business partners/vendors. Later this year, the company’s stations will all get site redesigns.
Its TV station local news websites double unique visitors to 90 million. In addition, Tribune’s local broadcast sites steadily grew total unique visitors from quarter to quarter throughout 2014, according to Google Analytics.
The new responsive design is optimized across desktops, connected TVvs, tablets and smartphones.
A select number of Gannett stations have debuted new websites that use the same look and feel as its parent company’s flagship newspaper USA Today.
Gannett Co. is near completing the rollout of more than 100 revamped local newspaper and TV station websites as it seeks to drive audience growth amid heightened competition. The changes — including cleaner design, improved navigation and more video — are intended to entice readers and advertisers alike.
LIN Eyeing More Sites, More Mobile, OTT
LIN Media, known as LIN Television until last April, has moved beyond its TV roots and is aggressively pursuing local online and mobile media. As part of its digital strategy, LIN operates three websites in many of its 17 markets: a news-and-information site, an entertainment news site and a political news site, and is planning to introduce a local culture and lifestyles site. Robb Richter, SVP of new media, says the proliferation of local sites and related mobile apps will continue, and the company soon will jump into over-the-top television.
