Most stations carry syndicated programming in the early evenings (“Chronicle’’ airs at 7:30 p.m.) because it is cheaper to broadcast reruns of sitcoms and game shows, splitting ad revenues with a national syndicate, than to assemble local talent and crew members to produce a program that will air on only one station.
That makes “Chronicle’’ “pretty unique,’’ said Bill Carroll, a TV station adviser at Katz Television Group in New York City. “It’s indicative of the Boston market and [Channel 5]’s ongoing commitment to localism.’’
It can cost a station $30,000 to $40,000 a week in license fees to carry a syndicated national program such as the quiz show “Jeopardy!’’ or “Wheel of Fortune,’’ Carroll said. “Chronicle’’ is owned outright by WCVB-TV, which declined to reveal how much it costs to produce. Housed at WCVB-TV’s studios in Needham, “Chronicle’’ has 22 staffers who produce 130 episodes a year. But because it does not share the costs of the show, the station also does not need to share any advertising revenues it generates.
In the Boston ratings, the show jockeys between first and second place against “Jeopardy!’’ on WBZ-TV (Channel 4). “Chronicle,’’ which averages about 200,000 viewers, also competes with national entertainment show “Extra’’ and reruns of “The Simpsons.’’
“ ‘Chronicle’ is the little local show that can,’’ said Bill Fine, president and general manager of WCVB. “It routinely beats most of the [other] shows.’’
“Chronicle’’ has been a consistent revenue generator and adds value to the station’s brand, Fine said. “The beauty of ‘Chronicle’ is more than just the revenue the show generates. It’s really a break in the day.’’
