When television news first went on the air, production was barebones. No graphics. No theme music. No teleprompters. Just a simple black-and-white picture and a broadcaster reading the headline.
Over the decades, each layer of technology added depth and authority. The arrival of teleprompters standardized delivery. Custom music themes—by composers like Frank Gari and Stephen Arnold—gave newscasts an identity. Stations invested in sleek sets, vibrant logos, and eye-catching graphics. Soon, every element of a broadcast was part of a carefully crafted brand, from the mic flags in the field to the satellite trucks on the road.
But beyond the polish, the mission of journalism has always been the same: inform the public. Local newscasts, in particular, became lifelines for communities—telling people what was happening in their neighborhoods, holding leaders accountable, and connecting audiences to the wider world.
Today, that mission faces new challenges. Newspapers have shuttered, leaving entire regions as “news deserts.” Local TV stations face shrinking budgets and smaller staffs, even as the demand for accurate, trusted news has never been greater. At the same time, everyone now carries a microphone in their pocket. Social media has flooded the information space, but not always with the same standards of accuracy and accountability that traditional newsrooms uphold.
That’s why production matters. A well-produced newscast isn’t just about clean graphics and sharp music cues—it’s about credibility, trust, and reaching people where they are.
And it’s why the next chapter matters, too. Just as earlier generations embraced music, graphics, and teleprompters, today’s producers face a tool designed to transform their workflow: AutoNewsProducer. By automating the most time-consuming tasks—building rundowns, writing scripts, formatting graphics—it gives producers back the one thing they never have enough of: time.
From the earliest broadcasts to today’s AI-powered workflows, one thing has remained constant: news adapts. The tools evolve. The mission never changes—tell the story, get it right, and get it on the air.
A look at the evolution of newscast opens over the years at KABC-TV, the ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, CA.
A look at various TV station newscast opens in Chicago, Illinois.
A look at the evolution of newscast opens over the years at KHOU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston, Texas.
A look at the evolution of newscast opens over the years at WSB-TV, the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia.
A look at the changes in newscast opens through the years at KOMO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Seattle, WA.
Hear how the sound of news music differs in other countries.
Click here for the definitive website with an archive of news music and newscast opens from different local TV stations.
Montage of several popular news music Themes from the 1980s by legendary TV News music composer Frank Gari.
Montage of several popular TV station jingles/promo/image theme songs with vocals from the 1980s by legendary TV News music composer Frank Gari.
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