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Yay, Cindy has returned to the ariwaves as of today at noon! So glad it was just a long break, which we are all entitled to.

Thank goodness! She’s the best.

Scripps has denied Sinclair’s proposal to buy them.

Not sure if this is the best thread to put this but I'm unaware of one more relevant. It might be time for PBS to seriously rethink its spending at the corporate level - and beyond just talking about it. High-level corporate employees are receiving rather high salaries for what is legally a non-profit organization. The CEO of PBS received over a million dollars in 2023. That is completely unsustainable. If you're running a non-profit, I don't have a problem with you receiving a pay proportional to the work you're doing. And certainly as a CEO you deserve to be paid as you've worked hard to get to that position. But over a million dollars just in one year? I'm not sure under what circumstances that would ever be considered appropriate levels of pay for a nonprofit educational TV network - with or without Federal funding. It certainly won't solve the shortfall induced by losing Federal funds. But if PBS cuts spending at the corporate office to something more appropriate, maybe they won't need to charge as much to its member stations.

First reported by The Wrap.

So happy to see Cindy back. I think I'm not alone in saying that I was growing increasingly concerned. Cindy brings so much light and warmth to Channel 2's airwaves and the station is instantly better with her there.

Even then, WPVI's isn't bad. They devoted way too much space for weather, and the opposite side stand-up is also large, to the point where the main desk area seemed like an afterthought.

This current set was really good the best in the O&O group I’m honestly gonna miss it. WPVI probably the worst in the group right now. I definitely don’t like it.

Paramount has a rebuttal.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warner-bros-rejects-paramount-hostile-offer-bidding-war-1236446771/ Here's the link for those of us who like the full story and details.

Today was Tony's last day on CBS Mornings.

They simulated the CRT TV wall until recently in software. Haven't seem do it since they upgrade to a seameless LED wall. Ditto on the lighting. They all use those LED panels with 7500K light that looks like hospital lighting. Current anchor desk is separate, it only looks like part of the plex on air because you can't see the walls holding the glass panels behind the anchors. In Render #1 you see the anchor desk sitting in what is called 'News Studio', a ~2700 sq ft area slitghtly bigger than the current WSVN plex. Most/a lot of the standup areas will be in that space, and will probably look 'conventional' with prop sets that aren't physically part of newsroom like the current 'Sattelite Center' is, or the standup area opposite it. Not rendered on the left, is the weather office and green screen. Behind the anchors you see about 2/3 of the 'Newsplex' space (~6400 sq ft or larger), there's another 40ft running down to the right that is filled with desks. In Render #2 you see some that space below. And it is accurate there is no wrap around mezzanine floor like WSVN/WHDH currently have. The LED wall is a divider, behind it you can peak the 6 new anchor offices. That 2nd floor spot is just a careve out from an office space, it's quite a trek from downstairs so it might not make appearance during live newscasts much. There is no direct access to the plex floor like there is now. They're moving almost everyone who works on the live show into the plex space with their own desks, including assignment desk. Tldr; there will be a newsplex-like space with a standup at the LED wall, but overall not as we know it at WSVN, or WHDH.

Our veterans are going! Was this Elloitt's choice or CBS cuts? I love that CBS News Miami showed clips of his time at Local 10, and didn't just whitewash it by saying he used to work at "another local tv station" .

Let's hope the new set is a little more WABC and a less WPVI.

Hunt Valley loses again! I think their failed Tribune deal blacklisted them.

Seems about reich for them.

Thank ya, Marvin.

NBC Nightly News reporter Rehema Ellis is retiring. Realizing how long she was at the network, I had a feeling this move was coming soon. I love her deep warm reporting voice. Excellent story teller.

What a loss this is, he’s a titan in Texas broadcasting. Generations of Texas families, mine included, have heard the news from Dave Ward over his 50 year broadcasting history at channel 13. The station has been a shell of its former self since he stepped down. RIP Dave Ward. “Good evening, friends.”

Jennifer McLogan is stepping back from her daily reporting duties but according to Kristine Johnson she's not retiring. Before she was interrupted by Kristine, Jennifer said she hoped to be able to report at least two to three days a week. I questioned if this is fully Jennifer's choice given what's going on at CBS.

My uploads have entered this period on my Youtube channel (@TVAndStuffYT) Several one-offs from a cross-country trip in 2008 that had stops in Columbus, Ohio; Charlotte, NC; and Charleston. WV. Also, some stations were beginning to go HD so I have the first newscasts from WEAR, WPMI and WKRG from those dates. These were on DVD and mini-DV (which is a little riskier 20 years later. One tape was already eaten, but it's something that should be on YouTube otherwise (Ted Henry's last show from WEWS). To record on the road, I had my GL2 camcorder and one of those LG converter boxes with a directional UHF antenna. I forget how I was able to get analog cable into it, but I had to pivot to it in Charleston when I encountered major reception issues with WVAH. I have another batch of newscasts from 2014 from Mobile/Pensacola...those are on a DVR but still recorded in SD. Stay tuned!

If there's any consolation, hopefully he's living it up with Marvin Zindler right now... RIP to a legend.

RIP to Houston legend Dave Ward. https://abc13.com/post/dave-wards-life-legacy-newsman-abc13/6127424/

After 27 years at KRON, Darya Folsom out https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/bay-area-morning-news-anchor-off-air-21237781.php

ITS OFFICIAL. TUDUM: IT'S OFFICIAL. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-warner-bros-deal-hollywood-1236443081/

And for my subscribers on YouTube (TVandStuff), I revised all the prior uploads so now they're better quality. I bought a crappy S-video to HDMI converter on YouTube that made the video levels out of whack, so I devised a better solution. For the Charleston-Huntington uploads.. I don't know if it was the stations themselves or Time Warner Cable in Athens Ohio that made them look so awful. Those stations were fed via antenna to the head end. Columbus stations were fed via fiber to Time Warner's hub at the time after Spring of 2001 (You can see the quality in the WCMH and WSYX uploads from 2000). At the time, I had access to WOUB, all the major affiliates from Charleston-Huntington, and 4, 6 and10 from Columbus since Athens was part of the Charleston-Huntington Market at the time. Nowadays, Spectrum carries WSAZ, WCHS and WQCW, and all of the Columbus stations (including WTTE along with "Fox 28") aside from WOSU and WWHO since Athens is now part of the Columbus DMA.

Morning anchor Jim Donovan has announced he will retire after 20+ years at KYW and nearly 40 years in TV news. His final broadcast is on December 19. https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/video/jim-donovan-announces-retirement-after-more-than-20-years-with-cbs-news-philadelphia/

So, a couple of days ago, news broke out from Huntville, Alabama where multiple news outlets (including WAFF, WHNT and WZDX) are reporting that, starting October 1st, The Alabama Educational Television Commission-owned station WLRH is dropping NPR for local programming.

There's no variation in the voice and an improper read of tone (either too excited or as flat as a Sunrise Semester professor) unless you really prompt the thing to death; ABC did the same thing with their Rob Reiner special promo yesterday, which was very noticable as that voice had no care or emotion within it, like it was reading a roofing ad rather than a program with both a sympathetic and questioning tone. Here's the KTVX example.

And it will be Katie Pavlich replacing Banfield at 10 p.m. in early 2026 to spew more republican bias into an already low-rated cable news channel. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsnationnow.com/press/katie-pavlich-joins-newsnation-as-10-p-m-et-primetime-host/amp/

Sad to hear-- wonder how his longtime evening edition co-anchor Shara Fryer is reacting.

We just lost the greatest anchorman Houston has ever had, and one of the greatest anchormen this country has ever had. He needs no introduction, but in case one is required, former longtime KTRK anchor Dave Ward has died. He was 86 but spent 50 years as Houston's anchorman. RIP Dave. And for one more time, just for you, Dave, from me... Good evening, friend. https://abc13.com/post/dave-wards-life-legacy-newsman-abc13/6127424/

Legendary KTRK evening anchor Dave Ward has passed away.

Former legendary KOMO anchor and reporter Bryan Johnson has died after a brief illness. He was 89. https://komonews.com/news/local/legendary-komo-news-reporter-seattle-icon-bryan-johnson-passes-away-at-89

Overdue in mentioning the passing of longtime WFRV meteorologist Tom Mahoney several days ago, at the age of 75. https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/former-wfrv-meteorologist-tom-mahoney-passed-away-he-was-75/

Former ABC News correspondent, later at KGTV and weekly columnist Barrett media, Jim Avila passed away aged 69. https://abcnews.go.com/US/jim-avila-former-longtime-abc-news-senior-correspondent/story?id=127481726

Unfortunately, we lost Geoff Fox. Former radio personality, longtime meteorologist in Connecticut at WTNH and WTIC but also for NCN: NewsChannel Nebraska. Passed away last night in his sleep after battling prostate cancer. He was 75. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-haven/former-news-8-meteorologist-geoff-fox-dies-after-cancer-battle/amp/

Jerry Taff is departed now at 85... https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2025/10/27/longtime-wisn-12-milwaukee-anchor-jerry-taff-dies-at-85/86938165007/

Mary Ann Wilson, registered nurse and host of ‘Sit and Be Fit,’ dies at 87

Bob Trumpy, former NBC Sports commentator, among other things, is now departed at 80. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46817999/bob-trumpy-ex-bengals-te-broadcaster-dies-80 Screenshot from 1982 Orange Bowl DVD of Trumpy:

We now have our first major actual shutdown of a public broadcasting outlet as a result of these cuts: Penn State's WPSU-TV-FM. They've just rejected a proposal to transfer the stations' licenses over to WHYY Philadelphia. Instead, they'll close by June 30th, 2026.

Several stories this week of layoffs, including WETA's announcement today. I've been trying to track best I can and here's what I have come up with from the past year or so. Big asterisk as I used ChatGPT to build a table, hoping it kept the integrity of the data. I know I am missing some as well. WETA (DC) — $17.5M CPB (12% of $140M revenue) → 21 staff (12 layoffs + 9 vacant) KQED (San Francisco) — $7.6M CPB (6.6% of revenue) → ~86 positions (45 layoffs, 12 buyouts, 10 vacancies, plus earlier 19+11) GBH (Boston) — ~7–8% of revenue from CPB → ~67–71 positions (45 + 13 + 9 across rounds) PBS North Carolina — $4.8M CPB (10.2% of $41.1M revenue) → ~25% staff reduction target (~14 vacancies + buyouts) Kentucky Educational Television (KET) — $4.2M CPB (19% of $21.7M revenue) → 36 positions (15 layoffs + 21 vacant) TPT (Minnesota) — $4.3M CPB (8.3% of revenue) → layoffs unspecified South Dakota PB — $2.2M CPB (20% of $11.1M revenue) → 20 positions (15 layoffs + 5 vacant) Houston Public Media — $2.2M CPB → 9 staff Vermont Public — $2M CPB (10% of revenue) → 15 positions WKAR (Michigan) — $2M risk (23% of budget) → 9 staff Alabama Public TV — $2.5M CPB (10% of $24M revenue) → 11 staff WQED (Pittsburgh) — $1.8M CPB + $62k RTL → 19 staff (35% workforce) NJ PBS (WNET) — $1.69M CPB (15% of revenue) + state $1M→$250k → ~18 staff across two rounds PBS Michiana – WNIT (Indiana) — $1M CPB (25% of $4M revenue) + $438k state → 5 layoffs + 2 reduced hours Illinois Public Media — $1.4M CPB (15% of $9.1M revenue) → 2 staff + 3 vacancies Rhode Island PBS / The Public’s Radio — $1.1M CPB (10% budget) → voluntary buyouts (unspecified) WFUV (New York) — $447k CPB CSG (7% of revenue) → 5 staff WFIT (Florida) — $240k CPB + state → 3 staff (50% workforce) PBS (national HQ) — CPB rescission (cut station dues by $35M) → ~100 staff (34 recent) APM/APMG (Minnesota) — ~$6M deficit tied to CPB + state cut ($4M→$2M) → ~45 staff (15 + 30 across rounds) NEPM (Massachusetts) — N/A CPB specifics → 7 staff Sesame Workshop (National) — 4% of budget (~$5.3M deficit) → layoffs unspecified Louisville Public Media (Kentucky) — deficit >$750k, CPB not broken out → 8 staff (prior) + new buyouts (unspecified)

WCMH is reporting on the upcoming cuts to WOUB in Athens, Ohio. https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/athens/heartbreaking-ohio-university-student-media-facing-1-75-million-in-budget-cuts/ WCMH is owned by Nexstar, and Athens, Ohio is in the fringes of the Columbus DMA with WSAZ, WQCW and WCHS available there as well. Perry Sook is a 1980 graduate of Ohio University. He and his wife donated to build the "Perry and Sandy Sook Academic Center" on campus at the north end of their football stadium. Meanwhile, Nexstar is buying Tegna and could very well do the same to WBNS... So is Nexstar trying to win some brownie points in Athens by reporting on WOUB's troubles when they're about to do far worse in Columbus?