FiveNews

Per FTV, Natasha Verma from Denver joins WNYW as main anchor. https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2022/10/17/landing-in-the-big-apple

Nothing yet. They are now running TOTH legal IDs that say "Set Under Construction...Your Patience Please." Curious to know what the final product will be. Also, I noticed that they have kept the green room part of the old set. Sam, Dayna and Megan Telles usually sit on the set in a very tight shot. Previously the camera would come in at a wide angle and zoom in closer on the talent. Due to this, not sure if the set is a total rebuild or just adding some new pieces.

Similar to what KNX does here in LA. The station still broadcasts on legacy frequency 1070 AM. In December 2021, Audacy dropped the music format on KNOU-FM 97.1 and added KNX to 97.1 FM. The station now brands itself as KNX News 97.1 FM while still being broadcast on 1070.

KCBS/KCAL doesn't have 3 choppers. If I'm not mistaken, they have Sky2 and Sky9. The third chopper is KTTVs SkyFOX. They have an agreement to share the video/live feed. SkyFOX flies in the morning for GDLA and the 2/9 choppers fly PM and share video with KTTV.

A little thirsty on KNBCs part, but I get it. Taking advantage of the moment. Let's see if Lynette and Adrian can lead Today in LA back to the ratings dominance similar to the Kent and Kathy era.

I don't think so, but I believe they promoted it. Sam today and Dayna tomorrow is the plan, IIRC. Sam did put aside normal entertaiment anchoring duties and reported hard news during the 1993 Laguna Beach firestorm and the 1994 Northridge earthquake. I believe the station is trying to get some familiar faces on the weekends given the past few weeks have been turbulent to say the least.

#BoycottKTLA is on Twitter. While I may not agree with how KTLA handled the Lynette situation, some of the folks on Twitter do not understand how a TV contract works. Plain and simple, Mark violated the terms and conditions of his contract, hence his departure. I really wish viewers understood how the intricacies of TV news works. I'd like to engage with some of the viewers on Twitter, but I know it would be fruitless.

Not really. KTLAs expansion began under previous GM Don Corsini and ND Jason Ball. The product never suffered under their watch. Once Nextstar and GM Janeane Drafs and ND Pete Saiers is when the station began to hemmorhage talent. This hemmorhaging only began in the past two months (Pascucci, Friel, Devon, Romero and countless behind the scenes staffers). It appears that the ND is the cause of all this. He came down from Seattle which is a totally different news market than LA. Previous GM/ND had years of experience over at KCBS/KCAL which I think led to their success and revitalization of the station. Before Corsini and Ball, the station languished for years under the leadership of Vinnie Malcolm. I really hope KTLA doesn't go back to those dark days as a result of the Mester fiasco.

This entire fiasco happened under his watch. Mark posted on Twitter that he would be addressing the situation on last Saturday's morning news where he went rogue. The ND allowed Mark to stay on for an additional 3hrs after derailing the station's airwaves. If not termination, some sort of discipline should happen as he was complicit as well. I know the public will never know if the ND was disciplined or not, but still, the ND had a hand in the messy aftermath.

Let me know when the News Director is fired or reassigned to another Nexstar property.

Here’s the Twitter post referenced in today’s LA Times article. Good insider take on a crazy week at 5800 Sunset.

Yes, went to 11am as usual. Vibe seemed a little off, but the team did the best they could considering the circumstances. I'll be curious to see who is anchoring this weekend. I assume Megan Telles or Ellina Abovian as the female, I have no clue who's going to be the male anchor. Last Sunday, during Mark's first day of suspension, it was Pedro Rivera from the weekday 5pm news. A little weak IMO, he worked a few weekend morning shifts before officially getting the 5pm seat when he came down from Sacto. I think it would be cool if Eric Spillman, Frank Buckley or Chris Schauble rotated weekends....even if it's just Saturday or Sunday to provide stability until a permanent team is named.

FOX may have left it up to the local stations. KTTV/FOX LA took the FOX News feed for the early part of GDLA.

It has been a rollercoaster ride at KTLA over the past five days. I think now the station needs to focus on replacing Lynette (and Dayna). I think if the station wanted to make this right, do they go "back to the future?" I say bring in Wendy Burch as a pillar of stability as the station begins a search for a replacement. Megan Telles aint it. She better suited as a reporter. I know Wendy is in a behind the scenes role, but it might just be what they need to put this tumultuous period to rest.

The hits keep coming. KTLA was trending on my Twitter feed earlier.

I would't blame local KTLA Management. It sounds like these calls are being made at the Nexstar corporate level. I was afraid that KTLA would lose some of its luster after beloved GM Don Corsini and ND Jason Ball left. Surprisingly, they have remained consistent. It seems that the station likes GM Janeane Drafs and has tried to keep KTLAs legacy alive. Nonetheless, a wild, but not unexpected turn of events based on Mark's explanation yesterday. Hopefully Mark will sit his suspension out and return next weekend. I also find it interesting that Nexstar didn't move to have Mark taken off the air after the 8am a block if they were that upset. Lastly, did anyone see the "We Love You, Lynette" banner that flew over the station yesterday during the announcement? Soooo many questions around this whole situation. With no replacement for Dayna Devon, Lynette now gone and Mark suspended...essentially, the entire weekend morning news has been blown up in about 1 month. I hope KTLA can find a solution to put their crown jewel brand back together.

Wow!!! Mark Mester went scorched earth on how Lynette was done wrong earlier this week. They start the 8am hour with segment called “Four on 5” where they check in with all 4 people on the show. Today it was calling out management for how poorly Lynette was treated. Mark praised the GM for letting Lynette go after an opportunity, so it sounds like the abrupt exit may have come from Nexstar suits. If anyone has the first few minutes of the 8am hour, take a look.

I agree, but my guess is that she may have been working without a contract...hence the continued negotiations with KTLA. Lynette probably had her agent see if anything else was out there for her since she was most likely tired of weekends, even though her show is highly rated. I doubt Jessica, Megan and Lu are leaving anytime soon. When the KNBC deal came up, since she was working at KTLA without a contract (presumably) they cut her loose. TV News is an ice cold business. No allegiances, even to someone who gave nearly a quarter century of their life. Seems like a very Nexstar move. May have not happened under Tribune.

CNN Morning News???

Not bad for a temp set. Some of the stand up shots in studio look good as well. The anchors have been joking that their set looks like cable access tv.

If you take a look at the comments, note the not-so-lowkey dig former KTLAer Christina Pascucci was able to get in. My my my how quickly allegiances turn.

With Lauren Lyster on assignment in England, the bench is a little thin. Lynette is gone immediately it seems. Pascucci is gone and Friel gone at the end of the month. I'm assuming Ellina Abovian will anchor next to Mark Mester this weekend. I can get down with that pairing. Anyone but Megan Telles who seems to be getting more exposure lately in light of Dayna Devon's departure (still with the station, though). Also of note, Rachel Menitoff joined the station. Previously of WJZ Baltimore. Let's see where she will land in the grand scheme of things.

Sounds like a move to 2/9. Another loss to KTLA. Hope KTLA/Nexstar isn't cleaning house now that the GM/ND change has settled. I thought they would continue the work that Don Corsini and Jason Ball did, but doesn't seem like it.