Breaking News

 

Looks like based on this promo for a new show featuring a local sports talk radio host (Mark Madden), the new branding is "22 the Point"

 

https://www.facebook.com/my22pittsburgh?fref=photo

 

I'm not a huge fan of Sinclair but I will say that they do seem intent on providing a lot more local content for WPNT compared to before.

 

I agree with you I'm not a fan of Sinclair myself either, but have to give them some credit where credit is due. They have made some strides in some of their shops which is shocking. They've been aggressive in talent pool for some of their shops, but they still have a cookie cutter product. I wouldn't say their the best company, but they've been the worst for a long time. Maybe somebody trying to give them a image makeover.

Rob if the rumors are true that Stephany Fisher going to jump to WAGA after her non-compete is up. I totally see Stephany doing the hour long 11pm and as well as the 5pm. Tom would get moved to Good Day. I'm speculating nothing written in stone, but that how it could go.

WBNS:

 

Legendary weatherman Joe Holbrook who was with the station from 1949-1989 has passed away at 87.

 

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2015/08/01/columbus-ohio-longtime-wbns-meteorologist-joe-holbrook-dies.html

On the move for today:

 

Martha Sugalski is looking forward to August 6 when her future will be revealed according to Orlando Sentinel

 

Also according to www.ftvlive.com there hearing that Stephany Fisher is to head to FOX owned WAGA-TV after her non-complete clause is up. I think this would be perfect for Stephany. If they can move Tom Haynes to Good Day and have Stephany on the 5 & 11pm broadcast good for you WAGA.

 

 

Julian Johnson to leave KMOV and to move to WGCL to stay in the company fold. Also it reporting that KMOV to start a 4pm news in the fall which will shuffle the programming schedule on Channel 4. Either The Price is Right will stay at 11am or move to 10am. Y&R currently airs at 4pm will move to 11am or 3pm like (WGCL), or Dr. Phil could move to 9am a lot is going on at KMOV.

WXIA News:

 

a.) Jill Becker returns to the morning news where she anchored for many years. She will return during the week of Aug 3-7 for only Back-to-School Week.

 

http://www.11alive.com/story/life/2015/07/22/jill-becker-returning-to-atlanta-alive/30512317/

http://www.ftvlive.com/todays-news/2015/7/22/retired-atlanta-anchor-to-return-in-ratings-stunt

 

b.) 11alive will add an additional hour of the news on sister station WATL from 7-8am during the weekday.

 

http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/22/11-alives-morning-show-adds-watl-hour-at-7-a-m/

WKMG news director Steve Hyvonen has resigned.

 

http://www.ftvlive.com/todays-news/2015/7/21/o-town-news-director-is-out

I remember back in 1995 WWJ/62CBS was telling people they were getting a local news presence, by late 90s early 2000s they were like it up to CBS. CBS owns a lot of properties with televisions & radio stations. It would be nice if CBS would move them all into one building and CBS could invest in a news operations.

 

Look at the FOX affiliate in Charlotte and we see how FOX bought that operation and invest in a local news program. I think CBS could do it, but the business model would be like FOX 46 in Charlotte, and I also thought if CBS sold it and Sinclair bought the station they would totally be news heavy.

 

As for WJBK(the former TV2) will be in FOX's hands for as long as they can. I don't see FOX selling TV2 FOX 2. I don't know why at the when WKBD had a news outlet CBS didn't try to make a deal with them since they had a news operation and I think Cox owned the station during 94-95.

More News in Charlotte, NC:

 

Carolyn Bruck moves from WSYX ABC affiliate to WCNC to NBC affiliate in Charlotte, NC to do the morning news. Here the article after the jump.

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/tv/media-scene-blog/article26878210.html

 

Ruth Spencer is retiring in December after 25 years at WDIV in Detroit. She is anchor of their "First At 4" newscast and the 530pm newscast and does a consumer segment called "Ruth To The Rescue".

 

http://www.clickondetroit.com/wdiv-anchor-ruth-spencer-to-retire-at-end-of-2015/34056520?utm_source=twitter

 

Love Ruth just read she's retiring. Congrats to her, you think Karen Drew will get her job?

Kurt Ludlow jumps to WSYX ABC6 details have been announced on Facebook.

.

According to www.ftvlive.com Sue Stephens moves from KOAT-7 in Albuquerque to WVTM-13 in Birmingham to become the new news director. She stays in the Hearst Family.

 

WXYZ released it's first promo for The NOW Detroit since they revamped the show, changed anchors and made the show all solid news and interviews and nuked the fluff:

 

 

The kinda-distancing from The NOW branding continues as well. The end of the promo shows the news logo with a "weekdays at 4pm" slapped underneath it. This is something new with this promo and seems to indicate they are trying to connect it with the news operation. It's also the first real promotion of the show since March.

 

Hopefully Scripps will get a clue and ax The Now in many markets either bring a 4pm local news, and for WXYZ bring back Good Afternoon Detroit. I'm all for a locally produce shows. I wonder why there no NOW in Baltimore?

 

If your name is not Denise Dufala or Romona Robinson, you're pretty much in danger of getting fired. I wouldn't be surprised if David Wittman, Tiffani Tucker, or even Catherine Bosley is shown the door at Reserve Square.

 

I think Catherine will be shown the door, but happy she was able to get a job after working at WKBN. I hope Romona/David/Denise are 5,6,11pm and Tiffani and David at 4/10pm...Why would they get rid of Tiffani? I assume she not the on the same paid grade as the two ladies and David.

More folks are In & Out:

 

Christine Haas has left FOX 7 in Austin to start her own business.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/austin-anchor-left-station-to-start-new-business/151233

 

 

Over in Cleveland at CBS19/ Danielle Serino is out and the news director is slashing high paid talent. IMO Ramona Robinson should of stayed at WKYC.

 

http://www.ftvlive.com/todays-news/2015/7/1/more-changes-at-cleveland-station

 

 

In Philly; Ukee Washington will move up to 5,6,10,11pm news with Jessica Dean. It starts July 13, and Carol Erickson was offered a new contract, but left on her own.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/carol-erickson-leaves-kyw/151244

Housecleaning at KYW/CBS3 in Philly: Chris May, Kathy Orr and Beasley Reece.

 

Reports from www.newsblues.com www.ftvlive.com & www.philly.com

 

Million dollar anchor? Not that I know of. Several of the $250- $500k anchors that I know of were: Michael Tuck, Denise Yamada, Stan Miller, Hal Clement, Carol Lebeau, Marty Levin, Loren Nancarrow. I'm sure i'm missing a few, but all those listed above have either retired, forced out, or passed away.

 

No mergers are on the horizon, AFAIK. It's stems from the fact that there simply isn't a fit for a merger in this market. As mentioned above, McKinnon has refused to sell KUSI. There was even an article a few months back on TVNewscheck, with the owner/GM of the station and he basically said that he is constantly getting offers to buy the station but has no intentions to sell. There was even a rumor quite a few years back that KFMB's owners had approached the McKinnon's to buy KUSI and nothing came of it.

 

XETV runs a pretty lean operation, so that's the reason why they didn't close the place down after they lost the FOX affiliation. By the way the station is run, you wouldn't know that they were owned by one of the biggest media conglomerates in the world.

 

Very Interesting to hear this, so KFMB is locally owned, and I thought after XETV lost their FOX affiliation they would go dark. For me my biggest issues is NBC7 where they would say 7/39 and I know the locals there know it Channel 39 on cable 7. Then you have FOX 5 which is on Channel 69. I guess with digital environment where in now it doesn't matter.

 

Also Why did the McKinnons sell their others stations? I assume KUSI is a cash cow, but there been reports that none of those on-air talent are paid what they should be. Any truth to that? Wasn't KUSI looking to be FOX at one time. San Diego is very interesting market like Phoenix/San Fran with all network switches etc.

Karyn Greer back at CBS46 but she doing freelance here's the article from ajc.com

 

http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/29/11alives-karyn-greer-freelancing-at-cbs46/

 

Some of the bigger named anchors in the market during the 90s- early 00s were making pretty good money. Quite a few made at least $250k/year, there were a few $500k/year anchors as well. They're gone now, replaced by much cheaper talent. I'd be surprised if there was still an anchor here in San Diego that is making $250k. This market is pretty interesting in that it has quite a few number of veteran talent, mixed in with an equal amount of younger talent. If I had to guess, a less experienced reporter will probably be making between $35-45k/year.

 

 

It's certainly a competitive news market. That's six shops in English alone. Not to mention several more in Spanish.

 

Was there ever million dollar anchors in San Diego? With LA not far and San Fran several hours away. We always hear about those million dollar anchors back in the day.

 

I wonder if San Diego ever had those, and with (6) English shops sorry for not counting the Spanish shops in the market, but somebody did say that one day Phoenix wasn't going to have the (5) shops, and it was bound to have a duopoly and I didn't believe them, but we see 3/5 merging. Does anybody believe San Diego would see that coming down the pike for them? 6&51 KUSI merging together? Anybody see that down the road? Can that market support the (6) English shops?

 

 

There are a lot of tv news operations here...but none are competitive anymore.

 

Lazy reporting is everywhere. "Enterprise " reporting consists of emails and calls from viewers about problems with neighbors. Missing dogs eaten by coyotes, and sharks in the sewers looking for water in the drought.

 

They are trying to beat the internet, and every video is "viral".

 

In the old days they stole the stories from the morning paper. Now they read snopes and play "Fact or Fiction" with us.

Except for a small handful of reporters...most are "repeaters" and not reporters.

 

There are really only 2 jobs in tv now.

 

The people that go in the field and tape interviews and shoot b-roll.

 

Then there are those back at the station that move the words and videos around to the various platforms.

 

That's pretty much it.

Most stations do not demand you know much about politics, criminal justice, municipal operations or just basic human behavior.

 

Bless those cute little souls....but they are facebook robots.

 

Love your post, so true to form.

 

This gives a pretty good outlook of cost of living in and around San Diego

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=United+States&city=San+Diego%2C+CA

 

Hope the good folks in San Diego are making good money to be a reporter, anchor etc. With (6) shops in that market. Are the anchors making the huge salaries? Also what the average reporter making in San Diego? Who knows maybe the anchors and reporters have spouses bringing home better income.

 

Well as in ratings which translates to money. Personal feelings about the cookies are irrelavent.

 

You can be in #3 and still make money. For a product to make $$$ you want to enhance your look & presentation, and not let it look cheapened.

 

Out of all that stuff you listed WPTV is the only one doing "well"...

 

Well as in ratings? It been #1 since forever. What exactly is your meaning of doing well? WPTV is like all the others in the chain with is Scripps' cookie cutter presentation.

 

WSOC's Natalie Pasquarella is joining WNBC as a weekend evening anchor and weekday reporter.

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/tv/media-scene-blog/article25596952.html

 

On facebook she said she not leaving until September, so she'll be in the Queen City for a few more months.

Sounds like Scripps & Gannett business model is all about the digital movement. Both companies have been about slashing budgets and getting rid of the icons or high price talent, but replaced them with mediocre talent. Both companies have taken over other media companies properties from mergers.

 

Clearly this is not the Scripps & Gannett from the 1990s, and hopefully the folks at the top should have some level head and clear thinking. Scripps seem to always have a hard on for ABC, and only have acquired some CBS affiliates. Gannett has always had a crush on NBC and it good to see some FOX and ABC affiliates in their fold.

 

I can say that I'm not impressed with either companies, both companies are starting to have the Sinclair effect. Meaning we buy up a slew of tv station recreate them with a cookie cutter look and bam there you have a local news presentation.

 

Out of the Scripps chain their no station that pops up and scream that market XYZ news is stellar. Sorry but Scripps' two legacy station WEWS & WXYZ have a stale newscast. KNXV & WFTS seem to actually have done well for themselves since 1994 switch. WCPO, WPTV seem to be blah and WMAR has been a bottom feeder. KJRH & KSHB might be the Brightside in the company. Scripps has acquired some good shops with WTVF, WTMJ (yeah they have their struggles) KMGH etc. However when they canceled Wheel/Jeopardy! for The List & Let Ask America the handwriting is on the wall for Scripps IMO.

 

Gannett has been cutting and slashing now TEGNA( sounds like a car that Toyota will unveil in 2017) they've just gone to the wolves. The poor former Belo Stations look has cheapened with Gannett's USA Today boxes. WFAA newscast looks like market 115 a stark contrast from 20 years ago. WWL has the highest ratings, but within the next two years wouldn't be surprise if FOX 8 or WDSU surpass them up in the ratings. It all paint by numbers, and wouldn't be surprise if both companies merge with another company to continue the madness.

Scott Diener is out as news director at KCBS-CBS2/KCAL9

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/i-will-miss-this-place-terribly-scott-diener-out-at-kcbskcal/150809

Television syndicated programs always get move on the station schedules and stations have always shuffled anchors to play up their strengths. Guy should be doing the hard news instead of a local fluff piece show. He should be up there with Ruth/Devin/Carmen. Where DIV has households names to play with their strengths where WXYZ has lost ground because of the icons have retired, and their struggling with the newbies crew.

 

WXYZ is last in demos while FOX 2 #1 in demos and DIV #1 in HH. With WXYZ being a legacy station along with WFAA, WSB and at one time many ABC affiliates all had the same blueprint, but now WSB & WXYZ blueprint is totally opposite. While WSB had a backup plan it seems WXYZ is making it up as it goes, and I try to grasp the reporter side of Stephen Clark, but I don't get him plain and simple. WXYZ still going to struggle and there many variable at hand. a.) Scripps Howard Corporate is the big interference. b.) the different management styles c.) there seem to be no blueprint once Timmons/Lewis/Shayne/Hodak all retired. d) as much as WXYZ was a giant with the big ratings their newscast today is simply just a stale newscast a stark contrast from 20-30years ago.