Mrknowitall526

Message posted on the WFMZ Facebook page says they are working on a new set with the "latest technology" to celebrate the 40th anniversary! Yesterday, I noticed the anchors using Surface tablets at the desk.

They were not only on top of their game today - but way ahead of the curve with a live shot from Philly with Jamie Stover at the Federal Courthouse. GREAT JOB !!!

 

She's been the one following most of the leads on that story ... "doggedly" as Rob Vaughn said

Sometimes the newscast is sleepy... but when a huge local story breaks, WFMZ really does a great job. They just had a full 9 minutes of coverage of the indictment of the Allentown mayor. There were 3 live reports. In fact it was the whole A-block.

 

I wish they could do stuff like this everyday. It's really where they shine.

They announced at 10 on Sunday that Jacqueline Thomas is leaving the station, they didn't say where she was going.

[quote name='rkolsen']So does WPVI occasionally do the whole weather balloon thing? Or was it more a promotional gimmick for "there goes that action news van" advertisement to say they went to space? [IMG]http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/content/wpvi/images/cms/1520278_800x450.jpg[/IMG] I'm sure @Eat News will report that KBEX has one where if Dan Dan the Relapse Man is wet it's raining or pissed himself; if he's sweating profusely he's going through withdrawal or there's a heat wave; if he's swaying there's a strong gust of wind, he's still withdrawaling or on meth; if he's shivering it's cold or still going through withdrawal (it's a bitch); and if he's blue he overdosed.[/QUOTE] They did it once that I can remember in recent memory. They launched it sometime in the morning that day and I think I remember Karen Rogers going out to where it landed, live on the air during the morning show.

Has anyone heard what is being done to the WFMZ studio? In addition to this from Eve Russo's facebook, there were recent changes to the traffic office (which is on that upper level) and new lighting for weather. Just curious what other improvements their massive studio may be getting.

 

No, but I did notice the new weather lighting. I thought Ed Hanna looked brighter than usual!

 

Strange that they would have cones and caution tape where it might be visible on air!

 

The studio could use a revamp.

Hahahahaha! Wow. Thought it couldn't get worse than last year!

New graphics better be coming with it!

Was just coming in to post that Nydia Han said basically the same thing, that they are moving to a new set "across the hall".

 

I don't think they're using a recreation of the old set. I think it's the old set in a temporary location that they spent the past week. But it was fairly elaborate to even move the video wall as well. (which, IMO, is still woefully under utilized).

 

I can't imagine the skyline will go away, it's been a part of the set for what, 15 years now?

 

We can all only hope that break graphics are coming. Ones that matched the weather graphics would do well. They still have that "Action News" look while being different enough and more modern.

 

I still enjoy most of the graphics, but the L3's and especially the "headline" L3's are so, so outdated. And over used.

They have to be. Just judging from this shot here, they've either walled off the rest of the studio or there's nothing there at all.

 

That's always looked like that, hasn't it?

 

I commented on a post of Cecily Tynan's on Facebook what was going on with everyone sitting at the "kids table" and she said "Set construction"

I just noticed that the 6pm team was at the 'PHL 17 desk and as they were going off air, you saw that off to the left where their desk would be. Are they getting a new set or maybe some upgrades?

 

I was just about to post here for the same reason! I first noticed it on Sunday morning. It was weird to see Jim sitting at the "small" desk.

 

I'm curious what they're doing. The video wall is only a few years old. We can only hope new graphics are coming too!!

They don't own the drone, the service is provided by Lehigh Valley Drone: http://lvdrone.com/

I read that 69.3 and 69.4 are being sent to KJWP.

 

I can't imagine that they wouldn't leave space, somehow, for the Accu-weather Channel, considering the large staff they have for it!

WFMZ sold its broadcasting spectrum in the FCC auction. It'll use the funds to expand into the OTT realm and develop apps for Roku, Apple TV, etc:

 

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/wfmz-tv-expansion-fueled-by-fcc-auction/451004991

 

PBS 39 also participated.

Saturday is the lowest viewed day of the week. Sunday is the highest. If you had to choose one to have a full complement on duty which would you choose?

 

Really, Sunday night is the highest viewed news of the week?

I don't mind Alicia Vitarelli in her feature anchor role, or even as a sub on the 4pm, but why must they have her sub at 5pm too? Sharrie and Monica were both off Thursday and Friday, couldn't they have had Sarah sub at 5pm instead of Alicia? I know Sarah's a great reporter and all and is usually out in the field during the evening, but it's not a big deal for 6 to take her out of the field for a day or two. Also, she's been "off" on Fridays at noon for three and a half years now. Surprised they don't have someone fill in for her or stop saying she's off altogether.

 

LOL she's "off" because she works Sundays with Walter Perez. I still don't understand that - I mean, they are great together, but why do they need 2 people only on Sundays?

Because it's not 1966. Somebody has probably figured out that everybody has a weather app on their phone and that people check it as part of a morning routine. A full three minute weather hit when people need to be moving toward the door isn't as relevant or useful as it used to be. Traffic, on the other hand is more fluid and isn't likely to be the same information people saw 10 or 45 minutes earlier. TV can't show every traffic problem everywhere, but saying there's a 30 minute back-up on the Schuykill, or construction on the turnpike is probably more useful information at getting-ready-to-go time in the here and now.

 

It's back at the regular time now!

For at least 20 years, they have ended the 6:30 AM news hit with the full weather forecast ending at 6:40. This week they started to end that segment with an extended traffic update with Karen and a brief weather update before going to break. Kind of stupid, I wonder what the reason is?

Just watched the 40 years special. An hour and a half of everything you wanted to know or didn't need to know about WFMZ. (Commercial free) I think they could have cut a half hour of it. Was interesting though in places. Never realized that the station was launched after NBC and ABC affiliates failed.

It's on my DVR but I didn't watch it yet! I'll save it for some night this week when there's nothing to watch.

I didn't get to see it tonight...the important question is - even after 10 minutes of religious commercials were they still able to fit in Mr. Dean or Rev. Barnhouse's commentary - we wouldn't want to miss that?

 

LOL I don't remember if they did or not ... but they didn't even try to shorten it. It still ran about the same time even though it started around 10:15, then the Berks Edition was also delayed.

They just aired 10 minutes of a loop of various religious programming commercials, then Wendy & Rob abruptly came on - no open or anything - and said they had some "technical issues" then 10 seconds later threw it to Ed for the weather.

 

This happens far too often.

Looks like the first use of QuadCopter69 (that I've seen) not for traffic purposes:

 

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/crews-respond-to-apartment-fire-in-lehigh-county/42031628

Quadcopter 69? That sounds pretty badass for a drone. I could see it getting usage, given WFMZ could never get a helicopter unless it was bought out by Hearst (which had a love affair with copters back in the late 90s/early 2000s while on their buying/merging spree).

 

I know, right (on the name) ?!

 

Here's a link to the article about it: http://www.wfmz.com/news/sunrise/69-news-unveils-traffic-drone-quadcopter-69/41929868

They debuted "Quadcopter 69" on the news this morning and also just now on the news at 5. A drone operated by Lehigh Valley Drones. They flew it live over Route 22. The operator said he worked with news helicopters in DC and has been interested in broadcasting since then. It sounded like he actually approached WFMZ about it, citing a lack of news helicopter in the Valley.

 

I think it's great, it was a neat shot to see aerial views of 22 @ Airport Road, something we don't see often around here! I wonder how often and what they will use it for.

TVSpy reports ...

Kansas City Station Hires Weekend Co-Anchor

By Kevin Eck on Sep. 30, 2016 - 11:54 AM

 

Keleigh Gibbs has been hired by Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC as a weekend co-anchor.

 

Gibbs comes from WFMZ in Allentown, Pa. where she was a reporter.

 

“I already feel so incredibly welcome here in Kansas City,” said Gibbs. “I’m excited and grateful to be back in the Midwest contributing to the outstanding journalistic legacy of KMBC 9 News.”

 

Before working at WFMZ, Gibbs worked at TouchVision in Chicago. She’s also worked at WXMI in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 

I've seen a few new faces lately so I'd wondered who left.

 

I hate that we get this "good talent" and then they leave! But I suppose that's the nature of the beast.