TheRolyPoly

Cyle Dickens, our own Cyle Dickens, has been promoted to Assisant News Director at KWQC. He's off weekends but will still do the weather at 5pm every weeknight. In the meantime, the station has hired a bilingual meteorologist (very exciting) and a hometown local (from East Moline) in Diana Rodriguez. She takes over on weekends from Cyle. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=677244911937985&id=100089574456129

Spain 50 years as the country's most recognized, well respected, most trusted, and most beloved journalist. Matías Prats celebrates 50 years on Spanish television. TVE from 1975-1998 (23 years), and Antena 3 since then, going on 27 years there, now mainly anchoring weekends with Mónica Carrillo and is usually the most-watched weekend News team in the country. Not too bad for someone following in his legendary father's footsteps. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.antena3.com/noticias/sociedad/chascarrillo-matias-prats-recordando-sus-50-anos-television-daria-ideas-direccion-retirarme_202505246831e61a3407f96812ad11f1.html

KCTV's weather team is reeling. They're now down to three at the moment as Greg Bennett has left KCTV for Spectrum News 13 Orlando last month, and now this week, it was Savannah Tennyson who has decided to leave the business altogether. This just leaves the Chief Luke Dorris plus Melissa Meeder and Warren Sears. Before I even post an edit, I forgot that Mike Nicco joined them after getting cut by KSHB. So technically, they're at four, but still... all this talent leaving at rapid succession (with Carolyn Long's upcoming retirement as well) makes you think and question what is going on at KCTV? Here's Greg's sign off last month: https://www.kctv5.com/video/2025/04/26/meteorologist-greg-bennett-says-goodbye-kansas-city/

After being aired on a Cozi sub for the last 17 months, the KOBI-produced nightly 10pm newscast is making its grand return to KMVU starting June 9th. https://www.fox26medford.com/news/fox26-first-news-at-ten-returns-to-primetime-beginning-june-9th/article_2098f565-41b6-4ac8-8ece-5f040c2bafe3.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawKd-mRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhe6EiuAdxJvw8-OYwp-tfS0x4AcKAoU3Swgv2xjc4-WyyRC5bgLqWhtkGpT_aem_AI1UQnfO2qbj7Fs9UJXquQ

It looks like TEGNA is joining in Gray in launching 24/7 weather streams for their stations. I mentioned WVEC and WXIA some time ago here. Now, 13WMAZ wants to join in on the fun and deliver 24/7 weather coverage... Straight from the Heart.

Bill Jartz didn't do the 10pm on his final two days as I thought he would. The 6pm earlier tonight ended up being his last. They extended it by two minutes to let him say goodbye. A class act by the station to do so.

KCNC's Michelle Griego was featured on CBS Mornings today. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ9LeidxINg/?igsh=MWM1dGlva2lncmZsYg==

Keith Gibson is leaving WBAY-TV to take on his most high profile gig yet... Chief Meteorologist at WISH-TV. He leaves on the 28th, starts on the 30th. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1858638894854671&id=100021257356152

Here it is on YouTube recorded via off-air by WTVM Columbus, Ga. (which airs the program at 4:30pm ET/3:30pm CT) from this YouTuber.

Now we have to add Friday, May 30th for Carolyn Long for retirement from KCTV 5 Kansas City after nearly 30 years there. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/carolyn-long-to-leave-kctv-after-nearly-30-years/ As mentioned in the KABC thread, today is Ellen Leyva's at the station but there are other anchors having their last day today too and I mentioned it a while ago but here's your refresher... • WRAL's Debra Morgan at 6pm ET after 32 years. • KENS' Deborah Knapp at 5pm CT after 38 years with the station and 50 in journalism. • WHIO's Cheryl McHenry at 6pm ET after 44 years (she already no longer does the 11pm). • WXIX's Steve Horstmeyer after 17 years there, but 48 in Cincy TV (delayed from March). Don't know his final newscast time. Retirement season is here as the "sweeps" period comes to an end. I hope some of y'all can record final newscasts for these LEGENDS of the broadcast business. It will suffer greatly as a result of them exiting the biz.

Canada TVA is in serious financial trouble. Despite capturing a large chunk of the Quebec TV audience, TVA is still financially struggling and with it, more job cuts are coming. https://www.quebecor.com/en/-/groupe-tva-la-p-c3-a9rennit-c3-a9-d-un-diffuseur-priv-c3-a9-est-en-jeu

Bringing this up here because it involves Robin Roberts... Her, her brother Lawrence and yes, her sister, the legendary Sally-Ann Roberts in her post-WWL days in retirement, were all on Tamron Hall the other day to promote their new children's book. Glad to see Sally Ann again in her retirement and it shows the love Robin has for her family on doing great things. EDIT: Here's GMA talking about it.

Here's an unusual retirement story that we don't talk about a lot of. Usually, its an anchor, a meteorologist, or a sportscaster who is retiring that we mention around here. However, never usually a pilot... until now. KWTV has announced that their star pilot reporter Jim Gardner (no, not the famous one from 'PVI), who's brought us breaking news, weather, and Tornado coverage from SkyNews 9 over the past 12 years, and has done it as a career for 40 years, is retiring. May 29th will be his final day. https://www.news9.com/story/682bd47ae3b5a8f09ad9d1ce/jim-gardner-retiring-sky-news-9?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KWTV_-_NEWS_9&fbclid=IwY2xjawKYx85leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF6c0ZOYU1WSkJQbW5TMTdGAR4j7SubBUSdUBZTkHqxXffqZrpQR_kWajnsKu3A0qGAwYmNVodw-N_WLWzqXw_aem_ilxJ0vhKLfgTZo3XXb54Dg

KSDK is joining KMOV in leaving Downtown St. Louis, but unlike KMOV, KSDK is staying in the city. https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/ksdk-st-louis-to-move-broadcast-operations-to-new-location/

United Kingdom Gary Lineker isn't waiting another 18 months to leave the BBC. He's leaving NOW. Final day is tomorrow. https://talksport.com/football/3216552/gary-lineker-quits-bbc-antisemitism-row/

Two new developments at KTVU that I didn't know about: • Mark Tamayo is the new Chief Meteorologist at KTVU after Bill Martin's recent retirement. • The legendary Roberta Gonzales is sticking around at KTVU for another two years. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1111653244103215&id=100057756505044

I've noticed that Spanish-language networks don't get much love around here so I thought I start one for Telemundo Deportes as their Spanish-language sports coverage is starting to become more impressive. For starters, Telemundo just released their Upfront, which is their plans for the upcoming TV season, and news came out that they're expanding their sports coverage big time. They already have Premier League coverage in Spanish, and so does several NFL games and Super Bowls in conjunction with NBC. Oh, and don't forget the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will be all over that one to cover all 104 matches. Two things caught my eye, though, with this Upfront: Telemundo is a partial Spanish-language home of the NBA, airing 11 games per season, including the NBA All-Star Game, so NBC was able to get Spanish-language rights as well for Telemundo. The network is launching a 24/7 Spanish-language FAST sports channel in August: Telemundo Deportes Ahora, possibly modeling it just like their FAST news version, Noticias Telemundo Ahora. As far as I'm aware, this will be the biggest 24/7 FAST Spanish-language sports channel because I don't think Univision has any on ViX, and even if they do, its mainly Liga MX content. Telemundo's FAST version will probably be way different, but only time will tell. (Yes, this article does cover over stuff, but its the sports content that got my interest in this): https://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2025/05/08/telemundo-2025-26-lineup-preview-world-cup-2026-seor-de-los-cielos-spinoff-live-and-reality-tv/

I knew we shouldn't been fooled by their reverse 180 because Allen is still moving forward with their TWC plan.. Proof? WTHI no longer has a weather department. Their lone met, Everett Lau, will now do an off-air role at WTHI. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1254746726654346&id=100063570909098

France Two things here... BFM Paris Ile-de-France, the first and flagship of the BFM Regions channels, went off the air for good in mid-March. Accumulated financial losses were to blame, but the other regional channels from BFM are still around. https://fr.themedialeader.com/bfm-paris-a-ferme-ses-portes/ The great Daniel Bilalian, who anchored Antenne 2 (before the name was changed in 1992 to the current France 2)'s 13h and 20h during the 80s and 90s, before leading the sports department for 12 years, has passed away. He was 78. https://entrevue.fr/en/disparition-de-daniel-bilalian-figure-de-laudiovisuel-francais-a-lage-de-78-ans/

Those are very good questions. I think Spectrum News will continue and will more likely expand to cover more areas and with more channels (Gainesville for example possibly receiving Spectrum News 13 from Orlando; Ocala already has it since Spectrum does serve there but no Cox but Cox serves Gainesville but no Spectrum there). CMG is 29% owned by Cox Enterprises. Maybe we'll see some changes regarding CMG but it's too soon to say on that for now. It'll be interesting and weird at first to say Spectrum from Cox instead of from Charter but we'll get used to it (I wish I still lived in Gainesville and had Cox to see the full effect).

Normally, WDAY-TV articles online are paywalled. Not this one... ... because it's John Wheeler's last newscast in full from earlier tonight. They did it really well, especially the last half hour. https://www.inforum.com/weather/live-at-6-p-m-john-wheelers-farewell-forecast-on-wday?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WDAY_TV_News&fbclid=IwY2xjawKUv7JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHvvOecBRlSRqTZZ59Cd_QvD3OmUjzp5nX2HUKKtqhWK07SMhHOVgq-0kaBdp_aem_8vAtR7vvhikBVT2OdA7nJQ

Shannon Cake's farewell. WPTV spared NO EXPENSE in going all out for her. Even former colleages like Michael Williams, Roxanne Stein, and Jim Sackett all came by to wish her a farewell. These videos aren't embedded so you'll have to go to YouTube directly for them: https://youtu.be/lSpGIFe7leo?si=qajbgy50Vupj6Bw6 https://youtu.be/geVGcK5GUkk?si=dxUMy25Kv_FQBnnl https://youtu.be/wXnXlRURwuw?si=m_jMgV7XIKJLctHR

Today's the last day for SportsCenter L.A. and next week is the last for the legendary Around The Horn. My ESPN childhood is slowly going away.

Canada Good 'ol Frankie is retiring from Citytv's BT Toronto. After 20 years, Frank Ferragine is retiring from the morning show and his last day is May 30th. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/breakfast-television-s-frank-ferragine-a-k-a-frankie-flowers-to-retire-after-20-years/article_7bc7c4f4-5943-4b1a-a061-45178044e2b2.html

Reminders for tonight for those of you who want to record final newscasts of these folks for prosperity and historical reference: • WPTV's Shannon Cake at 6pm ET after 29 years. • WDAY's John Wheeler's last newscast at 6pm CT after 40 years. • KNXV's Katie Raml's last newscast at 6pm MT after 24 years (actually longer, working in promotions before leaving, then returning in 2002). Also, next week... Wednesday, May 21st: • WRAL's Debra Morgan at 6pm ET after 32 years. • KENS' Deborah Knapp at 5pm CT after 38 years with the station and 50 in journalism. • WHIO's Cheryl McHenry at 6pm ET after 44 years (she already no longer does the 11pm). • WXIX's Steve Horstmeyer after 17 years there, but 48 in Cincy TV (delayed from March). Friday, May 23rd: • WBAY's Bill Jartz at 10pm CT (1983-1990 and since 1993). These are all I can find for right now but there's a lot of them coming up due to the end of "sweeps."