NWA_TV_guy

Even though FOX 8 didn’t announce it on-air until 7:00p, you can sense the sadness at the end of the 5:00p newscast... It’s so sad to hear about this. 664DA035-0D60-4308-8CF7-62E52350AC39.MOV

Here’s a video of the progress thus far.

Here is an update for January 7, 2019:

Here’s what KFSM’s new building will look like: http://www.bild-architects.com/projects/new-northwest-arkansas-news-studio-for-channel-5-news-kfsmkxnw/

Nexstar is in the process of giving WJTV a new look starting with a refreshed logo.

KNWA (Rogers/Fayetteville) has received the new graphics that the NBC affiliates are receiving. Also, KFTA (Fort Smith/Fayetteville) received the graphics that the FOX affiliates are receiving.

KHBS/KHOG is broadcasting from their newsroom and using chroma key. If they are getting a new set it will probably debut with the new Hearst graphics. The news set they have now has been there since 2007 when the primary studio/newsroom/management offices moved to Rogers from Fort Smith and Fayetteville. 40/29 still has a facility in Fort Smith for KHBS.

...and here’s another example of 40/29

And the new facility is literally down the street from down the current Fayetteville studio in the Northwest Arkansas Mall. When Hearst moved into the Rogers facility they tried continuing broadcasting from Fort Smith and Rogers (once they moved out of the Fayetteville space), but that did not last long. I figure Tribune will phase out newscasts from Fort Smith once the new facility is complete and staff can get moved to the area.

WJTV and WHLT have merged their websites into one, but under the WJTV.com URL. They have a website layout similar to the Nexstar layout. Makes one wonder if Nexstar will merge these two markets (Jackson and Hattiesburg, MS) together under the traditional Nexstar URL they give stations. WKRG also has that same website layout now as well.

KADN had CajunFirst.com, but when Nexstar dropped KADN for KLFY the CajunFirst.com domain was moved to KLFY. It directs you to KLFY.com though.

Radio and television audiences across Jackson, MS were without some television stations and a radio station on this day 20 years ago. WLBT-TV's nearly 2,000' transmitter tower crashed killing three people. WLBT's tower was also shared by WMSI-FM, WMPN-TV and numerous other systems and government agencies. Luckily, WLBT had a back-up 200' transmitter on-site. This would be the second time the station would have to replace the tower with the first crash resulting from a tornado. Wilson Stribling has this report from the late Bert Case:

My post was not in reply to your post or anyone else’s previous post. It’s for people who have not watched it before.

Here is KETV using the camera graphics with the Hearst TV News Music Package from Newsmusic Central in 2004.

Looks like Nexstar is cleaning house in Jackson, MS at WJTV.

While Spann easily has his choice of where he could work/would like to work, his name is too heavily tied to ABC 33/40. Sinclair is NOT going to let that get away and take those advertiser dollars with him. Just think of the revenue he and his name bring to WBMA on a monthly basis. When Sinclair first assumed all rights of that station they messed up in a big way by messing with 33/40's weather department. While we don't know 100% of what goes on behind closed doors, I have a very strong feeling he laid down the law with the company because things ended up going back to the way they were when Allbritton had them. As far as Mike Raita, he "stepped away" from 33/40's cameras on a regular basis to work on other projects with the other sister stations in the market while keeping the title "sports director" for all Sinclair stations in Birmingham. I feel that was Sinclair's first step in getting rid of him.

WAPT news director Ben Hart will be replacing WISN news director Chris Gegg, who announced earlier this month that he was leaving WISN. Hart will start his new role in January 2017. http://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2016/12/08/wisn-names-new-news-director/95138368/

Melanie Dotson, a reporter with WJTV in Jackson, MS, passed away Friday. Some unconfirmed reports have mentioned she went to a Jackson hospital earlier in the week with chest pains and was told it was anxiety. She joined WJTV 12 in April 2016 and was born in nearby Brandon. STORY: http://wjtv.com/2016/09/16/wjtv-reporter-melanie-dotson-passes-away/

WAPT is using the new website layout.

New Orleans will have a familiar face back on the airwaves as Chris Franklin will be back on the air at WWL-TV on a part-time basis, mainly on weekends. Franklin has not been seen on-air in several months since his contract was not renewed with WVUE-TV in 2015. http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2016/05/meteorologist_chris_franklin_wwl_2812.html#incart_2box_tv

Big changes are about to happen at WVUE in New Orleans with a change in anchors and the time(s) they will be seen on-air: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/94898/wvue-new-orleans-revamps-anchor-lineups DMA 51 WVUENewOrleansRevampsAnchorLineups By Staff TVNewsCheck, May 19, 2016 3:33 PM EDT Louisiana Media Co.’s Fox affiliate WVUE New Orleans (DMA 51) is changing its morning newscast. Longtime anchor team John Snell and Nancy Parker will take over the Fox 8 Morning Edition anchor desk beginning June 20. In addition, Greg Adaline joins Snell and Parker as anchor of the Fox 8 Alert Center, providing local, national and international breaking news throughout the morning. Weekend Anchor Meg Gatto makes the move to anchor the 4:30 a.m. newscast while reporting the rest of the morning. Meteorologist Shelby Latino and Traffic Reporter Kristi Coleman will continue providing the weather and traffic reports while Deven Clarke hits the streets with daily news reports. "John and Nancy are two of the most experienced and well respected journalists in the New Orleans market and will bring knowledge, talent and their dynamic relationship to morning viewers," said WVUE VP-GM Tim Ingram. Snell and Parker’s move to mornings brings changes to other WVUE newscasts. Here's the new anchor lineup: Liz Reyes and Meteorologist Bruce Katz will remain on Fox 8 News at Noon. Liz Reyes joins Shelley Brown on the anchor desk with Bruce Katz and Sports Director Juan Kincaid for the Fox 8 News at 4 pm. Lee Zurik and Kim Holden will take over anchor duties left behind by Snell and Parker and join Chief Meteorologist David Bernard and Juan Kincaid on Fox 8 News at 5 pm. Lee Zurik will be joined by Shelley Brown along with Bernard and Kincaid on Fox 8 News at 9 pm. Kim Holden and Lee Zurik along with Bernard and Kincaid wrap up the night on Fox 8 News at 10 pm. Rob Krieger will anchor weekends with Meteorologist Nicondra Norwood and Sports Anchor Chris Hagan.

WAPT extended their Sunday 10 p.m. newscast to from 10-10:30 to 10-11:05.

WJTV in Jackson has started a weekday 4 p.m. newscast. I haven't noticed it mentioned on this website, and I am just noticing it on television, so I am guessing it just debuted in the past few weeks. WLBT has had a newscast from 4-5 p.m. for several years now. WAPT has had a newsbrief between Ellen and Judge Judy at 4 p.m. for several years. WJTV's newscast airs from 4-4:30 p.m. and is anchored by Terrance Friday.

WAPT officially went 100% HD on Sunday, per anchor/reporter Scott Simmons' Facebook live stream.