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From FTVLive.com -

Allentown Reporter Headed to DC

June 20, 2016/ Scott Jones

WFMZ Reporter Ryan Hughes is headed to DC.

Hughes, who has been at the Allentown station since 2011, is going to WJLA. He came to WFMZ from Salisbury, Maryland and WMDT.

No word yet on his start date at the Sinclair station.

Look who it is on the brand new KWTX news set....

We miss you, Troy.

Maybe their goal is to bring back PM Magazine lol

That would only work if one of their "notables" would return too - Maury Povich, Ray Murray, Richard Bey, or even Jerry Penacoli.

They also seem to be trying to distance themselves from news. Eyewitness Features. The difference between CBS Local O&O's approach to news and that of CBS News - especially CBS This Morning is striking. At least here in Philly we get all that fluff & stuff from KYW now, while we get serious journalism and "More News." from the network. Does the B in CBS now stand for Bi-polar?

Congratulations Adam Joseph!

Adam and his partner Karl welcomed their daughter, Hannah Marie, into this world just after midnight Wednesday.

Hannah weighed in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and is 20 inches long.

Adam explains that Hannah is his grandmother's name, and Marie is both his mom and Karl's moms' middle names.

He adds that big brother, Jacob, is warming up to his new little sister.

- from 6abc Action News website

Yeah via grandfathering from the FCC. By rule though it's not permitted.

Curious as to who would get custody of the KYW name - CBS3 or KYW 1060? Does it matter that KYW 1060 existed prior to KYW-TV?

It'll be funny if/when CBS spins off/sells the radio division and either the radio or TV station has to part ways with those call letters.

Not sure if either would have to change call letters - but after recently combining news operations and moving in together on Spring Garden it just seems off they would split them up and sell off News Radio. Especially, since 1060 - despite some ratings challenges - has the far superior product and is quite possibly the most respected news organization in Philly.

TVSpy reported today -

Charlotte Station Loses Top Spot After 25 Year Run

This proves it is possible for Davey to bring down Goliath - but only when Davey has a quality news product to offer.

Don't worry WPVI we already know - Brien Kennedy, you are no Davey.

Here is a "Good Question" - or two - for Nicole Brewer:

Why does everyone we like choose to leave KYW?

Why does KYW get rid of everyone else we like?

Ok - one more - What is the current over/under on how long Brien Kennedy will last?

New York stations are doing the same thing with plugging their primetime lineup. It's nothing new.

But, I split my viewing time between WABC and WPVI. It seems to be an O & O mandate.

Local news in Philly really has changed. NBC10 does a very good hard/breaking news product, with enough features to balance it out. And, they do have some well known names in the market. PVI is still Jim Gardner and the theme song, but they are slipping. CBS3 is trying. I like the team, but the content is off the mark. Fox29 and Fox 5 are actually the freshest things going on in the morning.

I agree with the comments about WCAU's newly re-discovered depth in hard news reporting, as well as the talent - the unfortunate situation surrounding their lead anchor (Renee Chenault-Fattah) has left a visible hole in the team. The Fox 5 AM team starts each day off with KYW alumni Ben Simmoneau - But Kelly & Scotto truly make that show. KYW's current team is pretty enough, even personable - but lack the talent necessary to truly be a force in a market this large or this historically news-driven. Jessica Dean is no Jessica Savitch. Ukee Washington - although a great local celeb full of personality - is no Mort Crim, Vince Leonard not Tom Snyder. When history is written KYW will be known for these legends - as well as Maria Shriver, Maury Povich, Larry Kane and so many others. The current "No New Tonight" regime will be a side note along side "The News Tonight". Even Extra's Jerry Penacoli will rate higher than Tori & Meisha.

Nice set. Nothing special. Odd they just use it at noon. Why the cheesy graphics?

The PPL Center studio is located in Downtown Allentown and operated remotely from the main control room at WFMZ's broadcast facilities on top of South Mountain. Literally, the only people in the PPL studio are the on-air talent. As for the "cheesy graphics" they are not seen unless you are on Center Square looking in the windows - only the lower half of the screens appear on air. Additionally, they not only use the studio for the noon broadcast daily but it is used during tie-in's to special events at the PPL Center (our new 10,000 seat arena). Hope that fills in some details.

Newscast Studio posted a story about the WFMZ PPL Center Studio today.

http://www.newscaststudio.com/2016/02/18/allentown-station-utilizes-panasonic-for-downtown-studio/

Wow! A lot of opinions here in the last few days. It's clear at least those here like real news - not the flashy, fluffy stuff we are getting from WCCO - oops KYW. The mention of "The News Tonight" does bring back bad memories of when Eyewitness News abandoned the "Eyewitness". Although, this time around they seemingly abandoned the "News" part instead.

If it weren't for the monumental history of KYW ( the Camelot Years and beyond as well as the mighty powerhouse that is KYW Newsradio) it might not bother me so much when an outsider comes to town and brings his Minnesota ideas here and thinks it will work. I always believed in evaluating your audience first before forcing your own ideas on them. Instead, we once again have to suffer through trial and error until eventually the venerable EYEWITNESS NEWS re-emerges and the winds of change blow back to Minnesota.

So for now we get - "No News Tonight" with Ukee & Jess & Kate & Don & Vittoria/Tori & Nicole - hopefully when I awake it will all have been a bad dream.

Watching the 11pm show right now - can't call it a news broadcast because so far...20 minutes in I am still waiting for news. We have had tangled earbud chords, and of course the meaning of the word "jawn" but so far no news - and now technical issues seem to be causing the video to cut in and out. What a train wreck they have become!

Liz Keptner.

FYI - Liz Keptner is currently the Director of Multimedia Innovation Center at Penn State - Lehigh Valley.

CBS3 did a story on National Have Fun at Work Day. Here's the story:

 

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/show/latest-video/video-3352653-national-have-fun-at-work-day/

 

However, I noticed this during the Video :

[ATTACH=full]2570[/ATTACH] Wow.

 

Also, Anita Oh did a live shot tonight on Eyewitness News. Her Twitter pics say she last worked at WMAZ.

The young hires continue.

I LOVE IT - Since when does being "in it to win it" mean being #2. WOW, that says it all.

Just watched Nicole Brewer's "Good Question" segment. I don't think it was bad.

Thoughts???

Sorry I missed it. I was interested in seeing some actual news tonight - so I had to turn channel 3 off.

They're better off auditioning Tracy for the 6pm & 10pm and pairing her with Greg Argos or some other male hire. Ukee & Jessica could do 5pm & 11pm. They can fill the morning co-anchor position with a male and still have the lighter material (see John Muller WPIX when he did mornings or Neil Orne WKRN). A bit ironic as CBS This Morning is complete opposite.

Jim Donovan could fill the male role and he can still do the lighter material as well. Besides, he is already in the budget.

The Morning Call story about WFMZ purchase of KJWP

WFMZ to acquire Delaware television station - The Morning Call.pdf

Looks like KJWP utilizes a partnership with The News-Journal newspaper/ Delaware Online for their news breaks - no full broadcasts as far as I can tell. Other than Larry Mendte's two half hour, weekly shows ("The Delaware Way" and "Another Thing".) I know some here have been critical of my opinions of WFMZ commentary - but Dick Dean and Larry Mendte together sounds better than anything Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Ron Angle, Tony Ianelli or Daylon Leach could possible deliver around our valley. Just the thought of Larry Mendte (after all that happened at KYW) working for faith-based Maranatha Broadcasting is amazing. Mr. Mendte meet the Family Minded Zone. BOOM!!!

Found this news interesting... WFMZ is buying KJWP (the relatively new Me-TV affiliate in Wilmington, DE). KJWP is our source for Me-TV in the Lehigh Valley as well as Grit, Escape and Justice. I wonder how the two operations will operate / co-exist. Will they share resources? Will the mighty 69 News team coverage area expand into Delaware? Will we see KJWP's married news duo of "the" Larry Mendte and Dawn Stensland-Mendte up on South Mountain in the 69 News room...ohh, the possibilities??? How about a commentary pairing of Dick Dean and Larry Mendte - whose head explodes first. WOW!! things could be getting good!!!

 

In Philly, PMCM TV is selling its Philly VHF station, KJWP to Maranatha Broadcasting (owners of Allentown station WFMZ). Since it appears that these two parties could be participating in the auctions later this spring, the purchase price was not disclosed because of "sensitive bidding information".

 

 

It looks like they're could be some more moving parts among the smaller broadcasters, as the auction nears......

I must say I enjoy watching CNN Newsroom during the late night hours - It allows me the chance to watch some great KYW talent (sorry - former KYW talent). Oren Lieberman in Israel and Matt Rivers in Asia are both doing incredible work. I miss seeing them (and so many others) these days on the once-great KYW.

Camelot - not no mo'

**now back to Taste with Tori - now that's hard-hitting news**

Good Night Family.

Did anyone else find the Rob Vaughn / Melanie Falcon pairing earlier in the week really awkward? If you are going to have a broadcast geared at a younger, more laid-back feel you can't have the elder statesman fill-in, especially for his own son. I know it's the holidays but it just seemed rough. Imagine Jim Gardner on WPVI's 6 at 4 show with Alicia Vittarelli - awkward. I would love to see Chandi Lowry fill-in for Wendy Davis though - Chandi and Rob could be good together.

The "Most Watched Station in Philadelphia" doesn't necessarily translate to the "Most Watched News Team" and clearly doesn't equal the most professional or best new product. Just saying.

I agree, they are a great team together, and I wish she would fill in it 5 pm! But Sarah is an excellent reporter, too, so maybe they'd rather have her put to use there.

As much as I agree about Sarah's professionalism on air and the high quality of her reporting, she has that "bitchy resting face" syndrome made infamous on BravoTV's Below Deck. She can just seem angry when she is listening to her co-anchor talk. An old-school "face-for-radio". Just a superficial opinion - I repeat my respect for her talent and she actually does shine when she doesn't appear to drift away.