HardNewsCLT

Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere but WSOC in Charlotte got a new news director about three weeks ago. Mike Oliveira joins the station from WFXT in Boston where he was the news director during the Cox takeover. Before that he was at WPXI in Pittsburgh.

 

Inside sources tell me that Oliveira has been a welcome change and is bringing fresh ideas over the stagnated previous management who apparently wasn't too open to new ideas and change.

 

The rumor mill is that WSOC might be getting a new set in the next year to replace the BDI set that premiered in 2012.

 

WSOC also dropped Bill Ratner as their VO guy and replaced him with John Cramer (the guy who is the main voiceover guy on the EntertainmentStudios court shows). It's an interesting choice but having heard his voice on WSOC, it actually works well.

WSOC also hired a new VP/GM, Cedric Thomas, late last year. He was previously Director of Sales at CMG Pittsburgh. Joe Pomilla, WSOC's long-time VP/GM was promoted to VP/GM of CMG Boston.

https://www.coxmediagroup.com/cmg-announces-new-broadcast-leadership-in-boston-charlotte-memphis-orlando-pittsburgh-jacksonville-and-miami/

I've heard that WSOC/WAXN's ratings haven't been as strong recently as they once were.

News flash. Most tv stations rely on the the NWS's Doppler for their use. Very few stations can/have Doppler Radars of their own. I don't know how it's sad that a tv station does not have it's own doppler radar... the reality is, that it's a costly expense to have.

True. Cox (WSOC/WAXN) does own a "National Weather Service quality radar" in Charlotte. It has been a promo point in the past. Everyone else has to rely on the NWS radar system exclusively.

Why is Charlotte the biggest US city without Doppler radar?

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article69059387.html

WHBQ sports director Matt Stark is leaving the station at the end of May after stating his position has been "eliminated"

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1263251517036167

 

Naturally that phrasing makes one wonder if this means that Cox is eliminating WHBQ's sports department entirely. Stark had been with WHBQ since 2001. He is looking to continue in the Memphis area so best of luck to him in finding a new venture.

I don't understand this one either.

KICU in San Francisco appears to have re-branded, based on this Twitter pic.

 

Another dumb move by Fox.