MD TV

New round of layoffs coming to ESPN. Bob Iger did say last month that layoffs were coming to Disney; The article says that Stephen A. Smith, Scott Van Pelt, and Joe Buck/Troy Aikman are on the short list of those who are safe.

Yeah, there's been price hikes recently for the competing services. Plus, the Sunday Ticket deal isn't cheap (even if that's gonna be a separate fee). And god only knows how much ESPN's carriage fee has gone up in the past 3 years.

Annabelle Sedano has been hired as a new 3PM and 5PM anchor: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/community/nbc4-names-annabelle-sedano-as-news-anchor/3115314/

Nexstar has an agreement with YouTube TV to carry their non-big 4 stations: https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-reaches-multi-year-agreement-with-youtube-tv-for-launch-of-59-nexstar-stations-including-its-cw-mynet-and-independent-television-stations/ In addition, it includes contract extensions with NewsNation and their CBS stations.

Also taking a buyout is station veteran Doug Geed. His last day will be in July.

And here's her first report for ABC: https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/major-winter-storm-expected-dump-5-feet-snow-97683809?fromLive=true

Hoda's back:

That's what, the third high-profile retirement on that station in less than 6 months. Erika Gonzalez last month said that she was permanently moving to the 11am newscast, so I should've figured that time was getting slim for Pat.

WRNN 7 PM newscast from October 13, 1998 (partial): WNBC NewsChannel 4 at 11 from October 24, 1996. Right before Michelle Marsh joined the station, and thus would've probably filled in for Sue here:

Somara Theodore, who did weather for WRC-TV and Saturday Today, is joining ABC News as a New York-based meteorologist:

Turns out Hoda has a family emergency:

On this, the 70th anniversary of WJZ-TV in New York changing their call letters to WABC-TV, here's Channel 7 Eyewitness News at 11 from March 24, 1997:

The Tour De France will be a Peacock exclusive starting next year (with some portions simulcast on NBC): https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2023/02/15/nbc-sports-peacock-and-aso-announce-six-year-extension-for-exclusive-u-s-media-rights-for-tour-de-france/

So it turns out that Steve announced he's going to WJZ in Baltimore, working weekends: https://www.instagram.com/p/CoYT1UEuFRx/?hl=en

From this ig post it looks like Somara Theodore is leaving, so that opens up weekend nights (and DC-based Saturday Today): https://www.instagram.com/p/CoiMKU0vpfm/

New sports reporter/anchor hired:

An interview with Phoenix-area resident and huge Eagles fan Charlie Van Dyke: https://6abc.com/who-is-voice-of-action-news-charlie-van-dyke-super-bowl-57-lvii/12787409/

She is indeed joining ABC:

New hire from their sister station in Fresno:

Fred Roggin is leaving on Thursday. According to the article, it was his choice: And here's the station's article on the end of his run there: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/sports-anchor-fred-roggin-nbc4-retirement/3080455/

KCOP is now billing themselves as FOX 11 Plus.

Yeah. They should also consider bringing back the 2-3:30 news block that they used to have. Or at least reenter 3pm.