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Longtime O-Town anchor Marla Weech is being laid off from WKMG as the slowing economy starts to takes its toll at Local 6.
"I'm being laid off," she told Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker on Friday. "It's tough economic times. My position is being eliminated. My heart goes out to anyone who's losing a job."
Weech has been an anchor on Orlando TV since the early 1980s, first at Channel 6, then for more than 20 years at WFTV-Channel 9. She left WFTV in Sept. 2005 after being bumped to the 10 p.m. newscast on sister station WRDQ-Channe 27. She returned to Channel 6 in 2006.
Weech is the latest high-profile anchor to leave the air. Wendy Chioji departed WESH-Channel 2 in May after more than 20 years.
Chioji decided to leave the business, which -- like all media -- is facing a tough economic climate. In a memo to the Channel 6 staff explaining Weech's anchor position being eliminated, GM Henry Maldonado warned, "The position being eliminated will not be the only measure we will have to take. But for now, everyone affected by these changes has already been informed."
Are you ready for your digital TV test? On Wednesday night, 11 O-Town TV stations will simulate the end of analog broadcasting and go dark to let viewers know if they're ready for the digital TV age to begin.
Here's how it will work: At 7:59 p.m., these local television stations -- WESH-NBC 2, WKMG-CBS 6, WFTV-ABC 9, WCEU-PBS 15, WKCF-CW 18, WMFE-PBS 24, WVEN-Univision 26, WRDQ-Independent 27, WOTF-Telefutura 43, WTGL-Independent 45 and WBCC-PBS 68 -- will first alert viewers and explain how the test will work. Each station will then simulate the termination of analog broadcasting by removing the video signal that feeds the analog transmitter for 10 seconds causing the screen to go dark.
On each participating station's digital broadcasts, and on cable and satellite systems that receive direct feeds from the station, the station will notify viewers that they have successfully passed the test. At the conclusion of each test, stations will notify viewers that if their screen went blank they need to take corrective action -- such as getting a digital TV converter box for their analog sets.
Also, during the test broadcasts, each station will provide a toll-free telephone number and Web site for additional DTV transition assistance.
This is the first of three tests the area stations are uniting to perform. Noticeably absent from the test are Orlando's two Fox-owned TV stations -- WOFL-Fox 35 and WRBW-MyNetworkTV 65.
The local stations will switch off their analog signals for good on Feb. 17, 2009.
Anchor/reporter Raoul Martinez, who has been at WESH for about six years, is leaving the station. His last day will be Sunday, according to Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker. Martinez performed a number of roles at WESH during his tenure, including being an early-evening anchor, morning anchor for WESH's news show on WKCF-CW18 and most recently weekend anchor. ...
Zach Klein signed off this week as sports director at WFTV-Channel 9. He had been with the station since 2003 and is jumping to Cox flagship WSB in Atlanta. His replacement is Phil Burton from Boston's CN8. ....
Speaking of WFTV, the station changed programming on its digital 9.2 subchannel. It used to be full-screen, live weather radar, which was very handy during our summer thunderstorms. Now, the station has shrunk the presentation from 16:9 to 4:3 and is adding weather forecasts and traffic reports to a rotation that also includes the live Doppler. If I wanted all that, I'd sit through WESH's boring WeatherPlus. I'd rather have just the Doppler, thank you. ...
Former WKMG reporter Trace Gallagher continues to move up at Fox News Channel. This week he became co-anchor of FNC's Live Desk. Of course, the most famous Channel 6 alum at Fox News Channel is still Shepard Smith. Click here for video.
KOAT in Albuquerque, N.M., has kicked off an interesting summer experiment. It's expanded its late newscast to an hour. That's not so unusual for a Fox affiliate or independent station, but it is unusual for an ABC affiliate. KOAT is delaying Nightline by a half hour to have an hourlong late show. OK, so what's the Orlando connection? Former Fox 35 anchor Shelly Ribando is one of the anchors on the hourlong experiment. If it works in New Mexico, I wonder how many other stations may jump at the chance to wring some more money out of news? Of course, KOAT's newscast runs from 10-11 p.m. -- which even with the time zone consideration is a lot different than having a local newscast from 11 p.m. to midnight. Click here to see a video with Ribando explaining the decision for the expanded show. (Final footnote: KOAT is owned by WESH parent Hearst-Argyle.)
UPDATED: With little fanfare, WKMG has thrown the switch on 16:9 for its newscasts. (Oops -- I reported early that Local 6 had gone to HD. Not the case, however.)
Local 6 is using 16:9 studio cameras, but its weather graphics and most field reports are still in standard 4:3 with "wings" on the side of the screen. I believe there was at least one 16:9 report tonight -- some highlights from the Magic's game.
The 16:9 switch comes after WKMG has been stretching its picture to fill the 16:9 ratio of today's HD televisions. That was a bit annoying and also stretched out the anchors' faces, making them look like the reflections in one of those old carnival funhouse mirrors.
WFTV was the first in Florida to switch to HD for its newscasts in July 2006, and WESH followed with its HD newscasts on Nov. 1, 2007. Now in O-Town, only WKMG and is Fox O&O WOFL-Channel 35 are not in HD.
After hyping it as "big news" throughout the weekend, WKMG announced on its Morning News show Monday that meteorologist Larry Mowry is leaving to head to CBS O&O KTVT in Dallas. Anchor Erick Weber said in announcing Mowry's departure, "We want to let you know about our secret. Just learned about it, what, about a week ago." (Well, actually it was back in November, but we digress.)
In addition to Mowry telling viewers how much he will miss Central Florida and that his last day is Jan. 3, he announced his successor: meteorologist Eric Wilson from Post-Newsweek sister station WDIV-NBC 4 in Detroit. Wilson was introduced via live shot from his snow-covered front yard in Detroit -- which featured a huge Mickey Mouse Christmas ornament.
Wilson said his wife is a huge Disney fan -- every Christmas ornament they have has something to do with Disney -- so they are looking forward to coming to Orlando. According to his bio, he is the primary met on WDIV's NBC WeatherPlus channel and does the station's noon show as well as appearances on other newscasts.
The UCF Knights have to thank WESH for part of their Conference USA Championship. Heavy rains late last week make the field at Bright House Networks Stadium soggy, so the school asked WESH to bring over its chopper to help dry the field. While school officials have been concerned about how fans jump up and down and shake the stadium, from the video, flying a chopper inside the bowl looks far more dangerous. Watch the video. (It's the second one under the video player.) ...
Former WKMG reporter Candice Coleman, now working for the Disney News Bureau, did a story about the pardoned Thanksgiving turkey arriving at Disney World for Good Morning America's Web cast. Here's a link. (Also, I know it's Disney Co.-synergy, but do you think ABC News has ever run a PR release video from any other company?) ...
News WESH anchor Aixa Diaz made a trip to "back home" to Puerto Rico for the station -- documenting the trip, of course. With the area's Puerto Rican population surging, advertising an anchor's ties to the island seems to be a smart idea.
Some good news to report. Former Fox 35 anchor Shelly Ribando has landed a new gig. She'll become the main anchor at KOAT-ABC 7 in Albuquerque, N.M. According to Eckhert Talent Management, she'll co-anchor the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts at the Hearst-Argyle station. Ribando anchored her final newscast at Fox 35 in September 2006. ...
WKMG-Local 6 morning weather guy Larry Mowryis heading to Big D. He's become the 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. meteorologist at CBS O&O in Dallas, KTVT-11. He'll find another alum of the Channel 6 weather staff when he arrives. Longtime O-Town weather man Mike Burger is still at KTVT. ...
Not sure if it's just to help fill-in or if she's Mowry's replacement, but former Miami meteorologist Elizabeth Hart has been forecasting the weather on WKMG this week. She left CBS O&O WFOR-4 in September 2006 and has filled in for Mitch English on the Orlando-based Daily Buzz since then. ...
Former Central Florida News 13 reporter Don Guevara has jumped to WSVN-Fox 7 in Miami. ...
And Syan Rhodes from WMC-NBC 5 in Memphis will join newcomer Scott Walker as co-anchor of WESH 2 News at Sunrise starting Monday, Dec. 10. Found an interesting post about Rhodes on a Memphis TV site while seeking additional information for this item.
The November ratings for Orlando showed another dominating performance by WFTV's Eyewitness News. By my count, WFTV has now been the No. 1 newscast at 6 p.m. for 29 years. And the Channel 9 juggernaut seems to be getting even stronger.
According to WFTV, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., more than 50 percent of the homes watching news in Central Florida are turned to Channel 9. Its lead over No. 2 Local 6 is more than 78,000 households at 5 p.m. -- and the lead grows to 94,914 more households at 6 p.m.
Channel 9 is nearly as dominant in the morning. Its two-hour Daybreak has 49 percent of the news-watching audience -- nearly 37,000 more homes than No. 2 WKMG, nearly 40,000 homes more than No. 3 WESH and nearly 58,000 homes more than No. 4 Fox. 35.
WOFL was down across the board, but the shocker the WFTV-produced news on WRDQ-Channel 27 nearly tying Fox 35 at 10 p.m. WOFL was down 23 percent from Nov. 2006. The good news for Fox 35 is that its numbers are sure to jump shortly with the return of American Idol.
In the morning, the WFTV-produced news on WRDQ moved into No. 2 behind Fox 35 in November ahead of WESH's news on WKCF-CW 18.
The November sweeps brought us original episodes of our favorite shows, but the ratings results for the O-Town news looked more like another rerun.
Based on information provided in news releases by WFTV and WESH, Channel 9 once again dominated the local news scene in a ratings period that saw most everyone dropping a bit from a year ago. Here's how the stations rank in the news time periods:
5 a.m. -- WFTV-Ch. 9, WKMG-Ch. 6, WESH-Ch. 2 and WOFL-Ch. 35. Local 6 displaces WESH 2 News at No. 2, but everyone was down in share
6 a.m. -- WFTV-Ch. 9, WESH-Ch. 2, WKMG-Ch. 6 and WOFL-Ch. 35. WESH barely hangs on to the No. 2 spot, dropping a full rating point and 3 share points from 2006. WKMG was up in rating and share.
7 a.m. local news -- WOFL-Ch. 35, WRDQ-Ch. 27, WKCF-Ch. 18. The shocker is that the WFTV-produced morning news on WRDQ jumped to No. 2 ahead of the WESH-produced show on WKCF. Overall WRDQ's ratings in the time period are up 800 percent from a year ago.
Noon -- WKMG-Ch. 6, WFTV-Ch. 9, WESH-Ch. 2. Even without Bob Barker, WKMG edges WFTV for the top spot at noon. WESH drops year over year.
5 p.m., 5:30 and 6 p.m. -- WFTV-Ch. 9, WKMG-Ch. 6, WESH-Ch. 2, WOFL-Ch. 35. WFTV, as usual, dominates the early evening and tops the combined audience of its three competitors. Everyone is down in the time periods from a year ago except WFTV at 6, which increased slightly.
10 p.m. -- WOFL-Ch. 35 and WRDQ-Ch. 27. Another shocker -- Fox 35, which used to have a huge lead at 10, holds on to No. 1 by the skin of its teeth. The WFTV-produced news on WRDQ was up 23 percent year over year, while Fox 35 was down 23 percent.
11 p.m. -- WFTV-Ch. 9, WKMG-Ch. 6 and WESH-Ch. 2. Channel 9 and Local 6 both saw growth at 11 o'clock while WESH lost some audience.
Tipsters say look for Pete Caggiano to be the new meteorologist on the staff of Central Florida News 13. Caggiano was the weekend meteorologist at Gainesville's WCJB-ABC 20 from 2004 until May of this year. ...
Speaking of weather, have you noticed that WKMG-Local 6 has added Christian radio station Z-88.3 as its 7-day forecast sponsor? I'm surprised that it's taken this long for an O-Town station to sell its sponsorship of its forecast.
Simulcast -- the Orlando band that features WKMG anchor Bob Frier and Mix 105.1 FM morning guy Scott McKenzie -- makes its debut on Friday night at 9:30 at Dexter's in Lake Mary. "The number one goal of Simulcast is to raise loads of money to help bring 'music education and appreciation' to the Children of the Orlando area," according to the band's MySpace page. One way of doing that is supporting the Steinway Society of Central Florida -- one of Frier's favorite charities.
Click below to check out Frier singing with the band.
Cynthia Demos, the latest anchor or reporter to depart WFTV, says the reason is simple: "When you work at Channel 9, other stations recruit you," Demos said. "They know if you can work for Bob Jordan and succeed, you must be good at your job." The Orlando Sentinel reports on how WFTV has become a feeder station for larger markets. Read all about it here. ...
Over at WESH, the latest to leave the station is meteorologist Leslie Hudson, who won't be coming back from maternity leave. So, why are so many folks leaving Channel 2? GM Bill Baumananswers here. ...
Have you noticed the new traffic graphics on WFTV's Eyewitness News in the morning? It's the new 3D "Beat the Traffic" system from a Campbell, Calif., company. You can read more about the system here. ...
LATV, the Latin-themed programming that WKMG runs on its 6.2 digital subchannel, has a new fall lineup. Among the new shows: the animated "Homies," based on the worldwide figurine phenomenon created by Dave Gonzales. Read about that here.
New WKMG sports anchor David Pingaloregets a profile in today's Sentinel. We find out that GM Henry Maldonado likes Ping for his zany interaction at the anchor desk. "It brings the ensemble cast together," Maldonado told the Sentinel. (If you wonder about the state of TV news, just read that sentence again. )
So far I'm mixed on "Ping." He does bring a lot of energy to his reports (I'm not calling them sports reports), but I find one of his segments, where he insists on folks smelling a $100 bill, a bit obscene. "Here, smell it ... Smell it again ... Give it another whiff," he urges. Reminds me of that Spinal Tap album, perhaps.
We all know how competitive weather is around here -- i.e. my Doppler is bigger than your Doppler. So, I thought it was interesting that WFTV brought in chief met Tom Terry and WKMG brought in chief met Tom Sorrells on Sunday to cover Hurricane Dean. WESH and WOFL stayed with their regular weekend forecasters. ....
Also, WFTV has sent morning meteorologist Brian Shields to Cancun to cover the approach of Hurricane Dean. ...
Now confirmed ... features reporter Candice Coleman is indeed leaving Local 6. That's too bad. As our local newscasts continue to focus on crime, cars running into houses and dogs biting people, the type of feature stories Coleman reported certainly helped the story mix and gave a nice respite from the relentless pounding drumbeat of "breaking news." ...
WKMG will air "Miracle of Love," a special focusing on the recovery of Local 6 anchor Mark McEwen, Monday at 8 p.m. The show looks at McEwen's battle after suffering a stroke in November 2005. Also taking a big role in the special -- as she also has during the recovery process -- is McEwen's wife, Denise.
WKMG anchor Jacqueline London hosts the special. "I believe their story is one that can really change lives," London said. "Everywhere I go, people naturally are concerned about Mark and his progress."
Some O-Town folks are on the move in this TGIF report:
Denise Cullen, former sports director at Central Florida News 13, has joined the Orlando Predators as their new director of communications. "Working for Orlando's only professional football team is another step up in my career. I can't imagine a better job," Cullen said in a news release. Cullen made her mark in Orlando TV, working her way up from sports intern at WFTV-Channel 9 to being the first female to head a sports department at an Orlando station. Cullen has been an avid football fan ever since she can remember and at one point had dreams of playing in the NFL. She said, "I told my parents I wanted to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and wear #88 just like Lyn Swann. If only I were taller!"
Meanwhile, Danielle Bellini, longtime traffic reporter at Channel 2, signed off at the end of the WESH's 6 a.m. broadcast. Her replacement, Kimberly Williams, started with the 7 a.m. WESH 2 News on CW18.
And, from a tipster but not confirmed, longtime feature reporter Candice Colemanwill be leaving Local 6. She's been with the station since 2001, and I've always found her "Out There" reports to be a hoot.
WFTV has lost its distinction as having Florida's only HD newscast. Scripps-owned WFTS-ABC 28 started airing its news in HD on July 28, and sister station WPTV-NBC 5 in West Palm Beach became the first South Florida station to take the HD plunge last week. ...
I recently asked if anyone had any info on the cryptic e-mail I received about big changes coming to WESH. A former WESH insider says the word is it's contract renewal time for some of the station's biggest names -- and who knows if all of them will still be with WESH once negotiations end. Stay tuned ...
Speaking for WESH, some folks who have already left the station are starting their version of MySpace for the Baby Boomer set. Marc Middleton, Bill Shafer and Andrea CoudrietBatchelor are behind the venture. You'll recall, they all set up a consulting business after leaving WESH -- showing there really is life after TV. Click here to read more about the Web venture. ...
Former Channel 6 video guru Ken Shuba, who was also Broadcast Operations Manger for the City of Orlando, is back in TV news. He's now working at WESH. ...
Finally, I know my summer break was rather extensive, but did I really miss all of these people leaving -- Chris Egert, Laverne McGee, Trei Johnson, Lee Goldberg, Julie Watkins, Arch Kennedy, Joe Oliver and ... am I missing anyone else? If so, add their names as a comment to this post.
There are a lot of re-runs in the summer ... and also in the O-Town ratings competition. WFTV-Channel 9's Eyewitness News was again the top choice for Central Floridians. WFTV was No. 1 from 5-7 a.m., from 5-6:30 p.m. and at 11 p.m., according to the Orlando Sentinel's TV Guy.
In the 6 p.m. competition, WFTV had 141,000 homes to 61,00o for WKMG-Local 6 News and 57,000 for WESH 2 News.
At 11 p.m., Eyewitness News wast No. 1 with 98,000 homes followed by Local 6 at 76,000 and WESH at 64,000. The Sentinel's TV Guy says in that late-night timeslot, WKMG was down 11,000 from a year ago, WESH was up by 28,000 and WFTV was up by 4,000.
WESH was up across the board, actually. In a press release, Channel 2 said it was the only local broadcast station to see growth in all weekday newscasts. "We saw significant growth in both households and adult viewers in May, and it's gratifying to see it continuing in July. It's clear we are building some solid momentum," said station President and General Manager Bill Bauman. High points for WESH: up 96 percent at 4 p.m. from a year ago, up 27 percent at 5 p.m., up 16 percent at 5:30, up 10 percent at 6 p.m. and up 13 percent at 11 p.m.
WESH was also eager to point out that its morning news on sister station WKCF-CW 18 from 7 to 9 a.m. is drawing 13 percent more viewers than The Daily Buzz did in the timeslot a year ago. Of course, now the Buzz is over on WRDQ-Channel 27, but it appears before and after WFTV's morning news its sister station.
All the stations in town picked up on the story about a 9-year-old boy who called 911 when his mother fell unconscious on the floor. But when area stations showed the "first meeting" between the Alex Swee and 911 dispatcher Matt Nicotra -- it was actually staged for two local stations who showed up late.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, "crews from WESH-Channel 2 and WFTV-Channel 9 were on time to film the exchange of hugs when Alex and his mom met Nicotra for the first time. But WOFL-Channel 35 showed up late and asked the three to do it all over again so they could tape it. Then in the middle of the second 'first' meeting, a WKMG-Channel 6 crew arrived and asked the three, 'Can you do it one more time?' "
The paper wryly pointed out, "The 'first' meeting ended up taking almost as long as the six-minute 911 call between Alex and Nicotra."
Kim Sanders, who works at a voice-over production company, was introduced as the new WKMG traffic reporter on the Local 6 Morning News on Monday. Click here to see her audition tape. ...
Central Floridians think WKMG has the hunkiest hunks in local TV. That's the message from the Scott and Erica Show'sOrlando TV's Hunkiest Hunk contest. Local 6 weekend anchor Todd Jurkowski edged out main anchor Bob Frier for the award, given by Mix 105.1 (WOMX-FM). Others in the top 5: WOFL's Jim Van Fleet, WFTV's Brian Shields, WESH's Tom Schaad. The Sentinel's Scott Maxwell has more info, including how the silly contest actually turned into a way to benefit local charities. ...
NewsBlues.com reported Friday that future WKMG sports anchor David Pingalore hasn't left Cleveland yet because the Cavaliers are still in the NBA playoffs. Well, the Cavs won their semifinal series and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, meaning it could be another two weeks before "Ping" pops into O-Town. ...
And finally, you may have noticed some great deals on TVs recently. But unless you plan to use that set for nothing more than a door stop after Feb. 1, 2009, it better be digital. The Sentinel's Mark Chediak has the story about how "old" analog TVs are still being purchased by unsuspecting buyers today.
Orlando Sentinel sports columnist Jerry Greene reports that new WKMG sports anchor David Pingalore has been "delayed" in leaving Cleveland for his new O-Town gig. That has led to a further diminishing of the declining sports product on Local 6. For example, at 11 p.m. Tuesday night there was no sports anchor again -- news anchor Bob Frier did a brief sports recap. And on the night the first major-league baseball game was played in Central Florida between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Texas Rangers, WKMG showed highlights of a Devil Rays-Blue Jays game while Frier did the voice over. (Wow.) By contrast, WESH had sports guy Guy Rawlings anchoring from Disney's Wide World of Sports stadium -- with actual highlights of the Rays and Rangers. ...
Orlando's male TV anchors/reporters are competing this week for the coveted title of Orlando TV's Hunkiest Hunk. It's the 16th year for the contest, sponsored by the always entertaining Scott and Erica Morning Show on Mix 105.1 (WOMX-FM). The guys have been calling into to solicit listener votes. Early leaders this week have included WKMG's Frier and Larry Mowry, WESH's Jim Payne, WFTV's Chris Egert and Brian Shields and WOFL's Jim Van Fleet and Tom Johnson. In fact, WOFL closed out its morning news on Tuesday by posting a graphic of its candidates and urging viewers to vote for them. The voting continues through Friday.
A South Florida tipster says that former WESH anchor Shannon Horimay be headed back to the Sunshine State. According to the tip, Hori is on the list of possible replacements for anchor Maggie Rodriguez at CBS O&O WFOR in Miami. Rodriguez is leaving to anchor the Saturday Early Show on the network. Hori left WESH in 2004 for her current home, CBS O&O KTVT in Dallas. ...
The voting begins today for the finalists for WKMG traffic reporter job. But, if you've been listening closely to the rules on Local 6, your voting means practically nothing. Station management will make the decision on who to hire ... but they will "consider" the voting when making the decision. So, if you still want to vote, go for it. ...
Internet Broadcasting Systems, which runs the Web sites for WKMG, WFTV and WESH in Orlando and more than 70 other stations nationwide, is moving its headquarters to St. Paul, Minn. Here's the full story.
Actually that headline is a tease. We'll have more on that later in this post. But first ...
> Have you been seeing those promos on Local 6: "Ping! is coming" they proclaim. Yeah, I'm a little slow. I finally put it together with the impending arrival of new sports anchor David Pingalore. So, scratch that off your list of things to wonder about ...
> We told you about WESH meteorologist Tony Mainolfi's 20-day, 20-location trip along the Central Florida coast. In addition to doing his live shots, he's also writing short stories about the experience. Read Tony's Scrapbook here. ...
> April was a record month for traffic on RogerSimmons.com. I'll have more details for you soon, but I thought I would share the top 3 stories that you made the most popular on the site this past month:
Now, back to our top story in this very, very slow news day ...
> UFOs attacking our beloved theme parks! The Orange County Visitors Bureau declaring itself a provisional government! That's the premise of a new film by a couple of local brothers, James and Robert Dastoli. "Southwestern Orange County vs. the Flying Saucers" has been nominated for an MTV Movie Award. And in case you're wondering how our local TV stations might have missed flying saucers attacking us, don't worry. In the movie, "Local 12" -- which actually looks a lot like Fox 35 -- helps keep O-Town viewers informed about the attack. Actually, it's a cool movie and worth a watch. The Sentinel's Roger Moore has a copy of the 16-minute film posted on his blog here.
O-Town sports radio talker Dan Sileo is expanding into television. He reports that he's going to Tampa to join the 11 p.m. NewsEdge newscast at Fox O&O WTVT-Channel 13. Sileo's morning show on WQTM-740 AM also airs in Tampa, and it's is adding Jacksonville to its simulcast network on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, I forgot to note last week the sad state of sports in O-Town. When your Orlando Magic traveled to Detroit to play the Pistons in their playoff series, the only local video crews covering the team in Motown were from WFTV-Channel 9 and OrlandoSentinel.com. WESH, WKMG and WOFL all stayed home. Wow, how things have changed from the old Shaq days, huh?
Finally, Sunday's NHL double-overtime playoff game on NBC meant the scheduled special on Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro got iced. WESH reports that "Barbaro: A Nation's Horse" will now air on CNBC on Friday at 9 p.m. and midnight.
Sentinel TV critic Hal Boedeker slams WKMG-Local 6 for its sweeps kickoff: a staged home burglary on Thursday's 11 p.m. news. Boedeker wrote in his blog, "This tired stunt was a shameless bid to inject drama into the newscast" and "I'm expecting better from WKMG. Viewers are, too, after the Guetzloe Files." Read the full post here. ...
WKMG was the only one of the local stations to have its main weeknight anchor team working the 11 p.m. shift Sunday night. ...
According to the electronic program guide on my TV, WOFL-Fox 35 ditched the second half-hour of its Friday 10 p.m. news to air a "Does it Work?" special. Stations do this so they can drop low-rated quarter or half hours from their sweeps ratings average. I would have thought WOFL's news numbers would be sky high thanks to American Idol. Not sure why the station needs to "code out" part of their newscasts now. ...
WFTV's sweeps offering Monday night is anchor/reporter Chris Egert's look at dirty supermarkets. ...
While WOFL and WKMG debuted new sets, graphics and music to start sweeps, WESH got into the makeover act and redid its anchor intros. Click the links to view video and frame grabs showing the changes at WKMG , and the changes at WOFL, and the new anchor intro at WESH.
> If case you've been living under a rock, WKMG is having tryouts for its new traffic reporter. Hal Boedeker of the Sentinel blogs about the finalists.
> Hey, forget traffic reporting -- maybe you should be a network correspondent? The South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is presenting a seminar on Saturday in Miami called, "How to Break into Network News ... and Stay There." Susan Candiotti of CNN and Mark Potter of NBC will be on hand to provide the skinny. Click here for information.
> So, we've reached another sweeps and still WFTV (and little sister WRDQ) are the only O-Town stations broadcasting the news in HD? What Central Florida station will be next? WESH's sister, KCRA-NBC 3 in Sacramento, started HD news recently -- using the same exact set WESH has now. WFTV seems to be setting the standard for the Cox chain, as its little sister in Charlotte, WSOC-ABC 9, started its HD broadcasts last week. The new sets at WKMG and WOFL look like they're HD ready. OK, after saying all that, I'm putting my money on WESH for the fall.
> Stan Knott, the GM at Fox's O-Town dupoly of WOFL-Fox 35 and WRWB-My65, likes having the Magic on his station, says the Orlando Sentinel's Jerry Greene. Of course, like just about everything in primetime on My65, the Magic are getting canceled, too.
> Do you like Family Guy? If so, you'll be excited that you'll be seeing more of it on WOFL-Fox 35. The station has signed on to carry re-runs of the cartoon comedy starting in the fall.
WKMG unveiled its new set -- as well as new graphics, news music and a new weather center on Tuesday. The Local 6 Big Picture Weather Center is out -- in is the Storm Tracking Center. But a couple of people have noticed this new WKMG weather center looks a lot like another one here in town. Hmmmm. Still, nice upgrades all around by WKMG.
First, an Orlando news crew was roughed up on the ground. Now, our O-Town TV guys are being attacked from the air.
WOFL has suspended its regular outdoor weather segments in the garden area behind its studio because of a mother hawk. She's taken up residence in a tree above Fox 35's Lake Mary studios.
"We have a little situation going on," anchor Tom Johnson explained on air this week. "There is a mama hawk high up in one of the pine trees. And we think she has some eggs she's waiting on or some little ones in that nest right there. So anytime anybody goes out behind out station, mama hawk gets a little upset and attacks."
WOFL already has its live newsroom Web cam and its live studio Web cam, so why not make the most of this situation and add a live Hawk Cam?
In other news ...
New WKMG anchor Erick Weber made his debut Tuesday on Local 6's First News. He'll be doing the morning and noon show with Lauren Rowe ...
WOFL's new logo, graphics and music debuted Monday. All the changes were positive ones, and I'll post some frame grabs later. Still waiting for the new WKMG set, which was supposed to debut Monday. ...
Sweeps start Thursday. WESH's plans include having meteorologist Tony Mainolfi at the beach and a weight loss segment on 2 News Sunrise
WOFL and WKMG are expected to debut new sets and graphics today.
At WOFL, over the the weekend the station's news set was tweaked for the new look -- which an insider says includes new graphics and music. One thing it definitely includes is a new station logo. Actually, it's the Fox-mandated corporate logo design (shown above) that has been used on WOFL's MyFoxOrlando.com since it launched but has yet to be used on air ... until now.
Over at WKMG, the station is taking the wrapping off its new set today, according to the Sentinel's TV Guy. The current incarnation of the WKMG set -- with its big video screen backdrop -- debuted in 2004 during the station's coverage of Hurricane Jeanne.
Here's your Monday memo -- some quick hits to start the week ...
> WKMG's traffic reporter tryout stunt is today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Local 6 studios on John Young Parkway. During First News, WKMG reported that one woman was already in line by 4 a.m. (Why?) In addition to not needing any experience, from the guidelines posted on the Loca6.com, it sounds like WKMG is really just looking for a prop comic. For example, from the station's FAQs: "What should I wear? Whatever you feel projects your personality. Can I bring props? Yes! Anything that help us understand who you are trying to sell." Maybe WKMG is secretly hoping to hire Gallagher to do traffic in the mornings?
> Former WFTV weather producer and now WPBF-ABC 25 meteorologist Eric Burriswas filling in with the weather on WESH Weather Plus over the weekend. Both WESH and WPBF are owned by Hearst-Argyle. Folks who saw him and e-mailed me gave the Orlando native a big thumbs-up.
> We told you last week about how a WFTV crew was pushed around by an angry businessman in Ocala, and how WFTV planned to file an incident report with the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The station apparently did, according to the Ocala Star-Banner.
> An interesting and admirable experiment in TV news is taking place down in Southwest Florida. WFTX-Fox 4 in Fort Myers is creating a "Viewer Bill of Rights" for its news coverage. Among the items in the "Bill of Rights," is the Right to Responsible Newscasts and Promotions: "Fox 4 will keep it real. While our presentation style will be conversational, we will avoid sensationalism. We will deliver the content that we promise. We will explain our values, but will not indulge in empty bragging." I assume that also includes not indulging in a no-experience-needed traffic reporter tryout during sweeps?
The 5 a.m. hour of Tuesday's Local 6 First News could have been renamed "The Marla Weech Show."
The station's traffic reporter position is vacant, co-anchor Lauren Rowe was out because she was ill, so it was supposed to be just Weech and meteorologist Larry Mowry on the show. But Florida Today reports that just about 15 minutes before going on the air, Mowry received a call that his pregnant wife was about to give birth. Station management gave him to OK to rush to the hospital, so Weech handled the news, traffic and weather on the show until fill-in weatherman Jerry Steffen was able to arrive about 30 minutes after being called for emergency duty.
But who had the tougher day, Weech or Mowry's wife? Rowe said this morning that Mowry's wife gave birth around 7:30 p.m.! But Mom, dad and their new daughter are doing fine, Rowe reported.
"Bland newscasts [that] lack a distinctive style."
That's how Orlando Sentinel TV Critic Hal Boedeker characterizes WESH 2 News. It was part of a Sunday feature on the state of the city's newscasts. He says top-rated WFTV "delivers fast-paced Eyewitness News with businesslike determination," and WKMG "has hit on a formula of offering reports that make viewers switch away from WFTV or stay up at 11."
> Traffic reporter needed, no experience necessary. That's the help-wanted ad WKMG is placing -- seeking you, me or anyone else who wants to try traffic reporting to replace Secily Wilson on Local 6 First News. "We'll know what we're looking for when we see it," WKMG ND Susan Forbes told the Sentinel. "They'll be given a script. Each person gets about a minute. We'll narrow it down and see what we find." A la American Idol, viewers will be invited to vote on the on-air performances, although the vote is meaningless for the most part. The auditions will be April 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at WKMG's studios at 4466 John Young Parkway. But really -- don't get me started on what it says about your news department when its reduced to pulling a stunt like.
> Some real O-Town broadcast journalists WITH experience have been recognized in the 2007 Society of Professional Journalists' Sunshine State Awards. Finalists for this year's contest were revealed over the weekend. Winners will be announced May 19. Among the local finalists:
Deadline Reporting: Erik von Ancken and Alfred Mason, WKMG, "Firestorm Closes In"
Sports Feature/Commentary: Scott A. Fais and Neil Petagno, Central Florida News 13, "Grand Slam Colin"
Criminal Justice Reporting: Tony Pipitone, Darran Caudle, Tim Arnheim and Brent Singleton, WKMG, "Cheerleaders Betrayed"
Political/Government Reporting: Tony Pipitone, Darran Caudle, Scott Noland and Tim Arnhein, WKMG, "Toll Agency Troubles"
While cruising the Internet on Sunday night looking for items for this week, I came across a slideshow on Local6.com about the "world's largest Great Dane." While viewing the photos, I noticed the "sponsored links" on the right side of the screen.
Under the label "Ads by Google," the advertisement reads: "Nappy Ho for President. This Ho needs money for 08. Contribute to Bills [sic] ho today!" Then there's a link to hillaryclinton.com -- which did indeed go to the candidate's Web site.
Now, I don't blame WKMG for this bit of tastelessness or even Internet Broadcasting, which produces the Local6.com site for the Orlando station. The blame likely falls on the folks at Google, who apparently allowed this to go through on their ad network.
But it does highlight a problem with many Web sites, which essential turn over their national advertising slots to groups like Google -- who then program ads for specific topics or locations without the Web site's control.
It's just that since we all know the origin of the "nappy ho" comment, it seems an even more egregious mistake for allowing this to show up on a broadcaster's Web site.
WKMG traffic reporter Secily Wilson signed off Friday morning, acknowledging her three years at the station and also former co-worker Jacquie Sosa, who was also recently dropped from the morning show while on maternity leave.
"Today is my last day after being here on the air with everyone here at the Local 6 family. I'm saying goodbye," Wilson said. "I just want to say to those of you who have embraced me over the three years and who have seen me out in the community and just told me what a wonderful job I'm doing, thank you. And for those of you who didn't embrace me, thank you as well. We always need that in our lives, and I appreciate it. Now, I'm going to spend more time with my girls and go shopping with Jacquie Sosa."
> WKMG Problem Solver Mike Holfeld appears on the Dr. Phil show tonight on Local 6 to talk about the case of former Lockheed engineer Allison Quets, who kidnapped her birth twins from their adoptive parents. Not familar with the story? Click here for what Holfeld reported back in February.
> The Don Imus saga had a profound effect on Orlando broadcasting. The Sentinel's Scott Maxwell reports that a on-air discussion of the New York curmudgeon's racist comments led to one local radio personality storming out of the studio, quickly followed by another -- which left the station scrambling to fill the dead air with a "best of show." Who's involved? Read all about it here.
> Local stations are required by the FCC to file annual reports on how well they do hiring minorities. These Equal Employment Opportunity reports have been posted on the area stations' Web sites. Are they doing enough to try to hire minorities? Read the reports for yourself here on WESH/WKCF and WKMG (2007 reports), and WFTV/WRDQ and WOFL (2006 reports).
> More AP Florida broadcast award info has been forwarded. Central Florida News 13 picked up two awards. Scott Fais and Neil Petagno won for best hard news feature for "Miracle Family" and for best sports feature for "Major League Colin." ...
> WKMG would love to air another edition of The Guetzloe Files -- just in time for the upcoming May sweeps, of course. "If the injunction is lifted, there is stuff in there that's explosive," Local 6 GM Henry Maldonado told the Sentinel's TV Guy. Read all about it here. ...
> Maybe another good sweeps series would be, When Fish Attack! Central Florida News 13's David Waters reported the story this week of a 50-something-pound fish jumping into a Brevard County man's boat and biting him. Ouch! CNN.com picked up the video nationally. Click here to watch this big fish story.
The folks are WKMG are sporting some new hardware.
The station picked up three first-place awards in the recent Associated Press Florida Broadcast competition. Local 6 won for best investigative story, for its coverage of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority's hiring of political consultant Doug Guetzloe; for its coverage of the Christmas Day tornadoes; and for its coverage of a fatal police shooting caught on tape by Sky 6. (I'd provide a link to the full list of state winners, but I have been unable to find those online.)
Meanwhile, the station is also celebrating a regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the RTNDA, won in the spot news category for Local 6's coverage of the fatal police shooting. Locally, WDBO-AM also won a Murrow. Click here for the full list of regional winners.
David Pingalore, weekend sports anchor at Cleveland's WOIO-CBS 19, has been hired as the new sports director at WKMG-Local 6. Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker reports that Pingalore will join the station in late April.
Boedeker wrote: "David is a creative, aggressive and original sportscaster with a distinctive personality," news director Susan Forbes said in a staff memo. "I firmly believe he will be a factor in redefining the sports franchise not only at this station but in this town."
Pingalore graduated from Jacksonville University, where he played on the school's Division I golf team through his college years. He interned with WTVT-Fox 13 in Tampa and also worked at WJKS, the former ABC affiliate in Jacksonville. Read Pingalore's WOIO bio here.
At WKMG, Pingalore replaces Todd Lewis, whose contract was not renewed. If Pingalore needs any inside info on WKMG, he can ask David Wittman. The former Channel 6 anchor is the 4, 6 and 11 p.m. anchor at WOIO.
The extreme makeover of Local 6's First News morning show continues. A insider says employees were told that that traffic reporter Secily Wilson will be leaving the newscast on April 14.
Technically, Wilson works for Traffic.Com but has been part of the WKMG morning show for several years. In January 2005, she suffered a stroke while on the air. After further examination, doctors determined she actually had several minor strokes. She worked with a speech pathologist and returned to work.
For those keeping count, for a much-touted morning show that once had Mark McEwen, Jacquie Sosa, Wilson and meteorologist Larry Mowry, only Mowery will remain after April 14. Sure appears a clean sweep is in the forecast, though.
Although morning anchor Jacquie Sosa is out at Local 6, she will remain on contract through most of the year but you won't see her on air again. That's the word from the Sentinel's Scott Maxwell, who quotes WKMG GM Henry Maldonado as saying he and Sosa -- still of maternity leave -- reached the deal as part of a "mutual agreement."
Wrote Maxwell, "Maldonado wouldn't say much else about the split with Sosa, who did a yeoman's job carrying the mornings after Mark McEwen suffered a stroke and had to take leave. But he did say that he wants to center his station's early day offerings around Lauren Rowe."
Maldonado said he is also close to signing a deal with a new sports anchor to replace Todd Lewis, whose contract wasn't renewed.
Erick Weber, who has appeared on The Tonight Show in comedy skits and most recently worked at WTMJ-NBC 4 in Milwaukee as a sports anchor, will join WKMG as its new morning and noon anchor, according to a Local 6 insider. He replaces Jacquie Sosa, whose contract was not renewed. His first day on the air at WKMG will be April 26.
Weber worked in Milwaukee for three years as sports anchor at WTMJ. He was an elementary school teacher when he started interning at KESQ in Palm Springs, Calif. He later became weekend sports anchor for a year and half at KNDU/KNDO-NBC in Tri-Cities/Yakima, Wash., before making the move to Milwaukee.
After Weber graduated from Ohio State, he worked as a page at NBC on The Tonight Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and other shows. On his WTMJ bio page, Weber wrote, "After being around the actors and producers, I decided, 'hey why not give acting a shot as well?' " This led to a number of comedy skits on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. "Doing live skits in front of the audience was, let's say, just a wee bit nerve-racking," he wrote.
Perhaps foreshadowing his move from sports to news anchoring, Weber also said on his bio, "I always seem to get where I am going by taking a different path."
-- The Internet sex sting in Polk County that resulted in the arrests of 28 men -- including three Disney workers and one technician for Local 6 -- was widely reported on local TV news. But the way the stations reported it varied greatly. Video on WKMG's Local6.com site shows the station did not try to downplay its employee's arrest. Actually, it's the Disney connection that's downplayed in my opinion. It's obviously an embarrassing incident, but WKMG made the right call in not trying to hide the arrest of one of its own. WESH.com video shows Channel 2 focused on the three Disney workers. Video on WFTV.com shows Eyewitness News reported the Disney workers and the WKMG worker in its package. A co-worker told me she thought WFTV was overplaying the WKMG's worker's connection to the sting, but based on the video here I would have to disagree.
-- Apparently a lot of folks in Central Florida think it's great to be a Florida Gator! Monday night's NCAA basketball championship on WKMG was watched in 294,000 local households, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The semifinal game against UCLA on Saturday drew an impressive 214,000 homes on Local 6.
-- Interesting discussion topic I'll throw out for you all. If you were having a charity event or other public function, what Orlando TV anchor would you want the most to be the guest speaker? Somehow, a colleague ended up in a discussion about this, and he said hands-down it's WESH's Wendy Chioji. She's been here a long time, folks here know her and she's living a great story after successfully battling cancer. Can't disagree with that. Any others you would put high on your list and why? You can leave comments below.
Laura Diaz Monserrate's career has just taken a huge leap.
She jumps 116 markets to become a reporter/fill-in anchor at WKMG. Monserrate has been the 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. anchor in Monroe, La. -- market No. 135 -- at the duopoly of KTVE-NBC 10 and KARD-Fox 14.
But the move to O-Town is a homecoming for her. She is originally from Orlando, attended the University of Florida and interned at Local 6.
A production technician at WKMG has been arrested as part of an Internet sex string. Christian Rodriguez-Torres, 19, was among 28 caught in the Polk County Sheriff's Office's latest operation targeting men wanting to have sex with under-age girls.
Detectives, posing as 13-and-14-year-old girls, lured suspects from Internet chat rooms to a rented house in Polk County. The men -- which also included three Disney workers and two UCF students -- were arrested over four days after they arrived at the undercover home.
WKMG-TV General Manager Henry Maldonado said, "These charges are severe and we are shocked that one of our employees was involved. The employee was suspended. Local 6, of course will aggressively report on the arrests and continuing investigation."
Scott Schroeder, a photographer for WKMG, suffered severe carbon monoxide poisoning inside a Local 6 live truck earlier this week while on assignment in Cocoa Beach. NewsBlues.com reports that Schroeder was found sitting upright in the front seat, passed out and foaming from the mouth. The truck's CO alarm was sounding. The reporter with the crew called 911, and when fire department investigators arrived they found carbon monoxide levels in the vehicle were "off the chart." Schroeder -- who fire officials said was lucky he didn't die or suffer brain damage -- was later released from the hospital and was resting at home.
For longtime market watchers, the incident was eerily similar to what happened in 1992 to then-Channel 6 reporter Shepard Smith. Now a Fox News Channel anchor, Smith was rushed to the hospital after he was found passed out from carbon monoxide fumes inside a Channel 6 news van. Smith had been editing for about two minutes inside the aging van when he collapsed. Photographer Chris Kennedy got Smith out of the van and called for help.
Station management at the time cited the poor condition of the news vehicle, saying there were expecting a replacement soon and didn't want to bother fixing any problems with it.
First, morning anchor Jacquie Sosa -- who was supposed to return from maternity leave on Monday -- was told her contract had not been renewed. She's not expected to appear on the air again at the station, according to an insider. Sosa's original co-anchor in the morning was Mark McEwen, who suffered a stroke in 2005.
Main sports anchor Todd Lewis signed off for the last time during Tuesday's 6 p.m. show. His contract was not renewed either. Lewis had been with WKMG since 1997, first as weekend sports guy, then morning news guy and back to sports as the main weekday anchor. No word on his replacement -- if there will be one. WKMG has cut back on its sports coverage, canceling its longtime Sunday night highlight show. Holding down the sports fort is weekend sports anchor Lee Goldberg. When Ryan Baker left as WKMG in 2003, Goldberg worked an incredible 59 consecutive days covering all the sports shifts while before the station moved Lewis into the main sports seat.
And an insider at WKMG says reporter Samantha Knapp has told staff that she's out of at the end of this month. She reportedly has been working month to month without a contract.
I had a post Wednesday about listening to Local 6's 6 p.m. show on my car radio Tuesday and hearing a bizarre exchange between anchors Bob Frier and Jacqueline London. During a report about Girl Scout cookies, London got smacked with a box of cookies. It was all an accident and left everyone laughing -- and no one injured. I had several people provide copies of the video, and you can click here to see what happened.
Now, don't think Frier is a cookie monster. It was an accident, albeit a funny one. He said in an e-mail that the mishap was "a shoe-in to headline this year's blooper tape." He continued, "I've made co-anchors laugh with ad-libs before but nothing like THAT has happened to me ... I think what stands out about it is that Jackie laughed so hard. She's such a pro... and takes great care to always be professional on the air... to have her dissolve into tears of laughter was what made it so funny for me."
London said, "I just couldn't believe it happened, and that I couldn't stop laughing. I love sitting next to Bob and that definitely hasn't changed. I just may wear a helmet from now on. Just kidding!"
Local 6 has been riding Tony Pipitone's"The Guetzloe Files" as its showcase sweeps series this month. Now, a supporter of the political consultant is trying to get back at the station.
She has created a Web site called www.boycottlocal6.com. The domain name was registered on Feb. 18. The woman who created it, Cheryl, said she's trying to set it up and encouraged me to talk to Doug Guetzloe.
On the site, there are links to other sites that discuss invasion of privacy by the media. Also included is a message board, including a message by Guetzloe himself. Posted on Feb. 25, Guetzloe writes, "The Tony Pipitone attacks have continued unabated with misinformation; distortions fake information; innuendo; clever editing and down right lies." Guetzloe encourages his supporters to e-mail Local 6 in support of him.
The site, while called boycottlocal6.com, doesn't really come out and ask people to boycott the station. It also plays up that Guetzloe is going to sue the station for invasion of privacy, but it doesn't mention any possible slander suits over the content of Pipitone's reports on the political gadfly.
WKMG main sports anchor Todd Lewis will be leaving Local 6 at the end of March, when his contract with the station expires. It is not being renewed.
Local 6 GM Henry Maldonadotold the Sentinel's Scott Maxwell that the decision to part ways with Lewis was mutual. Others say the move was not that unexpected. Still, Lewis hopes to remain in the area.
"I love Central Florida," Lewis told Maxwell. "So I'm going to make every effort to keep my life here."
Who will replace Lewis has yet to be announced. The logical choice would seem to be No. 2 sports guy Lee Goldberg. He was bypassed for the top sports job 3 years ago when Ryan Baker left. At that time, the station decided to bring Lewis back to the sports desk after he had been moved to mornings as news anchor.
Lewis' replacement will join a growing list of new sports directors in Central Florida. WFTV (Zack Klein in for Dan Hellie) and WESH (Guy Rawlings in for Pat Clarke) have also changed their main sports guys within the past several months.
