WTVJ Layoffs Is it the Economy or a Buyer?

Author admin on 7/3/2009 in Local Media.

1. A buyer for WTVJ has emerged, interested in the station:

a)  Buyer looking to run things on the lean. Assuming NBC isn’t flexible on the asking price this potential buyer is probably willing to give NBC the asking price but only in exchange for less burden i.e. high-paid on-air talent, too much staff.

b) the buyer is a  media company who sees the need to invest in WTVJ in order to make them a viable competitor but to do this, and give NBC the asking price, WTVJ has to ’shed some weight’ if you will.
Continue reading ‘WTVJ Layoffs Is it the Economy or a Buyer?’

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Fisher Communications and KOMO Suffer Huge Outage

Author admin on 7/3/2009 in Media Headlines.

btw I’m near Seattle, in case you’re wondering why I’m blathering about this …

update3: KOMO is back via cable and it’s a very barebones newscast.

They have laptops for Paul Deanno and the traffic girl placed on top of covered up recycling bins. There are no graphics or ad breaks. Paul is delivering his forecast without any visuals at all. And the traffic girl used her laptop and a website to show traffic conditions. The anchors have no prompters, obviously, so they are all ad libing their way trough this.

And it appears that KOMO was knocked out around 11:15pm PST last night! So they have been out for nearly 7 hours.
Continue reading ‘Fisher Communications and KOMO Suffer Huge Outage’

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A Former Anchor With a Passion: My Interview With Amber Lyon

Author Alex on 7/3/2009 in Local Media.
Amber Lyon Photo: AmberLyonLive.com

Amber Lyon Photo: AmberLyonLive.com

When WSFL’s morning show ‘SouthFlorida.com/LIVE’ finally launched in March of this year, one thing we all noticed is that most had no idea who the anchors were. Some may have recognized Dave Azer if they had watched Nickelodeon, but WSFL’s edge was having  young, fresh, and unknown anchors.

Recently, I heard that Amber Lyon had left WSFL and the morning show, and decided to drop her a note and see if she’d tell us where she is headed to next. Thankfully for us, seeing the words SFLTV in her email didn’t scare her off. In talking with her, she shared a bit about one of her biggest passions, and what made her come to South Florida.

Read on.
Continue reading ‘A Former Anchor With a Passion: My Interview With Amber Lyon’

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DTV: NBC Asking FCC to Move WTVJ Repeater to Channel 51

Author admin on 7/2/2009 in Local Media.

NBC has filed a displacement application with the FCC, asking them for permission to move WTVJ’s low-power repeater which is still operating from analog channel 58 to analog 51.

According to the application analog 58 was sold and can’t be used, NBC still has analog 51 which has been freed up since WSCV-Telemundo (NBC-owned)moved to digital.

I guess analog lives for a few more

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Sun-Sentinel.com Gets Makeover

Author Alex on 7/2/2009 in Local Media.
sflwebsite

Sun-Sentinel.com Website Update

The Sun Sentinel’s website got a nice looking face lift late Wednesday evening.  Take a look at it here. It has an overall cleaner and more organized look. Share your thoughts in the comments.

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A Year Here

Author Alex on 7/1/2009 in Site News and Comments.

Almost a year ago, I joined the SFLTV.com staff (meaning, joined one other person) on this blog as a hobby. 167 (and counting) posts later, I’m still loving this hobby known as blogging. It’s just that, a hobby. Many of you may or may not know that I blog free of charge, as a hobby and something interesting to do in my free time.

I cannot explain how much I’ve learned over the past year. “Admin” as you all know him, has taught me a ridiculous amount about blogging in general, and the technical aspects that come along with it… and for some of our slower readers, YES there are two bloggers on this site. I swear, I don’t understand 98% of what he says… what with the “MYSQL’s” and the “PHP’s.” I just agree and say “ahh, interesting.” Whatever. I just write.

I’ve learned that you can’t just publicly call a reporter a diva, and ranting isn’t always the best route to go. The things you learn.

Anywho, I think I’ll stay a tad longer. I feel like I’d miss the mean comments too much.

~Alex

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Poll: Future for WTVJ?

Author Alex on 6/30/2009 in Local Media.

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What exactly should be done with WTVJ?
View Results

Your thoughts?

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First on SFLTV – Confirmed: Major Layoffs at WTVJ!

Author Alex on 6/29/2009 in Local Media.

UPDATE: More talent layoff news after the jump below.

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Breaking news now confirmed by SFLTV.com: Major talent layoffs at WTVJ NBC6 today. Shocked tipsters are telling SFLTV.com that longtime anchor and South Florida icon/news legend Kelly Craig was laid off from the station early Monday afternoon. You heard right. The anchor that has been there since April of 1990 was laid off. Joining in this major round of lay-offs are weekday morning reporter Joe Carter, and Andrea Brody, the only female sports anchor at WTVJ. SFLTV is told that these layoffs were all most likely due to the economy.

Talent wasn’t the only cost-cutting item to go.  SFLTV.com has confirmed that  WTVJ has canceled the NBC6 weekend morning newscast.

We observed this “Tweet” by WTVJ executive producer Tammy Delgado, which seemed to originally confirm the suspicion of the layoffs:

“I hate today.. hate it.. hate it.. hate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Tammy would be the producer in charge of both Kelly Craig and Joe Carter. As of 3:30 PM on 6/29, their bios have been removed.

We contacted Ms. Craig and received this response:

Continue reading ‘First on SFLTV – Confirmed: Major Layoffs at WTVJ!’

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SFLTV.com/FORUM Active Topics

Author Alex on 6/29/2009 in Site News and Comments.

Here are some actives topics currently on SFLTV.com’s forum.

  • Anchors and Reporters: Don’t Read the Comments (read here)
  • How much longer do you think SouthFlorida.com/LIVE will last? (read here)
  • It’s hurricane season. You know what that means?! Ratings! Jump in with your predictions. (read here)
  • The decline at WTVJ. When did it start? Jump in with your thoughts and impt. (read here)

Jump in, log on, or register on the SFLTV.com forums.

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WSVN Updates Hurricane Graphics

Author admin on 6/29/2009 in Local Media.

News Never Stops at WSVN, and their graphics staff never sleep either.

Barely six months after the launch of HD (in January 2009) and a whole makeover to go with it, on Friday during the afternoon news WSVN debuted new hurricane graphics and updated weather graphics.
wsvn.new.weather.gfx

The virtual weather set has been redesigned, no more walking on a big giant circle seven by Ferro and the rest of the weather talent. Most of the blue is gone, in its place a lot of black and red.

Overall good eye candy as expected I suppose. Not having the big giant silver 7 on the “floor” is a lot less distraction and shiny. Much more watchable in 16:9 than 4:3

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