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Monthly Archive for March, 2008

7 Goes Hip, Adds Web Videos Segment

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on 3/31/2008

. 8 Comments

Just saw a promo on 7 for their “sizzling new segment” called “The Download”.

It will feature crazy videos from the web (read painting elephants, farting cats etc…) you’ve (probably) seen a million times before if your web diet consists of a lot of YouTube, Revision3, Digg and other such…

Mooses on the loose, cats on trees and dogs skateboarding not included.

And while they’re at it maybe they’ll kill that Seen on the Scene cheez. Really. You put the energy into this crap but won’t do anything about decodrive.com? Sheesh

The Download makes its first run tomorrow night at 10pm fronted by Louis Aguirre.

Have you noticed other stations adding segments for may sweeps? drop me a line here

update 04/02: first segment aired last night at 10pm and had only one “sizzling” video

Monday Evening Links

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on 3/31/2008

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CBS4 Layoff Bug Bites Denver Too

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on 3/28/2008

. 1 Comment

CBS is handing out pink slip presents company wide. Some say to help them focus more on their internet (ad)ventures. Why does that sound familiar. The Denver Post notes KCNC layoffs and so did the Denver Biz Journal

Detroit Really Really Loves Robbin Simmons

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on 3/28/2008

. 2 Comments

Detroit viewers really really love Robbin Simmons. Simmons left WDIV a year ago to come back to WSVN.

/img Robbin Simmons bio @wsvn.com/

Can you notice a difference?

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on 3/28/2008

in HD Transition, Local Media and hdtv

. 20 Comments

7News is running on new HD robo cams that were turned on the other day, in SD mode. The difference is quite noticeable, to me anyway. The image is much more sharper than it was before especially on shots that are a bit

except lynn’s ever changing hairdo you notice a visible difference?

top screenshot is from a few weeks ago, bottom is from yesterday’s 4pm newscast

and two more before and afters below:

DTV stretch-o-vision comparison

Some more exits at WFOR

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on 3/27/2008

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WFOR weekend producer leaving and heading for Ohio to get her Ph.D. and be journalism professor. And have normal life too.

Our wonderful weekend producer Sally Ann Cruikshank will be leaving us. Sally Ann will take the adventure I call her life to Ohio. She has received a Graduate Assistanceship at Ohio University in Athens where she will work on her Ph.D. to eventually become a journalism professor. In just a few years, we will have to call her Doctor Cruikshank. For the past two years Sally Ann has been a vital member of the CBS4 Newsroom. She has helped lead our weekend team… and has been an incredible asset to our Special Projects division. We will miss her tremendously but wish her the best in her new challenge. Her last day is April 3, so make sure you say goodbye!

West Palm HD Now on Dish

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on 3/27/2008

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Dish Network has turned on the HD for West Palm market. Dish Network Adds HD Local Markets, NESN HD

5 Years

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on 3/27/2008

. 0 Comments

A month ago I was sifting trough my hard drives and came across some 7News promos. Mark Londner was in some of them. I ran his name trough google and this blog showed up, then and I got the urge to blog this little reminder, not sure why.

5 years ago on the morning of March 28 2003 Mark Londner passed away three days away from his 56th birthday. He was 7News’ senior reporter and was at channel 7 for about 30 years. They didn’t give the senior reporter title to anyone else after that.

In 2001 Mark won the Silver Circle Award, one of many including 10 emmies, and the Miami New Times named him best TV news reporter in 1999 and 2000 (see links below)

Mark died after a 3 long years battling melanoma.

Previously: 7News senior reporter Mark Londner passed away
Mark Londner tribute on wsvn.com:Remembering Mark Londner
Miami New Times:Miami - Best Of - Best Tv News Reporter - Mark Londner (1999)
Miami New Times: Miami - Best Of - Best TV Reporter - Mark Londner (2000)

Layoffs Due to Cost Cutting at WFOR?

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on 3/26/2008

in Local Media and departures

. 11 Comments

There is some speculation as to how many exactly. some say 10 others say 15 or 30. 30 seems kind of high.

one tipster says Evan Bacon was fired this morning along with Curt Calhoun, a morning producer named Robin and “12 other people from upstairs”

update 6:35pm - someone dropped this in the chat. it’s the email from ~~one of the producers~~ Robin Cross cbs4 at broward bureau news desk

As I was told in my termination meeting today, times are tough and jobs are being eliminated. My job in the Broward Bureau has been eliminated. So I just wanted to take a moment and say good-bye to some really really wonderful co-workers in the Broward Bureau. I have learned so much from you over the past 6 years!! You have shown me that work can be fun and you CAN love what you do. I will remember us as a family. I didn’t get to work often in Miami but when I did i always went home feeling a little more knowledgeable and informed (and deaf from those scanners!!!). So, until … or if … or when … our paths meet again .. take care and good-bye.Robin~

update 11:50pm: Evan Bacon was freelance at channel 4. Curt Calhoun was WFOR’s chief photojournalist. Some of the other people fired were in sales. One tipster says the total is about 10. Some of those axed have worked at WFOR for 25 years. Another tipster says the cutbacks at CBS4 started with Christina Puig who also freelanced for the station.

Most of the tipsters do say that the cutback orders come from CBS and are company wide so we’ll probably see something similar happening at other CBS owned stations across the country

update 03:00: more tipsters dropping notes and info. below another email. tipster

As most of you know by now, today is my last day at WFOR-TV. After 30 ½ years, at the stations encouragement, I am moving on and looking forward to great things to come. I take with me many wonderful memories and friendships. I will cherish them always. Please stay in touch and thanks for everything. With Fond Memories, Dan Dan Roujansky

Tribune San Diego Station Switches to Fox

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on 3/25/2008

. 2 Comments

Tribune’s San Diego station KSWB droping its CW affiliation and switches to Fox as of August 1st. XETV, the current Fox affiliate of 21 years, will be left without affiliation.

Says Tribune president Ed Wilson:

This makes it clear that the new Tribune is aggressive and willing to move quickly to upgrade our position in a market, especially when we can improve our financial results almost immediately,” he said. “We’re not sitting around waiting.”

B&C - Tribune’s San Diego The CW Affiliate to Switch to Fox

Brian Norcross and Max Mayfield Sell Warning System

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on 3/25/2008

. 1 Comment

America’s Emergency Network, billed as the first comprehensive emergency alerting and communication sytem in the US, and created by WFOR hurricane specialist Brian Norcross and former hurricane center chief Max Mayfield has been sold to Brampton Crest International, Inc. which specializes in real estate and other loans.

AEN’s goal is to give residents and the media direct access to emergency information via a free internet website and a AEN TV channel that broadcasts conferences and other feeds from emergency officials.

Brampton bought AEN LLC from Norcorss and Mayfield for 100 million common shares after a $1million private placement of shares that will be used to finance AEN. Brampton will be renamed to The AEN Group with Brian Norcross serving as president and CEO and Max Mayfield as senior executive vice president of government relations.

AEN America’s Emergency Network (AEN) :: Max Mayfield : Bryan Norcross
Press relase - Mayfield and Norcross Introduce America’s Emergency Network. The Nation’s First Comprehensive Emergency Communication System
MiamiHerald - Norcross-Mayfield warning system sold
SunSentinel - Miami-based America’s Emergency Network being acquired by Brampton Crest International

WSVN HD: Almost Upgraded; HD by May sweeps?

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on 3/24/2008

in HD Transition, Local Media and hdtv

. 13 Comments

An insider was kind enough to send some new details on WSVN’s progress to HD.

According to this tipster WSVN’s control room is now completely HD-ready. They have just finished installing plasma displays replacing the monitors they had before. The HD studio cameras are almost ready as well, the control system is being finished. Some layoffs are expected in the next couple of weeks unfortunately as the new cameras are going to be automated.

New weather computers are being installed, and newsplex changes are being finalized - look for more flat screen TVs around the plex.

The tipster guesses WSVN might be in HD before May or early April. May sweeps begin exactly 30 days from today.

I noticed recently the latest promos have been re-shot and are 16:9 HD using the graphics from the promo that debuted during superbowl. So they’re definitely speeding ahead, hopefully the graphics team won’t be rushed too much

update 8:37pm: ok so the saga continues. another insider jumped in to clarify some things - WSVN will probably not be HD until around August because “they have ways to go”. And the 3 people being let go knew their jobs were only temporary.

Did NBC Sink WTVJ?

Published

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on 3/24/2008

in Local Media and WTVJ Sale

. 5 Comments

Sun Sentinel TV critic Tom Jicha did a rather scathing, and very true, analysis of NBC’s decision to get rid of WTVJ.

In it Jicha says after NBC bought WTVJ in 1987 they’ve mismanaged it at the local and national level over the years and made it an almost irrelevant station. He assails the network’s decision to give up WTVJ’s original Channel 4 position for a lesser quality signal.

Jicha also criticized NBC’s network and station brass cost cutting decision to take Tony Segretto out of most newscasts and let Jackie Nespral to lead the news by herself.

He also notes WSVN continually beating the Today show locally and calls NBC a “try anything that’s cheap and appeals to the lowest common denominator” network for filling their schedule with trashy reality games and shows.

Read his take - NBC sinks Channel 6, then tries to sell it

More Age Discrimination Claims Against Sunbeam TV

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on 3/24/2008

. 5 Comments

Former WHDH reporter Michael Macklin claims WHDH gave him the boot because of his age. Macklin, 56, alleges that while working at WHDH the news director began cutting his work load while at the same time she hired several younger reporters. When questioned ND’s response allegedly was “she didn’t think he was aggressive enough and that he missed elements of stories that other stations did not”.

photo MarilynMitzel.com

Former WSVN health reporter Marylin Mitzel who was fired abruptly from WSVN in 2005 also alleged age discrimination by the station suits. She alerted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which investigated her complaint but dismissed it because they were “unable to conclued that the information obtained establishes violations of the statues”

Sunbeam TV owns and operates both WHDH and WSVN

Previously: Marilyn Mitzel Suing Channel 7
Boston Globe - Macklin sues Ch. 7 for age discrimination

Open Thread: The WTVJ Sale

Published

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on 3/21/2008

in Site News and Comments

. 33 Comments

jump in and unload your mind… and try to be nice
n

What will happen with the WTVJ sale?

Google wants TV white spaces

Published

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on 3/21/2008

. 0 Comments

Google wants to use TV white space … to show you more Adsense, of course. TV broadcasters are against, citing interference with their signals. Microsoft already has a device that uses the white space spectrum to deliver broadband internet.