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Monthly Archive for March, 2008

7 Goes Hip, Adds Web Videos Segment

WSVN The Download

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

CBS4 Layoff Bug Bites Denver Too

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

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Detroit Really Really Loves Robbin Simmons

WSVN Robbin Simmons

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

/img Robbin Simmons bio @wsvn.com/

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Can you notice a difference?

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

7hdcamsbeforeafter1.jpg

and two more before and afters below:

WSVN HD cameras running SD mode

WSVN HD cameras running SD mode

DTV stretch-o-vision comparison

WSVN DTV HD Camera Comparison

Some more exits at WFOR

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!

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West Palm HD Now on Dish

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

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5 Years

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?

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

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

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