Monthly Archive for July, 2008Page 2 of 2

AT&T’s U-Verse Arrives

Published
by
admin
on 7/21/2008
in Local Media
. 1 Comment

At 12:01am today AT&T unleashed a press release that their long-awaited U-Verse IPTV service has been turned on in South Florida.

Several communities in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County will get the IPTV service with Palm Beach officially on July 28th.

AT&T touts the availability of 45 HD channels and the ability to record 4 channels at once withe their DVR. I think its 4 standard definition channels though, not HD.

DSL internet speeds are also going to increase with upload speed going to 1-1.5Mbps from 512Kbps.

AT&T’s service unlike Comcast and Verizon is truly IPTV. It’s basically television over a DSL connection.

Which is also one of its shortfalls since VDSL is limited by distance from the central office, large boxes have to be installed closer to residences. I believe with U-Verse you can watch simultaneously one or two HD channels only depending on what capacity the local area setup has.

WTVJ Sale: Possible Thanks to Strong Spanish Stations

Published
by
admin
on 7/19/2008
in Local Media and WTVJ Sale
. 1 Comment

Miami Herald TV critic says WTVJ’s sale is all but approved by the FCC because of the dominant Spanish stations in our market.

Nothing really new if you read this blog and especially the comments where someone already pointed out WTVJ ranks 6th overall behind WLTV and even behind its roomate WSCV Telemundo 51.

The article quotes even anti-corporate groups which seem to believe the sale is all but approved.

Of course the FCC could always say that WTVJ is 4th among English language stations and nix the sale but something tells me that isn’t likely even though they tried acting like they’re doing their job with the localism rules proposal to force stations to locate their studios within their city of license

Track 7 Skyforce

Published
by
admin
on 7/19/2008
in Local Media
. 4 Comments

The bad boy of local news choppers (by name anyway) Skyforce finally has its own page on wsvn.com

On it you can track the chopper via GPS and Google maps and watch a live video any time its in the air. The people behind AirFoxLive.com seems to have helped WSVN setting up the page.

I’ve been watching the video feed for several months now and it can be interesting at times beyond the breaking news footage. Sometimes it goes nicely with the live TV broadcast as you get to see more of what’s going on and then get details from TV.

There’s also a slide show of Skyforce plus we finally see the voice behind the camera Ralph Rayburn along with pilot Joe Mancino.

Ralph also has a blog

Post Newsweek Buys WTVJ

Published
by
admin
on 7/18/2008
in Local Media, WFOR and WTVJ Sale
. 163 Comments

WTVJ has been sold to Post-Newsweek/WPLG.

Update 12:01pm: Channel 10’s top story at noon. Showing the stations Post-Newsweek owns, statement from the president and WPLG General Manager Dave Boylan

Update 1:56pm: John Wallace, NBCU president sent this memo to WTVJ staffers

From: Wallace, John

Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 10:00 AM

Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT

Today we announced that NBC Universal has signed an agreement with the Post-Newsweek Stations to purchase WTVJ.

Post -Newsweek is a respected broadcasting company that currently owns
six local television stations, two of which are already NBC affiliates.
They are seasoned broadcasters, who have a solid reputation in the
industry and a long-standing commitment to meeting the needs of the
South Florida community. We look forward to working with Post-Newsweek
as affiliate owners for many years to come.

Now that this announcement has been made, we wanted you to be aware of
the next steps in this process. The deal is subject to regulatory
approvals, but at this time we don’t anticipate any issues that would
affect the closing. We expect the deal to close by the end of the year.

As we mentioned during our visit in March, GE Benefits experts will be
coming to the station at some point before the close to help explain
how the sale will affect your current GE benefits. We will update you
with dates for those visits as soon as we can.

Once again, we thank you for your continued hard work and dedication
throughout this process. We will do everything we can to make this
transition as smooth as possible and will provide additional
information as it becomes available.

Oneline coverage notes:

Bob Mayer’s article on NBC6.net noting WTVJ’s acomplishments in the last 59 years. It feels like an obituary to me, we’ll soon probably know that it is.

NBC6.net article on the Post-Newsweek deal

Local10.com notes ‘South Florida’s Television Landscape Set to Change’ and points to Clear Channel’s disastrous multi-station ownership (14 in South Florida) as an example of duopoly

CBS4.com notes the WTVJ sales and that Florida’s first TV station will remain an NBC affiliate, rehashes everything said before and interestingly lists WTVJ’s acomplishments

Laurel Sauer Reveals She’s Battled Cancer

Published
by
admin
on 7/16/2008
in Local Media
. 5 Comments

The Palm Beach Post breaks the news that for the past year WPTV NBC5 anchor Laurel Sauer has been battling cancer and had two surgeries.

Page 6 also reveals that Sauer sought support from another cancer survivor WPBF anchor Kristen Hoke who herself went trough two breast cancer scares and who was among the very few people besides Laurel Sauer’s family that knew of her condition.

In an email to Page 6 Sauer revealed she was diagnosed with “a female reporductive cancer” and that she is now cancer-free but goes in for checkups every 3 months.

Nuts Leaving Viewers Confused

Published
by
admin
on 7/15/2008
in Bloopers and Videos
. 2 Comments

Apparently the word nuts can’t be said on TV. And it’s not even in the Seven Dirty Words list!

Below an amusing video of talking heads trying to explain which part of Obama’s body Jesse Jackson wanted to cut off.

Leaving viewers confused and probably sending them online. Till the NY Post printed in large font on the front page.

Hm I wonder if NYP editors exclaimed “First, bitcheees” when saw it all printed out for everyone to see (if didn’t get that then you haven’t read enough blog comments)

Herald: Post-Newsweek May Buy WTVJ

Published
by
admin
on 7/15/2008
in Local Media and WTVJ Sale
. 49 Comments

Joan Fleischman says Post-Newsweek is about to announce the purchase of WTVJ from NBC.

Just in time, as I previously blogged announcement will be made by mid-July and so here it is.

The FCC still has to approve the deal. Both parties will have to file jointly and then there will be a period where anyone can object to the merger.

If the deal goes trough WTVJ will move to Pembroke Park next year after WPLG finishes their new building and moves in around March or April.

No indication yet if WTVJ will have a news division or not.

Nextstar Wants WTVJ’s Jennifer Gray To Pay Up

Published
by
admin
on 7/13/2008
in Local Media
. 18 Comments

Former Nextstar employee and current WTVJ meteorologist Jennifer Gray might have to go back to court over what her former employer claims was a breach of contract.

Nextstar says Gray signed a contract with their KBTV station to stay on until May 31, 2006 but left the station in 2005 and two weeks later showed up reporting for KTBS in Louisiana.

Gray’s contract according to this newspaper article stated

In the event Employee elects to breach this Agreement and leave employment prior to the conclusion of the term, the Company may accept as liquidated damages for said breach the amount of $10,000. In the event the Company determines that the liquidated damages amount described above is insufficient to cover all of its damages, the Company may seek to obtain additional compensatory and consequential damages by pursuing an action under paragraph 7(a) herein.

Nextstar filed a lawsuit and the jury ended up awarding them $1 from Jennifer Gray for nominal damages and $2000 in actual damages from KTBS.

On June 26 Texas 9th Court of Appeals reversed the jury’s ruling and said a new trial is needed to decide what compensation Nextstar will receive.

SeTexasRecord.com: Nexstar gets second shot at recovering damages from former newscaster

Going For the Demo

Published
by
admin
on 7/13/2008
in Local Media
. 5 Comments

Great way for the reporter/station/producer to appeal to the “younger demo”. Not that they don’t have a point

Live From 1975, WTVJ’s 1st Live Shot

Published
by
admin
on 7/11/2008
in Videos and WTVJ
. 15 Comments

A clip from 1975 - WTVJ was the first station to broadcast a live report from the field. Bob Mayer had the honors reporting and Ralph Renick at the anchor desk

Former WPEC Sports Director Dies

Published
by
admin
on 7/11/2008
in Local Media
. 1 Comment


Jim Gallagher former WPEC sports director who was at the station for 23 years has died.

Gallagher in addition to his work for WPEC was the voice of UM and UF games. He was 72 years old

Palm Beach Post: Local sportscasting legend Jim Gallagher loved his craft
TBO.com: James Anthony “Jim” Gallagher Sr. Obituary

/img tbo.com/

WFOR Duped By Fake Homeless Man

Published
by
admin
on 7/10/2008
in Local Media
. 8 Comments

Channel 4 has apparently been duped by a guy posing as a homeless man battling cancer who lives in a van (down by the river?) with his wife and kids.

The Herald’s Joan Fleischman has the details in her latest column. WFOR ran a story recently in which reporter Ted Scouten told viewers about a newly homeless guy that was turned away from a Hot 105 gas give away promotion. And that he and his wife and 3 kids lived in a van. Then they asked people to donate by calling Neighbors4Neighbors. And the station and HOT 105 gave him $200 Publix gift cards.

After the story ran Hot 105 got calls from a Miami-Dade Police Department officer and from one of the guy’s cousins telling them they’ve been had. Acording to the cousin and the MDPD officer the guy wasn’t homeless, had no cancer.

The fake needy dude paid a visit at the Hot 105 studios where Scouten confronted him but ultimately kept the $200 gift card. WFOR is returning the donations to viewers who called to help.

Video of the story on CBS4.com

Wimbledon Pumps WPTV Ratings

Published
by
admin
on 7/8/2008
in Local Media and ratings
. 2 Comments

Palm Beach county was the 2nd highest metered market in US for the Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s tennis match.

According to TCPalm WPTV drew a 7.5/19 share rating, second to only St. Louis which had an 8.2/19 share.

1 rating point in Palm Beach equals to 7,753 homes

Regional Murrow Winners Announced

Published
by
admin
on 7/5/2008
in Local Media
. 9 Comments

The Regional Edward R. Murrow award winners have been announced and several South Florida TV stations picked up an award.

Continuing Coverage
WFOR-TV, Miami
Chief Timoney Ethics

Investigative Reporting
WTVJ-TV, Miramar, FL
A Question of Security

Newscast
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL
Four Officers Shot

News Documentary
WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, FL
Bogus Billing Primetime Special

Spot News Coverage
WFOR-TV, Miami
Manhunt

Dolphins Might Move Programming to WFOR

Published
by
admin
on 7/4/2008
in Local Media
. 2 Comments

Herald sports columnist Barry Jackson says the Dolphins are talking with WFOR to move their ancillary programming from WTVJ. WFOR currently airs the presentation games and The Tony Sparano Show could also end up there.

Who Bid on WTVJ?

Published
by
admin
on 7/1/2008
in Local Media and WTVJ Sale
. 38 Comments

From the previous post about the imminent announcement of a WTVJ buyer someone left this comment:

Companies that are out:
Sunbeam (bid was too low)
Gannett (WTVJ GM said the buyer will be a company she never worked for before, so they are out)
Media General (financial trouble)
Hearst-Argyle (Company has no CEO & no money)
FOX (Pulled out)
Disney-ABC (not buying anymore TV stations)

The split is still an option. While Sunbeam couldn’t afford to buy WTVJ, Post-Newsweek still could. Other possible contenders include COX and Tribune.

Jodie:

It needs to be Belo or Cox, for the sake of WTVJ, its employees and it legacy.

Several other visitors have echoed the sentiment that Cox and Belo would be the best thing to happen to WTVJ.

I’ve read a few things about Belo and it looked to me like they run their stations well. KHOU (Houston), WFAA (Dallas) and KING (Seattle) are at the top of the ratings and come off as pretty serious, newsy, stations. If they were to buy NBC6 it would be interesting to see if their approach works in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale market

update 7/2: someone sent this Broadcasting & Cable blog post from May 28th which says Hearst-Argyle and some private equity companies were looking at WVIT in Hartford, CT which NBC put out for sale in March along with WTVJ.