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Monthly Archive for August, 2009

Miami-Fort Lauderdale Nielsen Market Rank Goes Down

Nielsen released their market ranks for the 2009-2010 years and it is not good news for South Florida.

The Miami-Fort Lauderdale market which ranked as low as 15th in size just a few years ago moves to 17th, from its current place of 16th, for the 2009-2010 market ranks. That bump is thanks to Denver, Colorado which saw an increase in households that help move it to 16th largest TV market from it’s current 18th place. Nielsen estimates that in a year Miami-Ft Lauderdale has lost 8,830 households while Denver, CO gained 15,170 households in the same year.

West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce market saw a gain of around 3,350 households compared to the 2008-2009 time period, but not sufficient enough to move it from its current position of 38th.

Another TV market in Florida to experience a drop in rank is Tampa-St Pete, moving to 14th from 13th place. Tampa is trading places with Seattle-Tacoma (sorry for contributing to the growth of Seattle, didn’t mean). Seattle, Nielsen estimates, has gained 14,020 households in a year while Tampa area lost 16,350! Fort Myers lost two rank and moved from 62nd to 64th while Tallahassee, FL lost a rank causing it to move to 106th from a 105th place. Orlando and Jackonville remain at 19th and 47th respectively.

Miami’s market rank drop (as well as everyone else’s) is bound to have an effect on the already fragile advertising market. The market rank in which a station operates has at least some influence on what that station can charge for its airtime.

Also, the only markets to lose households in the top 30 were all in Florida. Tampa and Miami are also two of four markets in the top 100 Nielsen says declined due to ‘domestic migration’. New Orleans on the other hand saw a 5% increase in households.

Overall the number of TV households increased by 400,000 to 114.9 million but Nielsen says this is the smallest increase in a decade.
Continue reading ‘Miami-Fort Lauderdale Nielsen Market Rank Goes Down’

Steve Litz Replaces Nick Bogert

Steve Litz, the current WTVJ evening reporter (and former WTVJ “YOH; freelance” employee) has apparently been tapped to replace Nick Bogert as NBC6’s political reporter, according to our sources. Bogert retired from WTVJ (and TV) earlier last week.

Sun Sentinel Celebrity Smackdown Comes to an End

CelebritySmackdownBracket

The Sun Sentinel Celebrity Smackdown has come to an end. After weeks of weeding out local television and radio celebs only one has won. Or two as it may be in this case.

And this one was a radio vs TV. WTVJ’s Bob Mayer and Pam Giganti went head to head with Paul and Young Ron from Big 105.9FM. The radio guys won the six week long contest and were officially crowned yesterday morning as King and King of South Florida Media. They beat WTVJ’s Bob Mayer and Pam Giganti 56% to 44%

WPBF Replaces 5pm Newscast With Dr Phil

wpbf.logo.2494_64756024313_64713099313_2128369_4201319_nEarly in July we mentioned that WPBF bought the rights to air Dr. Phil after WPTV decided to do away with it and make way for Oprah’s latest creation, The Dr Oz Show.

The 4pm newscast on WPBF will be expanded to one hour, and the 5pm to 6pm newscast now will make way for Dr Phil in that time slot. ‘Phil’ will be followed by a half-hour newscast at 6pm.

If WPBF’s changes look familiar that’s because WPLG was one of the first stations to experiment with replacing their main early evening newscast with Dr Phil not too long ago.
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WPTV Chopper Crew Saves Missing Boaters

Boaters Saved by WPTV crew using Chopper 5

Boaters Saved by WPTV crew using Chopper 5

Yesterday a father and son were reported missing while gator hunting in an air boat near Lake Okeechobee.

When word got out, WPTV chopper pilot Captain Julie and photojournalist Johann Hoffen took off in Chopper 5 to help look for the men.

Two miles off of Belle Glade the WPTV crew spotted the boaters waving at them frantically. Captain Julie radioed her coordinates to Palm Beach Fire Rescue and the men were picked up. They were found sitting a top their sunk boat surrounded by murky water and grass.

This isn’t the first time a news chopper is helping stranded boaters get plucked out of the Everglades. WSVN photojournalist Ralph Rayburn has done it at least twice in recent years. As did WFOR’s helicopter crew, I believe late last year.

WPTV iPhone App, With Video

WPTV iPhone App Promo

WPTV iPhone App Promo

WPTV has released a free app for iPhone users. The app features news headlines, news and weather video, latest weather radar images and other features.

And then there’s the WPTV iPhone app promo, which is almost like an Apple commercial, complete with dude fingers fondling the iPhone showing off the app features. And the music which adds to the whole Apple vibe. Looks pretty cool.

Check out the WPTV iPhone app promo after the jump.
Continue reading ‘WPTV iPhone App, With Video’

Jon Shainman Joins WPTV

Jon Shainman WPTV Photo: WPTV.com

Jon Shainman WPTV Photo: WPTV.com

As of Tuesday former WPBF main anchor Jon Shainman is part of the WPTV news team!

Prior to joining WPTV, Shainman was at WPBF for 11 years. First as a reporter then as  the station’s main anchor alongside Tiffany Kenney. Shainman parted ways with WPBF recently when the station did not renew his contract for what they say were economic reasons.

Jon Shainman joins WPTV as a reporter covering the Treasure Coast.

Am I the only who thinks we might see Jon on the anchor desk in the not too distant future?

/hat tip reader gbmiami87/

First on SFLTV: WTVJ Anchor Julia Yarbough Out; Who’s In?

Update: Just after checking around, SFLTV.com (yet again) broke the story. Gotta love the newspapers and big-dog sites being beat by this lil’ ol’ blog.
Lots of big news going on while I was on my little vacation… Figures! Let’s get straight to it: Julia Yarbough will be leaving NBC6 soon! SFLTV.com’s sources have been telling us for months that her departure would be coming soon, and about seven days ago, we were notified by an anonymous tipster telling us she announced her departure. According to our sources, Yarbough will be leaving the TV news industry for good, choosing to pursue a personal fitness career. We also were informed that a number of months ago, she started a new “dating-style website.” This may not come as a surprise to some. Her website has been in development for months, as well as the fact that she’s been seeking her personal training certification. We don’t have any word on her departure date; however, we are awaiting further confirmation.

But wait… there’s more juicy information! Guess who’s been seen on set testing out for Yarbough’s position with Jackie Nespral?

…Go ahead, guess. I’m willing to bet you wont guess correctly.

Continue reading ‘First on SFLTV: WTVJ Anchor Julia Yarbough Out; Who’s In?’

Was This News Crew Bum Rushed or Did They Refuse to Take No For an Answer?

News Crew Attacked or Attacking?

News Crew Attacked or Attacking?

You aren’t required to talk to cops and detectives, and the constitution gives you the right to keep shut should you just feel like it, but it seems you do not have that luxury if you refuse to answer WTKR anchor/reporter Barbara Ciara’s pressing questions and try walking away to your car.

In the video after the jump below Ciara can be seen along with two or three of her photogs ambushing a man accused of assault as he left the courthouse. In it Ciara can be seen not only trying to block the men from progressing but also pushing them with one arm. After this scene took place Ciara filed a criminal complaint for vandalism, assault, and disorderly conduct against the man she was blocking trying to interview. WTKR news director Tina Blacklocke seems to be in agreement that her crew was “attacked”.

Local newspaper Daily Press reported the story and included a poll on the site asking readers if the man in question should face criminal charges. As of this writing 73.2% think he should not.

One commenter on industry forum TVSpy says Ciara broke a rule of investigative journalism – never attempt to block your interview subject from leaving, but do document their refusal to comment. At one point Ciara can be seen standing in the way of the SUVs door preventing it from being closed.

Newsblues quoted Ciara’s Facebook page where she allegedly wrote that “They pushed me around and banged me on the head with a car door.”

Barbara Ciara is an anchor and managing editor at WTKR and outgoing president of the National Association of Black Journalists. The man she tried to interview is appearing in court today to answer allegations of assault.

Watch the video after the jump and tell us what you think

Continue reading ‘Was This News Crew Bum Rushed or Did They Refuse to Take No For an Answer?’

WPEC News Director David Christopher Gone

wpec.logo.imagesNewsblues reporting last week that WPEC news director David Christopher was “terminated”. Ratings allegedly had to do with Christopher’s sudden departure but he contacted the site saying it was his decision to leave the station.

David Christopher joined WPEC in June 2007 from Springfield, Illinois where he oversaw four Sinclair Broadcasting stations. He replaced former WPEC news director Steven Hunsicker who left the station in May of the same year to join the Peace Corps.

As of August 18 WPEC’s website cbs12.com lists a job opening for an ND so if you’ve ever wanted to run a TV station, now’s your chance!