Tag Archive for 'wpec'

Soft DTV Test for Palm Beach Market

On Monday December 8, Palm Beach stations will run two DTV tests and help viewers figure out if they are ready for the switch to digital TV.

The first test will be at 06:20 in the morning and the second 6:20pm in the evening. WXEL will be the only ones not participating in the second one.

Much like other markets, the DTV test in Palm Beach will last about 2 minutes and those who do not have TVs with either a digital tuner or converter box will see a message informing them on what to do.

Interestingly no mention of WTVX, which also launched a newscast recently.

WFLX’s marketing director Beth Horowitz told the paper stations may do more tests in the following weeks and that around 3.1% of Palm Beach viewers rely exclusively on broadcast TV.

Palm Beach Post:  Soft tests set for digital TV switch

WPEC’s Chopper Crash Lands

Sky12 WPEC’s chopper has crash landed in Boynton Beach just before 06:20 in the morning.

Early reports say the chopper lost power and landed on its belly near Boynton Beach boulevard.

The chopper’s tail broke off and one of the landing skids was damaged during the landing but thankfully neither the pilot nor reporter were seriously injured. Both were taken to Bethesda Memorial to minor injuries.

Video: WPTV’s chopper pilot capt. Julie Stevens reports on the crash after it happened

Video: WPEC’s report on the crash

Video: WPTV’s report on WPEC CBS12’s chopper crash during the noon newscast

Former WPEC Sports Director Dies


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 in Top 10 for Most EliteXFC Viewers

WFOR ranked in the top 10 CBS affiliates nationawide for the most eyeballs watching the Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson fight

In the 11:30pm-11:45pm time slot (Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson fight) WFOR scored 7.3 ratings points and 12 share, beating LA’s KCBS by .1 ratings points, and tieing with Tulsa’s KOTV for the 7th place. With Oklahoma’s KWTV taking #1 place with 11.1 rating/18 share

Saturday prime-time WFOR got a 4.8 rating, WSVN’s annual hurricane preparedness special ‘Surviving a Storm’ which ran at 8pm got 2.8 rating points. WTVJ’s Stanley Cup Finals registered only 0.7 rating according to the Sun Sentinel

In Palm Beach, WPEC scored 5.1 for the EliteXC broadcast, doubling WPTV’s hockey game audience.

In the Miami/Ft Lauderdale market 1 ratings point equals 15,360 households. For the Palm Beach DMA 1 ratings point represents 7,753 households

Palm Beach Post: Mixed martial arts outballs hockey
MMA Online: EliteXC leads CBS to demo victory

WPTV, WPEC’s Gas Cards for Eyeballs Spat

If you didn’t know WPTV and WPEC were in a for ratings this will put it into some perspective.

May sweeps ended Wednesday May 21, and a little before then WPEC started giving away a $1,200 gas card every night.

Fearing for its crown, WPTV announced on Wednesday during Oprah they’ll give away two $1,500 gas card during their 11pm newscast.

But then WPEC got in their face and was like Oh yea we’ll we’re going to give away four gas cards on our 11pm newscast.

WPEC won with 7.4 vs 7.2 ratings points.

Wonder if advertisers ever feel hosed buying TV ads based on sweeps results

WPEC Anchor’s FCAT Criticizm

Liz Quirantes, WPEC evening news co-anchor, emceed the William T. Dwyer Awards this weekend honoring Palm Beach educators. But it’s her speech at the event that’s drawing attention.

In it Quirantes criticized teachers pressuring youngsters to get ready for the FCAT test, calling it unhealthy, and giving an example with her own son who’s in second grade and  and had the FCAT preparation book a year before the exam.

Quirantes also took on Lake Worth High Assistant Principal Craig Kirkwood who said he was looking forward to the return of a student injured in the Wendy’s shooting in February and that they could get her back on track for her FCAT exam.

WFLX Must Be Happy As Clam WSVN Was Booted from WPB Cable

B&C did a profile on West Palm Beach TV market noting that weather in hurricane alley is a big draw for viewers.

WPBF’s VP/GM Viki Regan points out that her station begins “every news segment with weather”… and also has two meteorologists delivering said segment, or at least they used to. Never understood the point of that but not complaining any time Felicia Rodriguez is on count us on watching.

The article also contains some interesting stats. Like WFLX getting an 8.2 rating in February!

If I remember correct FOX29 was getting not much love from local viewers, even with American Idol on, when Adelphia had WSVN in the channel lineup pretty much all the way up to West Palm Beach. But now that they’ve been removed viewers have tuned WFLX like good little lambs.

Also, even though the two markets are as close as butt cheeks WPB TV stations had just $145.3 million in ad dollars to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale’s $500+ million! For some reason I though having some of the richest residents in the country, coupled Wellington’s yearly equestrian happenings and such doesn’t always translate in mega ad bucks. They probably don’t watch TV anyways

The good news seem to be that stations aren’t drastically affected by the real estate market which according to some is yet to reach the bottom.

Monday Morning Links

Feds suing Fox for refusing to pay indecency fine
Marilyn Mitzel’s trial still on, deposed by WSVN lawyer /bottom of page/
WPEC’s Suzanne Boyd 1st place in Kravis Center Gala dance competition
Broadcasting and Cable: More Layoffs coming?
The Disappearing of the TV Critic

Baltimore Sun: Local TV is no longer a cash cow
Fox Renews King of the Hill for 13th Season

Weatherbug Bites WPEC CBS12 Too

Weatherbug inked a partnership deal with WPEC CBS12 to offer weather information online and in on-air weather forecasts using data from 20 weather stations on public buildings around the West Palm viewing area plus data from 8,000 other Weatherbug stations around the country.

Weatherbug’s presence in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale market is trough a partnership with WFOR CBS 4 .

Previously: CBS4 and WeatherBug Ink Deal
Press Release: “Weatherbug” Partners with CBS12 News

CBS12.com: WPEC News 12 - News12Now : Current Weather

Dancing with a TV Anchor

This year’s Reach for the Stars gala organized by the Kravis Center for the Performing arts in West Palm Beach will feature a live ballroom competition called “Dancing for the Stars” a different take on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

The ballroom dance competition will pit West Palm mayor Lois Frankel against news personalities Suzanne Boyd and Eric Roby from WPEC CBS12/WFLX Fox 29, WPBF newcomers Meredith McDonough and Bob Kaple, Toni May from WXEL and Tania Rogers from WPTV. Each will be paired with a professional ballroom dancers from The Palms Ballroom.

The annual event helps raise money for the Kravis’ education programs. It will be held on April 6 at 6pm at Cohen Pavilion’s Gimelstob Ballroom in West Palm Beach.

Kravis Reach for the Stars details and ticket information

PalmBeachPost.com: Frankel to strut her stuff against local TV anchors
Video: Lois Frankel Dancing for Charity
TCPalm.com: Dancing for the Stars comes to Kravis /bottom of page/