Station Break
By Staff -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/17/2004 8:00:00 PM
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Items:
WJAR Reporter Gets $50K Fine Blast From the Past Hometown Favorite Struts Her Stuff Applegate Polishes Big Apple Dish Reaches 150 Musial Takes Charge |
WJAR Reporter Gets $50K Fine
Providence, R.I.—The contempt-of-court fine against WJAR investigative reporter Jim Taricani has passed the $50,000 mark. A federal judge found Taricani in contempt for refusing to reveal who gave him a secret FBI tape that showed a former Providence official accepting a bribe. It's unclear whether owner NBC is paying the $1,000-a-day levy that started in mid August; the station declined to comment. Taricani says he intends to keep his source secret. But it could get worse. A special prosecutor filed a motion with the court late last month that could increase the sanctions. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says it believes Taricani is the only reporter now paying a fine for protecting a confidential source.
Blast From the Past
WB reruns have disappeared from WPIX New York's Saturday-night lineup. The station dropped the repeats last week in favor of a two-hour comedy block that includes four classic New York-based sitcoms, most of which have not been seen in the market in several years. The 1970s-era collection comprises Taxi, The Jeffersons, The Odd Couple and Welcome Back, Kotter. "They are all set in New York, and they largely feature New York-based actors," says WPIX Program Director Julie O'Neil. WPIX has run The Odd Couple off and on since it went into syndication nearly 30 years ago. The Jeffersons has been off the air in New York since 1993. Welcome Back, Kotter hasn't been seen on New York broadcast TV since 1985. WPIX is the only TV station in the country to own the rights to the show.
Hometown Favorite
Hartford, Conn.—The city of Hartford will spend up to $25,000 a year on advertising with Meredith's CBS affiliate WFSB. The agreement is part of a complex deal to keep the market's top-rated station from moving to the suburbs. Meredith will buy a 3.5-acre city-owned site for $800,000 and will receive about $1 million in property-tax credits over seven years. The company plans to build a $20 million digital-broadcast center. Once it's finished, Meredith will donate its old Constitution Plaza property to the city. Hartford officials appeared desperate to hang on to WFSB. Over the summer, one council member threatened to "lie down in front of the moving vans" if necessary. General Manager Elden Hale reportedly pressed for the ad clause in the package, though it means little to WFSB's bottom line. BIA estimates the station's revenue last year at about $48 million.
Struts Her Stuff
Miami—WSVN's edgy Deco Drive, a nightly local entertainment program, will get a face-lift this fall. The show kicks off its 10th season with a new anchor team—Louis Aguirre and Lynn Martinez—and the market's first drag-queen reporter. Daisy D hosts a segment called "Queen on the Scene." WSVN designers are working on a new set intended to emulate the bright colors and neon accents of Miami's Art Deco district. The station hopes a ratings makeover follows. Deco Drive finished fifth in its 7:30 p.m. time period in the May sweeps, behind Jeopardy!, Hollywood Squares and reruns of That '70s Show and Everybody Loves Raymond.
Applegate Polishes Big Apple
New York—Former MSNBC and Weekend Today anchor Jodi Applegate is headed back to New York. She has signed on to anchor Good Day New York on Fox O&O WNYW. For the past four years, she has hosted a similar program at sister station WFXT in Boston.
Dish Reaches 150
Terre Haute, Ind.—Last week, Terre Haute became the 150th market in which Dish Network offers local TV stations via satellite. Stations available in the package include Fox affiliate WBAK, owned by Bahakel Communications; WTHI (CBS, Emmis); and WTWO (NBC, Nexstar). Terre Haute (Nielsen market No. 148) has no ABC affiliate.
Musial Takes Charge
Buffalo, N.Y.—Longtime WIVB News Director Chris Musial has been named president and general manager of LIN Broadcasting's CBS affiliate. Musial started at the station 27 years ago as an intern. He had been acting GM following the death of GM Lou Verruto in June.
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