Station to Station
Station to Station covers the odds, ends, ups and downs of the local television business across America
What Becomes of Kirk Black's CBS Affils Board Seat?
Kirk Black’s sudden resignation, along with those of a few colleagues, from WGCL Atlanta earlier in the week raised a few questions, including what becomes of Black’s seat on the CBS affiliates board. Black has been an influential presence on that board for years, including holding the vice chairman title, and was set to assume the role of treasurer as the board positions turned over ...... Read More
Comments (2)Report: Tribune Splitting Up Broadcast, Print For Possible Sale
Tribune is streamlining its corporate setup for the possible sale of separate publishing and broadcasting units, reports Crain’s Chicago Business. The company plans to create a new publishing subsidiary that will hold all newspaper properties, while creating a “Tribune Television Co.” as well, according to bankruptcy-related documents it filed in Delaware. Reports Crain’ ...... Read More
Comments (0)Local Investigative Reporters in NYC to Claim Peabodys
Big congrats to the folks at WEWS Cleveland, KLAS Las Vegas, KPHO Phoenix and KING Seattle for fetching Peabody awards at the Waldorf in New York today. Given out by the University of Georgia, the prestigious Peabodys go to the best in electronic media. Sir Patrick Stewart handed out the hardware. WEWS Cleveland won for “Operation Deep Freeze,” about military veterans who were expose ...... Read More
Comments (0)'Wheel of Fortune' Wheels Down In Portland
KATU’s Deb Knapp and Steve Dunn warm up the Wheel of Fortune crowd in Portland. Wheel of Fortune is midway through a month of May run in Portland, Oregon. The syndication stalwart shot 20 episodes from Portland last month, and John Tamerlano, KATU general manager, said the tapings would get as many as 2,500 people out. It’s Wheel’s first taste of Portland in show history. Th ...... Read More
Comments (1)Mad For 'Mad Men', and Cable's Cool Echo Chamber
Interesting piece in the NY Times yesterday about so-called “cable envy”–producers who prefer to take their shows to cable, where they have greater freedom, and a much better shot, it seems, at winning Emmys. A compelling counterpoint of sorts came from the successful show creator Shawn Ryan. Writes Bill Carter: This year he developed a big ambitious show called “Last R ...... Read More
Comments (0)TBN Founders' Lavish Lifestyle Questioned
In case you missed it over the weekend, there was quite a substantial investigative story on page one of the NY Times about Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), its take on airing the “prosperity gospel,” and TBN enjoying some of that prosperity as well. TBN is registered as a non profit, but its principals enjoy a lavish, to say the least, lifestyle. That includes his and hers mansi ...... Read More
Comments (1)KPTV GM/Portland Market Adds Tiny Viewer
Big congrats to Patrick McCreery, vice president and general manager of KPTV-KPDX Portland, who welcomed Lane Elizabeth McCreery into the world on May 2nd. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 20 ½ inches, and makes the McCreery clan a party of five. “Mom and baby are both doing great!” emails Patrick. We profile the Portland, Oregon market in next week’s B&a ...... Read More
Comments (2)Local Broadcasters Sound Off On Public Files
It seems there’s one thing that station execs agree on when it comes to the FCC and its demand that stations’ public files be put online. OK, there’s two. 1, it’s a big pain in the butt. And 2, they’re actually fine with the concept of making the files digital, but it’s more a matter of how much information they want online that’s the sticking point ...... Read More
Comments (0)Former Staffer Shoots Up Indiana Station
Three rounds were fired through the front door of WTWO-WAWV Terre Haute around 4 a.m. Saturday morning, while staffers’ vehicles were also damaged by gunfire. Police have identified Kenneth Trey Bolinger as the suspect. Bolinger used to work at the station. There were no injuries. Nexstar owns WTWO. Here’s the station’s report. “The man who was arrested worked beside u ...... Read More
Comments (0)Belo Laments Absence of Network Comp
UPDATED: I’m not surprised to see that Belo Corp. is not receiving network compensation this year. I’m more surprised that Belo was getting paid by a network, or networks, as recently as last year. From today’s Belo earnings report: Other revenue, which includes barter and trade advertising, network compensation, Internet advertising and retransmission revenue, was up 7 percen ...... Read More
Comments (0)WSJ: CW Affiliate(s) Concerned About Streaming
Some CW-aligned stations are upset at the network for its next-day online streaming of hit shows, reports the Wall Street Journal. The CW of course attracts a younger demo, and the WSJ says it’s been more aggressive than the senior broadcast networks about making its shows available online–closing the window from three days to one. The paper suggests it has affected live viewing. ...... Read More
Comments (3)Orlando Stations Dig For Fresh Angles on Zimmerman Case
The central Florida stations are hustling to find a fresh angle on the George Zimmerman case, with Zimmerman showing up in court today following the death of Trayvon Martin on February 26. WKMG Orlando has a very brief video of Zimmerman’s brother Robert, expressing relief that George is at least safe. “We have to somehow think that, ‘Well, at least there’s some ...... Read More
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