Category Archives: Orlando TV

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Fox Sports Florida, Sun Sports reach deal with Dish

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Dish Network subscribers who are fans of the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat can see the teams play this season. And they’ll also avoid losing WOFL-Fox 35 and WRBW-My 65.

Dish and Fox Networks on Friday announced a wide-ranging distribution agreement for continued access to programming from Fox Broadcasting and Fox local television stations in major cities, plus FX, National Geographic Channel, and Fox’s 19 regional sports networks. The channels were  restored for Dish Network viewers Friday.

Fox Sports Florida as well as Sun Sports had been blacked out on Dish since the old deal expired on Oct. 1.

“After prolonged negotiations to reach a fair deal, we’re pleased to enter into a long term agreement with Fox and to assure our customers that they can continue to enjoy these channels,” said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for Dish Network, in a news release. “We thank our customers, our retail and channel partners, and our employees for their support through these negotiations, which we believe resulted in a fair deal that reinforces DISH Network’s position as the best value in television.”

According to the release, Dish will continue to provide programming from the local Fox and MyNet television stations in the following markets: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore (MyNet 24 only), Boston, Chicago, Cleveland/Akron, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Gainesville (FL), Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Tampa, and Washington D.C.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Orlando stations grab Emmy nominations

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Five Orlando news outlets grabbed 30 nominations in the 34th annual Suncoast Emmy Awards competition.

Market ratings leader WFTV-Channel 9 pulled in the most nominations among the Orlando stations with 11. It was followed by Fox Sports Florida/Sun Sports followed with 10, WKMG-Local 6 with five, Central Florida News 14 with three and WOFL-Fox 35 with one.

Winners will be announced on Dec. 4 at the Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale. The Suncoast Chapter competition includes all the TV markets in Florida; the Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and New Orleans markets in Louisiana; the Mobile, Ala., market; the Thomasville, Ga., market; and Puerto Rico.

For the full list of nominees, click here.

CW18 locks up Maury, Springer, Wilkos

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WKCF CW18If you’re a fan of Maury Povich, Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos, you’ll be happy to hear this news.

Hearst Television, parent of Orlando’s WKCF, has signed a deal to keep the  talk shows on CW18 though the 2014 season.

According to TVNewsCheck.com, “For the 2009-10 season Maury posted a 2.0 rating up 11% in households from 2008-09 (1.8) and was the No. 1 syndicated talk show in adults 18-34 for the 2009-10 season with a 1.2 rating (tied with Oprah); The Jerry Springer Show posted a 1.3 rating, up 18% in households from 2008-09 (1.1) and The Steve Wilkos Show averaged a 1.2 rating, up 20% over 2008-09 (1.0), according to NBC.”

On WKCF,  Wilkos (in its fourth season), airs at 10 a.m., followed by Maury (in its 13th season) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Springer (in its 20th season)  at 2 p.m weekdays.

Ex-WESH anchor Chioji: ‘Life’s never been so good’

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Former WESH 2 anchor Wendy Chioji

Former WESH anchor Wendy Chioji in Utah. Courtesy of EuporiaFitness.com

As part of its continuing coverage for Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Orlando Sentinel decided to check up on former WESH 2 News anchor — and breast cancer survivor — Wendy Chioji. It’s a story with a happy ending.

After Chioji announced her breast cancer diagnosis on air 10  years ago and successfully staged a very public battle against the disease, she decided there was more to life than TV news. The very athletic anchor left Orlando behind to pursue a career in fitness and health.

“Cancer makes you reprioritize things…I decided I wasn’t going to stay in a job that wasn’t fulfilling any more.,” Chioji told the Sentinel. “It was time to do things that you thought about, that you dream about. It was time for me to go.”

So, how’s her new life in Utah? The Sentinel reports that she’s working part-time and freelance jobs that include being a a personal trainer, leading cycling tours here and abroad,  and also working as a reporter at the nearby Sundance Film Festival.

“Life’s never been so good,” Chioji said.

Read the full story here.

WFTV Eyewitness News won’t be going earlier

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A couple of quick midweek notes…

If you’re an early, early bird, don’t expect anytime soon to turn on your TV at 4:30 a.m. and find news on market leader WFTV-Channel 9. “It’s not something I’m doing this fall,” WFTV General Manager Shawn Bartelt told Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker. “Traffic is worse in other places. People have to get up earlier. If I see a demand, we’ll meet that demand. I’m not seeing it.” …

Elsewhere, former Fox 35 morning meteorologist Doug Kammerer continues his industry climb. The newly installed chief meteorologist at NBC O&O WRC-Channel 4 in Washington, D.C., sat down for a Q&A piece with The Washington Post. I think we now know why Doug isn’t in the Sunshine State anymore. When asked, “What do you most look forward to covering weather in D.C., ” Kammerer said, “I look forward to covering the winters here. I love the winters in this area. Last winter was simply amazing as we saw storm after storm. I doubt we will ever see another winter like that one, but just give me one big storm a year and I will be happy. I love to forecast snow totals and I pride myself on getting them right.”

Media picking up story of Mark McEwen’s return to CBS

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Mark McEwen on CBS' Early Show

Mark McEwen on CBS' Early Show in 2006 (courtesy CBSNews.com)

As we mentioned earlier this week, former WKMG-Local 6 anchor Mark McEwen returns to television this Saturday when he fills-in as the weatherman on CBS’ Saturday Early Show.

Now, media outlets around the country are picking up the feel-good story — noting McEwen’s miraculous recovery from his massive stroke nearly five years ago. …

  • “Mark McEwen is a survivor, who has beat all odds and is returning to his true passion — reporting,” CBS News reports.
  • “Mark McEwen will return to ‘The Early Show’ on Saturday. But it’s more than a homecoming — it will be McEwen’s first nationally televised weather forecast since suffering a devastating and debilitating stroke in 2005,” the New York Post reports.
  • “Mark McEwen returning to visit ‘The Early Show,’ ” The Associated Press reports.
  • “Weatherman Mark McEwen will return to CBS News and The Early Show Saturday for the first time since recovering from a near-fatal stroke,” Broadcasting & Cable reports.
  • “Mark McEwen, who worked for CBS from 1987 to 2002, will appear in his first nationally televised weather forecast — and he’ll sit down for an interview — since recovering from a near-fatal stroke in 2005,”  USA Today reports.

By the way, this won’t be his first appearance on the CBS morning program since his stroke. He returned in 2006 to discuss it and his recovery.