Casey Anthony verdict: How the networks covered it

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Courtesy TVNewser.com

Orlando TV viewers didn’t see it — since the local stations were in wall-to-wall coverage — but three of the big four national networks broke into programming for the Casey Anthony trial verdict.

ABC News aired a special report from 2:15 to 2:24 p.m., anchored by George Stephanopoulos with legal expert Dan Abrams, The Hollywood Reporter said. Stephanopoulos noted that “jaws dropped” in the studio when the verdict was delivered.

CBS News did a pullback and ran a crawl while The Talk was airing live from Los Angeles. Co-host Julie Chen struggled with her emotions as she relayed information about the verdict, the Hollywood Reporter said. Co-host Holly Robinson Peete had to help her out. The full show video is posted here — go to the 17-minute mark to see the ladies’ reaction to the verdict.

Fox provided a Fox News Channel feed to its affiliates.

Heidi Hatch leaves Fox 35 for ….

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I’ve had a couple of people ask what’s happened to Fox 35 morning anchor Heidi Hatch.

Here’s what she posted on her Facebook page on June 3 …

After 8 hours straight of live TV on a Friday morning I want to say thanks to all my FOX 35 viewers. You’ve welcomed me into your homes for 5 fabulous years while you’ve crawled out of bed, brushed your teeth and packed school lunches. Thanks for taking me along during your morning rush. Goodbye’s are always bittersweet. I will miss the friends I’ve worked alongside while covering everything from tornado’s to the Casey Anthony Case. This is not the end but a new chapter. One with more sleep and hopefully more family time. Thanks for your friendship.

On her Twitter account, Hatch says she’s in the process of moving. But, she tells those who ask where she’s heading, “I can’t say where I’m moving just yet ….”

 

News 13: Viewers alerted station about ‘finger’ guy

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Court TV cameras capture a local restaurant worker flipping a bird in court during the Casey Anthony trial.

Central Florida News 13 says it was its viewers who first noticed Matthew Bartlett’s “middle finger of affection” — as Judge Belvin Perry called it — during the Casey Anthony trial.

Bartlett, the 28-year-old restaurant server, admitted in court that he flipped a bird at prosecutor Jeff Ashton. But Ashton didn’t see the incident — and just about everyone else missed it to. Except News 13, which notified the court.

“Our viewers first brought it to our attention,” News 13 general manager Robin Smythe told Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker. “It was offensive to them. We took a look at it. If we were going to provide live coverage, it’s obscene behavior. Our viewers did not like this. We got a lot of calls.”

As to why News 13 alerted the court: “We have a responsibility,” Smythe said. “It was not an effort to be a tattletale. We have an obligation to keep it clean, and we’re going to do that for our viewers.”

Perry found Bartlett in contempt of court and sentenced him to six days in jail.

Happy birthdays to Channel 6, WUCF-TV

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Today is a historic day for Orlando TV for two important reasons, with something old and something new.

First, it was on this day 57 years ago that television began in Orlando. WDBO-Channel 6 started broadcasting, airing shows from CBS, NBC, ABC and DuMont. It would be the area’s only TV station for two years until WESH-2 began in Daytona Beach.

Adding to the importance of July 1 in Orlando TV history, the area’s new home for PBS  – WUCF-TV — begins broadcasting today on channel 68. It replaces WMFE-Channel 24, whose new owner will flip it to a religious format shortly.

“These organizations have done an outstanding job coming together to ensure that everyone in central Florida can continue enjoying their favorite PBS content, on television and online,” PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said in a news release Thursday. “WUCF will offer a full range of PBS content as well as one-of-a-kind local programming that allows everyone to discover more, to experience more and to be more. I am confident that this new collaboration will provide even greater service to the people of Central Florida.”

For more info about WUCF-TV, its program schedule and where you can find it on your TV, check out the station’s new website.

QUICK NOTE: Also found out that July 1 is also the anniversary of the launch of commercial television in the U.S. Friday was the anniversary of the first broadcast on New York City’s WNBT (now known as WNBC). TVNewser.com has more info.

Casey Anthony trial TV turns R-rated with finger, F-bombs

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WFTV anchor Greg Warmoth and legal expert Bill Sheaffer watch a replay of a 28-year-old restaurant worker flipping a bird at prosecutor Jeff Ashton.

If the Casey Anthony trial were a motion picture, the action over the past two days would earn an R rating.

Unlike Wednesday, there were no F-bombs spoken on Thursday — but the bird was the word. A local restaurant server flipped a bird at prosecutor Jeff Ashton. If you weren’t looking, you probably would have missed it — but Central Florida News 13 did not. According to the Orlando Sentinel, News 13 brought the “finger” incident to the court’s attention — and that’s what started a chain of events that led to the 28-year-old man being found in contempt of court and sentenced to six days in the county jail. Interesting that at least in its online story, News 13 doesn’t mention its involvement in the incident.

During court on Wednesday, the F-word went out over the Orlando TV airwaves twice — once when Casey Anthony’s father, George, was on the stand being questioned by the defense. Later, defense attorney Jose Baez dropped another F-bomb — this time while quoting a deposition given by George Anthony. While the courts have apparently ruled that the Federal Communications Commission can no longer fine stations for so-called “fleeting explatives,” Orlando’s TV news channels took note. WESH 2 posted a on-screen warning: “May Contain Offensive Language.” WOFL-Fox 35 appeared to start using a delay with its coverage.

WESH coverage carries a warning to views about language after the F-word was spoken twice in court on Thursday.