Lots of personnel moves happening at WKMG.
Overweight? WESH wants to see you
In what sounds like a possible May sweeps series, WESH is seeking some overweight volunteers to be on TV. According to a number of Atkins-related Web sites, Channel 2 wants four volunteers to test out different diets so it can report the results.
New anchor and future news anchor
Central Florida News 13 is getting a new morning anchor starting Monday. Lisa Bell will be the 5 to 10 a.m. anchor with meteorologist Jeff Day, Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker reports. Bell comes to CFN13 from WEAR-ABC 3 in Pensacola. "Her talent and level of commitment make her the perfect person for this role at News 13," station GM Robin Smythe said of Bell.
Meanwhile, Katie Trexler is someone you may see on one of Orlando’s stations soon. She’s the morning and midday anchor at Denver’s KMGH-ABC 7, but she’s relocating to Orlando, according to the Rocky Mountain News. Trexler’s husband recently received a sweet gig from an O-Town company, so the family is heading East. Trexler, the mother of twin 4-year-olds, says she plans to take some time off before deciding whether to get back into TV here.
Thief gets into WFTV, steals from employees
Looks like WKMG’s new "Catch A Criminal" feature could have a new subject — the guy who robbed workers at WFTV this week.
WESH extends Wendy Chioji’s contract
WESH has extended the contract of longtime anchor Wendy Chioji, according to NewsBlues.com . No word on contract details. Her solo-anchored WESH 2 News at 6 p.m. newscast was up 10 percent from a year ago in the February sweeps. Chioji has been with the station since 1988, as a reporter, weekend anchor and then lead anchor. To salute Wendy on her new deal, here’s a clip of her closing out the weekend news back in 1990, plus a 2 News promo from 17 years ago.
Catching up: Lots of “new” news to report
Dang, a lot of stuff has been going on since I took my spring break …
NEW BABY: Central Florida’s largest team of broadcast meteorologists just got larger. WESH’s Leslie Hudson gave birth to Avery Vy Russell last week. She was born at 7:26 a.m. on Wednesday and weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces. You can find a couple of pics here. Congrats!
NEW TRAFFIC GUY: Ryan Harper of Metro Networks is the new morning traffic guy at WOFL-Fox 35. He replaces Ken Smith, who after nearly 3 years of flying in the chopper for WOFL, has flown west. Insiders say Smith landed a gig with top-rated KLAS in Las Vegas. He reportedly starts in April.