Blast from the past: ‘Eyewitness’ ad from 1971

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It’s hard to believe today after more than 30 years of local dominance, but WFTV-Channel 9 used to be the least-watched station for Orlando TV news. Here’s a newspaper ad from that era — when “Eyewitness News” was just called “Eyewitness.” This advertisement from November 1971 shows that WFTV was trying — it had expanded its early evening news to a full hour, following the lead of WESH. The hour-long format didn’t take last — and it wouldn’t be until 1981 that Channel 9 went back to an hour of news in the early evening.

Orlando TV news covers final space shuttle launch

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The final launch of the space shuttle on Friday capped what arguably has been one of the busiest news weeks ever for Orlando TV news. Like the shuttle program, the Casey Anthony story is starting to wind down. But if the launch of Atlantis was any indication, some of the local TV innovations from the Casey saga will stay with us for awhile.

WFTV-9 moved its mobile courthouse studio over to the Kennedy Space Center, where Bob Opsahl anchored the final shuttle launch. WKMG-6 can’t seem to break out of wall-to-wall coverage — pre-empting CBS’ Early Show and other daytime programming to provide non-stop shuttle launch coverage all Friday morning. In another holdover of the Casey Anthony trial, Local 6 displayed online blog comments during the shuttle launch — the same thing it did during the trial.

Here’s a quick look at how Orlando TV news covered the final space shuttle launch:

Channel 6 displays comments from its live blog during the shuttle Atlantis launch.

WFTV's mobile courthouse studio (left) becomes its space center studio for Atlantis.

Axia Diaz and veteran space reporter Dan Billow anchor coverage on WESH.

Fox 35 had anchor Cale Ramaker on site for the launch of Atlantis.

Casey Anthony trial: Orlando TV news coverage dissected

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Broadcasting & Cable offers a report on how Orlando TV news covered the Casey Anthony trial. There’s nothing you probably didn’t already know, but it does give you an outsider’s perspective on the wall-to-wall coverage that has dominated the O-Town airways.

But here’s one news nugget:

By some estimates, 60% of the TVs in DMA No. 19 have been tuned to trial coverage at any given time.  ”That’s unheard of,” says Robin Smythe, VP and GM at Bright House Networks’ Orlando channel News 13. “I thought those days were over.”

You can read the full story here.

Final space shuttle launch specials begin lifting off tonight

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The “other” big event in Central Florida this week is the final launch of the space shuttle — Atlantis is scheduled to blast off on Friday.

The shuttle program has been a huge part of the area’s culture, economy and history over the past 30 years, so Orlando’s TV stations are rolling out specials to mark the end of the shuttle era.

WFTV-9: Eyewitness to History — tonight at 8 p.m.

WESH-2: The Shuttle Program: Launches, Lessons, Legacy — Thursday at 8 p.m.

WKMG-6: Final Flight — Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

All the local stations will be airing the final launch live. Here’s a blast from the past: the first shuttle launch, Columbia, on April 12, 1981:

Casey Anthony verdict: How Orlando TV tweeted the news

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In addition to watching the Casey Anthony trial on Orlando TV news, many followed coverage via reporters’ and anchors’ tweets on Twitter. Here’s a sampling of Orlando TV tweets following the verdict. (I especially like WFTV news director Bob Jordan’s tweet at the bottom):

Casey Anthony verdict: How Orlando TV covered it

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After three years of constant surprises, the Casey Anthony saga saved its biggest one for last: a stunning not guilty verdict. Orlando TV stations have been covering the trial wall-to-wall — even bumping regular programming again today to talk while the jury deliberations were ongoing.

Hours after the verdict, the Orlando stations continued their coverage. WKMG bumped the CBS Evening News to stay in Casey mode, and continued with coverage at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. WESH broke for NBC Nightly News, but returned with hourlong specials at 7 and 8 p.m., too. WFTV did air ABC World News, but then followed with its own hourlong Casey Anthony special. Only WOFL-Fox 35 — which has seen surprisingly high ratings for its marathon coverage — went back to regular programming after its 5-6:30 p.m. news. Of course, it has 90 minutes of news later tonight to continue coverage.

Below is how  Orlando’s main TV news channels broadcast the verdict in the most watched trial in Central Florida history: