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Posts Tagged ‘Bob Jordan’

Weather forecast for WFTV: More Tom Terry

January 28th, 2010

Tom Terry

You may watch him or you may not – but you most certainly know about WFTV chief meterologist Tom Terry.

The man who helped Central Floridians “hunker down” during the historic hurricane season of 2004 is going to be with Channel 9 through at least another six storm seasons.

Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker reports that WFTV has signed Terry to a new six-year deal.

“It [his contract] was supposed to be up at the end of the year, but we went to him early,” WFTV News Director Bob Jordan said. “He’s the best meteorologist I’ve ever worked with.”

Read the full story here

Click here for photos, video from hurricane season 2004

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Posted in Orlando TV, WFTV-9

Tags: Bob Jordan Tom Terry WFTV-9

WFTV preparing for Bob Opsahl’s retirement

December 28th, 2009

Bob Opsahl

Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather were iconic anchors for their networks. But Bob Opsahl has them beat.

Opsahl has been anchoring the news at WFTV-Channel 9 for more than 30 years — even before Rather, Brokaw or Jennings took over the lead roles on their network newscasts. Granted, Opsahl wasn’t the main anchor for Eyewitness News when he started at the station in 1978, but he’s still going long after those other guys left their respective network desks.

But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker reports that WFTV is starting to look for Opsahl’s replacement.

“Bob Opsahl is going to retire sometime. It would behoove us to be ready,” said WFTV News Director Bob Jordan – the man who hired Opsahl years ago. “I know one day I’m going to have to replace Bob Opsahl. I’ve be happy if he stayed forever, but he has a contract that runs out. He’s had a fantastic career. He’s an extremely valuable player.”

For now, the station is holding auditions for a male weekend anchor — but folks can see the writing on the wall. Fortunately for Opsahl’s many viewers, he’s probably not going anywhere anytime soon.

“Not next year,” Jordan said. “As long as he’s going to be here for 2010, aren’t goodbyes premature?”

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Posted in Anchors, Orlando TV, WFTV-9

Tags: Bob Jordan Bob Opsahl WFTV-9

O-Town Tweeters make news, plus other notes

September 9th, 2009

twitter2 Some quick notes for midweek:

TVNewsCheck.com is noting how Twitter has become popular in TV newsrooms, and it called upon two of O-Town’s top TV Tweeters to explain the craze. ”I thought the social networking sites were strictly a phenomenon of teenagers and young kids. I thought it was meaningless chatter, but it’s not,” WFTV News Director Bob Jordan told the site. “It’s now the primary way a lot of people communicate, share and obtain information. Not to be in that space would be just the dumbest thing anyone could do, if you’re in the communications business.” WESH ND Bob Longo – another Twitter fan and occasional target of Jordan’s Tweets — told TVNewsCheck, “I like it for a few reasons: It’s a little bit town crier, a little bit police scanner and another news monitor on the assignment desk wall.” You can read the full story here. …

Former WKMG anchor Bob Frier is back on the air. You can catch him in the mornings this week filling in for vacationing Erica Lee on Mix 105.1 FM’s Scott and Erica Show. As you are probably aware, Frier and DJ Scott McKenzie are part of the band Simulcast. It’s good to hear Bob again. Maybe radio is in his future? That’s what happened to former Channel 6 anchor Leslye Gayle when the station dropped her — she popped up on Magic 107.7 and has been doing mornings there since. …

Fox 35 is gearing up for next week’s launch of its expanded morning news. The 8:30 to 10 a.m. segment is being branded as “Good Day.” Amy Kaufeldt, Heidi Hatch, Jacquie Sosa and Christine van Blokland will helm the show. Promos have started airing. You can check one out below:

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Posted in Orlando TV, Uncategorized, WESH-2, WFTV-9, WKMG-6, WOFL-35

Tags: Amy Kaufeldt Bob Frier Bob Jordan Bob Longo Jackie Sosa

WFTV’s West back in news with Biden visit

August 18th, 2009

biden With Vice President Joe Biden due to visit Orlando on Wednesday, Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker revived the discussion about WFTV anchor Barbara West’s controversial interview with Biden during the 2008 campaign. Boedeker asked WFTV News Director Bob Jordan if West would cover Biden’s visit for Eyewitness News.

“Just for old time’s sake? That’s a great idea,” Jordan told Boedeker with a laugh. Turning serious, Jordan said, “I saw a brief e-mail that he’s coming. I haven’t discussed how we’ll cover him. We certainly will cover him.”

One of the issues that West sparred with Biden in her interview was health care. On Monday night at a town hall meeting by Rep. Alan Grayson to discuss President Obama’s hot-button health care plan, West’s husband was on hand. According to Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell, who was live blogging from the event: “Wade West, husband of WFTV anchor Barbara West, just stormed out, yelling ‘Shame on all of us!’ at the entire room. West was reacting to Grayson saying he wasn’t going to be able to take questions from everyone – and complaining about the number of Democrats front-ended loaded into the forum.”

After the jump, why one local TV web site has closed, plus more notes

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Posted in Orlando TV, WFTV-9, WKMG-6

Tags: Barbara West Bob Jordan Tom Sorrells WFTV-9 WKMG-6

One small step for man, one giant ratings leap for Channel 9

July 21st, 2009

ttt-wftv WFTV’s Monday night special, recalling the Apollo moon landing 40 years ago, proved very popluar.

According to WFTV news director Bob Jordan, the space special drew a 3.7 rating and 14 share in the coveted 25-54 demo. “That’s more than ANY newscast Tuesday on WESH, WKMG or WOFL. Kudos to EP Craing Patrick and Bob Opsahl,” Jordan wrote on his Twitter feed.

Jordan also noted that the Apollo show went head-to-head with the CBS Evening News on WKMG. “It isn’t close: a 14-share A25-54 for ‘FTV, a 3-share for ‘KMG,” he Tweeted.

(If you missed it, the WFTV show can be viewed on WFTV.com)

And just to rub it in, Jordan notes that WFTV’s top-rated Eyewitness News drew more 25-54 demo viewers than WESH-2, Local 6 and Fox 35 combined on Monday. Very impressive.