Thursday, July 3, 2008
WESH's Martinez joins Fox start-up
Raoul Martinez, who just departed WESH, has already landed a new gig. According to Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker, Martinez will help launch the Fox network on San Diego's KWSB. That's the Tribune Co.-owned station that's switching from the CW to Fox on Aug. 1.
"I will be anchoring the news on the new four-hour morning show, Monday through Friday, alongside Arthel Neville," Martinez says. Click here for the full story
Labels: WESH 2 News
Friday, June 27, 2008
Marla Weech out as anchor at WKMG
Longtime O-Town anchor Marla Weech is being laid off from WKMG as the slowing economy starts to takes its toll at Local 6.
"I'm being laid off," she told Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker on Friday. "It's tough economic times. My position is being eliminated. My heart goes out to anyone who's losing a job."
Weech has been an anchor on Orlando TV since the early 1980s, first at Channel 6, then for more than 20 years at WFTV-Channel 9. She left WFTV in Sept. 2005 after being bumped to the 10 p.m. newscast on sister station WRDQ-Channe 27. She returned to Channel 6 in 2006.
Weech is the latest high-profile anchor to leave the air. Wendy Chioji departed WESH-Channel 2 in May after more than 20 years.
Chioji decided to leave the business, which -- like all media -- is facing a tough economic climate. In a memo to the Channel 6 staff explaining Weech's anchor position being eliminated, GM Henry Maldonado warned, "The position being eliminated will not be the only measure we will have to take. But for now, everyone affected by these changes has already been informed."
Weech's last newscast will be tonight. Read the full Orlando Sentiel story here.
Labels: WFTV Channel 9, WKMG Local 6
Monday, June 23, 2008
Orlando stations simulate end of analog
Are you ready for your digital TV test? On Wednesday night, 11 O-Town TV stations will simulate the end of analog broadcasting and go dark to let viewers know if they're ready for the digital TV age to begin.
Here's how it will work: At 7:59 p.m., these local television stations -- WESH-NBC 2, WKMG-CBS 6, WFTV-ABC 9, WCEU-PBS 15, WKCF-CW 18, WMFE-PBS 24, WVEN-Univision 26, WRDQ-Independent 27, WOTF-Telefutura 43, WTGL-Independent 45 and WBCC-PBS 68 -- will first alert viewers and explain how the test will work. Each station will then simulate the termination of analog broadcasting by removing the video signal that feeds the analog transmitter for 10 seconds causing the screen to go dark.
On each participating station's digital broadcasts, and on cable and satellite systems that receive direct feeds from the station, the station will notify viewers that they have successfully passed the test. At the conclusion of each test, stations will notify viewers that if their screen went blank they need to take corrective action -- such as getting a digital TV converter box for their analog sets.
Also, during the test broadcasts, each station will provide a toll-free telephone number and Web site for additional DTV transition assistance.
This is the first of three tests the area stations are uniting to perform. Noticeably absent from the test are Orlando's two Fox-owned TV stations -- WOFL-Fox 35 and WRBW-MyNetworkTV 65.
The local stations will switch off their analog signals for good on Feb. 17, 2009. Labels: WESH 2 News, WFTV Channel 9, WKCF-CW 18, WKMG Local 6, WOFL Fox 35, WRDQ-TV27
Friday, June 20, 2008
Martinez, Klein depart O-Town
Starting to catch up on the latest news ...
Anchor/reporter Raoul Martinez, who has been at WESH for about six years, is leaving the station. His last day will be Sunday, according to Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker. Martinez performed a number of roles at WESH during his tenure, including being an early-evening anchor, morning anchor for WESH's news show on WKCF-CW18 and most recently weekend anchor. ...
Zach Klein signed off this week as sports director at WFTV-Channel 9. He had been with the station since 2003 and is jumping to Cox flagship WSB in Atlanta. His replacement is Phil Burton from Boston's CN8. ....
Speaking of WFTV, the station changed programming on its digital 9.2 subchannel. It used to be full-screen, live weather radar, which was very handy during our summer thunderstorms. Now, the station has shrunk the presentation from 16:9 to 4:3 and is adding weather forecasts and traffic reports to a rotation that also includes the live Doppler. If I wanted all that, I'd sit through WESH's boring WeatherPlus. I'd rather have just the Doppler, thank you. ...
Former WKMG reporter Trace Gallagher continues to move up at Fox News Channel. This week he became co-anchor of FNC's Live Desk. Of course, the most famous Channel 6 alum at Fox News Channel is still Shepard Smith. Click here for video.
KOAT in Albuquerque, N.M., has kicked off an interesting summer experiment. It's expanded its late newscast to an hour. That's not so unusual for a Fox affiliate or independent station, but it is unusual for an ABC affiliate. KOAT is delaying Nightline by a half hour to have an hourlong late show. OK, so what's the Orlando connection? Former Fox 35 anchor Shelly Ribando is one of the anchors on the hourlong experiment. If it works in New Mexico, I wonder how many other stations may jump at the chance to wring some more money out of news? Of course, KOAT's newscast runs from 10-11 p.m. -- which even with the time zone consideration is a lot different than having a local newscast from 11 p.m. to midnight. Click here to see a video with Ribando explaining the decision for the expanded show. (Final footnote: KOAT is owned by WESH parent Hearst-Argyle.) Labels: WESH 2 News, WFTV Channel 9, WKMG Local 6
Friday, March 28, 2008
After 20 years, Wendy Chioji to leave WESH
 WESH veteran anchor Wendy Chioji -- who celebrates her 20th anniversary with the station today -- will leave Channel 2 at the end of the May sweeps. In a press release issued Thursday, WESH said Chioji's decision to leave "was based on her personal interest in moving west and the opportunity to open a new business in Park City, Utah. She and two partners will launch a new Vision Quest cycling center in that city."
"It's a bittersweet time for me," said Chioji. "I have loved living in Central Florida for 20 years. I've also learned that life cycles have an ending, and it's time to end my life cycle at WESH. I am forever grateful to Hearst-Argyle and WESH for the amazing two decades-long run here. It has allowed me to work with the most talented people in the business and live in one of the greatest cities on earth. I am excited about my new adventure." It became apparent not too long ago that WESH was turning away from its iconic anchor when the station brought in Martha Sugalski to anchor the 11 p.m. news with Jim Payne. Despite WESH's improved numbers at 11 p.m., Chioji remains popular. "Wendy is a class act," said WESH 2 News Director Barbara Maushard. "She will be greatly missed in the WESH 2 newsroom and in homes all around Central Florida." No decisions have been made regarding Chioji's replacement or other anchor assignment changes at the station. Labels: WESH 2 News
Thursday, March 20, 2008
WKMG Local 6 News goes 16:9
 UPDATED: With little fanfare, WKMG has thrown the switch on 16:9 for its newscasts. (Oops -- I reported early that Local 6 had gone to HD. Not the case, however.)
Local 6 is using 16:9 studio cameras, but its weather graphics and most field reports are still in standard 4:3 with "wings" on the side of the screen. I believe there was at least one 16:9 report tonight -- some highlights from the Magic's game. The 16:9 switch comes after WKMG has been stretching its picture to fill the 16:9 ratio of today's HD televisions. That was a bit annoying and also stretched out the anchors' faces, making them look like the reflections in one of those old carnival funhouse mirrors. WFTV was the first in Florida to switch to HD for its newscasts in July 2006, and WESH followed with its HD newscasts on Nov. 1, 2007. Now in O-Town, only WKMG and is Fox O&O WOFL-Channel 35 are not in HD. Labels: WKMG Local 6
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Analysis: Remembering what Bauman did at WESH
 Looking back, I wonder if it was a clue? When the stations issued their news releases from the Novemeber sweeps, Bill Bauman's comments were not in WESH's release. Instead, it was VP and station manager Bob Fein who was quoted as saying, "in May we saw significant growth for WESH 2 News over the previous year. It's now very gratifying to see that viewers are continuing that vote of confidence and helping us build on that momentum." But it's what he didn't say -- about year-over-year ratings -- that also stood out.
In the end, that's what most people will remember. Bauman unexpectedly leaving WESH by announcing his immediate retirement at the company Christmas party. But there is more to remember about Bauman. In my limited dealings with him over the years, I found Bauman to be very professional and passionate about his station and anchors. One time he tracked me down at work with a phone call to personally let me know about a message on the TV Talk Forum that he thought crossed the line about one of his anchors. And, he was right. It was a pretty vicious personal attack, and I removed it. One time after WESH debuted a new set, he asked for my thoughts on it. I gave it a thumbs up but mentioned one part of it that I thought was a bit distracting. A week later, that part of the set was tweaked. Now, I don't think it had anything to do with my comment, but rather it was something that was pretty apparent to viewers. And for the most part, I think that's what Bauman knew best: what Orlando viewers wanted. Let's not forget that despite WESH's current ratings woes, Bauman had his station poised to overtake WFTV-Channel 9 not that long ago. Solid, serious reporting gave WESH a sterling reputation that began to resonate with local viewers sick of endless crime coverage on WKMG and WFTV. But a combination of legendary news director Bob Jordan returning to Channel 9 to resurrect Eyewitness News and the decline of NBC's prime-time ratings never allowed WESH to get over the hump. Then began the changing of the guard among its reporters and news directors. Bauman is a local guy -- a graduate of Winter Park High School. How many folks get to travel around and come back to their hometown to run a TV station? It must be pretty rare, and that could be the reason local TV news is so criticized by many today. So many of those responsible for local news have no local connections. We actually need more Bill Baumans in TV news -- that was have one less today is actually bad news for all of us. Labels: WESH 2 News
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Longtime WESH GM Bauman retires
BREAKING NEWS ... Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel has news that longtime WESH/WKCF GM Bill Bauman is retiring immediately. He has been part of the O-Town TV scene since the 1970s. Click for details from the Sentinel on Bauman's departure. Labels: WESH 2 News
Monday, December 17, 2007
Local 6 introduces Larry Mowry's replacement
 After hyping it as "big news" throughout the weekend, WKMG announced on its Morning News show Monday that meteorologist Larry Mowry is leaving to head to CBS O&O KTVT in Dallas. Anchor Erick Weber said in announcing Mowry's departure, "We want to let you know about our secret. Just learned about it, what, about a week ago." (Well, actually it was back in November, but we digress.)
In addition to Mowry telling viewers how much he will miss Central Florida and that his last day is Jan. 3, he announced his successor: meteorologist Eric Wilson from Post-Newsweek sister station WDIV-NBC 4 in Detroit. Wilson was introduced via live shot from his snow-covered front yard in Detroit -- which featured a huge Mickey Mouse Christmas ornament. Wilson said his wife is a huge Disney fan -- every Christmas ornament they have has something to do with Disney -- so they are looking forward to coming to Orlando. According to his bio, he is the primary met on WDIV's NBC WeatherPlus channel and does the station's noon show as well as appearances on other newscasts. Labels: WKMG Local 6
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
WESH expands morning news on CW18
 Want more morning news? This week WESH began a six-week experiment simulcasting the 6-7 a.m. hour of its Sunrise newscast on CW18 -- leading into the two-hour block of local news it airs on WKCF.
According to a WESH news release, "The goal of the simulcast is to expand the reach of WESH-TV's morning news while strengthening the lead-in to WKCF-TV's morning news block." Said WESH/WKCF GM Bill Bauman: "This is a great opportunity to use the power of both stations to build our morning news audience. If the simulcast experiment is successful, we'll consider expanding it or making a permanent programming change." In the Novemeber sweeps, the WFTV-produced Eyewitness News This Morning on WRDQ-Channel 27 jumped past WESH 2 News on CW18. One reason could be that WRDQ started airing The Daily Buzz from 6-7 a.m. as a lead-in to its news. The irony is that WESH booted The Daily Buzz from its 6-9 a.m. slot on WKCF to make way for its local news show. Labels: WESH 2 News, WKCF-CW 18, WRDQ-TV27
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