The clock is ticking, and Fox is ready to pull the plug on its channels on Bright House Networks at the stroke of midnight tomorrow. Orlando attorney John Morgan took the mammoth media company to court today to try to stop it from cutting off its signals for the cable system. But, according to the…
Year: 2009
WKMG: Urban Meyer told Gators he had heart attack
WKMG-Local 6 sports anchor David “Ping” Pingalore said Monday evening he stands behind his Saturday report that Florida Gators Coach Urban Meyer had a heart attack during mid-season — one health reason that may have led to the coach’s decision to take an indefinite leave of absence from the team. During WKMG’s “The 6 O’Clock…
WFTV preparing for Bob Opsahl’s retirement
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…
A new look for Central Florida News 13
Last week, Central Florida News 13 introduced updated graphics and music. Have to say, they both are a big improvement — and the biggest changes the 24-hour cable channel has made to its on-air appearance since starting in 1997. The graphics are bold, but the colors are softer. The familiar jingles for “Weather on the 1’s”…
WESH pioneer Nick Pfeifauf dies
Former WESH 2 pioneer Nick Pfeifauf, 77, died last week after having a heart attack. Pfeifauf was the anchor for WESH news when I first started watching Central Florida television back in the 1970s. According to WESH.com, Pfeifauf worked as news anchor, news director and vice president of research and development at Channel 2 from the 1960s until 1990….
Casey Anthony: WESH analyst blasts WFTV analyst
As if the long, strange saga of infamous “tot mom” Casey Anthony could not get any stranger … it does, of course. This time it involves attorneys Orlando TV stations are using as legal experts to help analyze the case. It started Thursday, when Anthony’s defense attorneys filed motions that meter reader Roy Kronk —…
Bob Frier returns to air December 14 on Fox 35
Some quick updates … Former WKMG-Local 6 anchor Bob Frier, who recently signed with WOFL-Fox 35, will make his debut on his new station Dec. 14, according to station promos. Still no word on how the anchor duties at Fox 35 are going to be shuffled with Frier’s arrival. But it’s great that he will…
Abatta, Kaufeldt swap anchor shifts at Fox 35
New WOFL ND Jeff Zeller appears to be wasting no time making changes at Fox 35. A pair of anchors — newcomer Sonni Abatta and veteran Amy Kaufeldt — will be swapping roles. Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker reports Kaufeldt will become Cale Ramaker’s co-anchor on the Fox 35 10 p.m. news as well as…
Health care debate: Is Oz better than Phil?
Some interesting news, considering WKMG’s schedule shuffle that replaced its early evening newscasts with Dr. Phil … Local 6’s Post-Newsweek sister station, KPRC in Houston, has yanked Dr. Phil from its schedule — replacing the doc’s show with another doc — Dr. Oz. Here’s what Broadcasting and Cable reported: KPRC decided to remove Dr. Phil from its…
New Guy at WESH, change in weather at WKMG
Back from a Fall break from blogging. Here’s what been going on … New WESH 2 Sunrise anchor Jason Guy doesn’t officially start his new gig until Monday, but he’s been trying out the Channel 2 anchor desk. He co-anchored the Friday noon news with his Sunrise co-anchor Syan Rhodes, and he was spotted on…