Why did WKMG let go longtime anchor Bob Frier? Could be a combination of things — budget tightening, wanting to go in a different direction … yadda, yadda, yadda. But one key reason has to be Local 6’s ratings. Yes, WKMG’s 11 p.m. newscast — once ranked No. 1 —…
Month: February 2009
5 Orlando stations turn off transmitters tonight
Turn out the lights, the party’s over … in analog. At 11:59 p.m. tonight, five Orlando TV stations will permanently end their analog broadcasts, entering an all-digital era and most likely making your older model television sets obsolete. The stations turning off their analog transmitters, according to the FCC: Public…
Bob Frier out as anchor at WKMG-Local 6
Bob Frier is out as anchor at WKMG-Local 6. This last newscast will be tonight at 6. Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker reports the station and the longtime anchor have “mutually agreed to part ways.” New arrival Mike Garofalo will become the main anchor along side Jacqueline London. Garofalo…
CW18 bringing back Steve Wilkos Show
Are you a fan of Steve Wilkos? If so, this should make you happy. NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution announced The Steve Wilkos Show has been renewed for a third season by stations across the nation, including Orlando’s WKCF-CW 18. Wilkos — the former muscle man on the Jerry Springer…
WMFE, WRDQ, WVEN to turn off analog signals next week
Three Orlando TV stations have notified the FCC they plan to turn off their analog signals next Tuesday — the date originally set for analog’s end. Public broadcaster WMFE-Ch. 24, independent WRDQ-Ch. 27 and Univision’s WVEN-Ch. 26 all decided not to extend their analog broadcasting to the government’s new cut-off…
New news leader? WFTV, WESH battling it out
Could WESH be about to end WFTV’s 30-year reign as the king of TV news in Orlando? New Nielsen “people meters” data show — and parties at both stations acknowledge — a tight, two-station race between WFTV and WESH for the title of Central Florida’s news leader. According to Sentinel…
Forget extension, Orlando stations set to drop analog signals
Despite lawmakers’ approval of a plan to extend the digital transition period until June, at least three Orlando stations may pull the plug on their analog broadcasts as early as Feb. 17. Public broadcaster WMFE-Ch. 24, Univision’s WVEN-Ch. 26 and indy WRDQ-Ch. 27 may turn off their analog signals 12…
More layoffs at WMFE TV/radio
Public broadcaster WMFE is continuing to be hit hard by the economic downturn. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the local PBS/NPR station group laid off 28 percent of its staff — 15 employees — in its most recent cuts. This follows layoffs in October that cut 10 people from the stations’ staff….
Conan O’Brien with an alligator? Must be Super
Conan O’Brien got a first-hand look at some Central Florida media stars when he visited WESH on Saturday. O’Brien, in the area before attending Sunday’s Super Bowl in Tampa, dropped by the WESH 2 studios to talk about his Bud Light Super Bowl commerical as well as his upcoming move from Late Night to the…