It’s almost 2012, and WKMG-Local 6 join its fellow Post-Newsweek stations in offering free airtime to candidates in the upcoming election. In a news release out Monday, Post-Newsweek said its six stations would offer “free airtime and free web time opportunities to candidates in the 30 days preceding the general…
WKMG’s Ping gets Urban Meyer story right; 6 raises money for homeless
Several Orlando TV news items for you … “Ping” was right. And, yes, that’s news. As WKMG sports anchor David Pingalore first reported Tuesday, former Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer accepted the head coaching job at The Ohio State University on Monday. While Ping said Meyer agreed to a 7-year, $40-million…
Jim Van Fleet, Guy Rawlings, Mike Dunston leaving Orlando TV news
Comings and goings in Orlando TV news … After nearly a decade with WOFL, meteorologist Jim Van Fleet presented his last forecast on Monday morning. The popular Fox 35 weatherman is heading to WTSP-CBS 10 in Tampa to become the station’s chief meteorologist. On Monday’s Good Day show, Van Fleet…
Before super doppler, there was “Miss Fairweather”
As regular readers probably know, we’ve been busy archiving newspaper advertisements for TV stations in Orlando (and other Florida markets too.) We recently came across one that is a gem — a 1963 advertisement for Channel 9’s “Mid Florida News.” This was from the era long before Eyewitness News became…
Former Channel 9 reporter Leland Vittert in hot water with Fox News
A lot of Orlando TV news folks move on to bigger and better gigs after O-Town. Some end up making some news themselves. That appears to be the case with former WFTV-Channel 9 reporter Leland Vittert. NewsBlues.com reports that Vittert — who was hired last year to cover the Middle…
Urban Meyer to Ohio State – a scoop or bust for WKMG’s Ping
The college football world has been buzzing since Tuesday night when WKMG-Local 6 sports director David “Ping” Pingalore broke the news that former Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer had agreed to a 7-year, $40-million deal to coach the Ohio State Buckeyes. So far, Meyer is denying the report. But that…
Meteorologist Leslie Hudson gets part-time gig at Fox 35
A familiar face to Orlando TV news viewers will be reappearing shortly on Fox 35. It’s meteorologist Leslie Hudson, who previously reported on the weather at Central Florida News 13 and at WESH-2. “I’ve told a few friends this, now I am telling the rest of my friends! … I…
With November sweeps near end, what does Bob Jordan think?
As the November sweeps wind up, TVSpy.com asked a number of news directors around the country to talk about the quarterly sweeps period — and what are “successful” sweeps stories they plan and execute coverage during the important ratings period. One of those polled was WFTV veteran news director Bob…
Jason Brewer, Vanessa Welch welcome son Wilson
The fiercely competitive newsrooms at WESH and WFTV both had reasons to celebrate a new arrival in town this week. WFTV anchor Vanessa Welch and her husband WESH meteorologist Jason Brewer welcomed son Wilson Beech Brewer on Monday night. He arrived a few days early at 20 inches and 6 pounds,…
Sure, we’re glad to have Orlando weather cooling off but …
I know I enjoyed the fantastic weather over the weekend. The cooler temperature was welcome, and it was a topic on all the Orlando TV newscasts. But look at what the 7-Day Forecast holds for us next Saturday — according to WKMG-Local 6’s weather forecast… The weather blooper aired late…