Orlando’s CBS station is known today at WKMG-Local 6. But 40 years ago, it was just WDBO-TV Channel 6. And the station’s newscast was known as “Newsbeat.” Here’s a newspaper advertisement from November 1969 promoting some of the shows on Channel 6 during the day — including a double dose…
Category: Orlando TV
The latest news on Orlando television from RogerSimmons.com | Orlando TV News & History
Blast from the past: ‘Eyewitness’ ad from 1971
It’s hard to believe today after more than 30 years of local dominance, but WFTV-Channel 9 used to be the least-watched station for Orlando TV news. Here’s a newspaper ad from that era — when “Eyewitness News” was just called “Eyewitness.” This advertisement from November 1971 shows that WFTV was…
Orlando TV news covers final space shuttle launch
The final launch of the space shuttle on Friday capped what arguably has been one of the busiest news weeks ever for Orlando TV news. Like the shuttle program, the Casey Anthony story is starting to wind down. But if the launch of Atlantis was any indication, some of the…
Casey Anthony trial: Orlando TV news coverage dissected
Broadcasting & Cable offers a report on how Orlando TV news covered the Casey Anthony trial. There’s nothing you probably didn’t already know, but it does give you an outsider’s perspective on the wall-to-wall coverage that has dominated the O-Town airways. But here’s one news nugget: By some estimates, 60%…
Final space shuttle launch specials begin lifting off tonight
The “other” big event in Central Florida this week is the final launch of the space shuttle — Atlantis is scheduled to blast off on Friday. The shuttle program has been a huge part of the area’s culture, economy and history over the past 30 years, so Orlando’s TV stations…
Casey Anthony verdict: How Orlando TV tweeted the news
In addition to watching the Casey Anthony trial on Orlando TV news, many followed coverage via reporters’ and anchors’ tweets on Twitter. Here’s a sampling of Orlando TV tweets following the verdict. (I especially like WFTV news director Bob Jordan’s tweet at the bottom):
Casey Anthony verdict: How Orlando TV covered it
After three years of constant surprises, the Casey Anthony saga saved its biggest one for last: a stunning not guilty verdict. Orlando TV stations have been covering the trial wall-to-wall — even bumping regular programming again today to talk while the jury deliberations were ongoing. Hours after the verdict, the…
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Casey Anthony verdict: How the networks covered it
Orlando TV viewers didn’t see it — since the local stations were in wall-to-wall coverage — but three of the big four national networks broke into programming for the Casey Anthony trial verdict. ABC News aired a special report from 2:15 to 2:24 p.m., anchored by George Stephanopoulos with legal…
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Heidi Hatch leaves Fox 35 for ….
I’ve had a couple of people ask what’s happened to Fox 35 morning anchor Heidi Hatch. Here’s what she posted on her Facebook page on June 3 … After 8 hours straight of live TV on a Friday morning I want to say thanks to all my FOX 35 viewers….
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News 13: Viewers alerted station about ‘finger’ guy
Central Florida News 13 says it was its viewers who first noticed Matthew Bartlett’s “middle finger of affection” — as Judge Belvin Perry called it — during the Casey Anthony trial. Bartlett, the 28-year-old restaurant server, admitted in court that he flipped a bird at prosecutor Jeff Ashton. But Ashton…