The Federal Communications Commission has set Friday as the deadline for those opposed to the sale of public broadcaster WMFE to make their case. According to RBRTV.com, ‘”The deadline to file a petition to deny is 5/6/11, and all related filings should reference MB Docket No. 11-75 and File No. BALEDT-20110401ACW.” As you likely know, Orlando’s…
Public Broadcasting
Ex-WESH anchors’ Growing Bolder show goes national
Former longtime WESH 2 News anchors Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer have reason to celebrate this weekend. “Growing Bolder,” the focus of their attention since leaving the world of TV news, has been picked up nationally. This weekend, the 30-minute show begins airing on more than 100 PBS stations, including markets like L.A., San Francisco, Denver…
Former WMFE chief launches non-profit media venture
Some say the future of journalism will be in non-profit groups. One Central Florida media executive is going see if that’s true. Former longtime WMFE TV and radio president and CEO Stephen McKenney Steck has announced the formation of the Carroll McKenney Foundation for Public Media. “Carroll McKenney Foundation for Public Media is a new…
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 days from now, according to…
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. Among the high-profile positions gone…
Too many hugs for Casey Anthony? That’s what local stations say
Orlando’s local TV stations are so obsessed over Casey Anthony — especially now that it’s sweeps — maybe they just all need a hug? Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker takes the local stations to task for overplaying a story about Anthony attorney Jose Baez hugging Casey twice while in jail. Boedeker wrote: “No way, Jose,” WFTV-Channel 9…