Florida has 106 full-power television stations today, and many more channels when you consider their digital offerings. It’s a far cry from what the FCC envisioned for the Sunshine State in the early days of television.
WOFL-35
Former Fox 35 meteorologist Jim Van Fleet forecasting weather for Royal Caribbean cruises
Former Fox 35 morning meteorologist Jim Van Fleet has a new gig on the high seas. He’s the chief meteorologist for Royal Caribbean Cruises – the cruise industry’s first such position.
Blast from the Past: INN on WOFL-TV 35
Today’s “Blast from the Past” newspaper advertisement comes from the February 15, 1981, edition of the (Orlando) Sentinel Star. It highlights the weeknight information programming on then-independent WOFL-TV 35. Like many independent stations, WOFL picked up the syndicated Independent Network News, produced out of WPIX-11 in New York City. For many small stations, including TV…
Orlando is test market for new Fran Drescher show
Fran Descher — aka “The Nanny” — is taking baby steps into the talk show world right through Orlando. “The Fran Drescher Tawk Show” premieres Friday at 11 a.m. on WOFL-Fox 35 and five other Fox owned-and-operated stations. It’s a three-week experiment to see if the show generates enough audience to warrant a national rollout,…
Another news channel for Orlando cable TV?
Between lots of travel for business (and some for pleasure), I’m playing catchup with the latest Orlando TV news… Interesting — and unconfirmed — rumor passed on by a tipster: Bright House may be getting ready to add its Tampa Bay news channel, Bay News 9, to its Orlando channel lineup that already includes Central…
Fox Sports Florida, Sun Sports reach deal with Dish
Dish Network subscribers who are fans of the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat can see the teams play this season. And they’ll also avoid losing WOFL-Fox 35 and WRBW-My 65. Dish and Fox Networks on Friday announced a wide-ranging distribution agreement for continued access to programming from Fox Broadcasting and Fox local television stations in…
Orlando stations grab Emmy nominations
Five Orlando news outlets grabbed 30 nominations in the 34th annual Suncoast Emmy Awards competition. Market ratings leader WFTV-Channel 9 pulled in the most nominations among the Orlando stations with 11. It was followed by Fox Sports Florida/Sun Sports followed with 10, WKMG-Local 6 with five, Central Florida News 14 with three and WOFL-Fox 35…
WFTV Eyewitness News won’t be going earlier
A couple of quick midweek notes… If you’re an early, early bird, don’t expect anytime soon to turn on your TV at 4:30 a.m. and find news on market leader WFTV-Channel 9. “It’s not something I’m doing this fall,” WFTV General Manager Shawn Bartelt told Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker. “Traffic is worse in other…
Fox names Dennis Welsh GM for WOFL, WRBW
Dennis Welsh, who headed Fox-TV’s Dallas duopoly of WDFW-Fox 4 and KDFI-My 27, is the new VP and general manager for WOFL-Fox 35 and WRBW-My 65. He succeeds Stan Knott, who led the Orlando stations for the past eight years before retiring. MediaWeek.com quotes Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations, as saying: “Dennis has…
Summer break over: Catching up on Orlando TV
After a nice summer break away from TV news, it’s time to catch up. And, wow, there has been a lot going on …. WFTV-Channel 9: Some of the most newsworthy changes have come from an unexpected place: the usually rock-steady Eyewitness News juggernaut. The big shocker: longtime anchor Barbara West is being taken off…