Some notes to start off the new week… WFTV has lost its distinction as having Florida’s only HD newscast. Scripps-owned WFTS-ABC 28 started airing its news in HD on July 28, and sister station WPTV-NBC 5 in West Palm Beach became the first South Florida station to take the HD…
WFTV-Channel 9 sweeps July sweeps
There are a lot of re-runs in the summer … and also in the O-Town ratings competition. WFTV-Channel 9’s Eyewitness News was again the top choice for Central Floridians. WFTV was No. 1 from 5-7 a.m., from 5-6:30 p.m. and at 11 p.m., according to the Orlando Sentinel’s TV Guy….
And we’re back … what’s up?
Yes, let the TV news start flowing again. After a summer break, RogerSimmons.com is back online. What have I been doing? Working too much, but also enjoying the rain forests of beautiful Costa Rica and deciding that riding a zip line is now among my favorite things to do. We…
Keeping sky safe over O-Town
The tragic crash of two news choppers of Phoenix has O-Town stations excercising a little more caution when they are covering news from the air. "Anytime something happens in the industry involving equipment like this, we think it’s very important to apply some due diligence, review our procedures, to make…
Did O-Town stations stage news?
All the stations in town picked up on the story about a 9-year-old boy who called 911 when his mother fell unconscious on the floor. But when area stations showed the "first meeting" between the Alex Swee and 911 dispatcher Matt Nicotra — it was actually staged for two local…
WFTV’s Egert heading to Seattle
Anchor-reporter Chris Egert from WRDQ/WFTV is heading to the Pacific Northwest. NewsBlues.com reports that Egert is going to become the weekend news anchor at Cox sister station KIRO-CBS 7 in Seattle. It’s a jump up the market ladder for Egert, from O-Town’s No. 19 to Seattle’s No. 13. Egert, who…
Traffic and hunks on Local 6
Some quick notes to start off your week … Kim Sanders, who works at a voice-over production company, was introduced as the new WKMG traffic reporter on the Local 6 Morning News on Monday. Click here to see her audition tape. … Central Floridians think WKMG has the hunkiest hunks…
The Daily Buzz is heading to WRDQ
The Daily Buzz is moving to a new home — and a new station. WRDQ announced Friday that the Buzz is moving to TV 27 from WKCF-CW 18 starting May 28. According to the press release, "TV27 is taking The Daily Buzz back to the roots of where the show…
Former WESH anchor coming back?
A South Florida tipster says that former WESH anchor Shannon Hori may be headed back to the Sunshine State. According to the tip, Hori is on the list of possible replacements for anchor Maggie Rodriguez at CBS O&O WFOR in Miami. Rodriguez is leaving to anchor the Saturday Early Show…
Weird stories? It must be sweeps
Sorry for the lack of posts this week — it’s been very hectic. In addition to everything else, a new puppy has joined our family after our 17-year-old pomeranian died two months ago. "Butch" is a 2-pound ball of wonder who loves to chew and who is requiring a lot…