Good morning, Orlando. You may not realize it, but you’re waking up in what has become the most competitive market for morning news in the nation — with more local news, with more national news and with plenty of surprises. Monday morning, WESH-Channel 2 and WFTV-Channel 9 will start their early newscasts at 5 a.m….
New news moves Buzz to later air time
WESH’s decision to air local news on WKCF-CW18 from 7 to 9 a.m. each weekday has displaced The Daily Buzz. The nationally syndicated morning show will now air on tape from 9 a.m. to noon on WKCF. The show had been airing live from 6-9 a.m. on WKCF since it moved operations to Channel 18’s…
Where the news comes most
With the expansion of morning newscasts to their sister duopoly stations, WESH and WFTV have solidified their status as the providers of the most live local newscasts in Central Florida. WESH 2 now produces 7-1/2 hours of local news each weekday, taking the top spot among the area stations. WFTV is second with 6-1/2 hours…
Fox 35 has a bone to pick with you
It’s been awhile since the market had some true characters on-air. That’s apparently about to change. NewsBlues.com reports that WOFL-Fox 35 is hiring former Cincinnati consumer/investigative reporter Tom Sussi. His calling card is a big bone … seriously. But, hey, he has his own Web site, so we like that. He’ll be coming to O-Town…
Dr. Phil won’t replace news in O-Town
Despite the ratings magic that Dr. Phil has worked at its Post-Newsweek sister station in Miami, WKMG-Local 6 won’t be replacing its early evening news with the good doctor anytime soon. First, some background. WPLG-ABC 10 in Miami acquired the rights to the Dr. Phil show from CBS O&O WFOR-4 in September. The once dominant…
More Sweeps Analysis
Breaking down more sweeps numbers, from Friday’s Orlando Sentinel. >> WOFL’s 10 p.m. newscast is up 17 percent from a year ago. From Monday-Sunday, Fox 35 News has 52,200 households and WRDQ’s Action News has 36,000. >> Showing how much the network lead-in helps or hurts, WFTV (ABC) is up 28 percent at 11 p.m.,…
Time to smell the money with Ping
New WKMG sports anchor David Pingalore gets a profile in today’s Sentinel. We find out that GM Henry Maldonado likes Ping for his zany interaction at the anchor desk. "It brings the ensemble cast together," Maldonado told the Sentinel. (If you wonder about the state of TV news, just read that sentence again. ) So…
WKMG Dominates AP Awards
WKMG was the big winner when the 2006 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters awards were presented on Saturday night. Local 6 News won both first- and second-place awards in the Best TV Newscast and Individual Achievement categories, plus a first place in spot news. The Jan. 11, 2005, WKMG newscast — featuring exclusive video of a…
Marla is Back … And On Channel 6
Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel breaks the news that longtime Central Florida anchor Marla Weech is coming back to TV, this time on WKMG-Channel 6. The gig is listed as only temporary (for now), as she will join Local 6’s morning show to fill in for Mark McEwen as he recovers from his stroke….
The Friday Funnies: They’re No. 1?
Recently received this photo of former 1980s WESH anchors Bobby Estill, Bruce Hamilton and Carol Granstrom, posing on the Channel 2 anchor desk. If only Dave Marsh had been around for the photo!