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Bob Opsahl

Blast from the past: WFTV ad from 1981

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Roger Simmons

Our summertime series, Blast from the Past, continues with this ad for the Eyewitness News team that first boosted Channel 9 to news dominance in Central Florida. Here you see the promotion for the 5:30 p.m. newscast with anchors Bob Opsahl and Carole Nelson, and then the 6 o’clock team that included (from left) sports…

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Say goodnight, Bob. Opsahl exits 11 p.m. news

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Roger Simmons

Some Orlando TV quick takes for you… Did you catch Bob Opsahl anchoring the 11 p.m. edition of Eyewitness News on WFTV-Channel 9 last week? If so, that may be the last time you see Bob at 11 in awhile. Orlando Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker broke the news about Opsahl being moved off the…

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Wonder why Bob Opsahl never left Orlando?

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Roger Simmons

WFTV Eyewitness News anchorman Bob Ospahl opens up about his long career in Orlando in an interview with Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker. For example, has Opsahl ever considered leaving Channel 9 and Orlando for a job in a larger market? Said Opsahl, “Like most folks in TV news, I had early visions of advancing…

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No retirement plans yet for WFTV’s Bob Opsahl

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Roger Simmons

There’s been a lot of speculation about vetran anchor Bob Opsahl’s future at WFTV. News director Bob Jordan has hinted at pending retirement for his star newsman, and that talk ramped up after new weekend anchor Josh Benson was hired. Well, what about Bob? He set the record straight on Monday with Orlando Sentinel TV…

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Has WFTV found Bob Opsahl’s replacement?

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Roger Simmons

Come July, you’ll see a new face weekends on the WFTV Eyewitness News anchor desk. But could he ultimately be Bob Opshal’s replacement? The newcomer is Josh Benson, who is currently morning anchor at KVOA-NBC 4 in Tucson, Ariz. According to AZBiz.com,  Benson will be  leaving Arizona at the end of May and begin his…

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WFTV preparing for Bob Opsahl’s retirement

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Roger Simmons

Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather were iconic anchors for their networks. But Bob Opsahl has them beat. Opsahl has been anchoring the news at WFTV-Channel 9 for more than 30 years — even before Rather, Brokaw or Jennings took over the lead roles on their network newscasts. Granted, Opsahl wasn’t the main anchor for…

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Former WMFE chief launches non-profit media venture

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Roger Simmons

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…

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WESH anchors keep rolling in Celebrity Smackdown game

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Roger Simmons

The WESH duo of Jim Payne and Martha Sugalski dispatched WKMG’s main anchors to move into the third round of OrlandoSentinel.com’s Celebrity Smackdown game. Also advancing to face the Channel 2 Cinderellas — the anchors of WFTV’s top-rated Daybreak show, Greg Warmoth and Vanessa Echols. Earlier, Payne and Sugalski upset WFTV evening anchors Bob Opsahl…

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One small step for man, one giant ratings leap for Channel 9

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Roger Simmons

WFTV’s Monday night special, recalling the Apollo moon landing 40 years ago, proved very popluar. According to WFTV news director Bob Jordan, the space special drew a 3.7 rating and 14 share in the coveted 25-54 demo. “That’s more than ANY newscast Tuesday on WESH, WKMG or WOFL. Kudos to EP Craing Patrick and Bob…

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WFTV analog signoff was the cat’s meow

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Roger Simmons

I’m still catching up on all the stuff I missed while I was occupied elsewhere. So, what about that analog switch off? Again, I missed it, but there was a nice touch with WFTV-Channel 9’s signoff. Included with the current WFTV logo was a version of the station’s first logo — the cattail 9 that…

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