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…
Shawn Bartelt
Without American Idol, Fox 35 falls behind WRDQ
Catching up on some Orlando TV News after taking a short blogging break… Yes, it’s really true. For the first time since its launch in 2002, WRDQ’s 10 p.m. newscast knocked off the No. 1 early-late news in town: Fox 35 News at 10. According to a WRDQ news release, Eyewitness News at Ten won…
WESH blames WFTV’s Jordan for swine flu report
Reports of swine flu in Orlando are raising the temperatures of some folks running the local news stations. On Tuesday, WFTV-Channel 9 reported that there was a confirmed case of swine flu in Orlando. The report turned out to be false. WFTV blamed the error on an email it received from a doctor at Florida Hospital; WESH-Channel…
New news leader? WFTV, WESH battling it out
Could WESH be about to end WFTV’s 30-year reign as the king of TV news in Orlando? New Nielsen “people meters” data show — and parties at both stations acknowledge — a tight, two-station race between WFTV and WESH for the title of Central Florida’s news leader. According to Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker, WFTV…
Orlando TV ratings — what the stations say
From WESH-Channel 2 press release ….The spin: WESH-TV today announced continued growth and momentum in key time periods from May ’07. In early morning, WESH 2 News Sunrise (6 – 7 a.m.) maintains its strong No. 2 position and Today (7 – 9 a.m.) continues to grow in popularity with Central Florida viewers, increasing…
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 previously aired, and enjoyed its…
Doctor Files Suit Against WFTV
Attorneys for a Winter Park plastic surgeon have filed a defamation suit against WFTV-Channel 9 for a series of reports the station ran about the doctor. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the civil suit by Dr. Thomas Trevisani alleges that Channel 9 aired reports in 2002, 2003 and 2004 that contained false and defamatory statements….
It’s Nearly A Clean Sweep for WFTV
As the dust from the February ratings period settles, it’s become clear there’s no stopping the WFTV juggernaut. Channel 9 was No. 1 in six of the seven daily newscasts, with only WKMG’s noon news preventing a clean sweep by WFTV. The real race is for No. 2 in O-Town, and it looks like WKMG…
9’s New GM Comes From Charlotte
Shawn Bartelt, director of sales for Cox’s stations in Charlotte, N.C. (WSOC and WAXN) will succeed Bill Hoffman as vice president and general manager of Orlando’s WFTV and WRDQ. According to a press release, Bartelt joined Cox in 2000 as director of sales at WSOC and WAXN. She began her broadcasting career at WWSB in…