Follow the Leader

Do a Google search for "Piers Morgan FTVLive" you will come up with over 4000 search results. 

Back last year when FTVLive FIRST reported that CNN would be dumping Piers Morgan's show, many questioned our report.

Piers Morgan himself said the FTVLive report was wrong.

Now, that word is out that CNN is pulling the plug on Piers, everyone is acting like they reported the story back in October. 

Sites like Mediaite have been all over Twitter Today saying shit like this:

Mediaite, reported the "Piers Morgan is leaving" story 10 days after FTVLive FIRST reported it and they attributed that news to FTVLive at the time. Now that the news is confirmed they conveniently are leaving the FTVLive part out of their reports. 

Politico and the New York Times are acting like they broke the story. Yet, it is the same story FTVLive BROKE 5 months ago. 

Last week, I was talking to a network executive (not at CNN) and telling them that CNN was getting this/close to announcing that Morgan's 9PM show was going to be cancelled. 

Then all of the sudden the NY Times has the story over the Weekend. I'm wondering if the Network Executive that I gave the info to, passed it along to the Times?

The bottom line is FTVLive FIRST broke the story 5 months ago and then after it becomes official, everyone else now is trying to claim credit.

It's funny how these people jump on the bandwagon, once it gets way down the road. 

Let's Do Lunch in ND Speaks means you're going to starve

Bob "Let's do Lunch" Longo

Back in my days as News Director, I always tried to return phone calls and keep my promises to do so.

There is nothing more frustrating when you try and get a News Director on a phone. You might have sent your resume to the ND and you try like hell to get them on the phone. You leave messages and get no callback. Anyone that has worked in TV news knows this frustration.

So, I always made a pledge that if and when I became a News Director, I would return calls and would not leave job applicants hanging. I would try to be honest and tell them upfront whether I was interested or not. It's never fun to be strung along by an ND and be left wondering what the next step in your life will be?

I was brought back to those days recently by new WTEV News Director Bob Longo.

Bob and I have known each other for years and when he landed the job in Jacksonville, I called him up to congratulate him.

Longo was moving up from Orlando and told me "give me a week to get settled in and I will call you so we can grab some lunch."

That was about a month ago.

You see News Directors have totally different clocks than the rest of us.

So, in an effort to help each one of you, I'm going to tell you how the ND's clock works and what they are really saying when they talk to you.

First off, a few minutes = a few days.

A few days = a week or so.

And next week = never. 

When a News Director says, "I got your resume on my desk and I will look at it later Today" what he/she is really saying is "I have no clue who you are or where your resume is and I will forget about you the second I hang up this phone."

When a News Director says, "I'm just getting ready to duck into a meeting, let me call you back in a bit." You will grow very old waiting for that callback, because it is never coming. 

When the ND says, "I looked at your resume and give me a call next week." Translation: I will never be talking to you again. 

Lastly, when a News Director says, "Give me a week a week Scott and I'll call you so we can have lunch." Translation: Scott you better go to McDonalds because you going to starve to death if you keep waiting for that call. 

Maybe I should add a "Bob Longo takes us to Lunch" clock to FTVLive.

Thoughts?

Something is Wrong Here

While I am the CEO of FTVLive it seems like my coworkers don't really give a crap who's in charge. This video shows that I'm getting no respect around the office.

Throwback Thursday

It's a New Year but Throwback Thursday must go on.

Here I am hanging out with the legendary late great Attorney Johnnie Cochran.

If my memory serves me right this photo was taken just before closing augments in the OJ Simpson trail. I remember telling Johnnie at the time to use the line "if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit."

He took my advice and the rest as they say is history.

Then again, my memory might be a little fuzzy. 

Welcome to Throwback Thursday 2014. 

Surviving the Polar Vortex

It appears that the polar vortex is headed back to where it came from. But the damage is left behind.

Here in Florida it was nasty. The picture to the right is just some of the devastation in my neighborhood. 

To go along with that, I had to wear long pants for two straight days.

So for all of you that have suffered through this extreme storm, I totally feel your pain.

I will pass along your thoughts and prayers to my neighbor as he tries to recover from the damage. 

Thank You 9 + Million Times

Not sure when it happened, but sometime over the last day, FTVLive went over 9 million visits to our site. Here is a screen cap from Statcounter: 

I want to thank all of you that help make that happen and a very special thank you to the sponsors of FTVLive. 

As we have said before, we reached out to only the best companies to partner with us. We can assure you that the companies that you see listed on this site are the best of the best.

Not many websites can claim this, but FTVLive has turned down businesses that have wanted to advertise on here. If we don't think the company is top notch, then you will not see their ad or banner on this site. 

As FTVLive.com moves into 2014, we have even more plans to make your favorite TV News insider website even better.

But right now, I just want to thank all of you for speeding the word about FTVLive.com and here's wishing that 2014 is a great year for each and every one of you. 

Thanks again!

When Being First...really isn't

FTVLive FIRST reported the news that Sam Champion was leaving Good Morning America and headed to The Weather Channel. 

FTVLive first posted the story shortly after 10AM and Tweeted it out soon after that. The story was retweeted and tweeted scores of times after FTVLive's initial post. 

Just minutes later we followed up the first story with the news that Ginger Zee would be taking over for Champion on GMA. 

Again, we tweeted the story out and once again it was retweeted a number of times.

Almost an hour after FTVLive FIRST broke the news, the website TVNewser posted the story. Screen capture below:

Did they credit FTVLive with breaking the story?

No

Did they give FTVLive props for being the FIRST to have the news?

Nope.

No, TVNewser posted the story 2 minutes prior to 11AM with the claim that it was "First on TVNewser".

Not sure what their definition of being first is....but in most people's minds, this ain't it. 

Throwback Thursday - News Director and Laker Girls

You know what day it is? Throwback Thursday! 

Today we go back to the 90's and a photo of my buddy and now WHAM (Rochester) News Director Matt Malyn and myself hanging out with a couple of Los Angeles Laker Girls.

Matt is a married man and if I remember this right, because of that I had to take both of the Laker Girls home with me.

Now you know why they are wearing the sweat bands.

What's Up with you Dude? Vol. 9 (Sweeps Edition)

Been a while since we opened up the email and responded to some of your questions and comments.  

We have gotten a number of emails about the Ratings Book. So this edition of What's up with your Dude? Will be a sweeps edition.  

Email 1 - What is the stupidest Sweeps story that you have seen?

Scott - Any sweeps piece that involves a Taser.  

Email 2 - My News Director does newscast postmortems after every newscast during sweeps, but he hardly does it outside the book. What are your feelings on PM's?

Scott - As a News Director I did them for awhile, but I a quit it. First of all, after the newscast, the people that are about to head home, want to head home. The folks working on the late newscast, want to get working on those. So no one is really paying attention anyway. Second, if you are talking about a Producer mistake, why the hell does the Photographers care. If you're talking about a badly placed soundbite, why does the Weather Department care. I think all the issues with the newscast should be addressed to the people it pertains to. If the ND thinks a package was not very well done, call the Reporter and the Photog in that worked on that piece and tell them. Postmortems are a waste of time. During the book. outside the book, makes no difference. 

Email 3 - I love your site! Everyone in the newsroom here logs onto it all day long. I love the fact that you update 7 days a week. 

Scott - Thanks! Everyday is a sweeps at FTVLive.com  

Email 4 - What is the average day like at FTVLive? I just wonder how your day unfolds?

Scott - There is no average day at FTVLIve. They are all awesome days. I will post a video in the near future to help explain this. Stay tuned. (Tease) 

Email 5 -  I love your site! Do you accept donations?

Scott - Donated clothes? No Donated cash to help keep this finally tuned operation running along? Of course we do! And we even you something for your small donation. You get a brick! OK it's a virtual brick, but you still get a brick. Click here to see how you can get a brick and help out.