Florida Blue has given me the Blues

I signed up for my healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The sign up process was fairly painless and I picked a plan with Florida Blue, a health provider here in Florida.

After I signed up, I got an email from Florida Blue with a link to pay my bill. I clicked on the link and this is what I got:

I was logged out of a session I never logged into in the first place. I tried clicking on the login link with no luck. I tried it again in a different browser. Same thing happened.

I tried paying my bill through the Healthcare.gov website. I logged in and when I click on pay my premium, the link goes nowhere.

I then decided to call Florida Blue. I call them up and get an automated message that asks for my social security number. I punch that in and then it asks for my application ID. You have to say that one out loud and it takes the Florida Blue automation service 3 times to understand what I am saying.

Finally it says all is good and is connecting me. Then I get another automated message saying that the offices are closed till 9AM.

Couldn't they have had a message that said that in the first place, so I didn't have to enter all my information?

I call back after 9 and go through the same program again. Now when it is time to connect, I get the message that all of their representatives are busy and the hold music starts.

After 20 minutes I get a representative that is not friendly in any way shape or form. But hey, at least I'm talking to somebody.

As I am giving her my information and about to finally make my payment the call is cut off. 

Are you fucking kidding me. I'm was almost on the verge of tears and I never cry. I have never been more frustrated with a service in my life.

I went on the Florida Blue website and emailed them (twice), I said if you want my payment, you know how to get in touch with me.

Remember, this was all to make a payment.

I can only imagine how hard it would be to make a claim. 

FTVLive is giving you a Very Rare Opportunity

It is clear to us that KNBC Spokesperson Terri Hernandez Rosales is never going to call us back. Over 174 days ago, Rosales promised to call FTVLive back in just 2 minutes.

It is also clear that Fox News Sean Hannity isn't moving to Florida. Over 85 days ago Hannity he was sick of spending some of the millions of dollars he makes on taxes in New York and he was moving.

Because both of those things are not going to happen. FTVLive has decided to pull down the Rosales and Hannity countdown clocks in the right hand column of this and every other page on FTVLive.com (screen shot to the right).

That opens up a chance for you or your company to place an ad in those spots on this website.

Yes!!! For the first time FTVLive is opening up some additional ad space to a company that we feel is worth being on this site.

We will point out that the ad space is not cheap and not just any company can place on ad on FTVLive.

We have turned down companies in the past that we did not believe in their business practices and didn't feel they were a good fit for FTVLive.

But, if you want to reach the most powerful people in TV News, there is no better place than this website. Imagine that each and everyday you will reach people in thousands of TV stations and networks around the country and the world. 

You will get your company front and center of powerful media. 

If your serious and interested in placing an ad on FTVLive contact us and let's see if we can make it happen. 

As for Terri and Sean? It was a good run guys...thanks!

Putting my Money where my Mouth is...

This morning FTVLive reported EXCLUSIVELY that  Fox News Anchor Alisyn Camerota is headed to CNN.

As often happens when FTVLive breaks a story, other blogs question if our story is right or not?

It seems that some of these people are slow learners. FTVLive has broken stories time and time again and yet the haters are going to hate. 

After FTVLive posted the story, two bloggers took to Twitter to wonder if our report was correct?

FTVLive offered one of the bloggers a bet up to $5000 (to charity) that our story was dead on the money. The blogger would not accept when it came to putting up or shutting up.

When FTVLive reported that NBC was pulling the plug on Jay Leno at 9PM, NBC along with scores of others said our report wasn't true. Just weeks later they did just that.

When FTVLive FIRST reported that Kathie Lee Gifford was going to the Today Show, TVNewser questioned our report. We know how that turned out. 

FTVLive FIRST reported that CNN was going to pull the plug on Piers Morgan. Piers himself called us a liar. Tune in tonight at 9:00 on CNN and see if you see him? 

FTVLive FIRST reported that NBC was going to dump the Hillary Clinton Mini-series. Back on October 1st the blog HotAir wrote this "....FTVLive has been right before: They claimed back in mid-August that NBC was thinking of pulling the plug on its Hillary miniseries. Yesterday the plug was indeed pulled.

Just last month, FTVLive reported FIRST that Greg D’Alba president, CNN News Networks Turner Digital Ad Sales and Marketing are not seeing eye to eye and was going to be gone from the network. Try calling CNN and asked to speak to Greg....oh that's right, he doesn't work there anymore. 

I could go on and one with this, but you get the idea.

I will say this Alisyn Camerota is headed to CNN and the deal is signed and happening. Now, I didn't ask, but I'm sure that CNN will not send me over a copy of the contract.

See, some blogs won't report anything until they get it in a press release from the network.

One blogger pointed out that I didn't have proof it was happening. Well, Fox News and CNN both don't want you to know it is happening yet, so they aren't saying anything. FTVLive is telling you it will happen.

The blogger that's just a kid says FTVLive can just say it's going to happen and then claim we were right when it does happen. Well, I didn't say that Alisyn Camerota is going to MSNBC, Al Jezzera, ABC, CBS, NBC the BBC or Home Depot or to Las Vegas to be a stripper. If I wanted to hedge my bets, shouldn't I have listed all those places and about a thousand more? 

I say to the kid that Woodward and Bernstein (Google who they are son) didn't have proof of a Watergate break in, but they had sources. 

Reporting without press releases is a bit tougher than just posting the release the network sends you.

FTVLive has sources deep inside many networks and stations around the country. That is how we break stories that others just can't come close to getting. 

As we said to Piers Morgan, does FTVLive bat 1000% on all our stories? Nope, occasionally we swing and miss. But as we told Piers, our batting average is very high and when it came to him leaving CNN, we liked the pitch and knocked it out of the park. 

FTVLive said Camerota is going to CNN because she is. And we are willing to bet anyone that has the guts to put their money where their mouth is.

Funny....all I hear is crickets.  

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!