Signing Off in Chicago

/
dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls.jpeg

Today is the day that Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson sign off (again) at WBBM in Chicago.

The two Chicago media legends Anchored WBBM back in the station's glory days and were brought back 2 1/2 years ago ​as sort of a nolvelty act to try and prop up the station's sagging ratings. 

Robert Feder points out that after 2½ years at the station, they may be getting more publicity for leaving than they did all the time they were anchoring the 6pm news there. 

FTVLive wonders if Bill Kurtis, Walter Jacobson and The ​Pope all leaving on the same day is more than coincidence? Hmmm?

​

Local TV News Brags More Than Reports

/
Local TV News Brags More Than Reports

​The Orlando Sentinel's Hal Boedeker writes local television news used to be dismissed with the complaint, “If it bleeds, it leads.”

But a new trend is challenging the dominance of crime news: “We’re full of ourselves, and we can’t help it.”

Incessant bragging fills many newscasts, especially during such an important ratings period as February. The stations can’t, or won’t, contain themselves. They tell us when they were first at crime scenes. They boast about their choppers flying over scenes. They tell us when they have crews on the way.

Read more after the Hop   ​

Read More

Drudge Gives Osama Hussein $700,000 Cash

/
Drudge Gives Osama Hussein $700,000 Cash

Matt Drudge gave Osama $700,000 cash!

Sounds like a juicy headline you might see splattered on Drudge's own hyped up website. And the headline is true, but it was for the guy's house.

The Miami Herald writes that Drudge Report owner Matt Drudge must be buying into his own hype of an approaching apocalypse.

The Internet newsman, 46, is assembling himself quite the compound in rural Southwest Miami-Dade County, according to public records.

More after the Leap   ​

Read More

California Anchor is Found, Home Safe, Not Talking

/
California Anchor is Found, Home Safe, Not Talking

​FTVLive had reported that KEYT (Santa Barbara) Anchor Paula Lopez has been missing since around 10AM Yesterday morning. ​​

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff Department was leading a search effort along with Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue.

Now word comes she has been located and is safe. ​After many pitched into to help and get the word out, it seems that she and her family are not going to give any details as to what happened. 

More, plus a video package from KTLA after the Jump   ​

Read More

BREAKING NEWS! California Anchor is Missing

/
BREAKING NEWS! California Anchor is Missing

Some Disturbing News Breaking Right now.

​KEYT (Santa Barbara) Anchor Paula Lopez has been missing since around 10AM this morning. ​

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff Department is leading a search effort along with Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue.

Word is a  family member alerted Sheriff's Department of her absence. Sheriff spokesperson Kelly Hoover said Lopez was last seen near her home on Cathedral Oaks and North San Marcos Road.

More plus a comment from the station's GM after the Jump   ​

Read More

Star of Dorner Stand Off Named CBS Correspondent

/
Star of Dorner Stand Off Named CBS Correspondent

You might remember at the Christopher Dorner ​stand off, FTVLive was live Tweeting it and we could not say enough of how good a job Freelance Reporter Carter Evans was doing on the story for KCBS.

Well here's proof that one story can make your career. ​ CBS News just hired him as a Correspondent.

The memo sent to the staff at CBS News after the Leap   ​

​
Read More

EXCLUSIVE: Erin Burnett Not Going to CNN Mornings

/
EXCLUSIVE: Erin Burnett Not Going to CNN Mornings

​FTVLive has learned First and Exclusively that Erin Burnett is not going to mornings at CNN.​

CNN sources tell FTVLive that the Burnett to mornings is "dead in the water" and is not happening. ​

Word is that CNN Boss Jeff Zucker is planning on going a different direction in finding a co-anchor for newly hired Chris Cuomo.​

So who will get the job? Read more after the Jump   ​

Read More

Nashville Station Names New News Boss

/
Nashville Station Names New News Boss

​WZTV in Nashville has named a new News Director for the station.​

Bryan McGruder is the new ND at this Fox Affiliate station, which is owned by Sinclair.

McGruder previously served as vice president of news for WDAF-TV, the Fox affiliate in Kansas City, Mo.

“We are excited to have someone of Brian’s stature and experience leading our news department at FOX17 and look forward to the impact he will have on the market. His experience running highly successful newsrooms will be a huge asset to our operations” says Dominic Mancuso, General Manager of WZTV.​

Wait till you read what ​McGruder supposedly said after the Jump   

Read More

Ashley Morrison Returns to Air

/
Ashley Morrison Returns to Air

The wife of Fired errr "Resigned" WCBS Anchor Rob Morrison finally returned to the air. It's the first time since her husband was arrested for choking her.

Ashley Morrison, 40, read a rundown of the U.S. business headlines on WCBS News This Morning as well as a wrap up of the financial news. 

Ashley, WCBS's MoneyWatch anchor, has not appeared since her husband's February 17 arrest, when he told police he would kill his wife if he was released from custody.

What till you see what Ashley claims after the Jump   ​

Read More

Inside Matt Lauer's Office

/
Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 10.01.28 AM.png

NBC Today Show Anchor and Ann Curry Executioner Matt Lauer posted this picture on Instagram. Lauer wrote: "working inside on a crummy day @todayshow"

It's nice to see Lauer rocking the iMac, but you just know he asked his Assistant ​"Take a picture of me while I pretend to type on my computer." I mean really who is just typing on their computer and someone just comes up and snaps a picture?  No one! Come on Matt!!