CNN Might Want to Change the Name of Tapper's Show

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CNN Might Want to Change the Name of Tapper's Show

​Jeff Zucker's new face of CNN Jake Tapper has debuted his new show "The Lead with Jake Tapper" this week.​

How's it doing in the ratings?​

They might want to change the name of the show from the Lead to the Lost. As in Lost Viewers. 

In the first four days Tapper's show is not pulling in near the ratings that the most boring man on planet earth Wolf Blitzer did in that time slot. 

Some numbers, plus look who's beating him after the Hop  
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Nexstar Continues Buying Spree

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Nexstar Continues Buying Spree

Nexstar Broadcasting is on the verge of closing a deal to acquire Communications Corp. of America, according to sources.

Nexstar has signed a letter of intent and is conducting due diligence on CCA properties encompassing 12 stations in smaller markets.

CCA stations are in markets ranging Shreveport, La. (DMA 82), to Alexandria, La. (DMA 179). Nexstar's portfolio ranges from Washington (DMA 8) to St. Joseph, Mo. (DMA 201). Most are in mid-size to smaller markets.

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Sponsor Love - Devlin Design Group

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Sponsor Love - Devlin Design Group

Another week draws to a close and FTVLive continues to kick ass and take names. I want to thank all of you for the emails about how much you are enjoying the site (it makes these 15 hours days almost worth it).

Please continue to tell your friends and co-workers how much you like FTVLive!​

Of course the real people to thank is our sponsors! Without them, this site never would have gone free for all of you to enjoy.​

Sponsors like Devlin Design Group.​

Read more on this great builder of news sets after the Jump  ​

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Ted Koppel: Quit Rolling the Rock!

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Ted Koppel has a few words for the suits at NBC.​

Quit rolling the Rock!​

As in, stop moving the struggling NBC News magazine 'Rock Center' around on the schedule. ​

NBC has moved the show 4, 5, 6, hell we can't remember how many times and Koppel thinks they should just pick a slot and leave it alone.​

"Just when you think somebody might figure out when it's on and want to see it the next week, they move it to another place," said the former "Nightline" anchor. "That's not helpful, and I think Brian deserves more support than that."

Koppel does about four or five stories a year for "Rock Center."

H/T The AP

Come on NBC! Really?

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Come on NBC! Really?

NBC and the Today Show are not happy with their credibility ​slowly slipping away.

So they have decided to speed things up a bit.​

Next week, Today Show News Reader Natalie Morales is on vacation, so Today needs someone to fill in. ​

Brian Williams? Nope. Tom Brokaw? Nope. ​Kate Snow perhaps? Another No.

Today Show EP Don Nash Tweeted who would be reading the news.​

Find out who after the hop   ​

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Sources: DC Anchor to Be Pushed Out

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Sources tell FTVLive that WUSA Anchor Anita Brikman will soon be out the door at the DC station. 

Word inside the Gannett owned station is that News Director Fred D-Ambrosi has already started a quiet search for Brikman's replacement.

Birkman who anchors the 5PM news and does medical reports for the station has been at the WUSA since January 2008 coming from WPVI in Philadelphia. ​

Sources tell FTVLive that the station is not renewing her contract. ​

This information is supposed to be all hush hush, so don't tell anyone. OK?​

Weather Shake Up at Miami Station

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Weather Shake Up at Miami Station

FTVLive was the FIRST to tell you that WSVN Weather Hottie Julie ​Durda was crossing the street to WPLG in Miami.

With Durda coming on board, the station has to make room for her. ​

Sources tell FTVLive those changes at Post Newsweek station are going to be laid out later Today. ​

The hiring of Durda means some upset and displaced people.

After the Leap who's going to be demoted and who's moving where. 
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Ummmm... The Dogs are Doing it

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Ummmm... The Dogs are Doing it

​FTVLive told you that WCAU in Philly had taken the wraps of their new ​News Chopper SkyForce 10.

The station bragged about how great the camera was on the new bird and viewers got to find out how good it was with some humping action.

WCAU reporter Christine Maddela was reporting on an alleged dogfighting ring in the area and the chopper was hovering over the scene of where the fights were supposedly happening.

When the new SkyForce 10 camera zoomed in on the backyard only to catch one dog mounting another.

The "You Got to See It" Video after the Jump  ​

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Axe Expected to Swing at Albany Station Today

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Axe Expected to Swing at Albany Station Today

Word is that Today could be a bloody one at WXXA in Albany, NY.​

Sources tell FTVLive that more jobs will eliminated as the Fox affiliate is consolidated with ABC station WTEN in the market.

WXXA has already cuts jobs in the past month including that of longtime Anchor Ann Hughes. ​Word is Today's cuts will be deep and include a number of people. 

Not sure what the total body count will be, but FTVLive hears... Read more after the Jump  

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New Dallas Reporter Reaches Goal​ He Set as a Kid

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Reporter Eric King says that when he was 6 years old, he set of goal working on Dallas TV News (When we were 6 years old, our goal was to catch a frog).

Years later, King has reached his goal, he's the new Reporter at KXAS ​in Dallas. "I set a goal when I was 6, and here I am," King said on his Facebook page.

King just arrived from WLKY Louisville, Kentucky where he was a noon anchor and a reporter since 2009.

King is a Dallas area native. 

​H/T Mike McGuff

Leno Continues the Jokes

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Jay Leno might be getting replaced at NBC and the gossip is giving him some great material for his monologues.

Leno seems to be enjoying tweaking his NBC bosses and making the Audience laugh ​at the same time. Here's his take on the matter last night:

““Are you all excited about March Madness?” Leno asked the audience. “Are you all into March Madness? People are talking about who’s in, who’s out, who’s gonna be eliminated. And that’s just here at NBC. I’ve never been in the paper this much. It’s fantastic.””

Jimmy Replaces Jay, Who Replaces Jimmy?

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NBC says they are not (even though they totally are)​ going to replace Jay Leno with Jimmy Fallon.

So when that happens (even if NBC says it isn't going to), who is going to replace Jimmy?​

Page Six says that “Saturday Night Live” head writer and “Weekend Update” host Seth Meyers will move into Fallon’s late-night slot.

A source told us, “Lorne Michaels wants Seth to take over from Fallon. It would be perfect for him. 

Tina Fey’s name had also come up, but she has said she was too busy to do it.”  

The network is trying to get Leno, 62, to bow out gracefully from the hosting job so it can unveil Fallon at its presentation to advertisers in May.​

NBC to Get Tax Credit if Tonight Show Moves to NY

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NBC to Get Tax Credit if Tonight Show Moves to NY

​NBC may have another reason to kick Jay Leno to the curb and have Jimmy Fallon take over the Tonight Show.​

A big Tax Credit.​

Quietly tucked into tentative state budget is a provision that would help NBC move “The Tonight Show” back to New York, the Daily News has learned.

The provision would make state tax credits available for the producers of “a talk or variety program that filmed at least five seasons outside the state prior to its first relocated season in New York,” budget documents show.

How this credit is totally geared to the Tonight Show after the Hop  ​

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Widow Sues ABC for Airing Her Husband's Death

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Widow Sues ABC for Airing Her Husband's Death

​A widow claims that ABC aired video of her Husband's last dying breath for the commercial and entertainment of others.

And now she's suing the Network for $5 Million Bucks

The NY Daily News writes that Widow Anita Chanko is suing ABC and New York-Presbyterian Hospital for failing to get permission to televise the last-ditch treatment her husband, Mark, received in the emergency room after he was run over by a car on E. 79th St. last April.

She didn’t even know the taping had been done until she flipped on the ABC show “NY Med” last August and saw her husband breathe his last and say the words, “Does my family know?”

More after the Hop ​

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