April 01, 2013

You Need A line-Up Card to Watch Cleveland Newscasts

April 01, 2013/ Scott Jones

When it comes to stable on air talent in a market, Cleveland used to be near the top of the least.

Year after year it was the same faces anchoring the same newscasts.

Not anymore.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer writes that nobody realized it at the time, but when Robin Swoboda jumped from WJW Channel 8 to WKYC Channel 3 in early 2011, it sparked a year of unprecedented volatility in the Cleveland television market.

Since that move, changes have kept coming at a dizzying pace.

So what did it mean in the ratings? Find out after the leap

April 01, 2013

How a Gannett Station Went from Worst to First

April 01, 2013/ Scott Jones

It didn't happen over night, but WGRZ, the Gannett station in Buffalo was able to go from worst to first in the ratings.

How'd they do it?

In the 1980s and 1990s, the chance of WGRZ Channel 2 News becoming known for stability in the 21st century was about equal to the chances that Charlie Sheen would ever be considered the most stable actor in the Sheen family.

From the Left Coast Back to Houston

April 01, 2013/ Scott Jones

Amanda Perez is coming back home to work as a KPRC 2 (Houston) reporter. She has been working at ABC owned Fresno station KFSN 30.

"After seven years at ABC 30, today I say goodbye and head back to Texas," Perez wrote on Facebook. "It has been an absolute honor to work with the members of the Action News team, who strive to produce the best newscast in the Valley every single day. You can't ask for better coworkers."

Read more after the hop, including her awful taste in food.

April 01, 2013

Cox Under Fire for Their Lack of Ethics

April 01, 2013/ Scott Jones

Cox Communications is having their ethics questioned for the actions of at least one of their reporters.

Word is the heat is on the Cox owned Palm Beach Daily News AKA The Shinny Sheet.

A member of Palm Beach society has gone very public about freebies that columnist Shannon Donnelly is alleged to have received — against the rules of Atlanta-based owner Cox Communications.

Both the Shiny Sheet and The Palm Beach Post are owned by the once-strict company that bans even the swiping of goodie bags at parties.

Fox News Reporter Expected in Colorado Courtroom Today

April 01, 2013/ Scott Jones

Fox News reporter Jana Winter is expected to be a Colorado courtroom Today.

The suspect's lawyers in the Colorado theater shootings want to know how Winter got some information after a gag order was issued.

The court is expected to hear arguments on whether she must testify about her confidential sources for a story on the suspect.

After the hop read how the suspect's lawyers want the name of her sources.

March 31, 2013

Signing Off in the Mile High City

March 31, 2013/ Scott Jones

After nearly four decades, Denver broadcasting veteran Ron Zappolo, acknowledged dean of local sports journalism, respected anchor and self-described "old-school" news guy, will retire from Fox31 on April 5. He's walking away from the job in order to "reinvent myself one more time."

For years, Zappolo has ranked at the top of the Denver market's "Q scores," those measurements of personality used in contract and salary negotiations that usually pit him against 9News' Adele Arakawa as the town's most positively recognized anchor.

He got there by sheer force of will and a knack for performing. His distinctive cadence —partly a holdover from his native Boston — makes him easy to listen to; his passion translates as down-to-earth; his engagement with the camera marks him as a guy who belongs on the tube.

"You have to perform the material. You have to sell it," he said.

More after the hop

March 31, 2013

Sweeping Up in Fargo

March 31, 2013/ Scott Jones

In the day and age of people meters and instant ratings, it's hard to think back to the old days, when you had to wait for the Nielsen diaries to come in. You had to wait weeks for the diaries to be tabulated before you could get any sense of the numbers.

Well, the old days are still the days in markets like Fargo.

The stations in the market are just finding out who won the Feb. book.

And it looks like WDAY-TV’s catchphrase, “the news leader,” is proving true.

According to the latest Nielsen ratings, based on a February survey, the station’s newscasts at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. are the most-watched in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

March 30, 2013

Shep to Replace Lauer? Ummm No

March 30, 2013/ Scott Jones

Anderson Cooper turned down the job and NBC may still be looking for someone to replace Matt Lauer.

The Peacock Doesn't have bother calling Shepard Smith.

"I sleep in the mornings. I would be the wrong person for any morning show. I don’t know if they know my number," The Fox News Anchor said to the Orlando Sentinel. "If 'Today' were late afternoon, maybe."

He says he's thrilled to continue with "Fox Report," which has finished No. 1 at 7 p.m. in cable news for 50 consecutive quarters.

Full Story from the Orlando Sentinel

March 30, 2013

In Effort to Find Viewers, Tampa Station to Move Newscast

March 30, 2013/ Scott Jones

If you can't seem to find viewers for morning newscast. Move the newscast.

That's what one Tampa station is trying starting Monday.

WFLA News Channel 8 islooking for the best recipe to increase audience numbers, is juggling the time slots of some late-morning programs.

Beginning Monday, talk show “Daytime” will air at 10, followed by entertainment magazine “Extra” at 11 and a newscast anchored by Natalie Shepherd (pictured) at 11:30.

Shepherd’s newscast replaces the 10 a.m. show anchored by Gayle Guyardo and Rod Carter.

More after the hop

March 30, 2013

Has Anything Changed since 1974?

March 30, 2013/ Scott Jones

Here is a story done by Mike Wallace in 1974 for 60 Minutes. The story is about how Local TV News is using a tabloid approach to get ratings.

The story was done in 1974, but it could have been done last week. It's amazing how little anything has changed in almost 40 years.

The Video of the Story after the Hop

March 30, 2013

60 Minutes Sunday

March 30, 2013/ Scott Jones

Here's what's on the docket for the Number 1 TV News Magazine this Sunday:

THE PIONEER HOTEL FIRE -- Damning testimony from a crucial witness and modern methods of investigating arson present new evidence that could free a man in prison after 40 years. Steve Kroft reports on the latest twist in the Pioneer Hotel fire in Tucson that killed 28 in 1970. James Jacoby and Michael Karzis are the producers.

THE LOST BOYS -- Bob Simon reports on the Sudanese refugees who have resettled in the U.S. Their odyssey began when they were forced to flee on foot from a Sudanese civil war 25 years ago that destroyed their homes and families. 60 MINUTES has been following them for 12 years. Draggan Mihailovich is the producer. THIS IS A TWO-SEGMENT REPORT.

March 29, 2013

Sponsor Love - Napoli Management

March 29, 2013/ Scott Jones

Another week is in the books and once again it was a record for traffic to FTVLive. Yesterday was our biggest day ever and Today is shaping up to be another huge one.

We have to thank all of you for not only stopping by here, but for telling your friends and co-workers about FTVLive as well.

But, the biggest thanks we have to give out is the the people that sponsor FTVLive. Without them FTVLive would still be sitting behind a paywall where most you you would not be able (i.e too cheap) to read it.

Sponsors like Napoli Management.

Mendes Napoli is the man and the brains behind the Napoli Management Group. Mendes was one of the first people to help sponsor FTVLive back when we were still a pay site.

More after the hop

March 29, 2013

The iPad Mini Winner is.......

March 29, 2013/ Scott Jones

When FTVLive launched this site as a free site on Feb 4th, we went out and bought a iPad Mini to give away to help drive some people to our website and to our social media parking spots.

We have seen TV stations use the same trick and since we can't come up with any original ideas ourselves.....we stole this one.

The promotion was very successful. We got thousands of entires and really think that bribing.....errrrrr.... giving away some prize is a good way to help get your name out there.

In fact, we're seriously thinking about doing another one!

We would say we ARE going to do it, but it's tough to plunk down the $400 bills for a new iPad each time.

But you guys might (I said might) just be worth it.

Now on to the task at hand...the winner of this iPad Mini.

Of course you know I was going to make you go through the jump to find out right?