Holy Cow....

....if Rick Sanchez gets his head any further up Roger Ailes' ass, he's not going to be able to breathe.  

Guess he feels he owes Ailes, since FNC was the only cable net willing to hire him.  

Ax to Swing at ABC O&O's

It looks like the ax is about to swing at the ABC O&O's and close to 200 people will be let go. 

The LA Times is reporting that about 175 jobs (sources tell FTVLive, the number is a bit higher) are expected to be cut through layoffs or from not filling open positions, a person familiar with the matter said. 

“As technological advances continue to alter the competitive landscape and viewer habits, it’s incumbent upon us to stay ahead of the curve. To that end, we’ve undergone a review of our organizational structures and processes, and have re-imagined and realigned certain areas and functions to gain efficiencies and better position us for future growth," a Disney/ABC Television Group spokesman said.

The majority of the cuts are expected to come at ABC's TV stations and in technical operations for the broadcast and cable networks, the person with knowledge of the cuts who was not authorized to discuss details publicly said. ABC owns TV stations in several major markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.

The restructuring follows similar moves at other units of the Walt Disney Co. and are part of a broader long-term effort to cut costs and slim the company down to better compete in a changing media landscape.

Earlier this spring, Disney's cable sports empire ESPN trimmed between 300 and 400 positions after its internal review. There have also been staff reductions at Disney's movie studio, consumer products and video game units.

The cuts haven't necessarily led to weaker performances, one ABC insider noted. In 2010, ABC News reduced its staff by 400 people, which was 25% of its staff at that time. At that time the network said the moves were necessary if the news unit was to survive. The cuts, while painful, did not stop ABC's"Good Morning America" from overtaking NBC's "Today" in the ratings. Its evening newscast "World News Tonight" is making gains on NBC's "Nightly News." 

Please Stand By....

KSTU in Salt Lake had a technical meltdown and it delayed the start of the newscast.  

The station started to replace the entire newscast with Dr. Oz.  

Co-anchors Bob Evans and Hope Woodside appeared briefly at 9 p.m. to announce they wouldn’t be appearing.

"Unfortunately, we are having technical difficulties tonight so we are not going to be able to air our program ‘Fox News at Nine’ at this point," said Woodside.

Evans offered a general explanation of what had gone wrong.

"We live by the computer and die by the computer," he said. "And we’re having computer issues."

They announced the station would air a episode of "Dr. Oz," but about a half hour later the technical staff cured what ailed the KSTU computer system. Or, at least, made it well enough to go on with a delayed newscast.

Station vice president and general manager Tim Ermish it's the first time it’s happened in 10 years."

H/T Salt Lake Tribune  

New Day, New Low

While the media appears to live on every breath of The Royal Family, the general public could seem to care less.

CNN was so excited that they landed the first interview with Prince William since the birth of his son George.

The CNN PR people were ferociously sending out releases and text alerts about this "huge get" for the new morning show.  

There seemed to be no doubt inside CNN, Prince William on the show would deliver some of the highest ratings since the show debuted.

So how did New Day fare with the Royal Prince?

They got their lowest ratings ever. 

The Chris Cuomo and Kate Bolduan anchored show pulled in just 60,000 in the demo demo and 216,000 viewers overall. 

Ouch! 

Back in The Saddle

After working 196 straight days, FTVLive took the day off Yesterday. 

Man, it feels good to come back from a long vacation.  

Phoenix Station Remains Mum on Missing Anchor

FTVLive FIRST told you that longtime KTVK Anchor Patti Kirkpatrick was off the station's air. 

And while Kirkpatrick has been not been seen on KTVK's air, the station has said nothing. 

Yesterday, KTVK gave another clue that it has completely severed ties with the veteran anchor.

The station was pimping their "Silver Apple Award" on their Facebook page. This station staple has been fronted by Kirkpatrick for years. Now the station is saying that Kaley O'Kelly will be doing the franchise. 

Here's a screen cap from the station's FB page, notice some of the comments and viewers still are in the dark as to what happened with Kirkpatrick: 

Anderson Cooper's Stalker Order to See Psychiatrist

CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper's stalker swears that he just has a crush of Coop and the anchor has nothing to worry about. 

Never mind the fact that he tried to kick down the front door while shouting: "I swear to fucking God, don't insult me." "I'm going to fuck you up!" Alex Hausner says is just a "harmless crush" and that Cooper's partner Benjamin Maisani is just trumping up charges because he's jealous. 

The judge in the case is not buying the "harmless crush" defense and ordered Hausner undergo psychiatric assessment and he is being held with bail set at $75,000.

Daughter Photobombs Anchor Mom During the Newscast

Anchors, you know how your kids always want to see and play with your phone? 

That's usually all fine and good, just make sure when they return it to you, you're not on the air in the middle of your newscast.

Fired from the Fox Den

Fox News has fired Brian Lewis, executive vp corporate communications after an investigation found breach of contract and "issues relating to financial irregularities," the network says in a statement.

The kicker is Lewis was sacked almost a month ago and the news is just getting out now.  

Lewis was at the top of the depth chart at Fox News and was often considered the right-hand man to Roger Ailes.

Word is Lewis was fired and escorted from his office last month over what the company says were financial issues and other performance problems.

Insiders tell FTVLive that the two sides have been negotiating a separation agreement for the past several weeks. 

Word is that FNC is doing their best to make sure that Lewis signs something that will keep him quiet. If Lewis decided to write a book about the inter workings  at Fox News, one Fox insider told FTVLive "he could blow the lid off the place." 

Lewis knows as much about how Fox News works than anyone. He had been at the network since 1996.  

Fox News released this statement about his firing: 

"After an extensive internal investigation of Brian Lewis' conduct by Fox News, it was determined that he should be terminated for cause, specifically for issues relating to financial irregularities, as well as for multiple, material and significant breaches of his employment contract," a company spokesperson said Tuesday. "He was terminated for cause on July 25."

Stay tuned...  

Oh Brother!

WDRB in Louisville is running promos for their sports teams upcoming football coverage. The promos are a knock off of CBS's Big Brother and suggest that the sports guys are all living under one roof as they prepare for football season. 

After watching the promos we say "Oh Brother" more than Big Brother: 

45 Years Behind the Anchor Desk

She helped break down the barrier for female anchors.

Jean Enersen one of the first and longest-standing female news anchors has celebrated her 45th year on the job. 

Jean Enersen landed a role at KING5 (Seattle) in 1968 at a time when men ruled the airwaves.

Times have changed and now at 69, Enersen says that when she first went to work for the she frequently encountered sexism.

'I was told if I drank a shot of whiskey before going on air I might be able to lower my voice. Others suggested I take up smoking,' she recalled.

At the time women advancing in the field believed that speaking in a lower register would made a better impression on viewers, who were more used to male reporters.

On another occasion she said that a cameraman was so insulted to be paired with a woman, he refused to shoot the story they were set to work on.

But determined, she 'fought her own battles' and eventually made a name for herself on the broadcasting circuit, winning several Emmy awards for her work.

Asked what's been the most important thing that's happened for her since starting at KING5 at the age of 24, Ms Enersen touched on technological advancements.

'In terms of broadcasting, I think there's so many other devices that people get their news on,' adding that 'things have changed a lot.'

Heck, when she started 45 years ago, the only way you could get FTVLive, was on an Etch-a-sketch.

H/T Daily Mail  

Rolling out of Rockford

WIFR Anchor Tina Stein is bolting the Rockford station and headed to Evansville, Ind.

After 7 years at the station, Stein is signing off from the station this week. She spent the last 3 years as the station's main anchor. 

She is headed to an Anchor gig WEHT-WTVw in Evansville. 

O-Town Station Hires New Consumer Reporter

Eryka Washington is joining WKMG as a consumer reporter. The station says that Washington also will work as a fill-in anchor.

This is Washington's second go round in O-Town, she worked reporter and anchor at WESH for seven years before departing in 2010. 

Washington also has worked extensively in public relations. Since leaving Orlando, she co-created Image Pro Media, a company that provides media training and consultation. She also recently worked as a freelance reporter at WCAU in Philadelphia.

H/T Orlando Sentinel  

Fox Minneapolis Names New News Boss

KMSP the Fox O&O in the Twin Cities has gotten around to naming a new News Director. 

The new ND at KMSP is Marian Davey.

The station says that Davey will be responsible for overseeing all editorial, business and administrative functions for the newsroom. 

She takes over for Bill Dallman who left to join Fox Sports 1.

Davey has been at the station for over a decade and most recently was the Deuce.