The Hottest News Babe in San Diego

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A radio station in San Diego did a poll to t̶r̶y̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶c̶l̶i̶c̶k̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶w̶e̶b̶s̶i̶t̶e̶ find out who was the hottest newswomen in SoCal.

There is no doubt that polls like this are demeaning and very shallow and most often the women in these polls will say so publicly (and then go home and click on their name over and over again, to try win).

When People Magazine was doing the "Sexiest Newsman Alive", stations were putting the story up on their websites, talking about it on air and trying to sway the votes at People.

When one of their female Anchors is in such a contest, it is "degrading and demeaning."

In the San Diego poll, the winner was KGTV Anchor Natasha Zouves.

No word if the station has cut a promo on this yet? 

Tampa Station Names new 11PM Anchor

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WFLA in Tampa has named Jennifer Leigh the new anchor for the station's 11 p.m. newscast. This new role is officially effective January 1, 2015; however, Leigh will fill in for Gayle Sierens while she is on vacation starting immediately.

Leigh also will continue in her current role as anchor for WFLA's 7 p.m. newscast.

“We are delighted to promote Jen to succeed our retiring Gayle Sierens on the 11 p.m. news,” said  WFLA GM Andy Alford. “Jen has been an excellent reporter and anchor for other newscasts at WFLA. She is dedicated to serving the needs of our viewers and to bringing relevant local news and information to our audience across multiple platforms.”

WFLA News Director Bill Berra said, “I am very excited that Jen will be taking on these new, expanded duties of anchoring News Channel 8 at 11. Jen is a strong journalist and tremendous person.

Leigh said, “I am so excited about this new opportunity. Gayle Sierens has been a tremendous colleague, mentor and friend to me for my entire career. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to work alongside her and the entire team at News Channel 8. As Gayle transitions to retirement, I look forward to filling a new role on News Channel 8 at 11. Gayle leaves some big shoes to fill and I'm honored to be part of the bright future at WFLA. It was a dream come true to get hired here back in 1993. Since then, I've had the honor of covering my home community and the people who make it such an amazing place to live.”

Les gets more at CBS

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CBS has announced that they have torn up President/CEO Leslie Moonves' contract and given him a new one.

His new deal supersedes his prior contract, which was to conclude in 2017, and extends his term with CBS through June 2019.

Under the terms of the agreement, Moonves’ salary remains at its current level (which is something like a gazillion dollars), and he will continue to be eligible for an annual performance-based bonus (which most often is another gazillion).

At the end of his new term, Moonves will become an executive adviser to the company for an additional five years, and will have the option to establish a production company under CBS’s auspices.

Must be nice.

Total Dick

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It looks like Fox is using the phrase "Total Dick" to promote a new mid-season show on the network called 'Backstrom'.

The 'Total Dick' billboard art is slated to run on digital billboards across the country starting Monday.

When someone told FTVLive that Fox was promoting a show with the words "Total Dick"... we just assumed it would be for MediaBuzz with Howard Kurtz on the Fox News Channel.

Just saying.... 

Meet The Reporter that Will Replace You

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She might be only 6 years old, but this girl named Arlillia, knows how to file a report for KRIV in Houston. 

Her report starts off with the best mic check you have ever seen and she gets a shoutout to Granddad and a message to Santa all in 1:46.

Give her ten seconds of a lead-in and she comes in under 2 minutes. Like we said, she's going to take your job.

Let's go to the video:

(Houston, TX) When 6-year-old Arlillia saw the cameras, she knew it was her time to shine. After taking the microphone from reporter Kristine Galvan to report live from the "Shop with a Cop" event at Target, Arlillia sent a special shout-out to her grandfather by saying, "Papa if you're not watching your granddaughter, you need to watch your granddaughter on the news!"

Where Did the Pimping Reporter Go?

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You may remember back in July, FTVLive told you about WWAY (Wilmington)  Reporter Sara Hopkins, who made as much doing ads on social media as she does reporting the news for her station.

Her then News Director Scott Pickey said he had no problems with his Reporter pitching products  on he social media accounts on her own time. 

FTVLive questioned if Hopkins really was doing the shilling on her own time or at the station? We pointed out that a guy that looked exactly like WWAY Weekend Anchor Chris Brown appeared with her in one of the online ads. 

After that story, Pickey was soon gone from the station and replaced by Kevin Wuzzardo as the ND.

Well, it appears that Wuzzardo has a bit more ethics when it comes to TV news and sources tell FTVLive that Hopkins is no longer reporting at the station. 

Word is that Hopkins worked her last day in the WWAY newsroom on Sunday, her picture is off the reporting staff section of the station's website and we hear that she is now working on the sales side at WWAY.

Which seems like a much better fit. 

Scripps Denver, Phoenix Stations Get Sweet New News Sets

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Scripps owned KNXV in Phoenix and KMGH in Denver have unvield new news sets that are just as functional as they are impressive. 

Scripps used Devlin Design Group to build the new sets, wanting a design to WOW their respective audiences.

Devlin Design Group’s highest priority was to create a design that was a balance between style, concept, and storytelling function for two very different stations, in addition to finding ways to keep production costs in line with creative expectations and budget.

Team DDG’s solution was to reduce fabrication costs by providing each station with a strong design as the common base. Getting this design to look different in these very different looking markets was the challenge.

The first step was Team DDG’s brilliant use of programmable, color changing LED walls. Now the sets can have a completely different look, by just a quick color change.

“This set was built for our viewers—a groundbreaking, video-driven, working set that will allow our anchors and reporters to provide viewers and the community a clearer, bolder and more compelling newscast. It’s fantastic.” says KMGH News Director Jeff Harris 

Down in Phoenix, KNXV GM Anita Helt is equally impressed with their new set. "The design is consistent with ABC15’s long tradition of setting the presentation standard in the Phoenix market with breaking news, big, bold weather coverage and quality investigations. It has given us the tools necessary to share great stories with our viewers,” Helt said.

Dan Devlin, owner of DDG design says it was a challenge to design the two sets, but it one that his team enjoyed and pulled off to rave reviews.  "Occasionally, we’re asked to create designs that work in multiple markets that combine our knowledge of techniques and materials to produce high quality dazzling design in budget. We listened carefully to our partners at ABC15 and 7News to come up with a versatile and highly creative solution to each of their two design challenges,” Devlin said.

You can see more pictures of these cool sets, right here.

LA Reporter Charged after Cops Say he Threw A Flower Pot at His Wife

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A Los Angeles television reporter has been charged with felony domestic violence after he allegedly seriously injured his wife by throwing a flower pot at her head, cops said.

Police say that the pot struck the woman "full force."

Carlos Zapata, a reporter with Spanish-language station KWHY faces up to 10 years in prison. He's charged with two counts of injuring a spouse.

The fight in which the 51-year-old Zapata allegedly hit his wife in the head with the flower pot occurred earlier this month at the couple's home in Sherman Oaks, prosecutors said. 

After Zapata’s Dec. 3 arrest in that incident, his wife told authorities about another fight the couple had in November, which she said also ended in an attack, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Zapata’s arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 24. 

His bio has gone missing from the station's website and the station isn't talking. "It is our protocol that until this case is resolved, KWHY Channel 22 will not be issuing comments," the statement said.

Of course they won't. 

H/T LA Times

Bakersfield Anchor Assaulted Outside of Station

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Bakersfield Telemundo anchor Andres Herrera was assaulted yesterday afternoon outside the station.

Herrera was outside the station with his wife, who is also his co-anchor when A man on the sidewalk asked Herrera if he worked at the station, and Herrera said he did.

That's when the man punched Herrera in the face and walked off, according to KGET News Director Mike Trihey.

Herrera and his wife pursued the man - Herrera on foot, his wife in a car.

Trihey said Herrera called 911 as he walked after the man. Herrera asked the man what prompted the attack, and the man responded with an anti-media message.

"... the man said something like, 'You guys are all part of the conspiracy. You've got all those antennas, and dishes … " Trihey wrote in an email.

Trihey said the man went on to threaten his anchors. "I'm going to kill you all," the man reportedly said.

Police arrived and arrested the man.

Cleveland Weatherman Signs Multi-Year Deal...He's Damn Near 84 Years Old

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WJW Weather Anchor Dick Goddard started forecasting the weather in the Cleveland market in  1961.

He has just inked a new multi-year deal to keep forecasting the weather to Cleveland viewers.

He also turns 84 years old in February.

"Dick Goddard remains both a legend and fixture here at Fox 8 and on Cleveland television," said Kevin Salyer, Channel 8's vice president for programming and promotion. "Northeast Ohioans obviously still have trust in him, his expertise and his many years of experience as evidenced by our continued dominance in ratings and how, when the weather gets bad, Cleveland still turns to Goddard and his Fox 8 weather team."

It's great that a guy can continue to do what he loves well into his 80's, but I feel sorry for the Weather Anchor that was brought on with the promise, You will be replacing Dick when he retires."

That person has got to be like, "Damn! This guy is never going to leave."

Just saying... 

Naming Winter Storms is Not New in TV News

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FTVLive and a number of people have pointed out the stupid idea that The Weather Channel has come up with to name Winter storms.

The folks at The Weather Channel act as if naming the storms is the greatest idea since sliced bread.

But, the idea in not original at all.

FTVLive got our hands on a promotional packet from WCAU (Philly) that was passed out in 1998, 15 years before TWC's great idea to name winter storms. 

Here is a portion of what WCAU had written about naming Winter storms, which by the way, did not last very long at the station.

Just saying....

Des Moines Station to Rebrand, Ratings will Skyrocket

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WOI has decided to rebrand the station, which should immediately lead to a 30% bump in the ratings.

Ok...maybe not.

Nester owned WOI says it re-launch ABC5 News as Local 5 News under the "We Are Iowa" brand on January 5, 2015. Local 5 News "We Are Iowa" will debut entirely new, innovative local news programming with a specialized focus on relevant and exciting local content.

"Entirely new, innovative local news programming," God if I had a nickel every time I heard that.

Another Morning Anchor Out the Door in Chicago

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If you ever get hired as the new morning Anchor at WBBM in Chicago, here's some advice for you.

Rent don't own.

Robert Feder says that for the third time in three years, the CBS O&O is in the market for a new morning News Anchor.

The station confirmed on Wednesday that Kris Gutierrez will be leaving in February and that a search is on for his replacement.

“We wish him well,” a spokeswoman said.

Wow! Nothing worse than working hard at a station and then getting the 4 word goodbye from the company. 

After 30 Years Providence Reporter says he's Done

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WPRI Reporter Sean Daly is calling it a day at year's end after 30 years on the job.  

Daly signed on the Rhode Island airwaves in 1981 and is believed to be the longest serving TV Reporter in the state. Daly will retire from WPRI where he has worked since 2002.

Daly comes from a family of reporters and got his start in broadcast at NBC Washington at the age 17 where he worked as a newsroom assistant. 

Daly’s final broadcast will be on December 31.

H/T 630WPRO