April 22, 2013

Ummmm...Is that a Dildo?

April 22, 2013/ Scott Jones

The Boston Marathon Bombing coverage not only dominated coverage here in the States, it was also a big story all over the world.

The BBC covered the story and at one point that interviewed Marathon Runner Marcus Mumford live from Boston.

Next time, they might want to check out the shot a bit better before going live. A pink dildo could clearly be seen in the background.

Then again, we saw more than a few dicks covering the bombing story the past week (We're looking at you John King).

April 22, 2013

Bloodbath at LA Station

April 22, 2013/ Scott Jones

While the eyes of the world were fixed on the East Coast and Boston, over on the West Coast there was a bloodbath at one LA station.

Former PBS station KCET announced Friday that it would lay off 22 employees, or nearly one-fifth of its staff, as it completes a merger with the Bay Area satellite provider Link Media.

Now called KCETLink, the Burbank-based nonprofit entity is scrambling to reposition itself as a "transmedia" company that provides content to mobile devices and other platforms as well as televisions. The company has hired a well known PR firm, Rogers & Cowan, to help manage its image during the transition.

More after the bounce

April 22, 2013

Sinclair to Become Largest TV Station Owner in the Country

April 22, 2013/ Scott Jones

It's a thought that might scare the hell out of some people.

But, when Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. completes three deals announced in the past two months, it will own more television stations across the country than any other company.

The Baltimore area company will operate 134 stations in 69 markets, reaching more than a third of all U.S. homes with televisions. It will have more than doubled in size in about two years, and that's presuming it doesn't broker any more acquisitions.

More after the skip

April 22, 2013

Al Jazeera America will Find it a Tough Go

April 22, 2013/ Scott Jones

Al Jazeera America will launch later this year on the old Current TV, but it isn't going to be an easy road for them.

They’re not the terrorist news network, and they don’t even play one on TV — anymore.

Al Jazeera is an award-winning global news operation that has enraged kings, heads of state and even entire populations with in-depth, honest reporting.

It will arrive in the U.S. this year in the form of Al Jazeera America, replacing Current TV, which founder Al Gore sold to the Qatar-based broadcaster last year.

But it’s going to have serious issues.

More after the hop

April 22, 2013

Anchor Reported From Earthquake in Her Wedding Dress

April 22, 2013/ Scott Jones

Want to talk about a dedicated news anchor.

Take a look at Chen Ying, a local news anchor in China. Ying was in her wedding dress about to be married, when a big earthquake hit.

The quake killed almost 200 people and injured more than 5,000. Ying grabbed a mic and started reporting on the scene....in her wedding dress!

Now this woman has some dedication.

The video after the leap

April 21, 2013

Cops Release Thermal Imaging Video Of Captue Bombing Suspect

April 21, 2013/ Scott Jones

Police have released the thermal imaging from a helicopter to monitor Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's movement inside of the boat he was hiding in.

Dzhokhar, who police say was badly injured, remained prone on the floor of the boat for much of the video, as police use a robot to tear away the tarp on the boat.

You can also see police throwing flash-bang grenades in the boat.

The video after the jump

April 21, 2013

CBS has Twitter Accounts Hacked

April 21, 2013/ Scott Jones

Over the Weekend, a couple of CBS properties had their Twitter accounts hack.

The accounts for 60 Minutes, 48 Hours and KCNC the CBS O&O in Denver all had their accounts hacked.

The accounts all sent out messages that included links to spyware.

The 60 Minutes account was then used to for a bunch of Tweets about Syria.

Twitter suspended the 60 Minutes account.

Screen shots of the hacks after the hop

April 21, 2013

60 Minutes Revises Sunday Lineup

April 21, 2013/ Scott Jones

CBS' "60 Minutes" has revised its lineup of stories for Sunday's show to add a story on the Boston Bombings.

Scott Pelley will front the story with all that went down in Boston last week.

With Pelley's story in, Steve Kroft's interview with "Angel of Death" serial killer Charles Cullen is pushed to the back burner.

The other reports Tonight are Lara Logan's look at dogs that sniff out bombs to save U.S. soldiers on the battlefield and Lesley Stahl's tour of the Sept. 11th Memorial Museum being built at Ground Zero.

April 20, 2013

Picture of the Arrest

April 20, 2013/ Scott Jones

So far the only known pictures of the second bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's arrest was a photo of him on the ground being treated by police.

The photo was a law enforcement hand out.

April 20, 2013

Not a Good Dip

April 20, 2013/ Scott Jones

During the coverage of last night's search and capture of the second Boston Marathon bombing suspect, NBC used a variety of sources.

The main players for NBC were Brian Williams, Kerry Sanders, Lester Holt and Pete Williams.

As officers had the suspect cornered, hiding in a boat, the coverage was more about filling time and trying to get information.

No media outlet was closer enough to get a live picture of the stand off, viewers were stuck watching video shot down the street. You had plenty of emergency vehicles to look at, but not much action.

NBC would occasionally "dip into" the coverage of the local Boston stations, most notably WHDH, the NBC station in Bean Town.

And that turned out to not be a good idea one time. The video after the jump

April 19, 2013 April 19, 2013/ Scott Jones

Screen Shot 2013-04-19 at 8.49.02 PM.png

The second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing has been captured.

"He is alive and police are requesting a medic," reported WHDH in Boston.

Police could be seen shaking hands and residents are cheering.

It is the end of one hell of a week in TV News.

April 19, 2013

Zucker Praises Staff for Their News Coverage...HUH?!

April 19, 2013/ Scott Jones

In a week where CNN may have made the biggest blunder in the network's history, CNN boss Jeff Zucker says he's proud of their efforts.

Despite the fact CNN Reported the arrest of a bombing suspect that turn out not to be true and turned the network into a laughing stock on late night television and online, Zucker thinks the network did well.

Really?!

CNN never made an apology for their huge mistake and often times tried to pass the blame one law enforcement sources.

The FBI basically scolded CNN in a statement and the network wasted viewers time with reporting bogus information.

Yet Zucker thinks they did great.

As a network boss at one of CNN's competitors said to FTVLive "Was Jeff even watching CNN's coverage, or was he watching Pete Williams on NBC?"

Read the memo Zucker set to the staff after the jump

April 19, 2013

Picture of Dead Bombing Suspect Leaks Online

April 19, 2013/ Scott Jones

A picture of what is claiming to be the body of Boston marathon bombing suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev is starting to pop up on websites.

Tsarnaev was killed early this morning in a shootout with police.

No word on how the photo made it's way online and some are wondering if the picture is legit.

The picture appears like it was shot inside a medical facility.

Some think the photo could have been taken a hospital or coroner employee, or by someone in law enforcement.

FTVLive has posted the photo after the jump. We will warn you that it is graphic in nature.

April 19, 2013

New ND Named in Sacramento

April 19, 2013/ Scott Jones

Veteran local television news executive Tom Bell has been named News Director at KOVR-TV, the CBS-owned station in Sacramento, it was announced today by Kevin Walsh, Vice President and General Manager, KOVR and sister station KMAX 31.

Bell joins KOVR after having served as News Director at WOAI-TV, the NBC affiliate in San Antonio, since December 2009. Prior to that, he was the News Director at KTVX-TV, the ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City; and at KPHO-TV, the CBS affiliate in Phoenix. He also served as Assistant News Director at KMOV-TV, the CBS affiliate in St. Louis. Bell began his professional career in Detroit.

The obligatory quotes after the bounce