CNN Crying Wolf?

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CNN Crying Wolf?

​There is no argument that CNN's Wolf Blitzer isn't the most exciting guy in the world.

Given a choice between watching Blitzer on CNN or watching paint dry, ​we know a few people that would opt for the paint.

And now rumor are flying that CNN boss Jeff Zucker is looking at cutting Blitzer's face time at the cable net.​

The NY Daily News reports that the struggling cable channel plans to make lots of changes as it tries to win back viewers it has lost, with the biggest shakeup being to on-air talent, including Blitzer, host of “The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer.”

“Wolf is going to be gradually phased out and replaced with a younger, hipper host,” one CNN insider dishes to Confidential. “The decision has been made that people want to look at beautiful people, and although Wolf is no beast, they’re thinking younger.”

More plus what CNN has to say about the rumor after the jump.  ​

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Storm Chasers Killed by Tornado

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Storm Chasers Killed by Tornado

A number of people thought it was just a mtter of time before something like this happened.

As Storm Chasers try to one up each other ​with spectacular video, they are taking bigger risks to get the "money shot."

FTVLive told you on Friday that The Weather Channel's Tornado Hunt team took a direct hit from a tornado. The Weather Channels vehicle was tossed 200 yards into a field by the tornado. TWC's Mike Bettes was on board with a crew. 

TWC team were all able to walk away from the smashed up car.​

That was not the case for three other storm chasers.​ They were among those killed by violent storms in the Oklahoma City area last week, family members said Sunday.

More after the leap.   ​

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Lexington Station's Dick Hurt

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Lexington Station's Dick Hurt

WKYT (Lexington) Anchor Sam Dick was hurt in a bicycling accident yesterday.

His wife took to Facebook to break the news. "had a pretty bad bike wreck that ended in an afternoon in the ER," his wife, Noelle Dick, wrote on Facebook Sunday night.

"While not okay, he truly was touched by an angel today," Noelle Dick wrote. "His face is pretty bad, very sore all over, shoulder is beat up, lots of road rash and mild concussion," she added.

She attributed a helmet for saving his life and said the wreck was a lesson to "slow down in highly trafficked areas."

What the station has to say after the hop.   ​

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Robin Roberts Denies Rumors of Her Own Show

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Robin Roberts Denies Rumors of Her Own Show

Could Robin Roberts be getting her own daytime show soon? The answer, according to the "Good Morning America" host, is no.

Roberts was responding to reports that Disney/ABC is considering doing a syndicated talk show with her as host. She denied the rumors in a statement to Broadcasting and Cable, saying, "No one is developing any show for me nor are discussions being had to that effect. I am 100% focused on my health and anchoring GMA, now and in the future."

More after the bounce.  ​

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The Week's Top 5 Most Read Stories

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As we get ready to kick off a new week, it's time to look back at what stories you guys read the most from last week.​

​Here are the Top 5 stories from the last week in May on FTVLIve.com:

No. 5 -​ The Strange Dating Life of Katie Couric

No. 4 -​ That Didn't go so Well

No. 3 -​ Be Like Mike....

No. 2 -​ Reporter Fired Because he Was "Painful to Watch"

And the most read story for the Week was: Sorry Jay.... But that's Kind of How TV News Works

CBS Buys Up TV Guide Digital

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TV Guide Digital has fared well between its web portal and mobile apps, but part-owner CBS thinks there's a lot of potential locked away.

Enough so, in fact, that CBS is taking over TV Guide Digital by acquiring Lionsgate's remaining 50 percent stake in the venture.

The media giant now has full control of both TVGuide.com and the TV Guide Mobile apps, both of which are folding into CBS Interactive's Technology, Games and Lifestyle division. CBS mostly hopes that the deal will make it a font of wisdom for channel surfers -- it sees TV Guide Digital's rapidly growing audience and programming knowledge as complements to TV.com. We don't yet know how the acquisition will affect the TV Guide properties themselves, but we'd expect more than just the status quo.

Engadget

Reporter Gets Kissed Live...Kisser Says Sorry

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Reporter Gets Kissed Live...Kisser Says Sorry

KATV (Little Rock) Reporter Jeannette Reyes was going live when a young man broke in with a smooch on the cheek.

Reyes posted the video on YouTube and says that her Photographer tracked down the smoocher and made him say "sorry."

This is what she posted on YouTube:  A 15-year-old boy came up and kissed me while I was doing my live shot at Riverfest, Arkansas' largest festival. My photographer chased after him and made him apologize. I guess it made for good television!

Actually it really wasn't that great of TV.

The video after the jump. ​

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Tornado Wrecks Weather Channel's Truck

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Tornado Wrecks Weather Channel's Truck

The Weather Channel is tracking a tornado in Oklahoma and it appears that got a bit to close to the storm.​

The Weather Channel reports that the Tornado Hunt team hit by OKC area tornado. Truck tossed 200 yards into field. Windows smashed/airbags deployed. 

Word is that TWC's Mike Bettes was in the vehicle and was thrown from the vehicle. Luckily there was no injuries. 

Also, a news car for KFOR ​had their back window smashed out. 

Watch KFOR's live stream after the jump.  ​

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St. Louis Sports Anchor Crosses the Street

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St. Louis station KMOV has hired a new Sports Anchor from across the street.

Maurice Drummond has left KTVI and is headed over as the Sports Director at KMOV.

It looks like he will be sitting out a non-compete, so viewers will not see Drummond on the air anytime soon. News Director Sean McLaughlin confirmed the hiring, but said he could not further comment because there still are extenuating circumstances (non compete).

“I’ve had many thrilling opportunities and moments over the last 10 years, which makes my decision now to leave bittersweet, Drummond said in a statement. “I will miss the people (at KTVI), but I am excited about the challenges ahead.’’

​Here's a tip to Drummond before he starts at KMOV. If you are having any trouble with the IRS.... you might not want to post anything about it on Facebook.

Just a thought. ​

Former St. Louis Anchor Files Lawsuit Against KMOV

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Former St. Louis Anchor Files Lawsuit Against KMOV

Not only was Larry Connors being targeted by the IRS for his interview with President Obama (according to him).​

He was also paid less because he was ​a white old guy (according to him).

The fired KMOV Anchor has filed and discrimination suit against ​KMOV.

The station fired him after he posted on his Facebook page that the IRS was "hammering" him after an interview that he did with Obama. 

​It appears that Conners believes that his firing maybe due to the fact that he had been complaining that his black female co-anchor made more money then him and he took the station to arbitration.

More on the story and how everyone is picking on Larry the Whiner after the jump.  ​

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Reporter Arrested For Taking Upskirt Pictures

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Reporter Arrested For Taking Upskirt Pictures

The Oklahoman newspaper reporter who wrote heartbreaking stories of families torn apart by the Moore tornado has been arrested for allegedly taking upskirt pictures of high school girls at the devastated town's graduation ceremony.

The Lost Ogle, an Oklahoma City blog, broke the story this morning of Zeke Campfield's arrest at the May 25 high school graduation.

According to testimony from victims and eye witnesses, Campfield, while working as a photographer for the Oklahoman, intentionally bumped into female students from the tornado ravaged town while attempting to take photographs up their dresses. When confronted, Campfield allegedly deleted the photos from his camera. He tried to leave the scene, but was held by witnesses until police arrived.

After the jump, this creep was busted before and it was creepy as this incident.

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Memphis Station Starts over from Scratch

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WPTY which many people called WPity is rebranding itself in the Memphis market.​

The station that has always struggled in the ratings is changing it's call letters to WATN. The brand name of the station will be Local 24.

Along with new call letters the staff is moving into a new facility, using new graphics and launching a new website. ​

In other words the struggling Memphis station is starting over from scratch. ​Which won't be hard since that is pretty much where the station's ratings were. 

“We are re-dedicating ourselves to the local Memphis/Jackson community with the debut of our new technologically advanced operations center and innovative local news programming that will feature an updated, modern look, including new sets, high definition studio cameras, enhanced meteorological forecasting technology and advanced weather and traffic presentation equipment,” GM Ardyth Diercks said.

Also located in the new 27,000 Sq Ft. Facility will be stations WLMT (CW), plus WJKT, the Fox affiliate in adjacent Jackson, Tenn.

All 3 stations are owned by Nexstar ​

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