Don't Have a Cow Man!

For people that don't think there is a credibility problem in local TV news, you might want to book a trip to Tallahassee, FL.

WCTV's Noon newscast was invading by cows from Chick-fil-a.  

You see, this Friday if you walk into any Chick-fil-a restaurant dressed as a heterosexual cow, you'll get a free meal.   

For some reason WCTV News Director Stan Sanders thought it would be a "fun moment" to have a bunch of people dressed as cows on the news set with the anchors. 

Sanders insist that Chick-fil-a did not pay any money to be able to do this ridiculous stunt and it was not a free advertisement...even though it totally was.

No word if Sanders will suspend himself for his serious lack of news judgement, but he should. 

And if he does get some time off, we know where he can get a free meal.

Just remember to bring your cow suit Stan.

You can watch the video here  

Elisabeth Hasselbeck to Fox News

FTVLive gave you the news as it broke late yesterday, Elisabeth Hasselbeck is leaving 'The View' and headed to Fox News. 

Yes months after Barbara Walters insisted that Hasselbeck was not leaving 'The View'....she's leaving 'The View.'

Hasselbeck is joining Fox & Friends with Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade in mid-September. She's replacing Gretchen Carlson, who will anchor a one-hour daytime program beginning in early fall.

“Elisabeth’s warm and engaging personality made her a star on The View,” said Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes in a statement. “She has proven to be an excellent conversationalist and I am certain she will make a great addition to our already successful morning franchise … Gretchen’s contribution to Fox & Friends is well-known and her strong interviewing skills make her a natural fit for our daytime programming.”

Hasselbeck will make it official on 'The View' this morning and it will also be her last day on the show.

ABC’s Barbara Walters said in a statement: “We have had ten wonderful years with Elisabeth and she will now be swimming in new waters. We will miss her and wish her everything good.”

Brian Williams Says Sorry to State of New Hampshire

Yesterday, FTVLive FIRST told you that NBC's Nightly News with the help of their graphics department, wiped out the entire state of New Hampshire. 

Last night, Brian Williams used a portion of the broadcast to apologize to the people of New Hampshire and then he spotlighted the history and many of the great things about the state.

BriWi event got a Tweet of thanks from New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte for his apology:

Here's the video from last night's broadcast: 

John Bolaris’s in Twitter Freakout....again

Former Philly Weatherman John Bolaris sure can carry a grudge. 

His latest beef and Twitter rant got it's start back to just before the start of the U.S. Open in Merion (early June) when WIP radio host Michael Barkann was on the sir discussing the ominous weather forecast and its possible effect on the tournament.

Bolaris who just wants attention and wants to be on air called into the station offer his take just before Barkann wrapped up at 1 p.m. He spoke with a producer and Barkann, thinking Barkann would relay his comments to their listeners. Alas, the show ended with no Bolaris shout-out.

This past Holiday Weekend, Bolaris still fuming that the radio host did not put him on the air or just his information a month ago lashed out on Twitter: 

So why did Bolaris wait 6 weeks to Tweet about the incident? 

“It’s been bothering me,” he told the Philly Post. “[Barkann] acted like he was writing down what I was saying — ‘Uh-huh, yeah, yeah, OK.’ I analyze computer models and spend time on it for the listeners. To be humiliated and act like he’s writing it down — dude, just tell me you don’t want me to give you the forecast. He could have said it’s going to be tight, or that I’m uneasy putting you on the air. If I was still on TV, he would have put me on.”

Well Johnny boy, you're not on air and with antics it's easy to see just why that is.

Just saying.... 

Busy News Time for Florida Stations

The next few days could be some long hours for those working in Florida newsrooms. 

The jury is just a few days away from getting the George Zimmerman case. Many expect that Zimmerman will be acquitted in the murder of Trayvon Martin.

Newsrooms are already making plans for possible unrest after the verdict comes down.

On top of that, Tropical Storm Chantal is making a beeline for Florida.

WESH (Orlando) News Director Bob Longer tweeted this the morning:

Get ready...it could be a wild few days in Florida news.  

Blip: Yeah Because Ryan Seacrest doesn't have Enough Jobs

I think we could solve the country's unemployment problem if we just took all of Ryan Secrest's jobs and divvy them up for other people.   

Now, Seacrest is reportedly nearing a deal to host a new game show on NBC. 

Seriously! How many freaking jobs does this guy have?

 The story....

Elisabeth Hasselbeck to Fox News

Word is that Elisabeth Hasselbeck is headed to Fox News. 

Hasselbeck is expected to announce on "The View" in the morning that she is leaving the show (just as FTVLive said would happen) and is headed to "Fox and Friends' on FNC.

Hasselbeck was known as the "conservative one" on 'The View"and should have no problem fitting in at Fox News.

Hasselbeck is expected to tell viewers of her plan on tomorrow's 'View" and that it will be her last show. 

She'll start at Fox News in mid September. 

Stay tuned... 

Did Miami Station Steal Photo from Competition?

WPLG Reporter Jeff Weinsier had an interesting story after he obtained a picture of a Broward sheriff's sergeant driving with a large cardboard box atop his marked patrol car.

The WPLG story has prompted the sheriff's department to launch and investigation and they revoked the sergeant's take-home car privilege.

It was one of those shake your head stories that gets viewers talking.

But, Weinsier wondered after his story aired, how the same photo popped up on WTVJ the NBC O&O across the street?

It appears that WTVJ swiped the photo from WPLG's website with no credit. 

In fact just to make sure, Weinsier contacted the person that took the photo and asked him if he sent it to any other stations? 

The person emailed back : "Good Morning Mr Jeff Weinsier, I only sent this photo to channel 10 (WPLG) news I have not sent this photo to any other news stations or friends and I have not posted this photo on the Internet." thank you Eddie

So it appears that WTVJ swiped the photo from WPLG and used it on their air without giving them any credit. 

Kind of like what other TV websites do with FTVLive's content.  

Bustards!

Station Blurs Reporter's Crotch During Stand Up (Updated)

KAKE (Wichita) Reporter Deb Farris was doing a story about a stolen dog. The story started out Farris crouched down in a green dress with a dog.

It appears when they got back to to the edit booth, Deb might have revealed a bit more than she wanted viewers to see. 

Instead of just cutting the stand up out of the story, they decided to blur Farris's crotch during the stand up.  

Because you know...face time is important.

Update: Deb Farris emailed FTVLive and said "It was my under garment that my photographer blurred out, not my crotch. He didn't notice it when we were shooting the stand up. He saw it while editing, and thought he'd be polite and blur it out. It would have been fine if he left it."

By the way, who under the age of 80 calls it an "under garment"? 

Just saying.... 

You can watch the video at the station's website

Chicago NBC O&O Expanding Newscasts

WMAQ NBC 5 Chicago is giving more air time to weekend meteorologist Cheryl Scott. And in other news, the station is expanding its Saturday and Sunday morning newscasts by an additional two and half hours.

Starting July 27, NBC 5 will air local news on Saturdays from 5 to 7 a.m. and from 9 to 10 a.m., and on Sundays from 5 to 7 a.m., 8 to 9 a.m. and 10 to 10:30 a.m. Kim Vatis and Anthony Ponce anchor both mornings.

Scott, who's been a rising star in Chicago since she joined the station in 2011 from NBC affiliate WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, forecasts weather on NBC 5's weekend morning and evening newscasts.

NBC's "Weekend Today" will continue to air from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturdays and from 7 to 8 a.m. Sundays.

H/T Robert Feder

Move Over Katie...Meredith is Coming

Former Today Show host Katie Couric has her talk show 'Katie,' but now word comes she is going to get some company. 

NBC has announced that they are going to launch a new talk show in 2014 that will be fronted by former Today Show host Meredith Vieira.

It is expected to launch on all the NBC O&O's and is expected to get picked up by many more stations around country. 

Although it is not sure if Vieira and Couric will really be competing against each other. Many expect Couric's show to go off the air in 2014.

Stay tuned...  

Where the Hell did You Come From?

So, how did you get here and just where does the web traffic to FTVLive actually come from?

We break it down for you in ScottLand. 

Providence News Director Resigns

Word is that WLNE news director Robert Rockstroh is leaving the station. 

Rockstroh came to the station in late 2011. 

No word on the reason he resigned from the station.

WLNE GM Chris Tzianabos says that Rockstroh  will stay on at the station “for a period of time” before he officially leaves. 

H/T Kevin Eck @ TVSpy

Granny Wants to Talk About Dicks

You know it's going to be a rough day, when your sent out to cover a lady that just turned 100 years old and the first thing she says is "How your Dick Hanging?" 

And it didn't end there. 

The News 12 Reporter continued to try and ask granny some questions, but all she wanted to do it talk about dicks. 

Guess we know how she made it to 100.  

Here's the video: 

This is Where the Fund Begins

As you know by now, 6 months ago FTVLive knocked down our decade old paywall and opened this site up to the masses. 

The results have been astounding.

Traffic to FTVLive is up 3000% and continues to grow each and every week. 

We also started updating the site 7 days a week. I have not taken off a single day from the site in the past 6 months.  It is our goal to continue to bring you the news about TV news without pulling any punches.

A number of longtime members of FTVLive has expressed interest in continuing to support this site and throw a few dollars our way.  We love these people from the bottom of our heart.

If you one of those awesome people that like FTVLive and would like to offset some of our expenses (we are in the need of a new Macbook in the worst way), we now have a way for you to help us out.  

Using your credit card you can toss FTVLive a few bucks and help continue to grow this website. 

Here is a link to our support page.