Houston we got a problem!

Word is that the first 10 minutes of KTRK's (Houston) 10PM Newscast last night was just one commercial after the other. 

Either the ABC O&O has just given up on news and going all commercials or the station had some technical problems that was keeping the newscast off the air.

August is a notoriously slow news month, but this might be a bit extreme.

The station made no mention of the problem on their Facebook page or Twitter page.

BTW that would have been the perfect place to let viewers know what was happening.  

Springfield Station's News Set is Recognized

WICS in Springfield, IL has one very cool looking news set and now it is getting some recognition.  

WICS has just received an Emmy nomination for excellence in set design.

The station launched their new HD News Set late last year to rave reviews. the set was created by Devlin Design Group

"By keeping in mind our client's need for a more modern and versatile environment, we created a news set that is fresh and contemporary, mixing new technology and design seamlessly while providing WICS with a multitude of storytelling venues. We are thrilled about our client's Emmy nomination, and very excited to be a part of their success." ~Dan Devlin, Creative Director, Devlin Design Group.

"The main focus of this design was to create a visually stunning set that was vibrant and versatile

with a sleek, modern vibe to it. We're thrilled and privileged to receive the Emmy nomination for WICS Set" ~Kartik Dakshinamoorthy, Scenic Design Director, Devlin Design Group.

Combining all of the news set components; warm wood and stone textures, sleek metallics mixed with modern technology and led lighting, elevated WICS above their competition. The dynamic and versatile set design provided WICS with the flexibility they needed for presenting breaking news stories, weather, sports and entertainment.

More images of this awesome set, plus video can been seen here http://www.ddgtv.com/projects/wics

Ummm Yeah...They Went Too far

When KTSM Adrienne Alvarez was arrested at her home for domestic violence, KVIA was licking their chops.

The station thought they had a sensational story that would bring in viewers and make the other station look bad. 

It backfired and the only station looking bad was KVIA. 

Viewers saw the story as an attempt to kick Alvarez while she was down. After the viewers let KVIA have it, the station starting apologizing for their tabloid journalism gone wrong. 

"Well last night we aired a story about KTSM's Adrienne Alvarez. It was a misguided attempt to provide someone accused of wrongdoing a chance to explain her side of the story. However, we exercised an error in  judgment. That type of report does not meet our standards for ethics or journalism and what you've come to expect from ABC-7. We assure  you this has been a learning experience for those involved. We apologized at the end of yesterday's newscast and we apologize again tonight."

One viewer posted a mug shot of former KVIA morning weatherman Jorge Torres, 
who was arrested in January on the station's Facebook page.

Torres was busted on a public intoxication charge, which was later dismissed. KVIA officials responded by stating they aired a story about Torres' arrest, and that a search of their website would result in a link to the story.

The El Paso Times did just that, and could not find the story.  

It is just another example of how stations clam up when one of their own is in trouble. But in this case, the station decided to delight in the troubles of an anchor at a competing station.  

You can't have it both ways, in KVIA had it blow up in their face.  

H/T El Paso Times

Fox Sports Swipes US Open from NBC

NBC sports has had the rights to the US Open (Golf) for years, not anymore.

The United States Golf Association has sold the rights to the US Open for Fox Sports. The deal includes the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open Championships, as well as the USGA’s national amateur championships and other live content, beginning in 2015.

“This is an exciting and remarkable day for the USGA, as our partnership with FOX Sports is a game-changer for our organization and for the game of golf,” said USGA President Glen D. Nager. “The game is evolving and requires bold and unique approaches on many levels, and FOX shares our vision to seek fresh thinking and innovative ideas to deliver championship golf. This partnership will help us to better lead and serve the game in new and exciting ways.”

“It’s with tremendous excitement and pride that we’ve added events with the prestige and magnitude of the USGA’s U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open to the big events FOX Sports is set to cover for years to come,” said FOX Sports Co-President and COO, Randy Freer.

The deal is for 12 years.  

It is a big blow to NBC which also owns the Golf Channel.  

Today Show Unveils New App

NBC's Today Show has taken off the wraps off a new app.  

The best feature of the new app is it let's you save something that you can view later off line. Also the app makes a big push for you to share Today Show content over social media. 

Here is video of the Today crew showing off the new app: 

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

“This mini series is a total nightmare for NBC News”

You can count NBC's Chuck Todd as one of those that is not a big fan of NBC's choice to do a mini series on Hillary Clinton.

On Morning Joe this morning, the NBC News Political Director bemoaned his network’s proposed NBC miniseries on Clinton, which, though it has not yet been written, has already raised criticism of a conflict of interest between NBC Entertainment and NBC News, including an ultimatum from RNC Chairman Reince Priebus to drop the project or lose any 2016 GOP debates.

“This mini series is a total nightmare for NBC News,” Todd said. “There’s this giant firewall, we have nothing to do with it, we know that we’d love probably to be as critical, or whatever it is going to be, if it comes out. But there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“We’re going to only own the negatives,” he continued. “Whether it’s negative because it’s the Clinton people are upset that it’s too tough on them, or negative because the Republicans think it’s this glorification of her—no matter what, only we are going to own it, because people are going to see the peacock and NBC and see NBC News and think: ‘Well, they can’t be that separate.’”

“You get the negative and they get the cash,” Joe Scarborough said.

Truer words have never been spoken by Mr. Scarborough.

H/T Mediaite

I Know you Have Thought about it...

So why not just do it!

I promise it only hurts for a second. 

Sinclair Boss Backs off on National Cable Channel

Sinclair's CEO David Smith is backing away a bit when it comes to plans for WJLA's NewsChannel 8 in DC. 

After the company agreed to purchase the Allbritton stations, which included the DC cable news channel, Sinclair hinted that they were thinking about turning it into a national cable channel.  

"There's been way too much noise about the cable channel [NewsChannel 8] in Washington, D.C., and what we intend to do with it," Smith said in response to a question from Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker on whether the group was changing strategy.

"If and when we close on the Allbritton transaction, we're being handed an asset that's completely undeveloped," Smith said. "It's no more complicated than taking a television show and distributing it across the country. We view as an opportunity to take our local news platforms ... and expand them in lots of other venues."

"The thing you have to give thought to is we've become the single biggest [local] news producer in country," Smith said during this morning's call. "We have to be thoughtful about how we're going to distribute. We see the cable channel as a free option to go build the business.

"The notion that we would want to go build a CNN that nobody watches doesn't make any sense to us.”

H?T TVNewsCheck  

Demoted in Erie

Veteran WICU (Erie) news anchor Kevin MacDowell is not having a very good week.

 The Anchor has been bumped down the food chain and reassigned by the station's management as a lowly Reporter. 

"It was time to make the move," said WICU GM Pam Forsyth said Wednesday. "Kevin is still a respected employee here."

MacDowell will "return to reporting" and provide the station with "in-depth, investigative stories that will affect the people of this community," Forsyth said. 

Sports anchor Mike Ruzzi  is moving over a seat to replace MacDowell. 

MacDowell was "on vacation" and not at the station when Forsyth told the staff about the reassignments at a meeting Wednesday. He could not be reached for comment. 

According to his bio, MacDowell has been in television news for more than 20 years and  worked at stations in Minneapolis and Miami.

The GM added that along with reporting MacDowell also will be a mentor in the newsroom.

We're guessing he'll mentor the younger staffers on how work you're way down the TV career ladder.  

H/T Erie Times News

What the Hail are you Doing?

When hail starts falling, the best thing to do is stay inside. But KMSP Anchor Randy Meier thought it would be a good idea to run out and collect some of the hail.  

Proving that sometimes, news anchors don't know what the hail they are doing.  

Jeff Zucker's Son Quits Board of Directors Job

While most 15 year olds are cutting grass this summer to make a little extra money, the son of CNN boss Jeff Zucker has resigned from the board of directors tech startup Waywire.

15 year old Andrew Zucker has resigned from the company that co-founded by New Jersey senatorial candidate Cory Booker.

A Waywire Spokesperson  claims that Booker had nothing to do with the young Zucker's hire. No word if the spokesperson pants were on fire at the time of that statement.

It's unclear what led to little Zuck's resignation, which was quietly disclosed to Fortune by a CNN spokesperson. Fortune.com is part of CNN Money which is produced in partnership with CNN.

No word yet what Andrew Zucker will be doing next, but since his Dad runs CNN, we're guessing he won't need to get a paper route.  

Another One Leaving the Business

Would the last person to leave the TV business, please turn off the transmitter on your way out.

This Summer FTVLive has reported on a number of TV people ditching the business and taking on a job outside of TV news. 

Whether is going to work for the DA's Office, a mouth piece for a local university, to become a lawyer or working with plants, TV people seem to giving up the TV game for a "real job."

The latest to walk out on TV news, is longtime Denver anchor Bertha Lynn.

Lynn will sign off after almost 30 years at KMGH.w

She has accepted a job as the executive director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation in the Mile High City.

She signs off on Friday.