FBI Picks Up DC Reporter on Phone Tap

WUSA Reporter Bruce Johnson has found out that he was picked up on an FBI wiretap of now-disgraced DC Councilman Michael Brown.

Federal prosecutors informed our Johnson that he -- and many other people -- had their communications picked up on FBI wiretaps. 

"I'm not going to be surprised if I call someone at some point in the near future and they say 'I can't talk to you because the FBI might be listening,' said Johnson, laughing through his very real concern. "Bottom line, of course it's unsettling when you get a call saying the FBI has heard part of your conversation in the course of you doing your job."

The US Attorney's Office emailed Johnson that while tapping Brown's phone, "wire and/or electronic communications to or from your telephone were intercepted." "They won't tell me when the phone call was made," says Johnson. "They won't say how long the phone call was, they won't say the nature of the conversation."

Justice Department rules do offer journalists a little extra protection if they are the target of a wiretap but in this case, it was Brown they were after. 

"My question is, I'm a journalist. I'm asking the same questions they're asking. So how to they categorize my conversation with Michael Brown. I want to know about the investigation. I want to know about the charges, same as the FBI and every other reporter. So why wouldn't they listen to my phone conversation?"

Bill Miller, spokesman for US Attorney Ron Machen, says at the time of the wiretap no one outside his office and the FBI knew about the investigation.

Months later, Brown pleaded guilty to tens of thousands of dollars in bribes handed over in bundles and stuffed into coffee mugs.

H/T WUSA

Cincy Anchor Turns Down Contract Offer

After 14 years, WXIX Anchor Sheila Gray is signing off from the station Today.  

Gray is leaving after turning down the station's latest contract offer.  

WXIX-TV General Manager Bill Lanesey says that Fox 19 wanted to retain Gray, but she turned down a multi-year contract with a pay raise and opted to leave when her contract expires tomorrow.

“We feel we made a very fair offer for her to stay with us for multiple years, which did not include a reduction in pay. She even told me that she felt it was a very fair offer,  but she said it was in the best interest for her and her career to leave,” Lanesey told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Now word on where she is headed, but speculation is she could pop up across the street after sitting out a non-compete. 

Stay tuned...

Headed to Houston

Back on May 14th FTVLive told you that XETV (San Diego) Feature Reporter Ruben Galvan took up 7 minutes of the station's morning newscast Yesterday to tell viewers he was leaving.

Well, now we know where he is headed.  

After 10 years in SoCal, Galvan is headed to KPRC in Houston.  

"I'm so THRILLED to be joining KPRC and reporting back in my hometown of Houston," Galvan told mikemcguff.com. "This town has a whole lot to offer and I can't wait to feature some of the most amazing people and attractions... so get ready for take off! My first day on air is Monday, August 26."

Moving from Reporter to Anchor

WRAL Reporter Kevin Holmes is moving down in markets, but he's jumping to the anchor desk. 

After three years with WRAL, Holmes is leaving to become the new anchor at WJCL/WTGS, the ABC/FOX station in Savannah, Ga.

His last day will be Sunday. Holmes came to WRAL in 2010 and spent time on the morning news. He then transitioned to the evening newscasts.

"It’s been a pleasure to watch Kevin grow as a journalist here," said WRAL news director Rick Gall. "I’m sure his creativity in writing and delivering stories caught the attention of those hiring at WJCL/WTGS-TV in Savannah. Moving to the anchor desk is a big step for Kevin, and we wish him great success as his career unfolds."

Holmes previously worked as a reporter at WPTY-TV in Memphis, Tenn., and at WJRT-TV in Flint, Mich. He graduated from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., with a Bachelor of Arts in communications in 2003.

“While I have truly enjoyed my time here, this is an opportunity and a challenge I’m eager to accept," Holmes said. "Since I arrived here at WRAL in 2010, this environment and the good people around me have helped me grow as a journalist and as a man. For that, I will forever be thankful and indebted."

H/T WRAL

New Lows for New Day

CNN's new morning show New Day is faltering in the ratings and the network is making all kinds of excuses as to why.

The bottom line is the show is having it's worst week ever since signing on the air.  

An interview with Prince William was a bust in the ratings. On Tuesday the show dipped below 60,000 viewers in the demo. 

Inside CNN, the excuses are flying as to why the show is not attracting viewers? Word is that the suits are already talking about retooling parts of the show. 

Today, New Day is hoping to pull out of the ratings tailspin. Anchor Chris Cuomo will have a sit down with President Obama.

We'll see if it helps.  

It's Now a Dead Truck not a Live Truck

WPVI's (Philly) Chuck Purnell was in one of the station's live trucks early this morning when it broke down. 

It broke down right across the street from the station. In the picture above, you see the truck on the right and the station on the left.  

TGIF! 

Miami GM is Out

SoFlo sources tell FTVLive that Dave Boylan has resigned as GM of WPLG.

Boyland has been at the station since 2003. 

Prior to coming to South Florida, he had been the general manager of the Fox owned stations in Los Angeles, Tampa and Greensboro. He has also held management positions at the NBC station in Cleveland.

FNC has Start Date for Hasselbeck

We now know when we will see Elisabeth Hasselbeck make her debut on “Fox & Friends.”

The former 'The View' host will be seen on the revapmed Fox and Friends on September 16th.  

Hasselbeck is replacing Gretchen Carlson. Carlson is moving to her own show later in the day.  

Hasselbeck is one of the few FNC Anchors not to tweet that she never heard of Brian Lewis. 

Come on Elisabeth, you better get with the program before Sept. 16th.  

Bumped of The Food Chain in Chicago

Our man Robert Feder  tells us that Dan Ponce, son of one Chicago news anchor and brother of another, will now have an anchor chair of his own.

After three years as a general assignment reporter at WGN-Channel 9, Ponce has been promoted to Monday-through-Friday morning news anchor at the Tribune Broadcasting station. Starting Sept. 3, he'll anchor "WGN Morning News" alongside Erin McElroy from 4 to 6 a.m. weekdays. The move coincides with the expansion of the broadcast to six hours — airing from 4 to 10 a.m.

"News, music and humor — there's only one newscast in the city where I can do all three," Ponce said after signing a new long-term deal with the station Thursday. (Terms were not disclosed.) "I'm thrilled to be joining Chicago's most popular morning TV team. It's going to be a big adjustment waking up that early, but anchoring with Erin McElroy every day will make it well worth it."

Moonves: When Time Warner Cable is ready, we’ll be there.

Here is the internal memo that Les Moonves sent out to the staff at CBS over the Time Warner blackout:  

I am pleased to inform you that today we signed a three-year content carriage agreement with Verizon for its FiOS systems across the country. This important deal was reached swiftly and amicably in just a few days after our conversations began. In it, we achieve fair value for our over-the-air rights, while preserving our streaming rights as well. CBS content will be available to 100% of all Verizon FiOS customers, and we will grow as they do. Our CBS Sports Network will be available on a broader tier, which will add millions of subscribers to that growing business. In short, this is a great deal for CBS and for Verizon, which has 5 million subscribers, the majority in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.   

Those cities may seem familiar to you as you follow our situation with Time Warner Cable. They cover almost precisely the same territory, but Verizon has more subscribers in those markets, where we are now blacked out by that cable company for going on three full weeks now.  You should know that Time Warner Cable has been offered almost exactly the same deal for CBS carriage to which Verizon has agreed.

I cannot describe to you the frustration I feel at the way these negotiations have gone. Never in my most pessimistic moments did I ever think that they would have lasted this long and have been so difficult. In many aspects of the deal, Time Warner Cable is demanding different terms than any other company in the business. I am frankly mystified by what appears to be a lack of urgency to resolve this matter for their customers.

Still, we’ll keep talking. Today’s announcement makes clear, however, if there was ever any doubt, that we are prepared to move decisively and thoughtfully to achieve a good conclusion for all parties involved in these kinds of negotiations. When Time Warner Cable is ready, we’ll be there.

Congratulations to our great negotiating team on this terrific agreement with Verizon, and thanks to you all, as always, for your support.

Leslie

WCBS Back on Time Warner....But....

WCBS is returning to Time Warner Cable in New York City, but just for a short time. 

The two sides agreed  agreed to suspend the blackout of the Eye in Gotham — but only long enough to air debates among candidates in two of New York City’s political races.

The New York City Campaign Finance Board announced Wednesday that the companies agreed to air WCBS-sponsored debates despite their ongoing retransmission-consent dispute, which is in its third week.

Tonight, Time Warner Cable will air debate on WCBS among candidates in the Democratic primary election for comptroller from 7 to 8 p.m., after which the Eye will go dark again. If there’s no final deal by next week, cable op will air Republican primary mayoral debate Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 7 to 8 p.m.

“We are very pleased that these two institutions have chosen to look past their differences and provide all New Yorkers the best opportunity to see these important debates,” CFB chairman Father Joseph Parkes said in a statement.

H/T Variety 

Out the Door in LA

Word is that KCBS morning anchor Sibila Vargas has quietly left the Los Angeles
station. 

Her bio has been stripped from the station's website and rumors say she's headed to the Big Apple.  

Left Coast sources tell FTVLive that Vargas is headed to WNBC in New York. This would be the second anchor to head to 30 Rock. KCBS anchor Rob Schmitt, who also recently left to go to WNBC.

But the question is, where would Vargas fit in at WNBC?  

With veteran Darlene Rodriguez in the mornings, and Shiba Russell having replaced Sue Simmons last year, where is Vargas fitting in?

Also, can a station really have a Shiba and a Sibila on the same staff? 

Stay tuned for the answers to these very important questions.  

The ABC O&O Layoffs Have Started

Yesterday, FTVLive told you that Disney was planning a big round of layoffs at their owned and operated stations. 

The cuts started yesterday and are expected to be wrapped up by Friday. 

So, if you work at an ABC O&O, you might want to call in sick for the next few days.  

Word is that at least 10 people were pink slipped at KTRK in Houston yesterday. We also hear that a number of staffers were called to the corner office at WTVD in Raleigh- Durham.

Along with those markets cuts are expected to go down at the ABC O&O's in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Fresno.

Stay low.