David Frost Dead

Veteran broadcaster David Frost has died at the age of 74 after a suspected heart attack while on board a cruise ship.

A family statement said he had been giving a speech aboard the Queen Elizabeth on Saturday night.

He is best remembered here in the States for his revealing interviews with former US President Richard Nixon.

A statement said: "His family are devastated and ask for privacy at this difficult time. A family funeral will be held in the near future and details of a memorial service will be announced in due course."

Hey I Remember you...

After taking 2 1/2 Days off over the past 200 Days, FTVLive is back.!

Summer vacation is over and it's time to get back to work! 

We tried our best to go off the grid (no Internet, no phone, no TV) for 48 hours. All in all we did fairly well (OK maybe not). 

But now were back and ready to dish the dirt on what's happening in your newsroom and other newsrooms around the country and around the world. 

New Anchor Named in The Burgh

WPXI (Pittsburgh) has named Lisa Sylvester as their new main Anchor, replacing Darieth Chisolm.

Sylvester comes from CNN and will start her new gig as 6 and 11PM Anchor on October 11.

Sylvester has appeared on CNN since 2004. Prior to that she was a correspondent for ABC News for three years with stints in local TV in St. Louis, Nashville and Peoria, Ill., at the start of her career.

As FTVLive told you, longtime anchor Chisolm announced she was leaving to spend more time with her high school senior son before he goes off to college.

Which makes no sense, because what high school senior wants to be scene with his mother. 

H/T Pittsburgh Post Gazette

DC ND "Retires"

While we were off the grid, longtime News Director Phil Metlin retired from Fox O&O WTTG on Thursday. 

Metlin had been at the DC station since 2010. 

 “I would like to thank Phil for his 21 years of outstanding service and dedication to FTS. He has been a valued member of our team and I’d like to wish him well in the next chapter of his life,” GM Patrick Paolin said in a statement.

Metlin's last day was Thursday, the same day he announced he was "retiring."

Is it just me? Something ain't right with the story the station is and Metlin are putting out.  

Hmmmmm?

Ummmmm.....

When you run a story about a teacher facing porn charges, it might be a good idea to watch what the news crawl says below it. 

Just saying...  

FTVLive did not take one day off in almost 200 straight days.  

Last week, we took off a single day and we are going to take off two more. Starting now.

While the slow news month of August wraps up, we want to enjoy two days off in a row. Something we haven't done in over 6 months. 

As the Fall TV season starts to ramp up and new newscasts are being launched, FTVLive wanted to get a couple of days off before things start heating up. 

So, we have made the executive decision to take off the rest of Today and Tomorrow.

We have one goal and that is to stay away from the computer and our phone for 48 hours. Is that even possible?

We're about to find out. 

We plan on some golf, some paddle boarding and just plain old down time. Most importantly, we're looking forward to sleeping past 5AM for a couple of days. 

If all goes as planned, you will see us back here on Saturday and it is more than likely that we won't be taking off any other days for months. 

By the way, if you have enjoyed FTVLive these past 6+months, why not take the time to some a small token of support our way. You don't know how much it is appreciated.  

And to those of you that have sent us a few bucks to help keep the server running, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

-Scott

Taking it to the Net

With just five days until the launch of its live streaming digital noon newscast on Sept. 2, ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 Chicago is putting the last pieces of its new digital news program in place.

The web only newscast, called "ABC7 To Go," will be viewable on the station's Website and its branded apps. 

In addition to previously-announced chief anchor Alan Krashesky (pictured) and weatherman Mike Caplan, Channel 7 has tapped reporters Jason Knowles and Jennifer D'Onofrio as the key reporters to provide news reports from the field during the live steaming newscast. In selecting what news items to feature, station news executives will pay close attention to what is trending digitally in the local Chicago realm.

The newscast is expected to run about 8 to 10 minutes but it could go longer if there's breaking news. 

Each day's digital newscast will be available on demand on the WLS Website throughout the afternoon.

H/T Chicago Business Journal 

Chicago Producer Jobs Open

WGN in Chicago has 3 Producer jobs open.  

Here is the listing: 

Join WGN-TV News as a Producer specializing in newscasts for our 24-hour cable channel, CLTV.  You’ll be responsible for several hours of news each day, produced in a unique format that uses all the modern technologies.  You’ll have creative control of your newscast under the overall direction of the CLTV Senior Producer.  You’ll also be responsible for work on our website, mobile, social media technologies.

Position requires an individual with experience writing and producing television newscasts.  You’ll need to demonstrate strong news judgment and the ability to work well with others.

Equal Opportunity Employer

If interested, send resume and DVD to:

WGN-TV Human Resources Department 2501 W. Bradley Place Chicago, IL 60618 Fax:  773-528-1387 Apply On-line:  Please go to www.tribjobs.com, click on the Job Search link and search for keyword “Producer”

Get the Message (Sponsored)

"In the crazy, cutthroat world of TV news, sometimes the only thing worse than missing the big story, is getting it."

Messages, the new novel by TV news veteran and textbook author Forrest Carr, is now available for the Kindle and Kindle reading apps.   Messages follows three friends as they embark on television news careers at the height of the golden age of local TV journalism.  In their search for Truth, Justice, and Ratings, they'll risk it all.  And before it's all over, one of them will be fighting for his job, another will be fighting for his sanity, and the third will be fighting for his very life.

"Messages is sort of a 'buddy cop' crime drama," Carr said, "featuring reporters instead of police officers.  It tells a captivating story, but also sheds a rare light on a bygone era of TV news, a time that put the industry on the path to become what it is today – for better or worse.  Most popular works of fiction dealing with TV news have focused exclusively on big-city and network operations, which are very different from the medium-to-small stations where most Americans get their local news.  Messages gives readers unique, sometimes hilarious, and often surprising insights into a process that's central to the American way of life."

Messages is available for download on Amazon.com.  Search "Messages by Forrest Carr" or follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECK0DBK

Replacing a Weather Legend

Central Florida News 13 (Orlando) has hired the replacement for meteorologist Danny Treanor, a local TV legend who will retire in late October.

Maureen McCann will join News 13 in September from KMGH, the ABC affiliate in Denver.

News Director Tim Geraghty said the planning continues for Treanor's sendoff. "We'll make a big deal of Danny's departure," he said. "We're going to give Danny an appropriate sendoff for the years he's spent in the market."

That is something refreshing to hear. 

H/T Orlando Sentinel

NY EP Heads to Houston as The Deuce

WPIX Morning news Executive Producer Howard Dorsey handed in his resignation and is headed to Houston.

Dorsey will be the new Assistant News Director of Fox O&O KRIV.

He replaces Bob Morford who was bumped up to the ND job when Tom Doerr left the station for WFLD in Chicago.  

Let's see what quotes the Creative Services Department made up for Morford and Dorsey.

“Howard is a seasoned and knowledgeable newsroom manager, who I’m excited to welcome aboard," Morford "said" His passion, depth of experience and his ability to lead made him the ideal candidate to help drive our news product forward.”

Added Dorsey, "I look forward to joining a news team known for such a superior news product. I am also excited to continue KRIV’s growth and to create some new and different additions to an already excellent station lineup.”

Dorsey starts at the station on September 16th.  

Talk About Blurred Lines

KUTV did a promo with their take on artist Robin Thicke's 'Blurred lines' song. 

Of course if you watch Thicke's video on YouTube, you might notice that these anchors have on waaaaayyyyy too many clothes. 

News people singing and dancing may not have crossed the line, but it sure did blur them.  

Here's the KUTV promo: 

Robin Roberts is at 90%

Robin Roberts likely has a better charge than her iPhone.

 "I feel 90 percent of myself again, and that's a great feeling." 

As the first anniversary of her bone-marrow transplant approaches on Sept. 20, Robin Roberts is very happy to be feeling well again. 

 At the kick off for the US Open Tennis tournament, Roberts spoke to reporters about another long awaited milestone – her full-time return to GMA. 

"The day after Labor Day I'll be back to a five-day a week schedule," she said. "I'm looking forward to it. I want to get back to my full life." 

We say to Robin...WELCOME BACK!  

Everyone is happy to see her returning to work full time. Well, expect for suits at NBC's Today Show. 

H/T People

Twin Cities Reporter Quits

One of the biggest rules in Television News is don't quit your job until you have another job. 

KSTP's Mark Albert just broke that rule. 

After eight years with the station, Albert is saying goodbye when his contract is up next month.

"It's been a great run," said Albert about his time with the station. "And after eight years, I think it's time for a new challenge."

Although he doesn't currently have another job lined up, Albert, who is originally from California, says he's planning on staying in broadcast news.

His last day at KSTP is Aug. 21.

H/T Pioneer Press