Sweeping up in Sacramento

Sacramento's KCRA again topped its TV news rivals in most time slots in November, according to the latest ratings released by Nielsen Co.

Nielsen ranked KCRA ahead of its competitors in slots that included 4:30 a.m., 5 a.m., 6 a.m., noon, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays, and 11 p.m. Monday through Sunday. KCRA’s 5 p.m. weekday slot reached 101,000 households in the region.

KOVR topped the 10 p.m. Monday-Sunday slot, reaching 62,000 households in that ratings period, which topped KCRA’s household reach of 55,000 in the 11 p.m. Monday-Sunday slot.

“Good Day Sacramento” on KMAX drew solid ratings of 25,000 to 31,000 households during its 6 a.m. through 9 a.m. time slots.

H/T Sacramento Bee

Ummmm... It's a Little Too Soon I Think

Pat Sajak and the producers of "Wheel of Fortune" apologized Yesterday after an ill-timed puzzle that aired Monday night.

"The Fast and the Furious" was the puzzle just two days after the film's star, Paul Walker, died in a fiery car crash.

The show was taped a couple of weeks ago, before the death of Walker. 

Austin Anchor Leaving

KTBC (Austin) Anchor Loriana Hernandez is leaving the station after almost 7 years.

She broke the news on her Facebook Page:

Good morning Facebook Friends!!

I have some bitter sweet news to share this Tuesday morning. After 7 years here at Fox 7 I have decided it is time for me to join my husband Cesar in the DC area so we can raise our 19-month old son Gabriel under one roof. My husband and I have commuted for the past few years so I could keep doing what I love doing here at FOX 7 but we need to be together as a family. 

While I'm excited about what the future holds for us and my future career endeavors, it will be very hard for me to leave the "other" family that made us feel so welcome. I'm talking about my colleagues here at FOX and the amazing central Texas viewers. For 7 years you have allowed me into your living room to either give you the news of the day before you called it a day or be there when you wake up to tell you what happened while you slept. You also let me inform you and in some cases entertain with my Get Fit for Free and workout challenges, plant based and health and wellness "clean eating" segments ( yes those yummy date sweetened desserts!!! ), put the spotlight on the fight against autism with my non-profit Maggie's Hope and allow me to tell many more amazing stories that are very close to my heart. Yes, Austin is an incredible community that has given me much and been there for me through so many exciting twists and turns from getting married to fertility woes as I struggled to be a mommy to finally a pregnancy where you watched me GROW on the air and then the birth of our son Gabriel. Thank you for ALL the memories. There is no place like Austin. It is one stop on my journey i will never forget:) 

My last day on the air is January 3rd but we will be around until late January and I hope to see all of you around to say so-long as we head to D.C. for new and exciting plans ahead.

Abrazos and God Bless!

The Dismantling of CNN?

Jeff Zucker has a goal for CNN.

What is it?

“The goal for the next six months, is that we need more shows and less newscasts,” Zucker told Capital New York.  

In other words the last cable news network that still was focusing on news, will no longer do that.

FTVLive reported that when Zucker took over CNN, he would take the network in a much more of an entertainment direction. 

The CNN boss points out that news is not getting ratings at CNN. The No. 1 show on CNN is now “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” a travel-adventure show featuring the bad-boy celebrity chef.

So, instead trying to make the news coverage better, Zucker rather turn CNN into the Food Network with tattoos.

FTVLive agrees that CNN's new coverage is not working, but instead of blowing up the news coverage and going to shows, why not just cover news better?

Insiders say that Zucker is looking to turn CNN into a 24 hour version of The Today Show. Some cooking, entertainment news, politics and a little news coverage sprinkled in. 

Sources tell FTVLive that CNN is moving most talent to New York and that is where the shows will be based from. A number of longtime CNN "news" Producers have been told that their services are no longer needed. 

Many staffers in CNN have told FTVLive that they feel like Zucker is ruining the cable news channel and turning it into a shell of its former self.

Zucler sees it as a new beginning for CNN, but some inside the cable net see it as the end. 

Stay tuned.... 

Sweeping Up in West Palm Beach

WPTV in West Palm Beach was the ratings winner across the board. The station won every newscast in the household numbers.

It appears to be a particularly bad rating book for Sinclair owned WPEC.

They got clobbered. 

Alaska Station Gets New News Set

It might be a small market, but KTVA the CBS affiliate in Anchorage is taking the wraps off a very impressive new set.

 The  set and newsroom were done by Devlin Design Group.

Devlin tweeted the photo above as a preview of the set, which appears to be a large open newsroom area curved headers, sliding glass panels and multiple flat screens.

A recurring theme of the new set seems to be vertical columns of rectangles — this graphical element appears in both the headers and on the glass panels.

This is one awesome looking set.

H/T Newscast Studio

Sweeping Up in Denver

The number of people watching TV dropped in Denver, but KUSA 9News won the book with the viewers that did watch. 

The Denver Post reports that  9News regained its across-the-board ratings dominance after losing the 4:30 a.m. hour to 7News last November. CBS4 showed gains in the morning and at 5 p.m. And Fox31 had a solid win over KTVD at 9 p.m.

Last year at this time, 9News enjoyed a late-news boost from NBC’s primetime, which had its first November win in nine years. This year, CBS4 benefited from the CBS primetime slate (“The Big Bang Theory” is the top comedy among Denver viewers, “NCIS” is the market’s No. 1 drama, both on CBS).

In late news, KUSA was down 26 percent compared to last year, weekdays at 10 p.m., among adults 25-54 (the key news demo). KUSA had a 3.2 rating, 12 share (compared to a 4.3 rating, 14.2 share last November); KCNC and KMGH were tied with a 2.1 rating, 8 share.

Fox31 triumphed over KTVD, its primary rival at 9 p.m., by a full share point (weeknights, adults 25-54 demo).

CBS4 had a good showing weekdays at 5 p.m., placing No. 2 behind 9News among adults 25-54: KUSA scored a 2.3 rating, 13 share, KCNC followed with 1.5 rating, 9 share; KMGH had a 0.9 rating, 5 share, and KDVR managed a 0.5 rating, 3 share.

The morning picture was most changed, in addition to KUSA’s rebound. After finishing No. 5 — i.e, dead last — last year, CBS4 moved up to No. 3 at 6 a.m.

The decline in PUT (people using television) levels, down about 12 percent during primetime, 14 percent for the local 10 p.m. newscasts, is driven by increased attention to various devices, cellphones to laptops and tablets.

Perhaps the most honest comment about the November sweeps came from the broadcaster with the most changing anchors: “We’ve had personality and anchor changes on every newscast we do,” said KDVR-KWGN General Manager Peter Maroney. “We knew we would have this adjustment period. We’ve held audience share frankly much better than than we thought we would. We’re settling in. Now if we could just get more people watching television.”

What the Hell was This Buffalo Anchor Thinking?

WGRZ (Buffalo) Anchor Maryalice Demler might want to step away from her Twitter account and just stick to what's on the teleprompter.

Demler set off a Twitter storm during the Buffalo Bills game with Atlanta Sunday night by posting a picture of herself alongside controversial, disgraced Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and adding that he was "a sweetheart of a guy."

The Bills game was played in Toronto on Sunday. 

Here's what she wrote about Ford, who has been in the national and international news after admitting to smoking crack cocaine. "Sweetheart of a guy. A Bills fans. Down to earth. Loves the Queen City. Sounded sincere. I don't judge."

Maybe you don't judge Maryalice, but it might not be a wise thing to post a picture of you and Ford hanging out. I'm just saying, that might be one for the private collection. 

Needless to say, it didn't take long for the Twitterverse to tee off on Demler. 

WKBW anchor-reporter John Borsa: "Which criminal or suspected criminal should I pose with for my holiday cards this year?"

Kevin Pritchard: "Maryalice is from North Tonawanda. Crack use doesn't phase her." 

Christopher Smith: "(The picture) might be the best thing to ever happen on Twitter."

James Kurdziel: "I wonder if Maryalice has a pic with O.J. Simpson. You know the OTHER "sweetheart of a guy."

Ian Ott: "Guys they (Channel 2) only have to hold people in Western New York accountable. Toronto is in a whole different country. It's like a vacation."

Chris Grant: "Can you imagine if a politician tweeted that Mayor Ford is a sweetheart. WGRZ would salivate."

After the Twitter blowback, Demler deleted the tweet.

Oh....the Bills also lost the game.  But I still love them. 

H/T Buffalo News

LA Anchor Out

Another LA Anchor is out the door and this time it's not at KNBC.

Carlos Amezcua, anchor of KTTV's 10 p.m. news, has left the newscast says he plans to focus on his own production company. He has been with the station since 2007 coming over from KTLA, were he spent 16 years. 

Amezcua's last broadcast was Friday.

"After more than five years on KTTV's Fox 11 10 p.m. news, Carlos Amezcua has decided to step down from the news desk to expand his own media and technology company, 'Carlos Media Corp.' here in Los Angeles," said KTTV GM Kevin Hale in a statement. 

"Having won over 10 Emmys throughout his career, Amezcua has made many contributions to this community, as well as our newsroom," the statement continued. "We wish him continued success in building his own media and technology firm."

HUH?! Your main anchor leaves on Friday and then  you announce it 3 days later? No on air goodbye, no big send off during the November book? 

Sorry, but we're not buying this story that KTTV is trying to spin. 

We're not sure what happened here, but we would bet $5 that there is much more to this story than Amezcu suddenly decided that on Friday he was leaving the station to start a production company. 

Sorry, but this story isn't passing the smell test as far as we're concerned. 

H/T LA Times

CNN Shows When Breaking News....Isn't Breaking

CNN continues to be working in desperation mode as they try and bring back viewers to the cable news network.

Since Jeff Zucker has taken over CNN has seemed to change policy to worry more about being first, than correct.

The biggest blunder still is the Boston Marathon bombings, when CNN's John King boastfully reported an arrest when that was not the case. By the way, King was not fired for the mistake heard around the world. In fact, he is being given a new show that is coming to CNN weekends. 

Yesterday, for almost 3 hours, CNN reported that actor Paul Walker death was tied to drag racing. The word alleged was not used and CNN tied the tip to police. CNN continued to go with the drag racing story even after TMZ posted surveillance video of the crash and showed no other car involved. 

Later, the cable net then reported "police rule out second vehicle."

Police look at many angles during an investigation and they receive all kinds of tips. A police investigation will take many turns and reporting "things you heard police working on" is not Journalism, it's careless. 

And then last night on Anderson Cooper's show AC 360 at 8PM, they reported the "breaking news" about the NY metro train's speed. The train was going 82MPH in an area where the speed limit was 30.

Problem is, we saw this story on evening newscasts over 3 hours earlier. It was some very stale breaking news to say the least. 

If CNN wants to win back viewers, they need to start getting the facts right and stop hyping stories as breaking news hours after it broke. 

Just saying.... 

Sam Champion's Goodbye Memo

Sam Champion sent this memo out to the staff at ABC:

This is a note I never imagined I’d be writing. For 25 years, ABC has been my home, filled with my family and my friends. Every day when I walk these halls, virtually every face is known and familiar to me. It’s a rich news culture that I grew up in, and I feel privileged to have been taught by the very best.

This journey began with my days at WABC-TV, starting off doing weekend weather. Proudly I rode the juggernaut that was “Eyewitness News”, New York’s fabled #1 news station. I was lucky enough to spend most of my career doing weather on the 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 news there, meanwhile filling in on “Good Morning America” since 1989.

So when ABC News asked me to take the job at GMA in 2006, I already felt like I was part of the family. But I could never have known the depth of that word “family”, until spending the last seven-plus years with you all. I’ve been privileged to feel the power and full resources of ABC News as I travelled the globe covering the weather. GMA has offered me a unique and unparalleled blend of assignments, from the devastating tornadoes of Joplin, to the heartbreaking destruction of Super Storm Sandy… incredible adventures, from the Arctic Circle to the Brazilian rain forest and epic live events from Katy Perry to Britney Spears. It’s a job anyone would be lucky to have.

To the crews in the field, Ops, producers , writers and editors, bookers, overnight staff, studio crew, Seniors, and, of course, Team Weather, I want to say thank you to each and every one of you. It’s your hard work that makes a powerhouse network news division like ABC News, and a #1 show like GMA, possible.

Thank you Ben Sherwood, for your unwavering support of all things weather and being the leader who understands that weather is news. I appreciate your wisdom and counsel, not only during my time at ABC but also during this transitional period. Thanks to James Goldston and Tom Cibrowski for putting new life into GMA, and guiding what was already a number one show into truly becoming number one in the ratings. To my fellow anchors at GMA: Robin, George, Josh and Lara, thank you for making television electric and invigorating. I’ve never had more fun in TV than in the last few years with you.

I hope to have an opportunity in the next few days to hug and thank each and every one of you, for making such a large part of my life so extraordinary.

It’s my opinion that never has the understanding of weather been more important to our lives than right now. I’m excited for the opportunity to join the Weather Channel for this next adventure.

I look forward to hearing from all of you. Starting next week, you can reach me at (we took out the email to help stop Sam from spam).

First When he Came, First When He Left

Everyone (well almost everyone) knows that FTVLive was FIRST in giving you the scoop that Sam Champion was leaving Good Morning America and would be replaced by Ginger Zee. 

But, if you go back to 2006, FTVLive was also the FIRST to tell you that Champion was coming to GMA from WABC. Check out this screen grab:

Yep, FTVLive was the first to tell you that Champion was going to GMA and we were the FIRST to tell you that he was leaving.

By the way, the screen grab was from TVNewser, back in the day when Brian Stelter still worked on the site and back in the day when they would credit FTVLive for breaking stories.

Ahhhhh..... the good old days. 

Longtime Twin Cites Reporter to Retire

KSTP reporter Jason Davis has decided to retire after nearly 40 years at the station.

The Pioneer Press says that Davis is best known in Minneapolis for his "On the Road" segments that have led him around the globe including the North Pole, the Middle East, Africa -- and every corner of Minnesota.

Davis announced his retirement Yesterday.

"I've been here for 37 and a half years, and it's just time," said Davis, who is 74. "It's time to enter another phase in my life, which I want to do in good health. At my age, if I wait too much longer something's going to happen. You don't last forever. And you don't want to end up spending your retirement visiting hospitals."

When he retires, Davis says he plans to spend more time with his four children and eight grandchildren, travel with his wife and possibly take up golf. His last day at KSTP will be May 30.

Hey....It's a Start

CBS's morning show might just be slowly making it's way back from the dead.

Although the show still sits in last place it is showing some signs of life. CBS THIS MORNING posted the network's best morning news weekly delivery in viewers (3.32m) in nearly five years (since the week ending Dec. 15, 2008). 

Compared to last year, CBS THIS MORNING was up +13% in adults 25-54, the demographic most important to those who advertise in news, +24% in viewers, +20% in households and +22% in women 25-54, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Nov. 22, 2013.

CBS THIS MORNING added +650,000 viewers compared to the same week last year.

No question the show has a long way to go, but at least they are now heading in the right direction. 

Sweeping Up in Tampa

WFTS in Tampa eked out a win against WTVT for first place in the 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00pm news slots.

Florida News Center says that the numbers below demonstrate a virtual tie between WFLA and WTSP for the same time slots. In the late 11:00pm news half hour, WFTS also takes first place with a 2.3 rating, followed by WTSP (1.4 rating), WFLA (1.1), WTVT (1.1), and Bay News 9 (0.6).

A press release from WFTS boasts that the November 2013 results “mark over 20 months in a row” that WFTS has “won the 24-54 demography in the evening and late newscast” time slots. WFTS started an upward trend in these ratings time slots during 2011.