Weatherman Sues Station for Discrimination

Station's you might want to watch who you have working on Christmas Day this year.  

Bob French, a Chief Meteorologist and Weathercaster employed by KBTX in Bryan and College Station for 23 years has filed a charge of Age and Disability Discrimination as well as Retaliation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

Bob French, over the age of 40, claims he was overworked during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays of 2012 while other much younger employees were allowed time off. The strain of the long hours resulted in French’s in-patient treatment for exhaustion and stress-related matters in Houston in mid-January and caused his absence from the airwaves while recovering under Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.

Upon French’s return to work and on air in April, 2013, KBTX General Manager Mike Wright allegedly reprimanded French for matters relating to his disability and FMLA leave. Shortly after, French was fired from KBTX in early July, 2013. He was replaced by a weathercaster under 40 years of age.

“For KBTX to have violated Bob’s legally-protected rights is offensive” Says his lawyer Charles Peckham. “If KBTX can fire a beloved man such as Bob French for being over the age of 40 or for simply exercising his right to disability leave, no employee is safe from similar illegal treatment. Bob is standing up to send a message to KBTX that folks over 40 are not second-class citizens.”

KBTX released this Statement:

The KBTX family is disappointed to learn from other media outlets that our former colleague and friend Bob French has chosen to file a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stemming from his employment here. KBTX and Gray Television respect the privacy of the employment relationship, and accordingly, will not litigate matters related to Mr. French's employment in the press. KBTX, however, will defend itself vigorously against Mr. French's allegations and is confident that upon reviewing the record, the EEOC will conclude that Mr. French's allegations are utterly without merit.

H/T Mike McGuff

Should Consultant Refund St. Louis Station's Money?

KSDK in St. Louis has made an interesting hire.

The station has hired Marv Danielski in the newly created position of vice president and station manager. The station says that Lynn Beall will continue as KSDK general manager.

Danielski was working as a consultant at Frank Magid before joining KSDK.

What makes it interesting was Danielski, in his role as a consultant, he had been working with KMOV (KSDK's competitor) on news strategy for quite some time.

In fact, he helped lead the latest news strategy meetings we had before the November ratings book.

So in other words, this guy has the KMOV playbook and is now working across the street as KSDK. 

It doesn't seem fair for a guy like this, that has been in many of the planning meetings at one station, to get hired by a competitor. 

This is something that could have stations rethinking their use of outside consultants. And if you ask us, Magid owes KMOV a refund.

Consultants should have language plans in their people's contracts that stops stuff like this from happening.

Just saying.... 

Blame Ron Burgundy

KXMB in Bismark is the station that threw all credibility out the window when they let Will Ferrell anchor their newscast as Ron Burgundy. 

Last night the station suffered a power outage during their late news. This is what they posted on their Facebook page, alerting viewers to the blackout.

I'm sure the Sports Anchor at the station is feeling really loved right now.

Shaking my head... 

Continuing to Spin the Numbers in Norfolk

The other day FTVLive told you how WTKR in Norfolk fudged the November ratings to make it appear they won the book.

Well, they aren't done with the spin cycle just yet. 

Check out this latest screen grab, where the station brags about being number 1 at Noon, 4 and 5PM. 

Then check out the fine print and find out it's for just ONE DAY!

Are you freaking kidding me?

HLN Hits Lowest Rating Mark in 22 Years

While Jeff Zucker has been watching CNN's ratings go down, he is also in charge of HLN.

Clearly that network has to be doing better that CNN with its prime time ratings....right? 

Ummmmm....No.

On Sunday night HLN's prime time ratings were the worst they have been in....get this....22 years!

The 8PM block pulled in just 22,000 viewers and only 5,000 in the demo. Some would argue that you could pull better numbers than that with just color bars.

Chuck Todd Fires on Fox News

President Obama shook the hand of Cuban president Raul Castro and that set the gang at Fox News off. 

FNC did a full segment on the handshake heard round the world and that had NBC's Chuck Todd shaking his head. 

CBS Evening News Tacks on Nearly a Million new Viewers

The CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley continues to claw it's way out of the ratings basement.

Pelley's newscast added nearly 1 million viewers (+960,000) compared to the same week last year, according to Nielsen.

The CBS broadcast posted double-digit, year-to-year percentage gains in viewers (+15%, 7.49m from 6.53m), in addition to gains in households (+9%, 4.9/09 from 4.5/08) compared to the same week last year.

Additionally, the CBS Evening News has closed the viewer deficit with ABC by 900,000 viewers (500,000 from 1.40m) compared to the same week last year.  

Ummmmm....Okaaaaay

New Set Creates Buzz for the Daily Buzz

The Daily Buzz, the younger demo-targeted morning newscast described as “caffeine for your brain” has just debuted a new set.  It is aired in from 6-9AM in 180 markets.

Mojo Brands Media needed a design partner to create a versatile presentation area to proof that brand…and they found that partner in Devlin Design Group.

DDG designed and built a stunning set that compliments and enhances the upbeat and informal style of both “The Daily Buzz,” and the Spanish language program,”Al Dia.”

“The new set has truly given us a "national" look.  With "The Daily Buzz" and "Al Dia," our new Spanish language show, we needed flexibility with performance areas and the set colors. The set works on every level whether it's news or entertainment," says Troy McGuire of Mojo Brands. 

“Our primary goal in this project was to create a stunning design that included both versatility and value. We congratulate Mojo Brands Media in this important step forward in the branding of both The Daily Buzz and Al Dia,” said Dan Devlin of Devlin Design Group

FNC Reporter Does Not Face Jail Time

Fox News Reporter Jana Winter got some good news from a New York court.

Winter has been saved from possible jail time by a New York appeals court.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that After a shooting rampage at an Aurora, Colo., midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in July 2012, Winter cited law enforcement sources as revealing that suspect James Holmes had sent a University of Colorado psychiatrist a notebook previewing his attack. In seeking to compel Winter's testimony about the identify of her sources, Holmes' attorneys made the argument that law enforcement illegally compromised the legal process and attempted to influence a high-profile death penalty case.

That set off a legal debate over whether Winter, a New York resident, could lean on New York's strong reporter shield law to quash a subpoena. Holmes' lawyers argued that Winter did her work in Colorado -- with less generous protections on source identification -- and that criminal law procedure provided for the availability and testimony of out-of-state residents.

At a lower court, Winter lost, and was facing the possibility of having to travel to Colorado for a hearing next month in Holmes' ongoing criminal prosecution. There, she was prepared to remain mum and face the possibility of months in a jail cell.

But in a 4-3 ruling on Tuesday, a New York appeals court won't let that happen.

Anchor Out to Prove that White Men Can't Dance

KBAK Anchor Tom Murphy was caught on a hot camera either dancing or having a seizure, we're not sure which. 

New Orleans TV legend is Dead at 71

Frank Davis, the iconic New Orleans broadcaster and writer whose cooking, fishing and “Naturally N’Awlins” feature reports for WWL Channel 4 made him a local favorite for more than three decades, died Monday night. He was 71.

In May 2013, Frank and his wife Mary Clare revealed to Channel 4 viewers that he was battling a rare autoimmune disease that robbed him of the use of his arms and legs. The disease, CIDP, or Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, caused his own immune system to see his nerves and the insulation around them as foreign invaders, attacking and destroying them.

Frank retired from WWL-TV in 2011, after 30 years on the air, so that he and Mary Clare could move to Texas to be closer to family.  Only no one knew how much he would need the love and support.

Despite the diagnosis and life-altering symptoms that struck Frank in just a matter of months, he remained upbeat and positive, with his optimism encouraging even his own doctors and physical therapists.

"Thank God in heaven that I've got that happy personality, that I can see something bad and smile about it,” he told medical reporter Meg Farris for the May 2013 interview. “Believe me, I don't want to smile about it because it bothers me. It's a roller coaster ride. I'm good one day. I'm bad one day.”

H/T WWL 

OH NO! Not Again CNN? Really?!

They say you will never eat sausage ever again after you see how it's made.

What about watching how cable news is made?

ICN says that it’s one thing to make a mistake on live TV. It’s another thing to make a mistake in tape. And it’s an entirely higher level of screw up when both happen at the same time as is the case here when CNN put out this prized piece of self-infliction by airing live a taped recording that has a huge screw up in it.

It was in a look live segment that should have never been seen by the viewer. 

But it was:

Just another of the long list of embarrassing things that have happened at CNN since Jeff Zucker took over. 

Man Arrested for Tweet

Proof that you better watch what you Tweet. 

A Palm Beach man was arrested after her sent a Tweet to a WPEC Anchor.

The Palm Beach Post reports that Martin Thomas Pierro was arrested on Friday and is facing a charge of intimidation through a written threat to kill or injure in connection with a Twitter message he sent to WPEC-Channel 12 news anchor John Discepolo in October.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Discepolo was corresponding with Pierro on Oct. 23 when he received the threatening message.

Discepolo responded by writing: “Not something to joke about…not cool.”

The conversation ended with Pierro saying he was kidding. “Oh come on that’s an old school broadcasters joke. I was just poking fun at your “teases” for the nightly news,” he wrote.

Earlier on Oct. 23, Discepolo promoted that day’s afternoon newscast with a tweet: “cbs 12 wants to keep you and your money safe! So what does moving have to do with it? The new scam we uncovered…next at 5.

Pierro said in a phone interview with The Palm Beach Post that his tweet was meant to mock, not menace Discepolo and wasn’t supposed to be taken seriously.

“It was just a joke. Really. Now I’m facing criminal charges,” Pierro said.

Messages left for Discepolo at Channel 12 and his home were not returned.

CNN Prime Time Tanks Once Again

CNN's prime time continues to tank in the ratings.

CNN pulled in a measly 84,000 viewers in the demo on Friday night. 

Fox News pulled in 373,000 in the demo and even MSNBC pulled 112.000, easily beating CNN.

Anderson Cooper posted his lowest ratings in 2 years. 

CNN President Jeff Zucker comes up on his one year anniversary at CNN and the ratings have not showed any increase and have even gone down in some time slots. 

Zucker continues to tinker with both CNN and HLN, but so far, nothing has been a hit with viewers. 

In fact some viewers appear to not be happy with all the Zucker changes.

CNN Anchors Help Pimp Ron Burgundy

CNN Anchors have jumped on the Anchorman 2 bandwagon and on video fake trashing Ron Burgundy. Chris Cuomo, Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper on the video claiming at Burgundy is a thief and an asshole. 

In other words the Ron Burgundy PR machine got these "real" cable news anchors to help hype the movie with fake stories.

Walter Cronkite just flipped over one more time.

Here's the video: