Take that GMA! Sam Champion Pops up on the Today Show

It's not like no one knew that this was coming. But this morning it finally happened. 

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Spineless WTKR Ignores Anchor's Fraud Case

Julie Bickford leaving court yesterday 

FTVLive was the FIRST to tell you that WTKR had parted ways with popular Anchor Julie Bickford. Yesterday, we told you that she was wrapped up in an international Fraud case and that she plead guilty to tax fraud.

So, how did WTKR cover this very news worthy story about their former Anchor?

They totally ignored the story!

While the local paper put the story on page 1 and the other stations in town covered her appearance in court, WTKR has acted like the story never happened. 

WTKR GM Jeff Hoffman answers all questions about Bickford with the exact same response, “Juliet Bickford resigned last week for personal reasons,” he says over and over. 

Of course, we're sure that if the Mayor of Norfolk was caught up in an international fraud case, Hoffman and News Director Tina Luqu-Blacklocke would ignore that story as well. Like hell they would, they would be all over the story with team coverage and live shots all over the place.

It might be interesting to point out that while Bickford was still at the station, she hosted a segment in the newscast called “Taking Action Against Crime.”

How Ironic.

No word if Hoffman will be changing the segment to “Taking Action Against Crime unless it on involves one of our own.”

Stay tuned.... 

Jumping on the Bandwagon

WTMJ was the last of the holdouts in Milwaukee.

But, finally they just couldn't stand be the only one not at the 4:30AM party.

Yesterday, the station announced that there were going to follow everyone else in the market and start doing a 4:30AM newscast.

"People’s morning routines are changing. As more of our viewers are getting up earlier, we want to be right there with them," Steve Wexler, the NBC affiliate’s GM and the executive vice president of Journal Broadcast Group, said in a statement.

"We want our viewers to leave the house each morning with a feeling they have everything they need to get their day started right," said WTMJ News Director and Vice President of News for Journal Broadcast Group Bill Berra.

"Giving them the option of an earlier newscast is part of that commitment."

It was more like following the competition than it was a commitment.

Just saying.... 

Health Scare for Dayton Anchor

Sallie Taylor and her Son

Sallie Taylor, a former WHIO Weekend Anchor and current guest co-host and contributor for WDTN's “Living Dayton,” thanked God for answered prayers in a Facebook Post in which she shared news of her recent health scare.

Here is what she wrote on Facebook:

“I am alive today, waking up at home this morning, and not in Miami Valley Hospital’s ICU, only by the Grace Of God! Thank you God for answering my prayers and everyone’s prayers! I also want to thank my husband for his love and support. I can count on my hands, how many times I’ve seen my ‘tough hockey playing’ husband cry… this being one. He made home life normal for Trent, when it was far from normal. Last Wed., I thought I had a REALLY bad migraine, but I had a bleeding blood vessel in my head. I will tell my story soon. But today I must give thanks not only to God, my husband, my son, but my family and friends, too. Thank you to my parents for their support and never ending love! My sister-in-law Julie Taylor was of course the first one at the hospital in record time, and she did EVERYTHING for me, to perfection, thank you so much! My Brother spent the 1st night in the hospital hallway, never leaving me. wow, thank you! My nephews Sam Taylor & Chance Taylor picked Trent up from Hockey, calmed him down, and played with him all weekend. They made him feel great and right at home. Thank you! My friends prayed and prayed and supported me in every way. And so did prayer warriors from SouthBrook Christian Church and Cancer Hope at SouthBrook. Prayers were answered! Thank you! I also need to thank all my MVH Careflight and ICU nurses! And thank you Doctors Jim Tsatalis & Bryan Ludwig. They are both unbelievable!! I trust them with my life! From the bottom of my heart, and ‘head,’ I can’t thank you all enough!!! Blessed to have you all in my life! Hug and kiss your family and friends. Tell them you love them. Live for today and never forget, with God ALL things are possible!”

Meredith Vieira Worried About Olympic Security

As FTVLive told you, NBC decided to have Meredith Vieira and not Savannah Guthrie alongside Matt Lauer for the opening ceremonies of the winter Olympics.

But, Meredith is worried about her safety while covering the games in Russia.

"I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t [concerned about security]," Vieira said in an interview the Hollywood Reporter. "I really believe the Russian government is going to do everything it can to avoid that situation. This is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s baby and they don’t want anything to go wrong. But that doesn’t mean things won’t happen elsewhere in the country because I think those terrorists are given an opportunity and they will take it."

"I'm basically assured that it will be fine," added Vieira. "But it may not be. I know that. But I feel good enough about it that I’m going to be there for sure."

Vieira, who has often said one of her best friends is a gay man, is also concerned about anti-gay laws in Russia. She said she won’t be surprised to see some peaceful symbolic actions, especially during the opening ceremony -- and even encourages it: "In terms of demonstrations and all that. I would love to see everybody walk out with rainbow ribbons. I think something will happen at the opening ceremony."

Stay tuned...

Chicago Deuce Bolts for Al Jazeera

Chris Myers

A Chicago Assistant News Director is going from local low rated news operation to a national low rated news operation.

Chris Myers (no, not that one) has resigned as the Deuce at Fox-owned WFLD  to join Al Jazeera America.

Myers told staffers in a meeting Wednesday that he’ll work through next week at Fox 32 before moving to Los Angeles to help start up a new weekly show for the fledgling cable news channel. No word yet on his replacement.

Myers, a former executive producer at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 and producer at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, joined Fox 32 in January 2012 as assistant news director under his mentor, Phyllis Schwartz. When Schwartz resigned the following December, Myers served as interim news director, but was passed over for the permanent job in favor of Tom Doerr, who signed on from Fox-owned KRIV-TV in Houston.

H/T Robert Feder 

Houston...We Have a Problem

OK, let's play you make the call?

You find out a woman is suing Houston Texans star running back, Arian Foster, Claiming that he got her pregnant and is about to give birth to his kid.

Do you call the Houston Texans front office and try to get a comment? Do you ask them to contact Foster and see if he will meet with you?

Or do you get his address off the lawsuit papers and head over to his house unannounced?

Let's see which answer KRIV Reporter Isaiah Carey chose.

Now what would you do? 

Ummmmm...What are you talking about?

CNN Reporter Randi Kaye was talking with Anderson Cooper and I don't know about you,  but this conversation seems a bit sexual to me. 

Watch this quick clip and see if you agree...

MSNBC Boss Takes Responsibility for Stupid Hosts (sort of)

MSNBC's Phil Griffin says he takes responsibility for recent gaffes that have led to anchor apologies and exits at the news network.

Which is good for Griffin to do since after all he put the people on the air to begin with.

"These were judgment calls made by some of our people," Griffin tells the Hollywood Reporter. "We quickly took responsibility for them and took action. They were unfortunate, but I'm not going to allow these specific moments of lack of judgment to define us."

Griffin is referring to the three stooges, Alec Baldwin, Martin Bashir and Melissa Harris-Perry. 

"We handled them," says Griffin. "We were transparent. That is our philosophy: Be factual, and step up when you make a mistake. And I don't see that among our competition, whether it's getting something wrong on a major story or when there are clear inaccuracies and they're not corrected."

But when it comes to his own stupid quote, Griffin denies saying it.

Griffin was quoted as saying that MSNBC was "not the place" for breaking news." Which is a pretty stupid thing for the head of a 24 hour NEWS network to say.

But, Griffin says "I did not say that," he says. "It was in reference to CNN, that their brand is known for breaking news. And my reference was not that we don't do [breaking news], but we're not known for it in the way that CNN is. I stand by our coverage of any major news story."

As for his latest hire Ronan Farrow and his quote about his dad Woody Allen, claiming that he molested his 7 year old daughter? 

Griffin's cool with that.

"He's a very clever guy," says Griffin. "That's a personal issue that he felt necessary to respond to. I'll let it speak for itself."

It's Not About Safety, It's About $$$

DirecTV has dropped The Weather Channel and now we're all going to die.

At least that's how The Weather Channel wants us to see it.  

The pissing match is all about retrains fees with DirecTV.

TWC says that they want just one penny more per subscriber from DirecTV to broadcast their signal. A penny doesn't sound like much, until you consider the fact that DirecTV has 20 million subscribers, then you realize we're talking real cash here.

The Weather Channel is claiming that it is irresponsible for DirecTV to drop them and it is putting the safety of the public in danger.

FTVLive wants to make two points here.

No. 1 - If you have really nasty severe weather moving into your area, like the tornado is just blocks away, are you watching The Weather Channel?

No. You're tuning into a local channel. 

Now of course, if your Mom's living in another state and her area is being hit with wicked weather, then yes, you're watching The Weather Channel to see what's going on with Mom?

The bottom line is very few people that are in the path of severe weather are turning to The Weather Channel. It is more a way to catch up on weather news outside your market.

No. 2 - If this is really about public safety and The Weather Channel and corporate parent Comcast/NBC care, then why are they asking for any money at all from DirecTV or the other providers?

Why aren't they providing them with their signal for free?

Comcast/NBC is a major corporation, if they really care, make The Weather Channel free. It's not like they can't afford it.

The fact is this has nothing to do with public safety, if it did than Comcast/NBC would do the right thing and give away their signal.

They can pitch the public that it's about safety, but the truth is it's all about the money. 

It's always about the money. 

Ummmmm....

Comcast Sports Mid Atlantic was making fun of the Chicago Cubs new mascot, who goes by the name of Clark.

In the story, they showed a drawing of Clark the Cub and see if you notice something strange about Clark?

Hint: Look at his dick

The drawing was one that the website Deadspin made up to poke fun at the mascot. 

We're betting that some editor at Comcast Sports is in a bit of trouble. 

Prosecutors Claim Conflict in Case Against Chicago Reporter

Dave Savini's mugshot

FTVLive has been reporting on the arrest of WBBM Investigative Reporter Dave Savini of DUI and other charges. WBBM has yet to report on the story of the arrest.

Now Prosecutors in the case say there is a conflict.

The Chicago Tribune reports that DuPage County prosecutors are asking to bring in outside counsel to handle the case of a Chicago television reporter charged with drunken driving.

In a motion filed Monday, prosecutors asked for the appointment of a special prosecutor because a DuPage assistant state’s attorney is a brother-in-law to Dave Savini of CBS Channel 2 and could be called as a witness in the case.

The motion will be heard Wednesday morning before DuPage Chief Judge John Elsner.

Savini, 47, was arrested last weekend and charged with driving under the influence, battery and other charges after he allegedly shoved another motorist and then left the scene of a minor traffic accident in the parking lot of a Taco Bell in Naperville.

The motion did not name the assistant state’s attorney who is related to Savini, other than to say he is a supervisor, and it did not say whether he is employed in the criminal or civil division.

However, because the brother-in-law is a potential witness in the case, the relationship would pose, at the least, the appearance of a conflict of interest, the motion said.

State’s Attorney Robert  has asked neighboring Kane County for assistance, according to the motion. Kane State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said Tuesday his office has agreed to take on the case, pending the approval of the court, but declined further comment until the motion has been heard.

Police say Savini had a blood-alcohol level of .13 after he was stopped about three miles from the restaurant in the early morning hours on Jan. 4. Because he had two teenage passengers with him, he was also charged with misdemeanor counts of endangering the life of a child.

Another Bad Day for New Day

CNN's Jeff Zucker says that this is the year he will focus his attention on CNN's primetime line-up.

He just might want to take another look at the mornings as well.

Zucker spent millions revamping CNN's morning show and came up with 'New Day.'

He might have called it 'New Flop' because that is exactly what it is. CNN has had trouble building an audience in the morning and Zucker proclaimed that New Day was going to break that curse.

It hasn't.... Monday's numbers show that ND pulled in just 141,000 viewers and just 21,000 in the demo for the 7-8AM time slot.

CNN insiders tell FTVLive that the show "is a failure."

"They need to blow it up and start over with new hosts, this just isn't work," said one CNN staffer to FTVLive.

We can hardly wait to see what Zucker does with prim time.

Stay tuned...