Making Room for Kate?

Kate Bolduan

Back in January, FTVLive reported FIRST and EXCLUSIVELY that CNN boss Jeff Zucker was in talks with CNN's DC Bureau Chief Sam Feist about a new role for New Day Co-host Kate Bolduan in CNN's DC Bureau.

Yesterday, CNN announced that senior White House correspondent Brianna Keilar  was being moved to the new role of Senior Political Correspondent.

The network says that Keilar be the network's lead reporter covering Hillary Clinton and the 2016 Democratic presidential field. She will also some fill in anchoring for "The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer."

Which now means that CNN needs to fill the role of Senior White House correspondent.

Hmmmmmm? Kate Bolduan perhaps?

Stay tuned and remember where you read the news first. 

Walking and Talking, Anchors do show on Treadmills

The old saying goes "If you can walk and talk, you can be a TV reporter."

Fox Carolina showed you could also be a TV Anchor.

The station's Anchors did the 10:00 newscast while standing at treadmill desks and walked and talked throughout the show.

Let's go to the video:

FOX Carolina 21

Well.... At Least they're Honest

WNYW Fox 5 in New York went live during last night's newscast and the lower third said it all.

Give them credit for their honesty. 

Confronting the Scammer

KMOV in St. Louis got a tip of a fake debt collector and did a good job of outing the guy as a scam artist.

Reporter Chris Nagus did a sweeps piece that was actually worth watching.

Here's the story:

Feathers Fly as Seattle News Director Loses Bet

You would think that everyone that lives and works in Seattle would be happy that their Seahawks won the Super Bowl. But that's not the case.

KOMO News Director Holly Gauntt is a Broncos fan and was hoping that Denver would win the big game. She was confident enough in Peyton Manning and the Broncos, that she bet a station Photographer that Denver would win the game.

They didn't and this is what happens when you're on the wrong side of a bet:

Taking the Super out of Superstation

We have some bad news for fans across the country of WGN's 9:00 News.

The station is pulling the national feed for the Chicago station's newscast.

Robert Feder says that the hourlong newscast, anchored by Mark Suppelsa and Micah Materre with chief meteorologist Tom Skilling and sportscaster Dan Roan, continues to air locally on the company’s Chicago flagship station. But as of this week, it’s no longer carried on the cable channel seen in 75 million homes nationwide.

WGN America has replaced “WGN News at Nine” with episodes of “Rules of Engagement,” as part of the channel’s effort to relaunch itself as a bigger player in the cable universe.

“We’re transitioning from a network with regional roots to one with a true national identity, driven by provocative, brand-defining programming of the highest quality,” Matt Cherniss, president and general manager of WGN America, said in a statement. “With this relaunch and our expanded portfolio of original content, we expect to significantly strengthen our position as a destination for viewers.”

Starting in April, WGN America will air its first original scripted drama series, “Salem,” set during the infamous 17th century witch trials in Massachusetts. In July, the network will premiere its second original series, “Manhattan,” dramatizing the race to build the first atomic bomb (known as the Manhattan Project) in Los Alamos, N.M.

“We want our series to transport the audience to worlds that they have never experienced and tell big, operatic stories that entice and entertain,” Cherniss said.

Journalists Getting Hacked in Sochi

Journalists covering the Olympics in Sochi are having their laptops and phones hacked almost as soon as the arrive in town.

Take skilled Russian hackers, soft law enforcement and not very tech savy Journalists and you can see where this is headed.

NBC's Richard Engel reports he was hacked not long after getting to the site of the Olympic games:

Watch your Asses

When you make a full screen graphic and you have a weather bug, you better be careful or you could make an "asses" out of your station. News 12 Connecticut I'm looking at you:

What Will Zucker do with CNN's Failing New Day?

Kate Bolduan

It's the same old story at CNN's News Day.

The ratings suck and it is clear to just about everyone including CNN boss Jeff Zucker that his million dollar morning show is a bust.

On Monday, New Day finished at the bottom of the ratings heap, pulling a measly 51,000 viewers in the demo.

FTVLive was the FIRST to report the troubled times at the CNN morning show and we also were the FIRST to report that Zucker was exploring new options for co-Anchor Kate Bolduan.

Zucker appears to be hell bent on leaving Chris Cuomo on the failing morning show, but he knows something has to change.

As FTVLive reported, Zucker is looking to move Bolduan off the show. But, the big question is, who takes her place?

Buzzfeed looks at a few options:

Option #1 is Brooke Baldwin.

Baldwin has been doing a great job of holding down the fort at CNN in the late afternoons for a while now. She’s a solid anchor who can manage a fun celebrity interview. Most importantly, Baldwin can improvise confidently on the air, a skill that is absolutely necessary to neutralize/capitalize on Cuomo’s often cringe-worthy attempts at spontaneous humor. Balwdin may not be the Katie Couric-style answer that Zucker is ultimately looking for, but she has the skills to stabilize this sinking ship and has definitely earned the chance to surprise everyone and turn the show into a winner.

Option #2 Robin Meade

This is an option that FTVLive has floated for years. Bring Meaded over from sister station HLN. HLN beats New Day with no promotion and less than half the budget.

Option #3 Dennis Rodman

The show could use a jester and a villain. Why not kill two birds with one stone and hire Cuomo’s new bff, Dennis Rodman. Throwing a former pro athlete like Rodman into the mix with top dog Cuomo would at the very least be entertaining, and imagine the fun we’ll all have when Worm gets bored and takes over the New Day Twitter account.

What Zucker will do is anyone's guess, but the CNN boss needs to make a move soon. New Day is tanking in the ratings and it's not getting any better. 

Anderson Cooper Likes Playing with Himself

CNN's Anderson Cooper has really enjoyed playing with himself and he even went on the air and talked about it. 

Reporter Helps Rescue Man that Fell onto Train Tracks

WNYW John Huddy took time out from the February book to help save a man that fell onto the train tracks in New York City.

Huddy was reporting on the snowy commute when the man fell.

Seen in the video above wearing a gray jacket, Huddy rushed to rescue the stranger with the help of other bystanders.

The man suffered just some minor injuries. 

Chicago Reporter Pleads Guilty (Updated)

WBBM Investigative Reporter Dave Savini said he took “full responsibility” for his actions after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to drunk driving last month.

“There’s no doubt about it, I made a mistake and used bad judgement, to drive after drinking,” Savini said in a statement after his appearance in DuPage County Circuit Court.

It was the first public comment by Savini since his arrest Jan. 4 following a minor traffic accident in a Taco Bell parking lot.

“I take full responsibility and I apologize — I deeply regret it,” he said. “I will work hard to regain the trust of those who I may have let down.”

As for the trust of WBBM?

They never reported the story and even after their Reporter plead guilty the station said "...we are not offering comment.”

 Update: After not saying anything on Savini's arrest for weeks, in last night's Newscast, WBBM finally mentioned the story. The station briefly reported his guilty plea. 

H/T Robert Feder

Pervert Palm Beach Weatherman Checks into Prison

Above is a photo of former WPTV (West Palm Beach) weatherman Rob Lopicola's new hime.

The pervert weather anchor is now living at the Everglades Correctional Institution, a medium security state prison that’s likely to be his home for the next three years.

The 43-year-old ex-Palm Beach County TV personality, who was convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct and sentenced to 56 months behind bars in December, was assigned the inmate number B12448.

According to state documents, Lopicola could be free to go on March 6, 2017 — and maybe a little sooner if he behaves.

He received credit for his 17 months at the Palm Beach County lockup while awaiting trial.

H/T Gossip Extra

Headed to Tampa?

Bill Berra is leaving as the vice president of news for Journal Broadcast Group and WTMJ (Milwaukee) next month and maybe headed to Florida.

Sources tell FTVLive that WFLA (Tampa) and Berra are talking about him filling the News Director job there.

Word is that Berra is very interested in moving to Florida.

He would replace Don North, who has FTVLive FIRST reported was bounced from the station back in November.

Stay tuned.... 

WPVI Star Forced in Retirement

One of WPVI's (Philly) biggest stars was forced into retirement all because of the snow.

Experts say the star, seen by thousands of people each and everyday is too old and the snow finally did the star in.

Of course we're talking about the Philadelphia's 6ABC ZooBalloon.

The Balloon said an early goodbye Tuesday after suffering irreparable damage in the snowstorm the day before.

The Philly Inquirer says that Zoo officials, on the recommendation of the balloon's manufacturer, Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Ltd. in England, performed a controlled release of its 220,000 cubic feet of helium.

An estimated five to 10 tons of snow - about the equivalent of five hippos - had fallen on the balloon.

The ZooBalloon, was owned by the zoo and sponsored by 6ABC, flew guests up to 400 feet in the air in the spring and summer for a view of the zoo's grounds, Fairmount Park, and Center City.

The ZooBalloon was expected to last only until Labor Day this year, which was planned to be its last flight.

Oh Shit....

Check out this headline from the Orlando Sentinel.

Once you shit and then try to run, isn't that punishment enough?

Just asking....