Is this a TV Consultant thing?

Did some consultant come up with a new idea here? Instead of putting the over the shoulder graphics over the shoulder, this station is putting them half way over the Anchor's face. 

You get the Idea...

It appears that KCBS will have "Contiuing Coverage" on the NBA owner story. Is that something new for the May book? 

Will a Man Replace BaBa WaWa on The View?

When Barbra Walters signs off from The View the speculation is, she could be replaced by a dude.

Page Six says that media insiders are wondering if she might be replaced by a man.

Walters will leave her seat at the ABC daytime round-table show she co-hosts with Whoopi Goldberg, Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd on May 16, but stay on as an executive producer.

Some Goldberg fans were whispering that the comic was stepping away from the show, but sources insist Goldberg is staying put.

She will, however, be taking a break for a few weeks to make a movie this summer. As for who could fill the empty seat left by Barbara, speculation is growing that a man might be chosen to succeed her.

Previous “View” co-hosts have all been women, but Jerry O’Connell, Mario Cantone, Dan Abrams and John Leguizamo have all been special guests. But insiders tell us the show’s still months away from naming a new co-host — male or female.

Life After Tv News

Ernie Bjorkmant spent 35 years delivering the news on Denver Television. 

Now, he's about as far away from TV news as he can get. 

Ernie and his wife, Sue, are in Ethiopia. Not as tourists, but as peace corps volunteers.

"We were thinking of what the next chapter in our life would be," Ernie and Sue said via email from Ethiopia. "We thought first about just 'vagabonding' across the U.S., then we thought of traveling overseas indefinitely, but we realized we wanted our travel to have some kind of purpose."

The Bjorkmans said while they were researching possibilities, they came across the Peace Corps.

"[We] looked at each other and immediately knew that was the perfect blend of passion and purpose," Sue wrote. "As fate would have it, the same day we realized this, there was a Peace Corps informational event at CU."

They said they came away inspired and resolved to get the process going.

When asked where they wanted to serve, the Bjorkmans said their preferences were the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and South America.

"And here we are in Africa," they laughed.

 Ethiopia is big change from Ernie's life as TV news anchor on Channel 7 and Channel 2 in Denver.

However, even back then, he was serving the community by hosting charity events.

In 2009, Ernie Bjorkman was downsized from TV and became a veterinary technician.

"A lot of people don’t realize, but the 50 plus age group is a growing sector in the Peace Corps," the Bjorkmans said. "They are encouraging older Americans to look into serving because they have more experience."

However, it's not easy.

"It is intense," they said. "Learning a new language can fry your brain sometimes and it is definitely a 'hardship' lifestyle, so just know those things going in. It is a unique opportunity to totally immerse yourself in another culture, though."

On Facebook they wrote, "Everyday we find ourselves saying 'We are in Africa!' It still amazes us."

H/T KMGH

Not Again?! Race to Be First....But Not Right

Here we go again.

The TV news outlets spent much of Tuesday trying to guess what punishment  NBA Commissioner Adam Silverwould hand down against racist LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

Just before Silver's 2 PM conference, TMZ—which broke the initial news about the recording—tweeted that the league had suspended Sterling "indefinitely."

Minutes later NBC News jumped on the bandwagon and tweeted same information, adding that Sterling would be fined $5 million.

On MSNBC, host Joy Reid said that the network had "confirmed" those details.

Surprise, surprise the reports were wrong.

Silver announced that Sterling had been banned for life, not suspended, and that he had been fined $2.5 million, not $5 million.

And cue the correction from NBC News:

No matter how many times it happens, networks now-a-days are much more concerned with being first than they are with being right.

And that in itself is a very sad. 

H/T HuffPo

ESPN Boss: We Have a Better Product Than the Streaming Services

ESPN President John Skipper says that his cable net is better than any of the streaming services out there.

“We have better product than they do,” said Skipper today at the NCTA’s Cable Show convention in downtown LA.

He says that cable is better than Netflix, Amazon and Yahoo. “Shame on us if we don’t protect our turf,” he added. “We’re allowing them to set the tone of the conversation — we should set the tone of the conversation.”

“We’re not all going to grow and make more money unless we sell the value” of pay-TV, he said. “There was not this discussion when it was a growing pie. We’ve got to find a way to grow the pie.”

In other words, we the consumer are about to get screwed over again.

Reach for your wallet. 

Jacksonville News Director Still M-I-A

Weeks ago, FTVLive got word that WTLV News Director Kathy Williams was gone from the station.

We called WTLV GM Eric Land and asked him if Williams was no longer at the station? Land told us "nothing could be further from the truth." We asked him if Williams still worked at the station? Land replied "absolutely."

But it appears that Eric Land might have not been very forthright with FTVLive. 

Williams has not been seen in the newsroom for weeks and by all accounts, she isn't coming back.

FTVLive spoke with a staffer from First Coast News just moments ago. The employee tells FTVLive that the staff has been kept in the dark as to what is happening with their News Director.

It's the middle of the May book and management is not coming clean to the staff. Then again why should management be straight with the staff, it's only the communications business after all. 

Stay tuned.... 

NBC takes the Wraps off The Tom Brokaw News Center

NBC New unveiled a new Los Angeles bureau on the Universal Studios lot named in honor of longtime NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw.

The Brokaw News Center -- which will be home to the West Coast operations of NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC, Telemundo and KNBC and KVEA -- was dedicated during a ceremony today attended by Brokaw and his wife, Meredith, as well as NBCUniversal executives including News Group chairman Pat Fili-Krushel, NBC News president Deborah Turness and CEO Steve Burke, who noted that Brokaw “is synonymous with integrity, passion and a commitment to getting the story right."

Word is one of the bathroom stalls in the building was dedicated to David Gregory. 

H/T The Hollywood Reporter

This is Your Global Internet Anchor

As Katie Couric wraps up her failed talk show, she will be focusing more of her time on being the Global Anchor for Yahoo.

Yesterday, Yahoo unveiled a couple of more shows that Couric will be doing for them.

The perky one will have two new series starting this summer. “World 3.0″ and “Now I Get It.”

World 3.0 will feature Couric interviewing  technology leaders and entrepreneurs.

Now I Get will be Couric helping simplify complicated topics  through short videos.

So just how well does Couric understand the Internet? 

Check out this clip from 20 years ago of Couric and Bryant Gumbel trying to figure out what the @ symbol was in email.

And remember, this is your Global Internet Anchor.....

Fired Indy Anchor Resurfaces Across the Street

Back in November, FTVLive was the FIRST to tell you that WTHR had parted ways with Anchor and Indiana Governor's niece Nicole Pence.

Now, Pence is resurfacing across the street at WXIN Fox 59.

The station announced they are expanding its news operation to include a 7pm and 11pm newscast.

The 11PM newscast will be anchored by Pence and will debut at the end of June.

The 7PM newscast will be tacked on in the Fall. 

The 11PM show will be called NewsPoint. The station says that NewsPoint will be packaged as a standalone newscast— a concise wrap-up of the day’s events, plus a quick look forward to tomorrow’s weather. NewsPoint will have a distinct look and feel from the rest of FOX59’s newscasts seen throughout the day, and will feature Nicole Pence as anchor. 

“Nicole brings to NewsPoint instant credibility and familiarity for 11pm news viewers” says General Manager Paul Rennie. “We couldn’t be happier that she is part of the FOX59 News team.” 

Indy Station Giving Away Really, Really Big TV

Struggling WRTV in Indianapolis is trying anything to get viewers.

This May book they have resorted to giving away stuff to try and bump up the ratings. The station says they are giving away a really, really big TV to one lucky viewer.

Which more then luckily will be won be the viewer and used to watch another station's newscast.

Just saying.....

Let's go to the promo:

The CNN Video Part Duex

5 days ago FTVLive told you about CNN boss Jeff Zucker and him saying that he likes when people tell him he's wrong.

Zucker made the comments at a town hall meeting back at the beginning of the year. When the meeting reached the question and answer part of the meeting, which Anderson Cooper moderated, the very first question asked was how does CNN stop all managers at the network from being afraid of Zucker?

Zucker, did not seem pleased with the first question, but claimed that he likes the staff that pushes back against him and tells him he's wrong.

In our original story, we posted video that was recorded inside the meeting. Not long after FTVLive posted the video, it was yanked.

So, we thought we would try again. Here's the video one more time:

Wait a Minute!

Fox News kicked off their new noon show “Outnumbered” yesterday.

FNC said that the show was going to feature 4 women and one guy.

For the first show the cast was Kimberly Guilfoyle, Harris Faulkner, Sandra Smith, Jedediah Bila and Tucker Carlson.

Which begs the question that FTVLive has to ask....where was the guy?!

Just asking....

Craig Ferguson to Leave CBS

It's not like everyone did not see this one coming.

After David Letterman announced he was leaving CBS, many expected that Craig Ferguson, who's show follows Letterman, would be following Dave out the door.

Ferguson announced on his show last night that he will leave “The Late Late Show” at the end of the year.

Ferguson's contract  tuns out at that time and informed CBS executives that he would make the announcement Monday night.

“CBS and I are not getting divorced, we are ‘consciously uncoupling,’ but we will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton, both of whom we love very much,” Ferguson said referring to two favorite props on the show.

He has been on CBS since 2005.

It is likely that CBS will fill Ferguson's role with either a woman or a minority.

Stay tuned.... 

Bumped Up in Utica

WUTR in Utica, NY has bumped up Reporter Mary Wilson to co-anchor of its nightly news broadcasts.

Wilson joins veteran journalist Don Dudley on the Eyewitness News Anchor Desk on the Nexstar station. 

“Mary is the consummate professional. We could not be more pleased that we have been able to promote from within our existing staff for this critical position,” said GM Stephen Merren.

“I am confident that Don Dudley and Mary Wilson will bring a level of experience and dedication to our newscast viewers both expect and deserve. In fact, the entire Eyewitness News Team is committed to bringing Central New Yorkers compelling, meaningful stories with an unparalleled standard of accuracy and excellence,” Merren added. Come on! People really talk like that? I don't think so. 

Eyewitness News Director Don Dudley (who shares the same name as the Anchor (JK)) added, “This is yet another step forward as we continue to assemble a team of professionals at every level of this news organization whom television  viewers in the Mohawk Valley can trust to bring them the type of people-oriented news coverage they can count on.”

Wilson joined the Eyewitness News Team in May 2013 as a reporter.
 

You Go to Your Room....NOW!

WTVA Chief Meteorologist Matt Laubhan got a little stressed out as a tornado was spotted in Tupelo.

He warned that it was a emergency, could be deadly and then ordered staff to the basement like they were school children.

Let's go to the video: