Seems Like a Conflict to Us

Sources tell FTVLive that the FCC Commissioner met with Sinclair Broadcasting News Directors and corporate leaders Monday.

Yes, the same commissioner that will cast a vote soon whether to approve the contentious Sinclair-Allbritton deal.

We hear that FCC Commissioner Mignon  Clyburn (pictured) told the execs that she couldn't talk about the Albriiton deal (wink, wink, nod,nod).  

Sources say that Clyburn talked to the Sinclair suits for about an hour before taking questions which included managers touting the positives of Sinclair.

Clyburn also joined the group for lunch...talking more about FCC, mergers and more.

And nobody sees a conflict here? 

WTF?!

Cue the Idiot

It's time for another edition of "Hitting on the Hottie Reporter"

In this episode we head out to KTLA in Los Angeles. Not only do we have a drunk idiot, but he throws down the F-Bomb to boot. 

KTLA Reporter Christina Pascucci is caught of guard as the F-Bomb lands. 

Let's go to the Video:

WTF?! Iowa Station Ignores Reporters Arrests

If the mayor of Des Moines Chief of Staff was arrested for drunk driving and the very next day the mayor was busted for driving drunk, do you think WHO in Des Moines would cover the story?

We're guessing there would be team coverage and a number of live shots involved.

Yet, when their award winning Reporter and Weekend Anchor are busted for DUI just one day a part, the station all but ignores the story. 

As FTVLive told you, WHO Reporter Sonya Heitshusen  was arrested early Saturday for driving drunk. Her colleague, Weekend Anchor Erik Wheater was arrested for drunk driving the day before.

TV stations love to brag about how their news department covers every detail of the story. Yet they clam up the second it involves one of their own.

How can you expect viewers to take you serious when you pull crap like this?

If you ask us, both Reporters should be fired for driving drunk and the News Director should be sacked for not covering the story.

Ok...we're getting down off our soapbox now.

Carry on.... 
 

Coach Fired After He Mades Threats Against Dallas Reporter

Twitter takes down another one.

Three days after a high school basket ball coach posted a threat on Twitter aimed at WFAA reporter Brett Shipp, the coach was canned.

The Ft. Worth Star Telegram says that Dallas Kimball basketball coach Royce “Snoop” Johnson made the threat over the weekend after two of Johnson’s family members — DISD assistant athletic director Goree Johnson and Dallas Madison head basketball coach Roderick Johnson — were fired along with a dozen other DISD coaches and administrators in a recruiting scandal uncovered by Shipp and WFAA.

“You went at me which is cool, but when you go after my family [sic] lights out!” Snoop Johnson tweeted Friday evening, hours after news broke of the mass firings. “Now I’m coming for you. I fear none of you.”

As Kimball head coach, Snoop Johnson won state 4A basketball titles in 2011 and 2012 and clinched a third state title this past March.

In a series of stories called “Unfair Game” in 2012, WFAA showed how many of the players on Kimball’s back-to-back championship teams were improperly recruited from other schools. Snoop Johnson denied any wrongdoing.

Buffalo Station Names Anchor's Replacement

Gannett owned WGRZ in Buffalo is moving weekend morning Anchor Michael Wooten to the weekdays.

Wooten is replacing Mary Friona's on the station's 11 a.m. weekday newscast after she signs off NBC affiliate on Friday.

The Buffalo News says that Wooten, who has been anchoring the station's weekend versions of "Daybreak," made the announcement on his Facebook page. He added he also is becoming the managing editor of the news department.

Heather Ly will be taking his place as the anchor on the weekend.

Friona announced a few weeks ago that she is leaving the station this Friday after 16 years to focus on her family.

DiSy vs. BriWi

"ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" ranked as the No. 1 evening newscast in Adults 25-54 (1.936 million) for the week of June 2, 2014, according to Nielsen Media Research.

"World News" beat NBC's "Nightly News" (1.857 million) during the week by 79,000 Adults 25-54. In fact, "World News" has ranked No. 1 in Adults 25-54 for the 6th time in the last 9 weeks.

"World News" slashed its week to week margins with "NBC Nightly News" in Total Viewers (-71% - 234,000 vs. 808,000) to deliver its closest overall viewer performance with "Nightly News" in nearly 9 months.

Orlando Station Hires KC Anchor

Another anchor hire in O-Town.

WKMG has hired a new morning anchor from Kansas City, Mo.

David Hall will join the CBS affiliate on June 23 and start co-anchoring with Bridgett Ellison from 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays after June 30.

Hall worked as a weekend anchor and reporter at KMBC in Kansas City.

He has previous stops in Savannah, Ga.; Pittsburgh; and Secaucus, N.J. 

"We searched long and hard for the right person to join our team," said WKMG General Manager Skip Valet. "I am confident that we found that person in David Hall. He is a smart, strong journalist who enjoys communicating with viewers, and he is excited get to work in our community."

Hall replaces Matt Austin, who moved to evenings in December after Gaard Swanson left WKMG.

"I am very much looking forward to calling Florida my new home and to becoming a part of this team and community," Hall said.

H/T Orlando Sentinel 

NBC Wants Zimmerman Case Tossed

NBC is hoping that a judge will toss the case that George Zimmerman filed against the network.

Zimmerman's defamation lawsuit against NBC Universal is set for a hearing on June 19th. NBC is asking the huge to dismiss the case. 

 The case had been postponed pending the conclusion of the Trayvon Martin shooting case. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder last July in the shooting death of the 17-year-old in Florida.

Zimmerman claims he was defamed by NBC when the network edited his 911 call to police after Martin's shooting to make it sound like he was racist.

NBC said in a court filing that Zimmerman failed to comply with Florida's statute regarding retraction requests after the March 2012 broadcasts at issue.

H/T AP

Raleigh Station Gets It

Raleigh station shows that it somewhat gets social media.

The Woman That Accused NY Anchor of Rape Speaks Out

The woman that accused WNYW Anchor Greg Kelly of date-raping her almost three years ago defended herself in a lengthy interview to Buzzfeed. 

Maria Di Toro said she “scared into submission” after her accusations against Kelly — son of then-Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly — were leaked to the media in 2012.

“I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I realize that I didn’t do all that I could have done to stand up for myself,” Di Toro said.

Kelly, 43, was never charged and prosecutors ended up dismissing Di Toro’s claims that she was incapacitated during their October 2011 encounter.

Di Toro said she believes Kelly drugged her before sex — a night she only vaguely remembers.

She said she was a “male apologist” at first, but now sees the incident differently.

“I didn’t realize this is not how men treat women,” Di Toro said.

Kelly’s lawyer declined to respond to her claims but told Buzzfeed the anchor had been “properly exonerated.”

H/T NY Daily News

Bill O'Reilly Unloads on CNN's Brian Stelter

Bill O’Reilly was not happy after CNN Reliable Sources Anchor Brian Stelter for accused him of conducting a “smear campaign” against the family of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

Stelter made the comments after O’Reilly said last week that  Bergdahl’s father looked like a Muslim.

O’Reilly took aim at Stelter last night and fired, “We expect that from that guy, a far-left zealot who has masqueraded as a journalist for years.”

Ouch!

Megyn Kelly Tops O'Reilly for the Week

Speaking of papa bear.... 

Bill O'Reilly is catching a lot of heat for his Bowe Bergdahl's father "looks like a Muslim" comment last week.

But, that takes back seat to the fact that FNC's Megyn Kelly beat him last week in the demos.

It is the the first time Kelly beat O'Reilly head to head. The last time she beat the Factor in the demo, O'Reilly was off for the week and had a guest host.

From June 2-June 6, Kelly File drew 413,000 adults 25-54. That’s a hair ahead of the 402,000 that O’Reilly pulled in among the demo,

If Kelly keeps beating Bill O, how long before he somehow links her to Al-Qaaeda?

Just saying.... 

LA Stations Cover Stand Off

A high speed chase ended when a man jumped out of his car and climbed onto a roof with a rifle. The suspect jumped from roof to roof before barricading himself inside a house and holding police at bay for 5 hours. 

In other words, just a normal Monday in Los Angeles. 

Fargo Anchor Tries out for The Voice

A Fargo News Anchor chased her dream and auditioned for NBC's "The Voice".

KVLY Anchor Stephanie Goetz traveled to DC to tryout for the show, but she was not picked and was sent back to Fargo. 

Goetz said she’s glad she traveled to the nation’s capital for a shot at the reality series.

“I said, ‘You know what? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’” she said.

Goetz has been singing since childhood. Her mother toured in a Christian singing band for a few years after finishing college.

“Singing is in my blood,” Goetz said.

Saturday, Goetz lined up with other hopeful singers at a Washington, D.C., convention center.

The others in line impressed Goetz, she said. One person would break out into song and others would quickly follow.

“Every single one of them should be a recording artist,” she said.

Well maybe some should just stick to anchoring the news.

Just saying.... 

H/T Park Rapids Enterprise 

Taking Over the 10PM in O-Town

WESH (Orlando) has announced that Brett Connolly replaced Syan Rhodes as anchor of the 10 p.m. news on sister station WKCF-Channel 18. He started his new gig last night. 

The Orlando Sentinel says that Connolly also continues as co-anchor with Martha Sugalski of the 5 p.m. news on WESH-Channel 2, the station announced Monday. He started in that role in mid-February. He joined NBC affiliate WESH from WFXT, the Fox-owned station in Boston, where he was a morning anchor and reporter.

Rhodes has left Orlando to work for NBC affiliate KPRC in Houston, her hometown. She will be a general assignment reporter, and her first day there will be July 7.

In a note to the Sentinel, Rhodes said: "There was never a dull moment during my six and a half years here! It's been an honor to cover the news here as part of the WESH team. Central Floridians really embraced me from the moment I got here, and I'm forever grateful for their love and support."

Bumped Up the Tribune Food Chain

WJW (Cleveland) has named Paul Perozeni as the station's new General Manager.

Perozeni comes from the sales ranks at the Tribune station, he was the GSM at the station/ 

“Paul is truly one of ‘Cleveland’s Own’ and he, as much as anyone, has a deep appreciation for and awareness of the legacy, tradition and commitment of WJW to the city of Cleveland and all of Northeast Ohio,” Tribune COO Lynda King said in a press release. “He is the perfect choice to lead WJW Fox 8 for years to come.”

 “privilege, honor and blessing to have been selected to lead one of the most respected stations in the country,” Perozeni said.

He takes over for Greg Easterly, who was bumped up to the GM job at WGN in Chicago.