NBC Pays for Lauer's Commute to Work....By Chopper

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While New Yorkers are stuck in gridlock each morning trying to make their way into the Big Apple, Matt Lauer is soaring above them.

Page Six says that NBC has agreed to foot the bill for helicopters to fly him to the Hamptons and back.

In June, Lauer extended his lucrative $20 million-a-year deal with NBC News to remain a “Today” co-host through 2016, following speculation that he would leave the show in the wake of the storm over the brutal departure of Ann Curry in 2012.

As part of the deal, NBC agreed to pay for Lauer to chopper out to the Hamptons, where he has a 40-acre horse farm in Water Mill and a nearby mansion, reportedly worth $15 million, in which he lives year-round with his wife, Annette Roque, and their children.

A source told us: “NBC News chiefs want to do everything to keep Matt happy. They believe ‘Today’ has turned a corner and he is the key to its continuing success. They agreed to pay for his helicopter flights to the Hamptons and back, so he can spend more time with his family.”

While NBC sources are whispering Lauer could be choppering to the Hamptons and back up to three times a week, other insiders insist his flights there are fewer.

Now all you talent know what to ask for in your next contract. 

Meet The Press will use Russert's Son

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Luke Russert, who's only real credentials is being Time Russert's son, is going to get a lot of face time on dad's old show, Meet The Press.

Page Six dishes that NBC is bringing in Luke Russert as a regular panelist on the Sunday morning show in a bid to turn around its catastrophic ratings slide.

Also joining new moderator Chuck Todd’s team will be former Republican congressman and “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough, who sources say “is taking on a larger role within NBC News as a senior political analyst and would be one of the regular Sunday panelists.”

We’re told the move is part of a plan to bring a right-leaning voice to the program to appeal to viewers turned off by the show’s famously left-leaning former hosts including the ousted David Gregory.

The source added, “Chuck Todd is busily assembling the team of on-air talent that will join him on the new ‘Meet the Press.’ Joe will be a regular alongside Luke Russert, whose father famously moderated the show for 16-plus years.”

The View Fills the Last Two Seats

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ABC's 'The View' has finally decided who will take the two open seats on the show.

Actress Rosie Perez and Republican media operative Nicolle Wallace are joining the show to sit alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell when it kicks off it's new season on September 15th. 

Perez is an actress and choreographer who has appeared in the movies “Do the Right Thing” and “Fearless.” Wallace, a political analyst for MSNBC, was communications chief for President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign and was an adviser on John McCain’s 2008 campaign.

H/T NY Post 

Expanding the News in Des Moines

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Tribune owned WHO is adding a 4PM newscast starting next week. The station says that it is an effort to give viewers another option to get their news.

Of course the reality is that millions of political dollars will be up for grabs from now until 2016. Politicians love buying news avails and more news means more avails.

But, the station is never going to come out and say that's why they are adding another newscast.

So, what did they say?

“This is a newscast we’ve built from the ground up,” says WHO President and General Manager Dale R. Woods. “Gathering news and information is changing. But the way Iowans are consuming that news is changing even faster. This will be a newscast unlike any other in which our viewers will have a voice and help determine our direction in each broadcast.”

“Each 4pm newscast will start with a blank slate and fresh ideas,” says WHO-HD News Director Rod Peterson. “This newscast will be more elastic so that we may expand on stories our viewers are actively-engaging in and share those viewpoints.

I'm sorry, I just threw up in my mouth a little. 

Filling the Weather Hole in Buffalo

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WIVB in Buffalo has finally gotten around to filing the open job in the Weather department.

The LIN station has hired Andrew Baglini, who worked for AccuWeather for three years to become the station's weekend meteorologist.

He replaces Bryan Shaw who the station parted ways with back in June. After Shaw was let go he landed a job in Louisville almost immediately. 

The station had dragged their feet (i.e. saved money) on hiring a replacement for Shaw.

They finally have,  Baglini starts in a couple of weeks. 

Orlando Station Hires Casey Anthony Judge

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The judge who presided over the Casey Anthony c̶i̶r̶c̶u̶s̶ trial has been hired by Cox owned WFTV. 

The station announced that  Belvin Perry is going to be their new legal analyst. Viewers could see him as soon as Thursday on WFTV's newscasts.

Perry will be paired with legal analyst Bill Sheaffer to discuss court  issues. Perry may weigh in on other issues as well.

"Belvin has a broad range of expertise," WFTV news director Matt Parcell said. "He can speak on social issues. He has a big-picture view."

Parcell said WFTV will feature Perry on newscasts, "Central Florida Spotlight" and 9 Family Connection specials. Parcell sounded as if he'd use Perry frequently.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to be affiliated with Channel 9, Central Florida's leading news team," Perry said in a statement. "Additionally, I am happy to work with Bill Sheaffer providing viewers legal analysis and commentary."

H/T Orlando Sentinel 

Houston Station Hires ND from within

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ABC O&O KTRK has hired their first female News Director in the station's history and they didn't have to go far to find her.

Special Projects Executive Producer Wendy Granato is  being bumped up to the big chair, taking over the seat left by longtime news director Dave Strickland in July.

Here is the internal memo that was sent to the staff from KTRK general manager Henry Florsheim:

After literally speaking with candidates from coast to coast, it turns out the next ABC 13 News Director was already right here in Houston. I’m most pleased to let everyone know that Wendy Granato has a agreed to become the new Vice President of News and Digital Content at KTRK-TV. Along with an extensive news background, everyone who has worked with Wendy knows she has suburb communication and organizational skills. As technology has allowed viewer patterns and consumption practices to change, she has taken a leadership position in the newsroom embracing and initiating any number of new digital projects. At a time when our industry and business is facing unparalleled change and challenge, Wendy has time and again demonstrated an ability to create top quality content across a wide range of formats and platforms.

Over the last twelve years at the Station, Wendy has a proven track record of success on multiple high profile projects in both the News and Programming Departments including signature Station events that cross departments . As senior Executive News Producer, Special Projects for a decade, Wendy has overseen special promotable news reports, medical reporting, and consumer reports, alerts, and investigations. For many seasons she coordinated much of the station’s pre and regular season Texans coverage; and has served as Executive Producer of the Houston Marathon programming and race coverage. Wendy has moved from News to Programming and back throughout her career. She first came to the station in 1998 to join the Programming Department. She was promoted from Producer, to Senior Producer to Executive Producer of the Debra Duncan Show.

Wendy’s first broadcast experience was in News as a producer/reporter/ anchor/ assignment editor and Executive Producer at various times at KATC-TV in Lafayette, Louisiana. She moved to Houston to a position of anchor/ producer at KNWS-TV--the 24 hour news operation-- in 1993. Over time, as had occurred previously, she found herself increasing drawn toward production; and over a span of three years held a series of positions culminating in being named News Director from 1996 to 1998. During that period she oversaw editorial content, staffing, and operations of station.

An Louisiana State University graduate, Wendy double major in Broadcast Journalism and History. In case you haven’t heard, she’s said to have a keen interest in football. I’m sure we’ll all give her a hand as she steps into her new role.

H/T Mike McGuff

Former CNN Anchor is Dead

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Word is that former CNN Anchor Bob Cain has passed away. 

Cain joined CNN in 1980 shortly after its inception, he anchored various programs, including CNN Morning News, Daybreak, Week In Review, and Newsline. He was also a former Anchor at WPRI and WJAR in Providence, R.I.

He worked as the news guy for the Don Imus show as well. 

Friends say he was suffering from several illnesses for the past few years.

Bounced Columbus Anchor Goes to Court

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Earlier Today, FTVLive told you that former WBNS Kurt Ludlow, who  was pushed out at the Columbus station, was fighting his old station in court. A legal fund has been set up in his name.

Ludlow had a job offer across the street at Sinclair's WSYX, but WBNS blocked the move with a non-compete clause. 

Today Ludlow had round one in court.

Sources tell FTVLive that WBNS GM John Cardenas, and News Director Elbert Tucker testified today on behalf of WBNS.

WSYX News Director Mitch Jacob was also in court, telling the judge that he gave Ludlow a job offer on July 17 but rescinded it after WBNS sent a letter to the station. 

The hearing is expected to continue. 

DiSy Goes Out on Top in the Demos

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Diane Sawyer came this/close to catching Brian Williams last week in total viewers. 

Sawyer anchored just three nights last week before departing "ABC World News," but she helped bring that telecast to within 40,000 viewers of "NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams." It was ABC's closest finish in total viewers to NBC since 2009.

"NBC Nightly News" averaged 7.423 million viewers to ABC's 7.383 million. The "CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley" ranked third with 6.116 million.

But Sawyer and ABC were the winners for the week in both the 25-to-54 and the 18-49 age group.

In 25-to-54, "ABC World News" averaged 1.942 million to NBC's 1.671 million and CBS' 1.448 million.

Will David Muir be able to continue the momentum?

Stay tuned..... 

H/T Orlando Sentinel