Sources tell FTVLive that WISH Investigative Reporter Karen Hensel is out the door.
Hensel has been at the station for more than a decade working on investigative stories that have spanned across the state and around the globe.
Her bio has been scrubbed from the station's website.
No word on what happened, but word is she is gone,
You know how it gets really really cold outside....you turn on the news and there is the Reporter standing in the cold telling you, "it's dangerously cold, don't go outside!"?
Well, it was a matter of time before something like this happened.
KRDO(Colorado Springs) Reporter Eric Fink was sent out to do a live shot in the bitter cold and is now in the hospital suffering from frostbite on his hands.
Fellow KRDO Reporter Jonathon Petramala tweeted out this photo of Fink in the hospital.
Let's hope when he thaws out and is released from the hospital, he has the number of a good lawyer.
Maybe then the station along with others will learn that Reporters can tell viewers exactly how cold it is, without going outside.
Just saying....
Yesterday, FTVLive FIRST told you that WOIO (Cleveland) was parting ways with News Director Dan Salamone. Now sources tell FTVLive that the station is parting ways with Action News.
Word is that the Raycom station is going to ditch the "Action News" name and turn to CBS 19 as their new station brand.
Years ago, WKBW in Buffalo which had been known as "Eyewitness News" forever, decided to take a similar route and changed their news branding to "News 7."
It failed miserably and the station crawled back to the "Eyewitness News" name.
The other problem is this.... CBS boss Les Moonves is living for the day when he can offer CBS programming straight to the viewer without going through an affiliate. When Les finds the way and can make it work financially, it will happen.
So, what happens when WOIO wakes up one morning and CBS has pulled the affiliation from the CBS affiliates and is taking their product right to the consumer?
At that point, being "CBS 19" will not make much sense and the station will have to brand again.
Hopefully, "Action News" will still be available in the market.
Just saying....
Former Philly Sports Anchor Don Tollefson had one more chance to accept a plea deal in his ticket scamming case...he turned it down.
Tollefson rejected the plea offer Monday morning that would have included seven months in state prison and a year-plus in drug treatment programs. The jury selection started earlier - then halted - for Tollefson, the former Philadelphia sportscaster who is accused of duping hundreds of people through a ticket-selling scam.
After Tollefson's rejection of the deal, the jury selection resumed.
Speaking to reporters before entering the Bucks County court room, Tollefson said he looks "forward to telling his side of the story."
But Tollefson said little else about the upcoming court proceedings, referring instead to talking about his Christian faith and his new home in North Philadelphia.
Tollefson is representing himself. But he is assisted by Robert Goldman, a high-powered Bucks County attorney who was appointed by a judge.
The trial almost didn't start. Tollefson had tentatively pleaded guilty in September to selling more than 200 people about $317,000 worth of phony travel packages. But he then withdrew his guilty plea last month and said he would fight the charges at trial and serve as his own attorney.
Tollefson has said he plans to pay back everyone who has a legitimate claim against him.
H/T Philly Inquirer
Back in December, FTVLive told you that LA Reporter Carlos Zapata been charged with felony domestic violence after he allegedly seriously injured his wife by throwing a flower pot at her head.
Police said that the pot struck the woman "full force."
Carlos Zapata, a Reporter with Spanish-language station KWHY had his first court date has pled not guilty to the two felony domestic violence charges filed against him.
During his appearance at the Van Nuys Branch of L.A. County Superior Court he pled not guilty to two felony counts of corporal injury on a spouse.
He is scheduled to return on February 2, 2015 for a preliminary hearing date.
Zapata had been working as a reporter for local station MundoFox 22 at the time of his arrest. Since the charges were filed and the company notified on December 10, Zapata’s bio disappeared from the station’s website and he has been off the air.
MundoFox22 would not disclose if Zapata has been suspended or fired, but issued a statement indicating the company does not condone domestic violence and takes the issue seriously.
Obviously they don't take transparency as seriously, since they will not comment on Zapata's employment status.
H/T Media Moves
Back on August 28th, FTVLive told you that KMOV Reporter Chris Stanford was fired from the station.
Stanford said at the time that he was called into the bosses office and told his services were no longer needed.
"I showed up at 2 p.m. (Friday) with every intention of working for the 10 p.m. newscast," he said.
Well now Stanford is about to resurface at KAKE in Wichita as the station's Weekend Anchor.
He posted the news to his Facebook page:
When it came to covering the flooding in Seattle, no station brought you close to the story than KIRO.
And to prove that, check out this photo of their live truck covering the rising waters.
Oops!
FTVLive FIRST reported that WOIO News Director Dan Salamone was out the door at the Raycom station by the end of the week.
Salamone has been at the station for 9 years.
"That's a long time, and this is the right time to look for a new challenge," Salamone said to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I haven't decided what the next step will be, but there are a few things I'm considering and I anticipate staying in the business. I'm looking at a number of options, and the next move likely will be out of the market."
Sources tell FTVLive that Salmone's leaving was not his idea and he was pushed out.
Dish Network just announced a huge move that could get them a lot of new subscribers. The company says it will offer up an Internet only package for about $20 a month.
Dish will offer a package of channels, including ESPN and CNN, starting at $20 a month. The availability of ESPN as part of the Internet package addresses a major reason people were loath to "cut the cord" — live sports. NFL games will be blocked on mobile devices, however, because Verizon has those rights.
Dish said it isn't worried that its current subscribers will cancel satellite service in favor of the cheaper Internet package. Rather, Dish is hoping to lure those who don't pay for TV channels at all because they find it too expensive.
"A lot of big incumbents don't like change, but everything else is changing around you," says Joe Clayton, Dish's CEO. "Technology is broadening the consumer viewing opportunity, and they are taking advantage of that."
The $20 price for Dish's basic package will be far cheaper than what people would pay for a cable or satellite. (Dish said its average monthly bill is about $85.) Dish says it keeps the Internet service cheap by excluding most over-the-air network channels, which can be costly for pay-TV providers as broadcasters demand higher fees. An Internet service also won't require special equipment, such as a satellite and receiver dishes. For those who want more than the basic channels, Dish will offer various add-ons for $5 each, including extra channels for sports and a package for kids.
If Dish's package offers up the Golf Channel, expect to see FTVLive cutting the cord in 2015.
Just saying....
H/T Bloomberg
Former Meet the Press Host David Gregory has a lot of time on his hands since being fired from NBC.
So, was he taking the time to thank every new follower he picked up on Twitter?
No, it appears that Gregory's auto twitter responder got messed up and Gregory was spamming Twitter with "Thank yous."
Needless to say, Gregory was not "very happy" like his tweets said:
Well at least he has some time on his hands to get it fixed.
CNBC App ad appears on the bottom of Grindr
There is no doubt that CNBC had a very bad 2014 in the ratings.
As FTVLive reported last week, the money network reached historic lows in their ratings last year.
The New York Post reports that CNBC is currently running a banner ad for the “All-new CNBC app for iPhone & iPad” on Grindr, which helps users find available gay, bi or curious guys locally.
One TV insider quipped, “Perhaps CNBC is hoping Grindr users will cruise the business news between hookups.”
CNBC’s shiny app features a smiling picture of Carl Quintanilla, but bears little resemblance to Grindr’s app and its somewhat semiclad users with catchy profile names like “PreppyJockDad.”
Let's hope that PreppyJockDad has a Nielsen meter.
Just saying...
Former CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson has decided sued the Justice Department over what she claims was the hacking of her computers.
Attkisson is accusing the Obama administration of illegal surveillance while she was reporting on administration scandals.
Fox News reports that in a series of legal filings that seek $35 million in damages, Attkisson alleges that three separate computer forensic exams showed that hackers used sophisticated methods to surreptitiously monitor her work between 2011 and 2013.
"I just think it's important to send a message that people shouldn't be victimized and throw up their hands and think there's nothing they can do and they're powerless," Attkisson said in an interview.
The department has steadfastly denied any involvement in the hacking, saying in a 2013 statement: "To our knowledge, the Justice Department has never compromised Ms. Attkisson's computers, or otherwise sought any information from or concerning any telephone, computer, or other media device she may own or use."
Salamone (blue shirt) with former WOIO GM Bill Applegate
Sources tell FTVLive that WOIO News Director Dan Salamone is leaving the station by the end of the week.
Salamone joined the Raycom station back in 2005, coming from KOIN in Portland.
Word is that Friday is his last day at the station.
Stay tuned....
James Jaeger is a Director at WMTV in Madison, this is his tweet:
Well James....prepared to be shocked quite a bit this week.
Just saying....
To answer that question is "one"....but it takes a guy with a lot of guts.
Kevin Schmidt travels to TV stations and helps change their light bulbs. Seems like and easy job, but it is anything but:
The NY Post claims that major companies pay MSNBC host Al Sharpton not to cry racism against the company.
The Post reports that For more than a decade, corporations have shelled out thousands of dollars in donations and consulting fees to Sharpton’s National Action Network. What they get in return is the reverend’s supposed sway in the black community or, more often, his silence.
Sharpton, who owes thousands of dollars in back taxes to the IRS, shakes down these companies to buy his silence according to the Post story.
“Al Sharpton has enriched himself and NAN for years by threatening companies with bad publicity if they didn’t come to terms with him. Put simply, Sharpton specializes in shakedowns,” said Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal & Policy Center, a Virginia-based watchdog group that has produced a book on Sharpton.
And Sharpton, who now boasts a close relationship with Obama and Mayor de Blasio, is in a stronger negotiating position than ever.
“Once Sharpton’s on board, he plays the race card all the way through,” said a source who has worked with the Harlem preacher. “He just keeps asking for more and more money.”
Amazingly this guy is still employed by NBC and at least some people inside 30 Rock feel that he has shaken down the Peacock as well.
"They can't fire the guy...if they do, he will come raining down on NBC and the network bosses," said one NBC insider to FTVLive.
It appears that Sharpton has NBC right where he wants them.
How sad is that?
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