Oklahoma Stations Falls of the Dish

And while Fox News has returned to the Dish Network, viewers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City have lost their CBS affiliates. 

Word is that Dish Network has dropped Griffin Communications' CBS affiliates in Oklahoma City and Tulsa (KWTV/KOTV) as well as their duops (KSBI and KQCW).

On the Dish channel guide, the satellite provider has a note saying the stations removed themselves.

Eventually, this pissing match will also come to an end and of course, terms of the new agreement will not be disclosed.

Stay tuned....

Now That was Close

Signed Off in Sacramento

After 46 years, Journalist Tom DuHain said goodbye to KCRA ((sacramento).

 “It’s been much more than a job; it’s been a lifetime,” DuHain said earlier this week, sitting in a conference room off the KCRA newsroom. “I’m going off into uncharted waters to find a new normal. My wife (Susan Kennedy-DuHain) just retired from UC Davis, and our goal is to find the things we like to do, now that we have the time to do them together.”

DuHain, 64, has been a much-respected fixture in the Sacramento media market and a familiar face to generations of viewers. His straightforward style and authoritative voice have brought gravitas to KCRA’s news broadcasts. 

“Every newsroom needs a Tom DuHain – somebody who has the institutional knowledge and integrity, and knows where to find the stories,” said KCRA news director Lori Waldon. “Some may watch him work and say it’s old school, but it’s really just good journalism.”

What he won’t miss is the daily grind. “There is pressure every day, and after a while it’s wearing,” he said. “This is a young person’s game, and you don’t see people my age in the newsroom anymore.”

We're guessing you don't see Reporters with his salary much in the newsroom anymore either. 

H/T SacBee

Reporter is Getting Out of TV News

After spending nearly six years working on-camera and behind the scenes with WGGB (Springfield, Mass) Reporter Brendan Monahan is hanging up his mic flag and getting out of the business.

Monahan last appearance on WGGB will be tonight at 6 p.m.

He's leaving TV News to become the new manager of public affairs at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Is it me, or does that job sound boring as hell?

"It was too good of an opportunity to pass up and it seemed like the right time for me to make the move," Monahan said. "I had the real urge to take on a new challenge and when this managerial role presented itself, I had to go for it."

So what will he miss?

"I think I'll miss the spontaneity of the news cycle and launching at any point to go anywhere. And I'll especially miss the daily interactions with the photographers here in Springfield," Monahan said. "Those are special relationships comparable to police officer and his partner. I'll remain friends with them but miss the interactions and musings that happen on daily basis."

Masslive.com

Fox News, Dish Network Kiss and Make Up

It looks like Dish is done "censoring Fox News."

Dish Network  and Fox News announced that they have reached a multi-year agreement for carriage of FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network. These channels are now available to DISH customers with qualifying programming packages.

Tim Carry, FOX News and FOX Business executive vice president of distribution, and Warren Schlichting, DISH senior vice president of programming jointly stated:

“We thank the viewers of FOX News and FOX Business and DISH customers for their patience throughout this process.”

And of course the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

They never are. 

Jeff Zucker Holds Town Hall for CNN Staff

CNN boss Jeff Zucker held another one of his town hall meetings for the staff.

Zucker was in New York and staffers there attended, others watched a closed circuit feed at CNN Bureaus around the country and around the globe.

Not much news came from the meeting, but there were two interesting exchanges.

First, CNN's Christiane Amanpour questioned Zucker over his decision not to air images of the Islamic prophet Mohammed on the Charlie Hebdo magazine cover?

Zucker ducked and weeved on the question and really never did answer it. Earlier he citied staff safety as a key reason for not showing the cartoons. On air, however, CNN has attributed the decision to a network policy "not to show potentially offensive images of the prophet."

The other interesting point when a staffer asked why CNN overuses the "breaking news" banner?

Zucker has said all cable news channels do -- to a fault. That's like a little kid saying, "Well Tommy and Steve put their heads in the toilet, so why can't I?"

Zucker was also asked about more layoffs and a possible sale of CNN?  He claimed that there would be no more layoffs and CNN would not be sold.

At that point his pants caught on fire and the town hall was over. 

H/T Politico

Please Tell Us More about that Murder?

KXLY in Spokane was covering the story of a woman that Police say was killed by her boyfriend. They first tweeted out this:

OK...since you asked so nicely, the person killed was a woman, the suspect was her boyfriend.

Well KXLY, you're the one telling me that, but if you want I will call the station and tell you it does not appear that a gun was used. Again, thanks for being so nice and asking "Please."

And here I thought you were being so polite while covering this murder.

Never mind. 

Geroni-UhH OH!

Police say a man climbed to the top of WLAJ's TV tower with the intent of parachuting off the top.

All went as planned until he was in the air and his parachute failed to deploy.

I think you know how that ended. 

The news tower, on Baseline Road is owned by WLAJ-TV, the ABC affiliate operating out of WLNS in Lansing. The tower is surrounded by a gate, which police say the BASE Jumper made it past.

Michigan State Police alerted a WLAJ employee of the incident.

Police say the man jumped around 5:30 p.m. from the 1,000 foot tower and hit the ground shortly after that.  

Right now state police officials say the man’s death is being ruled an accident.

H/T WLNS

Dog Gone He's Smart

As we told you this morning, Rory was scheduled to go into the vet and get neutered this morning.

But, as Rory made it into the Doctor's office he "suddenly" had a coughing attack and the vet said he should wait 10 days before having the procedure. 

Once back in the car, Rory's cough was no where to be found and now that he's back in the FTVLive World HQ, he's running around and playing like a crazy dog. Not bad for a dog that acted like he was on death's door just a short time ago.

Unfortunately, until Rory gets fixed I am not allowed to adopt him. Under Florida Law, pets cannot be adopted unless they are fixed. So, I continue to "foster" Rory until he gets neutered. But, if he can keep up his "I'm sick" act every time we go to the vet, it might be awhile.

He's a smart little dog. 

Omaha Station Picks Devlin Design to Build New Set in Historic Building

Omaha ABC affiliate KETV is moving their station into the city's historic Burlington Station. It is cool to see a station repurpose an historic building into a TV station. 

The station also announced that they have hired Devlin Design Group to build their new set in the old building. 

KETV announced their purchase of the iconic train station over a year ago and plan on relocating their entire television operation there later this year.

The station said they wanted a set design firm that would provide a stunning visual presentation that included state-of-the-art digital storytelling technology, increased production values, and incorporation of visual references to the historical nature of the building.

“KETV’s move to Burlington Station is a bold commitment to our viewers, the community, and to downtown Omaha. The on-air centerpiece of our new television station will be designed by Devlin Design Group", said Ariel Roblin KETV General Manager.

Dan Devlin and his team are excited to take on such a special project and Devlin expects it to be a one of a kind news set. 

“When we were first contacted about the Burlington Station project, I was confident that DDG had the right team for this historic event. We met with KETV, toured this grand old building, and we dug deep into what they were looking to accomplish," Devlin said. "We came back to them with a design that really nailed the spirit of the station and the project. We understand how important this project is to KETV and the community it serves. Team DDG is glad to do our part in restoring this timeless Omaha treasure,” he added.

The station is hoping to be in the new/old building by year's end.

How I Work - David Johnson

One of the biggest request that FTVLive has gotten over the past few months is for us to bring back the "How I WorK" feature.

So, we are doing that in 2015.

Today we check in with David Johnson, main Anchor at WPXI in Pittsburgh. Johnson has anchored the news alongside Peggy Finnegan for as long as most Pittsburghers can remember. 

We asked David, "How he Works?"

Twitter name: @DavidWPXI
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Gig: Evening news anchor, WPXI-TV (now serving you for 30 yrs here, and 33 and a half w Cox - 25 straight w Peggy!)

Computer: Dell Desktop fancy schmancy Cox provided computer. 

Mobile device: I-phone 5-S

Word that describes how I work: Work? I'm an anchor! What work? Seriously, I'd say "collaboratively."

Fave apps: WPXI Weather, Espn, WPXI.com, FaceBook, Twitter, Over-40, Flashlight (meaning, an actual flashlight)

My workspace: A mess. The craziest, most obnoxious desk in the building. A shrine to the Gators of UF. I'd have it no other way.

Gadget can't live w/o: Hmmm, I guess my I-phone now.

Music: I love everything. Classical, country, rap, Top-40. I Heart Radio. But esp 70's dance music.

Sleep routine: Horrible. I'd like to personally thank whoever invented Ambien.

Best advice: From a reporter I worked w in Jax and Atl, John Shirek, "Always keep a bag packed." (Meaning for a sudden news trip or if you get fired)

Previously:
How I Work - Robin Meade
How I Work Greta Van Susteren

The Unkindliest of Cuts

The morning Update is brief Today, because I have to take Rory to the doctor this morning.

It will not be a good day for little Rory, he will be getting neutered today and I won't be able to pick him up till tomorrow.

I hate the fact that I have to leave him and as much as he is going to hate what is going to happen to him today, I think it might hurt me even more.

I'll post more updates when I get back.

As you can see by the photo, Rory is on the bed with one of his sisters and he's clearly not looking forward to today.

Poor Rory.  

Guest is Cut Off after Showing Charlie Hebdo Cover

Like CNN and MSNBC, Sky News has decided not to show the cover of Charlie Hebdo which has sold millions of copies.

When when former Charlie Hebdo contributor Caroline Fourest appeared on Sky News, she chastised the news media that refuses to show the cover and then held up the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo.

Watch what happens when she does it:

Sky News presenter apologizes for showing front page of Charlie Hebdo, guess we aint all Charlie!!

Love This Interview

I can barley understand this kid and I know it's early in the New Year, but so far this is my favorite interview of the year.

UTV's Gareth Wilkinson interviews Londonderry/Derry teenager about the weather with HILARIOUS results. Who is this guy? #FrostBit

Indy Reporter Escorted from the Building

Back on January 6th, FTVLive told you that WISH (Indianapolis) Investigative Reporter Karen Hensel is out the door.

The Indianapolis Business Journal finally got around to the story that FTVLive FIRST reported almost two weeks ago.

The paper writes that while WISH officials did not return calls this week seeking comment about her sudden departure, sources close to the station said Hensel was escorted from WISH’s building on Jan. 5, and News Director Steve Bray later sent an email to staffers saying she was no longer allowed on the property.

That's never good.