Fired Anchor Loses Round in Age Discrimination Suit Against Nexstar

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Nexstar owned KSEE bounced longtime Anchor  Faith Sidlow in a cost cutting move and she sued the company claiming age discrimination.

But a federal judge doesn't see it that way and has told Sidlow she must amend her claims that Nexstar Broadcasting let her go after 28 years because of her age.

Sidlow and her former co-workers Richard Nitido, both older than 40, failed to prove that the television company discriminated against them because of their age, U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley ruled on March 10.

Sidlow began working as a newsroom assistant for KSEE-24, in Fresno in 1985. She was promoted to reporter that year and eventually to news anchor, according to her complaint, originally filed in Fresno County Court.

Nexstar laid her off in 2013, claiming it needed to reduce costs and increase profits. Sidlow claims she was not offered a severance commensurate with company policy. Both plaintiffs claimed that "the procedure used to select employees for layoff had a disparate impact on older workers. Almost all of the employees selected for layoff were over the age of 40."

But Judge Nunley found that Sidlow and Nitido did not show that the station intentionally discriminated against them because of their age.

"Plaintiffs simply point to a policy that has an allegedly disparate impact on employees over the age of 40. Plaintiffs do not provide sufficient facts to support their allegation that age was a substantial motivating reason for defendants' conduct in terminating plaintiffs or that defendant intended to discriminate against this protected class," Nunley wrote.

He gave them 30 days to amend their disparate treatment claims. 

H/T Courthouse News

Chip in on a Birthday Gift for FTVLive

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FTVLive has another birthday coming up (they seem to happen every year) and would love to get the new Apple Watch.

A number of FTVLive readers that feel guilty for getting all this great content for absolutely nothing have chipped in a few bucks to help buy FTVLive the Apple Watch when it comes out early next month. 

If you are one of those that want to say Thank You and Happy Birthday, you can donate right here using PayPal.

For those of you that have already sent some funds our way, we truly appreciate it and thank you so much. 

Sports Reporter Happy to Be Leaving Cold Green Bay

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WFRV Sports Reporter Leslie Spoon is packing up from Green Bay (get it? Green Bay Packers) and headed to the Big Easy. 

Spoon is joining WWL and it's  bit of a homecoming. She grew up in Shreveport and his happy to be back in the south.

"I'm looking forward to the good food and warmer weather," she said when asking about the move to New Orleans. Of course, she is also excited to be covering the Saints and LSU. She grew up a Saints fan and had a twin brother who attended LSU.

"I'm super excited to be back home and covering the Saints on a daily basis," she said.

Spoon's first television job came in KTBS in Shreveport, where she worked for four years prior to taking the job in Green Bay.

Spoon will anchor WWL-TV's Friday and Saturday sportscasts.

She starts this week. 

Going Batty in El Paso

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The morning news crew at KFOX in El Paso had a studio visitor yesterday morning. A bat made it's way into the studio for the morning newscast. Last week another bat was in the studio, but Monday's bat was smaller and more aggressive.

KFOX Morning news Anchor Stephanie Guadian did her best to keep her cool (net very well) while anchoring the news around the diving bat.

The station says that GM Kevin Hayes and the station's sales team captured the bat safely after the newscast and released it outside.

Which maybe the first time a TV sales person actually did something around the station.

Let's go to the video:  

Apple To Offer TV Service

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Apple is getting ready to take a swipe at the cable giants by launching its own online television service.

The Apple service would have about 25 channels, anchored by broadcasters such as ABC, CBS and Fox and would be available on Apple devices, including Apple TV.  

Apple would offer less channels, but is expected to have most of the popular networks that are watched by most viewers. The company is reported to offer the service at a cheaper rate. The price will likely be between $30 and $40 dollars.

Apple is expected to announce the service in June with a target launch date of September.

Stay tuned.... 

H/T Wall Street Journal 

Demos Dump Maddow

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MSNBC continues to shed viewers, especially in the demos.

Even their stars are watching ratings fall. 

On Friday night, The Rachel Maddow Show averaged 96,000 adults 25-54 viewers and 731,000 total viewers.

This marks the second time this year the show delivered under 100,000 adults 25-54 viewers and ranked as the program's seventh lowest rated performance in its six-and-a-half year run among adults 25-54.

Maddow lost big to Fox News The Kelly File, but did eek past CNN's 'Wonder List.'

But come on....it's CNN. 

H/T TVByTheNumbers

John Ferriter is Out at Octagon

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TV Agent John Ferriter has parted ways with Octagon, the company that hired him 5 years ago. 

Ferriter is the agent that represented Kiran Chetry as she went from Fox News to CNN to doing infomercials.

No word on why the split, but Ferriter has taken to social media to make it appear that it was all part of the plan and tell people he is going off on his own. 

This is what he posted to Facebook: 

“Five years ago I signed a contract with an initial five year term to come in and help create an Entertainment Talent Management Division for Octagon. As that term comes to a conclusion, I am grateful for the opportunity which was provided for me and my team by Octagon and IPG, Octagon’s parent company. There are so many good people to thank within the company and within our sister companies such as Rogers & Cowan and FRUKT and I look forward to continuing those relationships as I set out on my new venture. I truly am excited about the future and what it brings for all of us and look forward to continuing to do good business with the good Octagon folks in the future." All my best, John

NY Mayor Boycotts Big Apple Station

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WNYW in New York says that it has invited NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio on their morning newscast hundreds of times.

The Mayor has turned them down each and every time.

Fox 5's "Good Day New York  is hosted by Greg Kelly—the son of the former police commissioner who was heavily criticized by de Blasio—and Rosanna Scotto, a longtime television fixture.

“Since we’ve asked so many times, it feels like a calculated boycott,” said Lew Leone, WNYW General Manager.

The Mayor seems to love every other TV camera, just not the WNYW cameras or parent company Fox News.

In December, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly—a conservative critic of the mayor—sent a comic correspondent to a mayoral press conference to issue a public invitation to appear on the show, after what O'Reilly said were several formal requests.

De Blasio laughed his way though the incident, and promised the correspondent, “My staff will follow up with you.”

De Blasio has yet to appear on the show.

De Blasio’s office did not return a request for comment about the "Good Day New York" invitations.

H/T Capital NY

Chicago Station Hires Pure-Bred Polish Chick

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WFLD in Chicago has hired Jenny Milkowski, a 31-year-old writer, producer, reporter, blogger and actress who describes herself as “a pure-bred Polish chick” to do traffic reports for the morning newscast.

Milkowski, goes by the name Jenny Milk on YouTube, where she hosts on a couple of sexy video blog series called “i Milk It” and  “Milkin’ It.”

Milkowski replaces Sondra Solarte, who was dropped from the station after almost 10 years. Robert Feder says that Solarte was never shown on camera after she returned from her second maternity over the summer because her bosses apparently deemed her not sufficiently telegenic.

Ouch!

Atlanta Anchor Turns Down Contract Offer

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WXIA Anchor Karyn Greer has been missing from the air for weeks, she now confirmed why on Facebook.

Greer says that she has left the station after the contract she was offered, "did not provide the opportunity to grow as the journalist."

Greer had been knocked down the ranks at the station and it appears that the new contract was not moving her back up anytime soon.

So she has decided in a take it leave it offer, she is leaving it.

She posted this to her Facebook page over the weekend: 

It's been a very difficult decision, but after 15 great years and prayers and discussions with my family I have decided to leave 11alive. The new contract options offered to me did not provide the opportunity to grow as the journalist I am constantly striving to become. I will miss working day to day with my great colleagues and friends and I will miss the love from all you loyal viewers. I am stepping out on faith but I know in the end God has my back. Keep me and my family in your prayers. Love you..mean it!

Philly GM Headed to the Big Apple?

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Sources tell FTVLive that two staff meetings have been called at WCAU in Philly. Word is that one meeting is scheduled for the morning and a second meeting is on the docket for the afternoon.

Now word what the meetings are about, but rumor has it that GM Eric Lerner will announce that he is leaving the station and headed to WNBC in New York. He would replace WNBC GM Michael Jack who is retiring from the station in June. 

Lerner came to WCAU from KIRO in Seattle 2 years ago. Also, don't be surprised if Lerner does go to the Big Apple that WCAU News Director Anzio Williams won't be far behind. 

Stay tuned...