ABC's World News Tops NBC's Nightly again

/

ABC's World News Tonight continued to roll past NBC's Nightly News in the ratings.

Last week ABC clipped NBC by 228,000 viewers (8.250 million viewers compared to 8.022M).

World News Tonight also led in the news demo and among adults 18-49.  In the news demo, WNT’s 2.032 million bested NN’s 1.842 million. Among 18-49 year olds, WNT’s 1.410 million outstriped NN’s 1.298 million.

Last time ABC’s newscast won a week in ratings by all three metrics was more than seven year ago. 

H/T Deadline

ABC Releases Another Bruce Jenner Tease

/

ABC released a second promo for Diane Sawyer's upcoming April 24 interview with Bruce Jenner.

In the clip, Jenner says: "My whole life has been getting me ready for this."

"My whole life has been getting me ready for this," Bruce Jenner tells Diane Sawyer in a promo of a 2-hour interview to air on ABC on Friday, April 24, at 9 p.m. ET

I still have no urge to watch.

Just saying....

Huh?!

/

CNN International sent out this Tweet (they have since deleted it) talking about airport workers being caught on camera stealing stuff from people's baggage.

The photo CNN included with the Tweet was a roadside memorial.

What the hell does that have to do with anything?

Then there is this Tweet from CNN I as well:

Maybe those same American investors should rethink advertising on CNN.

Just saying...

Fox Sports Anchor Rips into Her Own Network

/

Tip of the cap to Fox Sports Anchor Katie Nolan that took a few well deserved shots at her own network.

Nolan took to task an article entitled 'How To Land A Husband At The Masters' on the Fox Sports website despite a colleague telling her it was supposed to be light-hearted.

She was wonderfully sarcastic, saying: "Not every women goes to sports events to find a husband. But two to 3 percent that do, and they deserve to have articles geared to their interests on sports websites they’ll never visit, just in case they end up there by accident. It is very easy to try type 'Cosmopolitan.com' and accidentally type 'FoxSports.com' if you’ve just got your nails done."

Let's go to the video, it's well worth the watch:

Broadcaster Ranks as one of Worst Jobs You Can Have

/

According to CareerCast.com the job on Broadcaster ranks at No. 196 out of 200 jobs. 

That's the bad news.

The good news is that it ranks 4 spots above Newspaper Reporter which is at the very bottom of the list at No. 200.

If you do find a job in broadcasting, CareerCast says, "For those who are able to find full-time work in broadcasting, success requires a high threshold for stress."

No shit Sherlock, tell us something we don't know?

Photojournalist comes in at number 195 on the list, just behind Corrections Officer and Taxi Driver.

Ouch!

Brokaw Talks about BriLie's Future at the Peacock

/

Former Nightly News Anchor Tom Brokaw came out and talked extensively about future former NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams.

It's a "really, really serious case," Said Brokaw about Williams lies.

"There's a process underway," Brokaw said "And the important thing is that the process is very carefully constructed, and we owe it to everybody -- including Brian and his family and certainly the people who work at NBC News who risk their lives everyday, and to the integrity of what NBC News has stood for all these years -- to let the process play out, to hear what the final conclusions are and then deal with it at that point." 

Williams himself thinks that Brokaw is not on his side and is making sure that when the "process" is done, BriWi will be an NBC Anchor no more. 

When asked about his relationship with Williams, Brokaw described the relationship as "cordial" in the past tense. 

"There's been way too much speculation about it," Brokaw said, adding, "I want to say two things. One is that Brian and I had a cordial relationship. You know, it was tricky because he succeeded me and I had my own strong feelings about how things should be done, but I never interfered with it. And I would make suggestions from time to time." 

"Having said all of that, this is a really, really serious case, obviously," Brokaw said. He also called it "a very, very difficult time" for NBC and the people involved.

In other words, BriWi ain't coming back to the anchor chair if Brokaw gets what he wants.

Just saying.... 

H/T CNN 

Fox Chicago Scrubs Newscast due to Technical Problems

/

WFLD in Chicago had to abort their newscast on Saturday, due to problems with their automated operating system, according to Robert Feder

Weekend news anchors Larry Yellen and Natalie Bomke were on the set and ready to go live when the station abruptly aborted the newscast and shifted to entertainment programming.

Viewers were given no explanation for the switch.

This isn't the first time the station has had technical problems. Last year the station had problems that was putting the talent in a blue mood. 

Reporter Craig Wall looked like a smurf during a live shot Viewers were having fun making comments on the station's Facebook page until management stepped in and ordered the post to be pulled. 

“Welsh went nuts,” one insider said to Robert Feder, referring to the reaction of general manger Dennis Welsh in a meeting with staff Thursday. The snafu was traced to faulty equipment issues, believed to have been made worse by cuts in technical personnel.

When it comes to social media, stations are better off owning up to the mistakes instead of trying to scrub them from the Internet.

That never works. 

Case in point, when FTVLive got our hands on a video of KCBSAnchor Paul Magers breaking out into a corny dance after cutting a tease.

CBS filed a copyright claim with YouTube and had the video pulled. 

FTVLive filed a counter claim saying that it was well within the guidelines of fair use. We won the claim and the video is back on YouTube. 

And just to prove that trying to scrub stuff from the Internet is never a good idea, here is the KCBS Anchor video once again. Go ahead and watch it, because you just know it will hack off the CBS suits one more time:

What the Hell?

Note: This story is updated

Down Periscope.....Please

/

Most TV people are not much different than a 4 year old. Give them a new toy and they can't get enough of it.

Not long after that, they won't play with it again.

That's exactly what we expect from the app Periscope.

It seems that TV people can't get enough of playing with the new toy that streams live video to viewers over the Internet.

Of course there are other apps that do this and have done this for years, but Periscope is the flavor of the month.

FTVLive predicts that in a few months time, no one in TV news will be using it.

WJAX News Director Bob Longo streamed video before the newscast a couple days in a row. But he has already seemed to grow tired of the app.

CNN Media Critic.....errrrrr..... Correspondent Brian Stelter used Periscope to give viewers a look behind the scenes. 

But, KTTV Anchor Susan Hirasuna may have taken this whole Periscope thing a bit far?

She tweeted out:

We did not tune into the feed when Hirasuna got home, but if it was what we were hoping, it is not something you would want to have your Anchor doing. Just saying.... 

Just like with Ebola and West Nile Virus, you can  bet your bottom dollar that the media will soon grow tired of Periscope and won't be using it all three months from now.

Stay tuned.... 

Tagboard Teams Up with Hootsuite

/

Tagboard which is being used by stations across the county has just announced that it has partnered with Hootsuite, the world’s most widely used social relationship platform, to help media companies showcase social posts within seconds of them being published on source networks.

This is a big deal, since the partnership will offer the first seamless social display workflow for stations and media companies utilizing Hootsuite, which has more than 10 million users, and Tagboard, the industry’s easiest social display tool.

For broadcasters, implementing a social TV solution allows networks and advertisers to engage in a real-time conversation on the viewer’s platform of choice by highlighting audience social media activity during the broadcast.

Increasing viewer engagement has grown from an optional step for TV networks and stations to a key component of attracting advertisers and fueling ratings.

“The partnership between Hootsuite and Tagboard means increased control and efficiency for our clients, while allowing them to promote safe, engaging content to viewers and fans,” said Josh Decker, CEO of Tagboard. “By combining the vast social publishing, listening, and reporting power of Hootsuite and the real-time capabilities of our Social TV display technology, we’re streamlining the workflow while creating more opportunities for interactive experiences.”

The integration offers joint clients of both Tagboard Enterprise and Hootsuite Enterprise the ability to add a Tagboard app to their Hootsuite social media management dashboard. Clients will then be able to search and find social posts within their Hootsuite dashboard, and with one click, send the posts to Tagboard-powered displays; on air, through live screens, or online.

Created in collaboration with digital producers from Tagboard’s media partners that include stations at 10 of the top 25 broadcast groups in America, the app was designed to help optimize the workflow while adding viewer generated content to the broadcast as quickly as possible.

"We've never had real-time two-way conversation with viewers in such an easy-to-use way like Tagboard,” said Barrett Tryon, Head of Social Media CBS Las Vegas.  “With the Hootsuite integration it’s even easier. This will change newsrooms and empower viewers to participate in content live."

It's likely that your station is already using Tagboard, but if they are not, you can check it out here. 

Dying Illinois Anchor Steps Down for Anchoring the News

/

WCIA (Champaign) Anchor Dave Benton told viewers that he is ending his run as Anchor. 

Months ago, Benton released the news that he was dying from a brain tumor, but that he was going to continue to do his job and anchor the newscast. 

"I want to update all of you on what's happening with my health. The last time we talked was about five months ago. I found out two weeks ago the tumor has grown. The treatments aren't working and it's affecting my ability to anchor the news. So, I'm stepping down from the desk." Benton wrote on the station's website.

He still hopes to be part of the newscast with his Crime Watch stories.

"It's been an interesting year and a half. My goal was to be in the anchor seat and do a good job. I hope I've done that. Now, it's time for the next step." Benton wrote. 

Here is his on air announcement telling viewers that his anchor days are behind him:

Louisville Anchor Returns after Surgery

/

WAVE News Anchor Dawne Gee returned to the air yesterday after recovering from surgery last month to remove a benign stomach tumor.

Several small incisions from the laparoscopic procedure are still "a little bit sore," Gee said, adding she has lost "seven to eight pounds."

Her goal now that she is back at work is to change her lifestyle and eating habits. 

"I'm going to try and take my lunch in everyday," Gee, 52, said. "When I don't do that, I'll end up eating whatever and it's definitely not going to be good."

Gee's extreme lifestyle makeover continues in the wake of her October surgery for kidney cancer. She is sharing her new exercise and nutrition regimen.

That means that if charity groups ask Gee to speak at their event, they should be prepared to hear "No thank you if it conflicts with my Zumba class," Gee said.

"I hope I get to go to the gym," Gee said. "I have got to make that part of my life. I can't just think about it. I've got to do it."

H/T Louisville Courier Journal 

PBS Anchor Tells CNN Media Critic to Have Some Respect

/

The tables were turned on Twitter when PBS Anchor Gwen Ifill took CNN Media Critic....errrrrr Correspondent to task for his Hillary Clinton tweets.

Twitter was buzzing that Hillary Clinton made a "stealth" stop at a Chipotle to grab something to eat. Many in the media tweeted about Clinton's grub stop, including Stelter.

But, Ifill wasn't having any of it and told Stelter he needed to clam down:

Damn! Who does Ifill think she is? Brian's mother?