Insincere Apology

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A former WTXF Fox 29 employee says that former anchor Tom Burlington's apologies for saying the N-word seemed insincere.

Burlington's contract was not renewed on July 12, 2007, after he said the word in a June 23 editorial meeting. During the meeting, reporter Robin Taylor discussed the symbolic burial of the notorious racial epithet by the Philadelphia Council of the NAACP.

According to his testimony on Monday, Burlington sparked controversy by asking, "Does this mean we can finally say 'n-----'?"

Burlington's federal suit against the station alleges discrimination on the basis of his race because other employees used the N-word and other racial epithets with impunity. He seeks unspecified damages, claiming that he has been unable to work in broadcast journalism since the incident and instead has worked as a real-estate agent.

Tor Smith, a former Fox 29 employee, said in a deposition read in court Wednesday that he did not find Burlington's original comment "malicious" but that later, as Burlington continued to use the N-word in apologies to co-workers, Smith became offended.

"I could care less for [Burlington's apology]," said Smith, who is black and who attended the June 23 meeting. He testified that he didn't think the apology "was very sincere."

Smith had told station management in an email that Burlington's continued use of the N-word while apologizing left him uncomfortable.

Burlington's attorney, Laura Mattiacci, later took aim at other Fox 29 employees who used racial epithets in the workplace without being disciplined.

At the meeting at which Burlington was suspended, then-news director Phil Metlin, who is Jewish, said that Burlington's use of the N-word would be akin to someone calling Metlin a "kike."

Metlin, in a deposition read in court Wednesday, defended his use of the word as a means to "educate" Burlington to the impact of racial slurs used in the workplace.

Mattiacci pointed out that Metlin was not disciplined for using an offensive word because it was in an educational context.

The question of whether Fox 29 discriminated against Burlington on the basis of his race is expected to be put to the all-white jury by Monday.

H/T Philly Daily News

 

I Thought You Were the Weather Guy?

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A few days ago, FTVLive showed you and WEWS Weatherman Mark Johnson took issues with the officiating in the NBA Finals game, between Golden State and Cleveland.

Johnson was back on the air giving his take on another loss by the Cavs and this time he brought out the power tools.

Power of 5 Chief Meteorologist Mark Johnson was at it again, talking about the officiating in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. This time he called on the help of a weed wacker. ◂ WEWS NewsChannel5 is On Your Side with breaking news & weather updates -- NewsChannel 5 brings you the latest trusted news and information from Cleveland to Akron and throughout all of northeast Ohio.

Wait? While Johnson seems to be covering sports, is the Sports Anchor doing weather?

I'm confused. 

Rupert Murdoch Cedes Control to His Son James

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It has been it the works for years and now is the time.

21st Century Fox CEO Rupert Murdoch is preparing to give up his post to his son James. 

The 84-year-old Murdoch would continue as executive chairman of the company. His other son Lachlan would become executive co-chairman.

Chief operating officer Chase Carey, seen as a stabilizing force by Wall Street investors wary of some of Murdoch's gambles, is expected to leave his executive position. He recently signed a contract that gave him an out to leave the company early.

In a statement, 21st Century Fox said, "The matter of succession is on the agenda at our upcoming, regularly scheduled board meeting."

The groundwork for this change was laid last year when Murdoch's sons were given new positions with the company in 2014.

James was named co-chief operating officer and Lachlan was named non-executive co-chairman.

H/T B&C

 

Indy, Columbus Station Could Fall off Dish Network

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WTHR, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, and WBNS, the CBS affiliate in Columbus could both fall off of Dish Network next week.  

Both station's have posted alerts at their web sites saying their current carriage deal with Dish expires on Monday, June 15, at 2 p.m. ET.

"We will continue to work toward an agreement with Dish and hope to resolve this situation as soon as possible," the warning states. "But we wanted to make you aware that Dish subscribers may not have access to our programming beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday."

Of course, the stations maintain that they are asking for a "fair market rate that is comparable to what Dish pays other broadcast groups" to carry their signals. By law, a TV provider can not carry a station without its permission. 

Look for the station to reach a deal or briefly fall from Dish. Then look for them to reach an agreement where the terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Then in 6 months to a year, Dish subscribers will see their bill go up. 

Because when fat cats fights, it's us the little guy that gets screwed, time and time again. 

H/T TV Predictions 

NBC Moves Closer to Pulling the Plug on BriWi

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There is no doubt that Brian Williams is not coming back to the Anchor chair at NBC Nightly News.

The only question left, is when will NBC make that news official?

NBC sources tell FTVLive that the network is expected to send out the word before the end of the month. 

Our source says that the network needs to start promoting Holt and they can't do that while he is not "officially" the Anchor.

Holt has held his own in the ratings and has done it with virtually no promotion from the network. 

"Lester Holt has demonstrated that the evening newscast is first and foremost a correspondent's medium, not an anchor's medium,"  Andrew Tyndall says. "The anchor's role is to string the newscast's various component packages together rather than to deliver actual reporting. As such, the anchor's identity is relatively unimportant, so not worth the turmoil of a controversial recall."

NBC has basically screwed up the BriLie saga from the jump and the network needs to step up, make a decision and let the viewers know that Holt is the guy.

It seems so simple and yet we're talking about NBC here. The network that has stumbled time and time again with talent issues (i.e Ann Curry, David Gregory).

But now, Andy Lack is running the News Division and it was Lack that oversaw the seamless handoff from Tom Brokaw to Brian Williams. Lack has a much better handle of how to do this and word is he is very close to pulling the trigger.

Stay tuned..... 

Lester Holt to NBC: Show Me the Money

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Lester Holt is demanding big bucks from NBC to takeover for Brian Williams on Nightly News.

At least that is what Page Six says. The gossip page says that Holt wants the same $10 million-per-year salary Williams was getting.

Holt’s agents want to quietly renegotiate his contract with NBC as the network tries to reach a resolution over Williams, who will not return to “Nightly News” following an internal investigation.

Page Six says that NBC insiders say that Holt has the upper hand as NBC News has no backup anchor plan.

“There’s a lot of drama at NBC News,” said a source familiar with the upcoming negotiations. Holt is currently being paid about $4 million per year as the “Nightly News” weekend anchor and for other assignments. But the network so far has offered Holt less than lyin’ Brian was making to take over the newscast, a source said.

“Lester’s team feels that if he gets half of what Williams was making,, the message to him and the newsroom is he’s half the anchor Brian was.”

The source added Holt “won’t walk away” from the talks, but, “He’s got NBC by the balls — because there is no Plan B for them. This is Lester’s chance to get paid.” Holt can renegotiate his deal since his role is changing.

To make Holt happy, we hear NBC News could offer him what Williams was making before he signed his huge $10 million a year, for five years, contract in 2014.

“Lester hasn’t ‘been there’ yet,” said an insider of Holt’s payday, pointing out Williams anchored “NBC Nightly News” for a decade before he inked the massive deal last year.

Reps for NBC and Holt didn’t comment.

NBC's Holt (not that one) Buys Chicago Condo

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While NBC's Lester Holt is negotiating for a big salary increase, his son just bought a half a million dollar home in Chicago.

Stefan Holt, an Anchor at NBC O&O WMAQ in Chicago plunked down $520,000 for a three-bedroom, 1,800-square-foot condo on the fifth floor of a vintage building on Lake Shore Drive in the Windy City.

"My wife and I love living in the city and are thrilled to call East Lakeview home," Holt told Elite Street. "We instantly fell in love with the building's charm and the incredible location."

Holt's unit, recently renovated, had been listed for $525,000. It has a formal living room with new built-in bookshelves, 2 1/2 baths, refinished hardwood floors, window treatments and original molding.

Plus, if he has any trouble making the mortgage payments, we have a good idea who could help him out. 

H/T Chicago Tribune

Something Bugging You?

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There's the TV Journalist, the person that is willing to risk life entering a war zone. To stand in the middle of the storm and give vital information that can save lives. The Journalist that is not afraid to stare down the harden criminal to ask the hard questions.

Then there's KSNT’s (Topeka) Katya Leick. She propped herself up on an Army Tank and then was scared as hell of some bugs:

When Cicada attack! News reporter can't get them away!

Hartford Station Fires Anchor Dog

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Back in January, FTVLive told you that WTNH (Connecticut) had new staffer on the morning show and it was a dog.

Nell, a 9-year-old Cockapoo, joined the Good Morning Connecticut newscast and was slated to be on the show each morning. 

Nell's owner is WTNH Anchor Ali Reed.

But now the station has parted ways with Anchor Dog Nell. Nell took to social media to break the news to viewers that the station has "decided to go another direction."

Nell did not say if she would be spending more time with her family.

Here's Nell's post: