Station to Station
Station to Station covers the odds, ends, ups and downs of the local television business across America
Local Broadcasters Sound Off On Public Files
It seems there’s one thing that station execs agree on when it comes to the FCC and its demand that stations’ public files be put online. OK, there’s two. 1, it’s a big pain in the butt. And 2, they’re actually fine with the concept of making the files digital, but it’s more a matter of how much information they want online that’s the sticking point ...... Read More
Comments (0)Former Staffer Shoots Up Indiana Station
Three rounds were fired through the front door of WTWO-WAWV Terre Haute around 4 a.m. Saturday morning, while staffers’ vehicles were also damaged by gunfire. Police have identified Kenneth Trey Bolinger as the suspect. Bolinger used to work at the station. There were no injuries. Nexstar owns WTWO. Here’s the station’s report. “The man who was arrested worked beside u ...... Read More
Comments (0)Belo Laments Absence of Network Comp
UPDATED: I’m not surprised to see that Belo Corp. is not receiving network compensation this year. I’m more surprised that Belo was getting paid by a network, or networks, as recently as last year. From today’s Belo earnings report: Other revenue, which includes barter and trade advertising, network compensation, Internet advertising and retransmission revenue, was up 7 percen ...... Read More
Comments (0)WSJ: CW Affiliate(s) Concerned About Streaming
Some CW-aligned stations are upset at the network for its next-day online streaming of hit shows, reports the Wall Street Journal. The CW of course attracts a younger demo, and the WSJ says it’s been more aggressive than the senior broadcast networks about making its shows available online–closing the window from three days to one. The paper suggests it has affected live viewing. ...... Read More
Comments (3)Orlando Stations Dig For Fresh Angles on Zimmerman Case
The central Florida stations are hustling to find a fresh angle on the George Zimmerman case, with Zimmerman showing up in court today following the death of Trayvon Martin on February 26. WKMG Orlando has a very brief video of Zimmerman’s brother Robert, expressing relief that George is at least safe. “We have to somehow think that, ‘Well, at least there’s some ...... Read More
Comments (0)Rest in Peace, Edward Harbert II
I’m sad to report the death of Edward Harbert II, a veteran of The Tonight Show, the New York Times Co., and World War II. Edward is the father of Ted Harbert, NBC Broadcasting chairman. He was 88, and died of natural causes in Westwood, California. I got to know Mr. Harbert a tiny bit when I profiled Ted for our Hall of Fame issue last fall. He spoke with enormous pride of Ted, and mention ...... Read More
Comments (4)New Owner, New GMs, New 'Market Eye'
I enjoyed my virtual visit to Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas for B&C’s latest Market Eye. We don’t often profile the triple-figure DMAs, but with the action going on in DMA No. 141–Sinclair joining the local ownership groups, a rock star GM retiring after several decades in the job–I figured it was time we checked out Beaumont. Larry Beaulieu (above) wasn’t jus ...... Read More
Comments (0)WAVY, WTKR, WVEC Contribute to Cable Nets' F-18 Crash Coverage
The so called Hampton Roads stations, airing out of Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, are first informers at the Navy jet crash today in Virginia Beach. CNN.com’s front page story features helicopter video from LIN’s WAVY, along with ground video at the crash site from Local TV’s WTKR, and some still images from Belo’s WVEC. All three are listed as CNN affiliates on the ...... Read More
Comments (0)CBS' Early Show Wasn't Early's Kind of Show
Maybe everyone else knows this, but I didn’t until yesterday. After four virtual visits to New Orleans for “Market Eye”–three as a reporter, and one as an editor–I just learned that the CBS morning program does not air on CBS affiliate WWL. WWL is the market leader in New Orleans, and one of the strong CBS affiliates around the country. It all started in the mid ...... Read More
Comments (5)Dallas Stations Cover Twisters
They’ve taken to their basements in the Dallas region, as twisters have engulfed the area. Compelling footage from WFAA Dallas is the featured video in CNN.com’s coverage of the tornadoes that struck the Dallas region today. The video shows truck trailers, that measure some 80 feet long, being tossed around. “It’s like a Lionel train that someone threw across the room, ...... Read More
Comments (3)NC Broadcasters Fete Vets At Speedway
The North Carolina broadcast community thanked the state’s Vietnam veterans with a giant event at Charlotte Motor Speedway March 31. The North Carolina Association of Broadcasters put on the “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration” with the USO of North Carolina. They called it “the first ever official homecoming celebration for Vietnam veterans in the state,” ...... Read More
Comments (1)WOFL Has Sit-Down With George Zimmerman's Dad
Fox owned WOFL Tampa has a timely get in Robert Zimmerman, father of the man at the center of the Trayvon Martin shooting. The elder Zimmerman is a former judge and a Vietnam veteran. His silhouette, not his face, appears on screen. Zimmerman alleges that Martin was the aggressor in the shooting incident, getting in his son’s face, pummeling him on the ground, and threatening to kill him&# ...... Read More
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