VIDEO: Texas Stadium to be destroyed

Cowboy Texas Stadium in Irving, TX is about to get imploded. Right now crews are filling it with a lot of dirt in preparation. Story above from WFAA 8 gives us an inside look.

April 11 is the day of destruction. Details on how you can see it here.

KHOU 11 in Houston wins Peabody Award

Unfreaking believable! After just winning the prestigious IRE Medal award, KHOU 11 News Defenders picked up a 69th annual Peabody Award! This is really big:

Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard (KHOU-TV)
KHOU-TV, Houston, Tex., Belo, Inc.
Dogged work by the Houston station’s investigative reporters found such blatant discriminatory treatment of female soldiers that three top Texas Guard generals were fired and a new commanding officer was appointed. SEE FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Congrats again to KHOU's Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq, Keith Tomshe, Chris Henao, Robyn Hughes, Keith Connors. Job well done.

I want to walk through the KHOU 11 studios now. I want to drink from their water fountains. Touch their desks. Eat from the station snack machine. Maybe some of it will rub off on me.

RELATED
- KHOU 11 does it again
- Texas winners at the 76th annual National Headliner Awards
- KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy
- Poynter Online interviews KHOU about "Under Fire" investigation

Houston rock radio pioneer dumps FM for Web broadcasting - mikemcguff.com exclusive

There has been a lot written about the upcoming Houston Independent School District online radio station going live next school year. The Internet station is called K12RadioHouston and will target student's parents with music and news about the school district. It will be the first of its kind in the nation.

But only on mikemcguff.com will you find out about RFC Media - the company behind it. The story starts several decades ago in the early 70s when a 21-year-old Pat Fant spun The Who's I'm Free on 101 KLOL. Most know that radio station became one of the top rated rock outlets in the country under Fant's leadership. But that was then.

"Broadcast radio is in my rear view mirror," Fant told the mikemcguff.com blog. "I'm taking everything I learned from doing compelling, one of a kind radio and offering it on a different kind of delivery system."

Thanks to well publicized decline in listenership and subsequent advertising rates, traditional broadcast radio is searching for a new direction. But after starting the station that became 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ in the 1990s, plus an FM news station and rock station in the 2000s, Fant is now looking to what he considers the real future of radio - the Internet.

"Forces today have taken radio off the table as a provider," Fant told me.

Around a year ago when he left Cumulus Media in Houston, he started RFC Media. It's a company that specializes in building online and in-store radio stations for businesses. Fant says the concept is called "brandcasting" or targeting listeners around a common interest.

You could say it all started with a drink. RFC Media's first client was Spec's Wines, Spirits, and Finer Foods - a Texas based store selling all things alcohol related. Fant, along with former KTBZ Program Director and DJ, Cruze, began programming a radio station that matched the Spec's brand. That means the music, the voices and what they talk about are there to promote the stores' identity. Spec's Radio plays on the Spec's Web site and inside every Spec's store across Texas. Listeners hear a wide playlist of music everyday, but will also get snippets of an interview with Spec's wine manager Bear Dalton on one day or a special mix of country acts during Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo time the next day. The music and programming change on a daily bases but each day will promote the stores and brand Spec's. In special situations, a DJ could actually broadcast live to the station.

Every RFC Media client radio station will be different. The music and topics are targeted to that brand. Fant and crew have also built online radio stations for Lexus of Las Vegas, Radio Free Cruze and the next project will be the already mentioned K12RadioHouston. Fant stresses the music and programing changes daily for each brand.

Why would a business want its own radio station? Fant says it is to connect with customers in a new way. The online radio station keeps listeners coming back to a company Web site. He says the music his company programs is not commonly found on today's commercial radio. Meanwhile the content is of interest to a customer who buys from the business.

"You've opened a new pipeline of communication with your core customers," Fant said. "That beats old fashioned reach from radio any day. We can do a lot more for our customers by building digital music channels for them that sit on their Web site and pulls in a greater number of Web visitors and longer hang time."

Fant also is counting on the fact that today's radio stations are the last resort for a music lover thanks to iPods, satellite radio and the Internet. He says while his product is essentially a promotion with songs mixed in, it has the fraction of ads that a commercial radio station runs.

"I don't have to pay the penalty of 18 minutes an hour of commercials for a Journey, Foreigner or Bad Company record," he added. "Why would I sit through that?"

Even though Internet radio stations have been around for more than a decade without a breakout business model, Fant feels he has the winning formula to make money with online stations. He says it's about the client, programming and technology powering the project. In his opinion, simply redoing a traditional music radio station online with commercials thrown in will not be successful. Fant believes the future of brandcasting will only grow with portable media players (Spec's for example has an iPhone app), 4G networks and Internet connections available in vehicles.

As the potential market grows, Fant has started working with former Rock 101 KLOL on air talent like Laurie Kendrick, Lanny Griffith and David Sadof.

As for K12RadioHouston, the decision is currently being made on which HISD student designed logo will be used for the online station's August launch. Fant tells me he's already received interest from an out of state district about the concept.

VIDEO: CBS 11 KTVT has great story on Abby's Book Corner

You might remember how I have been writing about Abby's Book Corner in Dallas (and now San Antonio). Abigail "Abby" Kearney was my goddaughter who passed away from meningitis in 2008. Her parents have been working to build a library in her honor.

Stuart Boslow, the special projects producer at CBS 11 KTVT, and anchor Tracy Kornet just did a tremendous story about the dedication of Abby's Book Corner at Medical City Children's Hospital.

No video embed available so CLICK HERE for video.

www.abbysbookcorner.com/

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570 KLIF gets controversial talk show host Chris Krok from Macon, GA

Macon.com reports that Dallas 570 KLIF is about to get a new talk show host from WMAC-AM 940 that knows how to heat things up:

Controversial Macon radio talk show host Chris Krok is leaving town.

Krok announced after 8 a.m. Friday that Tuesday will be his last day at WMAC-AM 940 because he has accepted a job in Dallas, Texas, at radio station KLIF, where he has been filling in off and on. That station is also a Cumulus station and is in the fifth-largest radio market in the country. READ THE REST

VIDEO: Ronnie James Dio talks cancer fight at Houston's M.D. Anderson

 

I told you in February how rocker Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio) is in Houston fighting stomach cancer at M.D. Anderson. Now 39 KIAH landed an exclusive interview with the heavy metal singer on a recent cancer therapy in Houston. Dio says he will fight the cancer and win:

Getting on with life means flying in from Los Angeles, five hours of chemotherapy, then flying back home. Sometimes band members, like bass player Geezer Butler, come for support.

Wendy Dio is always with him. The treatment seems to be working, Wendy Dio said the tumor is getting smaller, all of this in a man with a very big voice who expects to go back on tour soon.

"The fans have been incredible, it proves to me that I've done something right with my life," said Dio. READ FULL STORY

I wrote earlier this year when assignments manager Joe Segura showed up at 39 KIAH, you'd see some exclusives. This is the only video or interview anywhere I know of with Dio after his diagnosis.

KHOU 11 does it again

KHOU 11 in Houston just won the prestigious IRE Medal award. That's as high as it gets in this contest:

Under Fire: Discrimination & Corruption in the Texas National Guard — KHOU-Houston; Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq, Keith Tomshe, Chris Henao, Robyn Hughes, Keith Connors
- Judges' comments: No system can be more impenetrable for a team of reporters than the military "old boys" network, but that's exactly what reporter Mark Greenblatt and producers David Raziq and Chris Henao took on when they followed up on a tip to check out the "Vagisil Award" being given to women in the Texas National Guard. From that one tip, the team – which also included photographer/editor Keith Tomshe and graphic artist Robyn Hughes – found a system of misogynistic actions that went beyond humiliation. In some cases, female officers were being disciplined or even discharged despite exemplary service records. Data and documents gathered by the team showed a systematic refusal to consider women for top posts, and swift punishment for any who complained about the male power structure. In the end, this two-year investigation resulted in the Texas governor firing three top generals in the Texas National Guard and the state legislature changing the way it oversees Texas Guard operations.

- FINALISTS:
- 33 Minutes to 34 Right — KMGH-Denver; Jeff Harris, Tony Kovaleski, Tom Burke, Arthur Kane, Jason Foster
- Beyond the Verdict — KMSP-Minneapolis; Jeff Baillon, Brad Swagger, Eric Gedrose, Spencer Driskill
- Deporting Justice — WFAA-Dallas; David Schechter, Mark Smith, Kraig Kirchem
- Safety for Sale — WFAA-Dallas; Byron Harris, Mark Smith, Sasha Gurevich, Kraig Kirchem, Billy Bryant, Greg Johnson

Yeah and by the way, the other winner was a little newspaper up East. You might have heard of it. It's called The New York Times.

SEE THE OTHER WINNERS

RELATED
- Texas winners at the 76th annual National Headliner Awards
- KHOU 11 wins 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt wins national Emmy
- Poynter Online interviews KHOU about "Under Fire" investigation

KXAS 5 lands Native Houstonian Julie Tam as new reporter

TVspy.com's ShopTalk reports that Native Houstonian Julie Tam is heading to KXAS NBC 5 from WDRB-TV FOX 41:

JULIE TAM is returning home to Texas to work for NBC as a news reporter at its Dallas-Fort Worth TV station, KXAS channel 5. She makes the jump to the nation's 5th largest market from Louisville, KY, where she spent more than four years at WDRB-TV FOX 41 as a news anchor/reporter.

http://julietam.com/jt/

Houston gets 4G wireless coverage fast

Houston now has 4G wireless coverage. What the hell does that mean? Think a high speed Wi-Fi signal that covers 1,090 square miles and approximately 5 million people.

The Clear 4G service blankets Houston and goes all the way from the northern areas of Conroe to Kingwood, all the way west to Katy, and to the southern regions of Richmond/Rosenburg, Alvin, Clear Lake and Baytown. Lake Jackson will get service soon supposedly.

“CLEAR is thrilled to bring to Houston residents, businesses and visitors an Internet experience similar to what they’re used to having at home or the office, anywhere around town or on the go,” said John Smith, Clearwire general manager, Houston.

So remember that wireless plan the city of Houston had a few years ago that never materialized? Well, this is actually active.

So now Clear says you can access Pandora while driving to and from work. Maybe catch The Office on Hulu while riding as a passenger in the HOV lane (I am stressing watching WHILE BEING A PASSENGER!).

There are a bunch of modems and eventually phones coming out that work on the 4G network. I have been drooling over Sprint's new HTC EVO 4G smartphone that will supposedly come out this summer since I first laid eyes on the release news last week.

You can see the 4G stuff for yourself at CLEAR retail stores in Houston. They are now open at First Colony Mall, Kay Mills Mall, Willowbrook Mall, The Woodlands Mall and Baybrook Mall. Additional stores will open later this Spring at the Galleria and Memorial City Mall.
CLEAR service is also available from a number of other outlets including Best Buy, Frys, MicroCenter and RadioShack.

CLEAR’s mobile and residential plans can be purchased by the day or by the month, with several no-service-contract options available. Home Internet service plans start at $30 (USD) per month. CLEAR 4G mobile Internet plans start at $40 per month. For a limited time, customers in Houston can take advantage of CLEAR’s online-only mobile Internet promotion with plans starting at $15 per month for the first two months after a $50 service credit with a two-year service agreement. This online promotion is available at clear.com.

The cool thing is that Houston got something early for once. While we are not the first city with 4G coverage from Clear, cities like New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Denver, Minneapolis, and the San Francisco Bay Area are getting service after us later this year.

VIDEO: TV reporter gets funny revenge on live shot crashers

Lenslinger found a hilarious feature on WGN Chicago's channel 9 where sports anchor Pat Tomasulo makes fun of live shot crashers. He's made it a morning show feature. For those of you who do not know, live shot crashers are the fools in the background waving and trying to get on TV.

Apparently what Tomasulo does is pretend to be doing a live shot in a public setting and wait for someone to do something in the background (obviously his photographer gives him a signal). He then chases the crasher down and asks them to be on "live TV" (it is actually going to tape.

Tomasulo then asks a series of embarrassing questions. It could be on sexual dysfunction, jock itch, men who wear ladies panties...etc. In one instance I saw he insults a couples baby and says he's doing a story on "average looking" children. He's brilliant.

The Web site and morning newscast feature is called "Pat-Down" and even has a snazzy open. I can't believe a TV station is this cool to allow a segment like this on. It is pretty funny and I am sure brings a laugh to morning show and Web viewers in between kidnapping and murder stories. I have an example segment below. The segment's page is here.


 

How KTRK 13's Marvin Zindler and surgeon Dr. Joe Agris met

To promote the Bellaire Home Tour, the Houston Chronicle does a nice profile on Houston surgeon Dr. Joe Agris. We learn how he and KTRK Action 13 consumer icon Marvin Zindler met at the beginning of the article:

In 1977, Dr. Joseph Agris spent four months and $30,000 getting ready to help a little girl who was born without a nose.

He ordered the appropriate tests. He did the preliminary exams. And he made arrangements with the world's leading expert in craniofacial surgery to fly from Paris to Houston to handle the surgery.

Just days before all that was supposed to come together at The Methodist Hospital, Agris turned on the 10 o'clock news and saw that same little girl boarding a plane to Dallas to have the procedure done there.

At least in Agris' mind, there was no question who was responsible for the change in plans. He was Marvin Zindler, the man in the white wig and blue glasses at Channel 13, Eyewitness News.

Agris grabbed the child's thick medical file, drove to the TV station, and slammed the papers on Zindler's desk.

“We had everything set to go for this little girl, but you didn't know that because all you wanted was the picture!”

Not to mention, Agris thought, the publicity. And the credit.

The plastic surgeon stomped out of the office. Zindler called him a few hours later.

He said, “We have other kids who need help.”

RELATED
Everything I have ever written about Marvin Zindler

VIDEO: Belo Center for New Media breaks ground at UT

The Star Trek Borg ship looking communications building at the University of Texas is going bye bye. In its place will be a new state of the art building named the Belo Center for New Media. Belo is the parent company of WFAA, KHOU, KENS and KVUE:

The five story, $50 million, 120,000 square foot building will have state of the art classrooms, production labs and a multimedia digital newsroom.

It will also become home to KUT, Austin's public radio station.

Just to give you some perspective -- here's why this is so important.

The current college of communications opened in 1974 with the idea to serve a thousand students.

Today, there are more than 4,200 students who attend class in that building.

The Belo Center for New Media is scheduled to open in June 2012.

2010 Texas APME Awards List

Newspapers across Texas are bringing home the awards this weekend from The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors. SEE THE WINNERS

Congrats to T.J. Aulds of the Galveston County Daily News by the way.

Houston Press food critic Robb Walsh leaves the paper

Wow. First Hudson and Harrigan and now Robb Walsh! That's right, the Houston Press food critic is leaving (sort of) to pursue a freelance writing career according to the newspaper:

Eating...Our Words must sadly announce that our intrepid food writer Robb Walsh is moving to freelance status.

While he'll no longer be a member of our full-time staff, Walsh pledges to complete his list of 100 favorite Houston dishes for us.

And don't be surprised to see the occasional blog post from him either as he tours the state while researching his next (there's always a next) cookbook. He may have some print features in store for us as well. READ THE REST

WOAI 4 Meteorologist Jennifer Broome leaving station

Jeanne Jakle tells us that WOAI 4 chief meteorologist Jennifer Broome is leaving the station.

She has been at the San Antonio station since June of 2000.

Free video of TV news for bloggers and others

YouTube is a great resource to get video online, but even it doesn't always have the clip you are looking for. That's where Redlasso comes in.

I just so happened to blog about Redlasso signing up with the Fox TV group exactly one year ago! Wild. But the site lets you edit your own clip from Fox and a bunch of other programming too. Then you can put that video on a blog or a social networking account. Redlasso's Gabriela Herbas talked to me about the potential she sees the site offering bloggers and other web users.

Mike McGuff: What is Redlasso and which media does it partner with?
Gabriela Herbas: Lets say you are watching FOX Chicago (as an example) covering Obama's speech on Health Care and there's this one portion where he talks about "federal subsidies" that you wish you could add to your blog. You can search the actual spoken word of the raw broadcast content on Redlasso, clip the specific portion you want, and add it to your blog (we provide you with the embed code, the link, shortcuts to add to twitter/facebook, etc) It's so easy, and even better yet... it's completely FREE! You can also search our clip library, but if you can’t find what you need, you can clip it yourself, moments after it airs on TV. We have licensed local news content from many of the Top 50 US major cities, some radio stations, and clip content from Wendy Williams, Lou Dobbs Radio, Governor Mike Huckabee and more.

MM: Why did the site go away for a while?
GH: As some may know, we did a Beta about two years ago and the story was very interesting. We were really trying to demonstrate our technology and provide a solution for broadcasters to better monetize their content, while giving web editors and consumers a better way to share broadcast content, all at the same time. For that purpose the Beta was very successful, and it was done in a very open way with all of the broadcasters. However, sometimes the right hand doesn’t always talk to the left hand very well. Our legal issues were resolved very quickly, and we secured our first licensing agreement for Television content with the entire Fox Stations Group. This was and remains amazing, and truly validates our platform and our mission. We spent a considerable amount of time redesigning the site, and even while we were preparing for a re-launch, more stations have partnered with us. We now have license to over 115 TV and Radio sources, many already available, some are still being integrated as we speak. We re-launched the platform officially in October of 2009, and things are growing every day.

MM: What features are on the site now?
GH: I’m glad you asked this because our core features are so different from anything else out there in the video space, sometimes… it’s just hard for people to visualize what we have. I like to describe it as being like: your DVR, meets search engine, meets YouTube. We are NOT just a clip site for video clips. You can actually MAKE the clips on the site. There is no uploading process. We actually store up to two weeks of the RAW and nearly LIVE television news-cast content. We have facilities all over the country that are indexing this content by the spoken word. So when you go to the “Make A Clip” tab at the top of the page, you can select a source or city, narrow in your time frame, put in your search terms, and the player actually delivers you to where that content was said in broadcast… with video. Like if you could search your DVR by the spoken word. Then, you can actually “clip” the part you want to share. Set the “in” and “out” points, hit save… and you’ve now got an embeddable and linkable clip to share. It’s pretty amazing actually… and fun!

Once you have the clip, the player menu provides you with the embed code of your clip, the link, an e-mail option, and shortcuts to social networking sites such as facebook and twitter.

MM: And you can make your own RSS feed?
GH: Yes, in a pretty unique way too. So, the top half of the site layout is really centered around the experience of making a clip. The lower half of the site is really the clips that are created and being shared by the other users. You can execute any search for clips, and add any filters by Category or even city… and once you get your results, click the RSS logo, and it will generate an RSS feed on the fly for that result set. If you want a politics feed, then just click “Politics”, then click the RSS icon… done.

There is another RSS icon at the top of the site, that allows you to enter some custom fields, then “generate” a feed that way too.

MM: Who is your target user?
GH: Even in the YouTube world, there are uploaders and viewers… those who want to consume, and those that want to be the “editors”. We tend to gravitate to Bloggers, Columnists, Newspapers, News, Politics and Entertainment sites, however… anyone can use the site. We recognize that by simply having a Facebook account, you have the power to be your own “editor” of your space. You have the power to share and comment on broadcast news content. Redlasso gives you the ability to not just consume clips, but to create the clip that interests you most, in the way you want to share. If I want my clip 5 seconds shorter than yours, to streamline the message in a new way… I can do that on Redlasso.

I think our demo video is helpful too. You can read about what we do, but to see it is even better. http://www.redlasso.com/player.htm?id=e6643c3d-b952-49fd-928b-e1437c2f9cc9

http://www.redlasso.com/

KDAF 33's The RC Project show with Candice Crawford review

Anytime I have an excuse to post about KDAF 33's Candice Crawford (Which Hollywood star is her brother?) I'm taking it because she brings in the readers. She has a new show in Dallas on 33 called The RC Project with other host Roni Proter.

The show airs at 5:30pm weekdays I think. Based on the show's Web site I am not in the target demographic (or maybe I secretly am!):

Roni Proter and Candice Crawford are your lifestyle experts who will keep you 'in the know' of everything that's hip ad cool right now. Let them be your resource to fashion and beauty trends, where to dine and shop, and how to live your most fabulous life! SEE MORE

Uncle Barky reviewed the show and started it out like this, "Resembling a public access TV pilot from Poughkeepsie -- only infinitely worse -- CW33's The RC Project somehow premiered Monday in the nation's fifth-largest TV market." READ THE FULL REVIEW

You can watch a segment from the show below and judge for yourself.

One has to wonder if a show like this will appear on Houston station KIAH 39? Main anchor Mia Gradney is already positioned to host something like this.





 
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The Fox 26 KRIV 4am anchor shuffle

Starting at 4:30am is not early enough for Fox 26 KRIV. The big buzz on the streets of Houston is that Fox 26 is starting its morning newscast at 4am from now on. The new time starts this coming Monday I believe.

That is pretty amazing since the station ends its morning news at 10am! Yeah so now KRIV starts before any other TV station in Houston and runs local news during the other station's newscasts, network morning shows and syndicated programming. Wow.

But wait there's more! Supposedly main anchor Melissa Wilson is moving to the morning show in a few weeks too. Good choice. I think Wilson will make a very good morning anchor. Lots of viewers will probably like waking up with her (if she has kids she probably likes the morning shift after working nights all of these years too). This move also makes sense because Sibila Vargas has been the only female presence during that long stretch of news.

That means Melinda Spaulding is anchoring the 5pm hour and the 9pm hour in Wilson's place with Mike Barajas. Another good move. If anyone can fill Wilson's shoes it would have to be Spaulding. She's got the looks and the natural anchoring ability down. When I first saw her show up at Fox 26, I felt there were big things in her future.





RELATED
New Fox 26 KRIV anchor/reporter is Natalie Bomke from Fox 40 KTXL

Stevens and Pruett remembered by a Rock 101 KLOL insider

The day after the shock of Hudson and Harrigan being taken off the air at 100.3 KILT, we remember the original guys to play the famous morning team duo - Mark Stevens and Jim Pruett.

Former Rock 101 KLOL news anchor Laurie Kendrick writes an amazing piece on her blog about working on the Stevens and Pruett show. It is one of the best pieces I have seen about the former rock station and its famous morning team.

I'm not even block quoting from it, JUST GO READ IT FOR YOURSELF.

When you finish reading Kendrick's post, then listen to Stevens and Pruett as Hudson and Harrigan on 610 KILT from 1977.

RELATED
- What about a Rock 101 KLOL documentary?
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740 KTRH turns 80 years old

It's hard to believe it, but 740 KTRH is 80 years old today. The station's Web site has a nice tribute:

At 8 p.m. on March 25th, 1930, KTRH began broadcasting from the 6th floor studios of downtown Houston's Rice Hotel. But KTRH was ‘born’ in Austin, Texas. What is now KTRH originally started broadcasting as KUT, an experimental, educational radio station assigned to the University of Texas in Austin. When the Depression hit, the University Board of Regents cut expenses by selling the radio station to the Houston Chronicle Publishing Company.

It took two trips in a red Model ‘A’ Ford pick-up to bring the station to Houston and set up headquarters in a single room at the Rice Hotel, owned by legendary business tycoon Jesse Jones.

Rice charged the Chronicle no rent for the room, but it did require hourly announcements advertising the hotel, its laundry and its amenities. Even the call letters were in deference to the Rice Hotel -- "K-The Rice Hotel."

When it went on the air, KTRH was one of only a handful of radio stations operating in Houston. Thomas White's US Early Radio History credits KTRH as the 35th oldest radio station in the United States. READ THE REST

KTRH news reporter Joe Gomez talked with Dan Rather about his time at the station. LISTEN

Think 80 years is a long time for a radio station to be on the air then you'll really be amazed that KTRH sister station 950 KPRC turns 85 later this year!

Texas winners at the 76th annual National Headliner Awards

The 76th annual National Headliner Awards winners have been announced and Texas represents as usual.

As I have chronicled a bunch lately, we have Mark Greenblatt and crew taking another one home for KHOU 11. But he's not the only one winning for Houston's CBS affiliate:

KHOU-TV, Houston, Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq, Keith Tomshe, Chris Henao and Robyn Hughes, "Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard"; KHOU-TV, Houston, Jeremy Rogalski, David Raziq and Keith Tomshe, "Solders at Risk: The Iraq Water Investigation"

Out of Dallas we have:

KXAS-TV, Fort Worth, Texas, Matt Barrie and Noah Bullard, "A Game of Hope."

And there were multiple awards for the Austin American-Statesman and The Dallas Morning News.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS

VIDEO: Houstonians famous from social media

JR Cohen who I got a chance to interview on Michael Garfield's High Tech Texan Show on 950 KPRC was just on KHOU 11's Great Day Houston talking about the world of Houston social media. Video above.

RELATED
- Mike McGuff's appearance on 950 KPRC with Garf and JR Cohen
- JR Cohen leaves CoffeeGroundz but not Houston social media

Hudson & Harrigan gone from 100.3 KILT

Radio-info.com is reporting that “Hudson and Harrigan” at 100.3 KILT are off the air. The latest players to fill the roles are Fred Olson (Mac Hudson) and Randy Hames (Irv Harrigan).

A commenter said that these two have been in the roles for 29 years!  I knew it had been a while, but did not realize it was that long. It is well known that Rock 101 morning duo of Mark Stevens and Jim Pruett were  the first “Hudson and Harrigan” team.

The show is not longer on the KILT Web site.

UPDATE
David Barron post that the Hudson and Harrigan names will not be used on the new morning show. Rowdy Yates and Erin Austin will take over the show until permanent hosts can be found. READ MORE

New Fox 26 KRIV anchor/reporter is Natalie Bomke from Fox 40 KTXL

Fox 26 KRIV is getting a new anchor/reporter. Her name is Natalie Bomke and she is leaving KTXL FOX40 in Sacramento:

After more than two years anchoring KTXL's "FOX40 Live," anchor Natalie Bomke will sign off for the final time this Friday. Bomke will leave FOX40 Live and "FOX40 News @ 11am" for a reporter/anchor position at Houston FOX affiliate KRIV March 26th.

News of Bomke's departure was bittersweet for the entire FOX40 News staff.

"Houston is getting a great anchor, and an even better person," FOX40 morning executive producer Leigh Anne Keys said. " I've watched Natalie grow into a great anchor and TV personality. She's always prepared for whatever we throw at her every day, whether it's hard news or fun segments." READ THE REST

First let me wear my guy hat for a second and publicly thank Fox 26 news director Tom Doerr for this hire based on the photo. Next I am surprised KTXL actually wrote a goodbye piece on its Web site for Natalie Bomke departure. Most of the time an on air talent leaves TV news and it's a mystery like the whereabouts of a certain D.B. Cooper.

Also, where will she anchor at Fox 26?  Did anyone leave?  Is someone about to leave?

Natalie Bomke bio

WATCH VIDEO OF NATALIE BOMKE ON FOX 26

KVIA 7 El Paso TV anchor talks cancer fight

KVIA 7 anchor Estela Casas in El Paso talks about her cancer fight:

The discovery of cancer in her thyroid shoved the seasoned Channel 7-KVIA anchor into a tearful encounter with depression and temporarily stole her familiar, reassuring smile.

"I don't know how I got on the air those days," Casas said. "My eyes didn't light up. It was hard for me to smile."

The dean of television broadcasting in El Paso sipped cinnamon tea in her well-manicured West Side home and talked about the recent, very public illness, and how the traumatic experience changed her. READ THE FULL STORY

RELATED
Estela Casas bio

Top 10 Restaurants in the Heights plus Macaroni and Cheese

The Heights is quickly becoming a stronghold of good restaurants in Houston. 

Luckily The Press keeps us updated on Top 10 Restaurants in the Heights and a new restaurant that only serves all-macaroni-and-cheese.

Sounds like a gimmick that would be in New York.  When I was in Manhattan a few years ago, there was a restaurant that only served peanut butter and jelly.  Sounds like heaven actually.

KTRK 13 reporter's brother starring in Comedy Central's Ugly Americans

Regular blog readers will remember my 2008 post when I wrote that KTRK 13 reporter Ted Oberg had a brother who was an up and coming comedy star. Once again I can bring Matt Oberg's career in focus (get it?).

Matt is now starring as the main voice in the new Comedy Central cartoon called Ugly Americans. Comedy Central describes the show as:

This animated horror-comedy series follows one Mark Lilly, social worker at the Department of Integration, as he helps new citizens both human and "other" adapt to hectic life in the Big Apple. There are easier tasks than weaning vampires off of blood, socializing land-whales, and housebreaking werewolves, but Mark is up to the challenge. Between his stressful job, a zombie roommate, and a demon ex-girlfriend, Mark's lucky if he can sneak in a few minutes of sleep. But who can sleep when there's a drop-dead gorgeous Mermaid sitting at the bar?

I am sure Ted Oberg has felt he has worked with vampires and werewolves at one point in his TV news career. If you are an Ugly Americans fan and what to see what Matt Oberg's brother Ted looks like - click here.

Ugly Americans	Weds 10:30pm / 9:30c
This Season on Ugly Americans
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

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Former KLOL rocker Dayna Steele wants to help you publish a book

Former Rock 101 KLOL DJ Dayna Steele has many facets to her career. Obviously she was a Houston broadcaster on several area stations, then a space memorabilia store owner, motivational speaker, consultant and author (I'm probably missing some too).

In 2008 I posted how Steele wrote a book called Rock to the Top: What I Learned About Success From The World's Greatest Rock Stars. Now Steele is offering us advice on what she learned about publishing.
I asked her a few questions about the Houston area workshop (She did a great interview with Michael Garfield on 950 KPRC Saturday about this too):

Mike McGuff:  What kind of info will you be covering in your upcoming book workshop?
Dayna Steele:  The basics of writing, editing, publishing, marketing and selling. As well as the things I learned along the way - including how mo to spend a fortune.

MM: Writing and getting a book published seems like a long journey. What important lessons did you learn over the course of writing your book?
DS: That I could do it. That's probably the biggest thing, is the accomplishment. I love that the stories are in a book and I love it when people come up to me and say they have read it ...and enjoyed it!

MM:  How is the Internet changing an author's world in terms of publicity and distribution?
DS:  It's changing everything - from the way you can publish yourself to bypassing regular distribution channels and selling it yourself. Just like musicians have discovered - you don't need the big dogs if you work hard and play the marketing/networking game

MM:  Anything else you want to add?
DS:  Writing a book was one of the best things I ever did but also the most frustrating and expensive. I hope to help some folks in their journey and make it a little smoother. Above all else, it was worth everything to write the book.

I’m Finally Going to Write That Book!
Workshop , workbook and lunch
Saturday March 27, 2010 -  9am to 1pm
The Council Auditorium
Click here for more

daynasteele.com/

chatroulette.com gets Texas AG warning

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's office issued a warning about the new popular live video chat site chatroulette.com:

An increasingly popular Web site poses a threat to Texas children by giving users – including dangerous sex offenders – an opportunity to conduct live video chats with randomly selected participants.

Armed with only a Web camera and Internet access, www.chatroulette.com users are paired with a random stranger for a video chat. Neither a login nor registration is required before young users can be face-to-face with a total stranger. Worse, users who simply click “next” are shuffled to a new video chat partner.

An undercover investigation by the Cyber Crimes Unit revealed startling results. Nearly half of the randomly selected users encountered by Cyber Crimes investigators immediately exposed themselves and conducted sexually explicit acts on camera. READ THE REST

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VIDEO: Nude man dances down fire ladder in Dallas

Last week drivers in Dallas got an eye full on John W. Carpenter Freeway near Stemmons Freeway. That's because a naked dude was on a billboard and when the Dallas Fire Department showed up to get him, he danced nude all the way down the ladder. Is there something in the Metroplex water? Raw video from KDAF 33.


 

(Thanks Will-E)

Ralph Cooper honored by Houston Association of Black Journalists

Congratulations are in order for Houston sports broadcasting fixture Ralph Cooper. He's being honored by the Houston Association of Black Journalists this Friday:

Cooper won't be the only honoree at the HABJ dinner. Joining him will be Roland Martin, an award-winning journalist and author; Tony Wyllie, vice president of communications for the Houston Texans; and Richelle Carey, weekday anchor for HLN, which is part of the CNN family. READ THE REST

You can listen to Cooper's Sports Rap on 1430 AM KCOH Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 5-7pm and Tuesdays from 5-6pm. He's been on the air at that station since the 1980s.

I wanted KTRK to hire Cooper as a blogger for my award winning abc13.com high school sports section a few years ago.

KTVT 11 meteorologist Mike Burger hits 40 years of service

Uncle Barky reports that KTVT 11 meteorologist Mike Burger has been on the air for four decades:

He was Dallas-based Fox4's principal weathercaster from 1989 to 1996 before returning to his old Orlando, FL station to be an early morning news anchor. After four years, Burger returned to D-FW and has been here ever since. He began his broadcasting career at an Orlando radio station, working in the news department before agreeing to fill in at WDBO-TV (now WKMG) as a weekend forecaster. He grew up as an Iowa farm boy. READ THE REST

MARK GARAY: Is this TV news or promotion gone wild?

Former KTRK abc13 anchor Mark Garay guest blogs this post on the mikemcguff.com blog:

I recently returned from a trip to Austin. I caught the late news on KEYE 42. What at first glance seemed like nothing more than a common local news promotional technique, turned quickly into a classic case of "enough already." The news anchor introduces the story by telling her audience that an upcoming episode of the news magazine program 48 Hours will be focusing on a local murder case.

Apparently, some 20 year old or so douche bag had killed some poor girl in a bathtub and dismembered her head and fingers. Then allegations arose that another girl had helped cut up the corpse too. Now, a new development. After the guy got 55 years, the woman alleged to have helped him is soon to be sentenced.

The anchor tosses to the "story" of the upcoming "story." AND the story is not produced by KEYE, but rather by 48 Hours. Apparently, not only does this CBS network show get to saturate the KEYE audience, but feels also compelled to do the job itself, lest some KEYE reporter get in the way.

I wouldn't have noticed anything had it ended with the 48 Hours "correspondent" signing off after this thinly veiled promotional effort disguised as a news story designed to get people to watch.

But then the anchor says that one of her reporters has an INTERVIEW with the 48 Hours correspondent. Now, another two minutes of a taped interview between a KEYE on-air hottie and whoever this 48 Hours correspondent is.

What did they talk about? What kind of sentence butcher girl might get. That's wonderful speculation, but how in the world could ANYONE know what the sentence will be? They also discuss how "people have found this to be such a disturbing case."

Really? No shit.

Finally, the only redeeming element to the entire four minute segments: The range of punishment the girl could receive, which was up to five years, I believe. That information could have been conveyed in a 10 second anchor read.

I've always felt that television self promotion was a bit like actor Alec Baldwin: Effective as a performer and communicator, but capable of being annoyingly shallow and self absorbed off the set. Yes, every television news operation has the right to call itself the best. But the weird thing about promotions is that no one knows if what they're hearing is true. Odd, isn't it? That such a thing could be said about the people charged with promoting local NEWS operations?

I submit the following:

Let's say that two competing television stations want to call themselves the "first to broadcast in HD." Station A dumps a lot of money into going a cheaper route. They equip their news chopper camera to broadcast in HD, but ONLY the helicopter camera can broadcast high def. Station A keeps all other forms of production and news broadcast at current production standard.

Across the Street, Station B hears that Station A is bragging about being the first to broadcast in HD. Station B, only weeks away from launching all of its local news programming in HD, and sensing that Station A purposely undercut the timing and stole Station B's thunder, feels justified to similarly claim that in fact, THEY- STATION B, were the FIRST to broadcast in HD.

"All Station A did was HD their chopper cam," Station B would argue. "That's not going HD, at least not like WE did!"

And at the end of the day, honestly. Who gives a shit?

Humor aside, cross promotion can be a dangerous thing. Promoting station sponsored events, products or services during newscasts can be perceived as very self serving unless they are done correctly. When weather folks say to you "and we'll have a closer look at tomorrow's chances for rain, later in this newscast", it just might piss you off. "Tell me now", you might say. "I can take it".

Here's the point. What I saw in Austin was a ugly boil on top of an less ugly boil. Not only do they burn newscast minutes by PROMOTING an entirely different program, but they promoted it again, by talking to the promoters.

An through it all, you might ask yourself, "I thought I was watching the news."

- Mark Garay

Find out more about Garay's latest work at CodeMark Poductions LLC.

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MARK GARAY: TV interview going away as we know it?

Free pastry day at Starbucks today

It's free pastry day at Starbucks. Just buy a drink for a free pastry.

To get your free pastry, print out the coupon and present it to your barista. Or simply show them the coupon on any mobile device.

Free Pastry Day ends at 10:30am today.

WFAA8 anchor Shelly Slater expecting

WFAA 8 anchor Shelly Slater confirmed to Uncle Barky that she is expecting and due in August. READ MORE

VIDEO: KHOU 11 image spot for Weatherbug Network

In this image spot for its Weatherbug Network, KHOU 11 promotions spotlights chief meteorologist Gene Norman.

RELATED
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Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ends with a bang

The 78th annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has come to an end and the show announced it celebrated a lot of milestones this year.

-- The 2010 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo entertained a record 2,144,077 visitors for general attendance (for all activities on the grounds). The previous general attendance record was set in 2009 with a total of 1,890,332 visitors. This is the first time the Show has reached the 2 million mark for general attendance.
-- The single-day general attendance record was set Sunday, March 14, on Go Tejano Day, with 141,273 visitors. The previous record was set in 2009 with 135,548 visitors.
-- RodeoHouston(TM) paid attendance totaled a record 1,264,074 fans enjoying action-packed rodeo and superstars in concert. The previous record was set during the 2003 Show with a total of 1,215,913 RodeoHouston fans.
-- The March 14, 2010, RodeoHouston performance celebrating Go Tejano Day and featuring rodeo action and concerts by Pesado and El Trono De Mexico, broke the Show's single day all-time Rodeo attendance record with a paid attendance of 74,222. The previous record of 74,147 was set during the 2009 Go Tejano Day with performances by Ramon Ayala and Alacranes Musical.
-- A record eight RodeoHouston performances were considered sellouts (approximately 70,000 tickets sold).
-- Six RodeoHouston performances landed in the list of the Show's top 20
paid Rodeo attendance records:
-- 1st: March 14, 2010 -- Pesado and El Trono De Mexico - 74,222
-- 5th: March 18, 2010 -- Black Eyed Peas - 73,073
-- 7th: March 20, 2010 -- Brooks & Dunn, The Last Rodeo Tour - 72,977
-- 8th: March 21, 2010 -- Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez - 72,883
-- 15th: March 5, 2010 -- Mary J. Blige - 72,150
-- 19th: March 7, 2010 -- Jonas Brothers with special guest Demi Lovato - 72,013
-- A record 221,229 people visited the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest to help kick off the Show, topping last year's attendance record of 217,640.
-- More than 220,000 visitors rode the Rodeo Express shuttle buses from four locations.
-- The Show hosted 2,001 international guests from 51 countries.
-- More than 75,000 children received a hands-on agricultural education through a school tour or field trip in Capital One Bank AGventure. Nearly 80,000 people experienced the Fun on the Farm exhibit.

RELATED
- Former Houston TV reporter Cynthia Hunt working the Houston Rodeo
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Best Buy Meyerland gets an opening date

I am a blogger and can totally geek out over something that a traditional journalist cannot. In this case it is the opening of the Best Buy in Houston's Meyerland Plaza.

The original post I wrote on the Best Buy Meyerland opening did lots of traffic. I have since talked with Best Buy corporate about when the heck I can get in this place.

"Best Buy intends to open our Meyerland [store](#2510) this May 2010," Best Buy press representative Jill Nezworski told the mikemcguff.com blog.

That's all I have to hear. So now I will have my face pressed against the door's glass pulling my version of the Mervyns "open, open" ad from the 1990s.

Google visiting Texas TV stations

Google representatives have been quietly visiting television stations across the country (in Texas a few weeks ago). The search engine giant has been talking with media folks about how the stations are using Google products (If I still worked in TV, it would be a meeting I wouldn't have missed).

"We were in Texas a few weeks ago to meet with some some folks, and we're happy to work with national and local TV stations when they have questions about how they can use Google Earth or Google Maps on air, since many find it a great tool for giving a geographic context to news stories," Google Corporate Communications specialist Andrew Pederson told the mikemcguff.com blog.

I asked Pederson if many TV stations were not obeying the Google Terms of Service when using the products on air. He said that was not the case.

If you are media entity and are curious about the Google product permissions you can read them here. You don't want to be the station that is pulling a Judas Priest and Breaking the [Google] Law if you will.

I asked Pederson if Google was interested in working more closely with TV stations. He said, "As a press team, of course we're always looking for ways to work more effectively with media outlets of all stripes." He could not speak of any grand strategy the company had about a more formal relationship in the future.

In my opinion, I doubt Google really needs to focus too much on the old media at this point.

Former KHOU 11 photojournalist Margaret Moth dies, age 59

Margaret Moth is a name many outside of journalism circles might not know, but she sure made an impact on the profession:

Moth sought out, even demanded, assignments in conflict zones. She barely survived being shot in the face in Sarajevo in 1992, only to go back as soon as she was physically able. The multiple reconstructive surgeries that followed, as well as the hepatitis C she contracted from a consequent blood transfusion, were mere obstacles she moved around.

But more than three years after being diagnosed with colon cancer, her tremendous life journey has come to an end.

Moth, known for her gutsiness, striking appearance, distinctive humor and sense of fun, died early Sunday in Rochester, Minnesota. She was 59. READ THE REST

In the 1980s she came to the US after reportedly being New Zealand's first camerawoman and started working at KHOU 11 in Houston. She supposedly worked there for about seven years before going to CNN.

TX gubernatorial candidate Bill White releases 2009 tax return

Bob Martin aka "The Accountant to the Stars" is back on the political tax watch - this time in the Houston Chronicle:

Houston CPA Bob Martin, who has analyzed the tax returns of Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, whom the governor bested in the Republican primary, said some may question why White made more money from outside income in 2009 than from his mayoral salary.
White lists income of nearly $280,000 from “board fees” and “investment management,” as well as an $83,000 payout from Wedge Services, the company he helmed before being elected mayor. READ THE REST

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Muse at Houston's Toyota Center

I saw Muse Thursday night at Houston's Toyota Center and the English dudes brought their A game. It wasn't that long ago I just saw them open for U2 at Reliant Stadium in October. They were great then, but last night's show went to a whole new level.

Muse in my opinion could be the next Pink Floyd (I called them the next U2 last time - I can change my mind - maybe next time they will be the new Beatles). The band's show had "a wall" theme that kept the band member's images distorted on the monitors until the end when "the wall" came down and the band was displayed in full color. And speaking of the monitors and stage...wow. I've never seen a stage like this one in an arena setting. Granted U2 goes nuts in the stadium setting, but Muse really brought something unique to a basketball arena setting.

The 80s appear to be coming back all over the place, and Muse's stage was no exception. There were lasers, wailing guitars, even a glimpse of the ship from the video game Galaga. Plus Muse just knows how to pull some 80s (and even before) rock stage presence to an alternative genre. I swear I caught them jamming some Zeppelin and Aerosmith at the end of songs. Oh and the stage platforms were totally KISS with a modern twist. And who still does a rocking bass/drum solo these days?

Overall it was a great show musically and visually.  But after seeing them in 2009, Muse does not need an over the top stage show to still bring down the house.

Photos on Flickr from the Houston Toyota Center show (not my photos by the way)
The video is from plugincharmed.

PIC: Genuine Horny Goat Weed in Waco

Murdock did some travelling down I-35 and landed in Waco. He snapped a photo of this Genuine Horny Goat Weed in a gas station bathroom.

Will you need this product for the weekend?

WFAA 8 wins another award

Another day goes by and WFAA 8 wins another award.

The WFAA-TV news series "Deporting Justice," which showed how thousands of accused felons — charged with crimes such as murder, rape and assault — are routinely deported, rather than face criminal prosecution, has won the prestigious Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award.
The series, reported by David Schechter and producer Mark Smith with editor/photographer Kraig Kirchem, found the practice proliferated because local, state and federal law enforcement agencies simply fail to cooperate to ensure that accused felons go to trial. READ THE REST

Maybe I should post something when a Belo station doesn't win something.

Hubble 3D review at Wortham IMAX Theatre

I got a chance to see the IMAX production of Hubble 3D which is opening this week at the Houston Museum of Natural Science's Wortham IMAX Theatre.

To sum it up...it's breathtaking. This hour long documentary shows us Hubble's stunning photography in 3D IMAX glory and spectacular video of the astronauts repairing the aging telescope.

To create the film, an IMAX 3D camera flew onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, captured stunning 3D images of the intricate spacewalks required to service the telescope during the most recent mission last May. Shot by the STS-125 astronauts, this intimate look at the complexities of repairing the telescope will put IMAX audiences right there along-side the spacewalking astronauts. Hubble 3D combines this awe-inspiring IMAX footage with breathtaking up-close imagery of distant galaxies, the birth of stars and planets, and more - revealing the cosmos as never before.

The narration by Leonardo DiCaprio didn't even bother me like I thought it would!  The movie opens this Friday in Houston.

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3DTV coming to Texas from Panasonic

I reviewed the Sony 3DTV BRAVIA XBR-52LX900 last week and now I see that Panasonic is coming to Dallas and Houston with its version of 3DTV.

Visitors to the Panasonic Touch the Future Tour will be able to experience the world of 3D for the home with Panasonic's award-winning Full HD 3D Home Theater System featuring the VIERA VT25 Full HD 3D Plasma TV, the BDT350 3D Blu-ray Disc Player and Panasonic Active Shutter Eyewear.

4/6 - 4/8 Dallas - Grapevine Mills Mall - 3000 Grapevine Mills
4/12 - 4/14 Houston - The Warehouse - 4108 Dupont Street

Houston vs Dallas: Rail system

KTRK 13's Ted Oberg has a good story on the difference between the Houston and Dallas rail systems. The one in North Texas actually seems to be spurring development and making a difference in people's lives!

How a 1080 KRLD sports reporter found true love

The Dallas Morning News clues us in on the romantic life of 1080 KRLD sports reporter Andrea Pilcher Loftus. READ IT

The Pulitzer Prize committee has been notified about this article.

http://andreapilcher.com

VIDEO: Houston TV anchor falls behind desk

I called KTRK 13's Melanie Lawson to make sure she was alright before I posted this video. Anyone else I would have posted it immediately. She totally made the best of it and only proved once again why she is one of Houston's favorite television anchors.

(Forgot to put this in earlier - big thanks to @chrisatyoursix)

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Disney and ABC fight to reinvent themselves

Two great articles came my way about Disney's/ABC's current troubles, and what the company is doing to turn them around.

Brain-eating zombies invade Disney in Iger plan to win boy fans

ABC News plans paywall by June

(Thanks Michael)

Fox 26 KRIV reporter Isiah Carey's story turns into Texas Chainsaw Massacre

When Fox 26 KRIV reporter Isiah Carey got handed his story assignment, I bet he didn't know it would turn into Texas Chainsaw Massacre. READ MORE

Turns out KTRK web producer Matt Aufdenspring worked on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003 remake in another career. He even got to share a dessert with star Jessica Biel!

Tyler TV-newspaper partnership could point to future

Television newsrooms and newspapers team up in many cities, but the partnership in Tyler, TX could become more of the norm.

It seems that 16 reporters from the Tyler Morning Telegraph regularly appear on CBS 19 KYTX:

Telegraph Editor Dave Berry says that after some initial camera-fright, virtually every Telegraph reporter-including those covering business, the arts and religion-goes live from the newsroom, which is connected via fiber to KYTX's digs. Berry adds that many have enjoyed a heightened profile in the market since the partnership debuted in late 2009. "Newspaper reporters generally labor in obscurity," he says. "This gives us a chance to put them out in public."

Telegraph Publisher Nelson Clyde says the arrangement adds another dimension to both his reporters and the paper. "It makes us a multimedia company," he notes. "It makes [KYTX] one, too." READ THE REST

The article goes onto say that KYTX owner London Broadcasting would like to push this model to its other stations KCEN in Waco and KBMT in Beaumont.

I think government regulations will eventually be relaxed due to media pressure. Newspapers and TV stations will once again be able to be owned by the same company.  This will be the way the industry fights economic pressures - by consolidating. Good luck to the TV stations that don't combine with the newspaper.

Gotta Know where former KTRK 13 met Heidi Jones is

Former KTRK 13 meteorologist Heidi Jones was a very popular Houston television figure. Then she left the industry.

But now she is back.  If you've been wondering where she went, you can now catch her again in Houston on KTRK 13.2. Jones actually works as a meteorologist at WABC 7 in New York City. However she now has a side project where she hosts a technology show called Gotta Know on Live Well HD. You can see the show on the above video and see its Web site here.

Jones also writes a blog for WABC called 'Run with Heidi' (Full disclosure: I built this blog for WABC 7). Beyond that she has a personal Web site at runwithheidi.com.

If you watch ABC's Good Morning America, you might catch her filling in on the weather too.

KHOU 11 and Houston Dynamo team up again in 2010

KHOU 11 and The Houston Dynamo have renewed their broadcast agreement for the 2010 season we found out today. The station will air all non-nationally televised Dynamo regular season games on its digital channel, KHOU 11.2, and feature Dynamo ancillary programming on Channel 11.2 throughout the season.

KHOU is currently scheduled to show 21 Dynamo regular season games on Channel 11.2 in 2010, beginning with the April 10 contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Dynamo Insider, a 30-minute show featuring top plays and on-set interviews, will again air once per month throughout the season and KHOU 11.2 will also air replays of all 21 game broadcasts during the following week.

Like last year, the Dynamo will be featured in a five-minute segment on 11 News This Morning, Saturday mornings at 8:55 a.m. That means that for the second straight season, KHOU will air more than 100 hours of Dynamo-related content throughout its platforms. All Dynamo game broadcasts will include 15-minute pre- and post-game shows, hosted by KHOU sports anchor Matt Musil.

The Houston Dynamo will open their 2010 season on March 27 with a road game against FC Dallas. The Dynamo home opener will be on Thursday, April 1, against defending MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake at 8 p.m.

Aldi discount grocery stores opening in Texas

North Texas is about to get a big discount grocery store chain called Aldi. It boasts low prices, not massive selections of goods.

I first read about Aldi in Time Magazine in 2008:

More fundamentally, Aldi concentrates on selling core, high-volume grocery products, like ketchup, cereal and coffee. Want a choice? Forget it. By offering a single brand, usually a private label in a single size, Aldi executives say they can substantially undercut conventional retailers on 90% of the products the store sells. Nor do customers have to make any trade-offs in buying private labels. Consider the sleek, dark 16.9-oz. bottle of Ariel Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($4.29). Or the 13-oz. box of Fruit Rice cereal ($1.69). "You wouldn't be embarrassed to have that on your counter," says Bill Bishop, a retail consultant. READ MORE

WFAA reports that Aldi is opening 11 stores across North Texas and will add more than 30 additional locations this year.

Coolest College Courses

The Huffington Post is going academic and looking for cool college courses:

Why sit in that English Lit or Econ 101 or Psych class when you can take a course on the Philosophy and Star Trek? (Thanks, Georgetown U!) Or iPhone Application Programming? (Go Stanford!) Or, our personal favorite, a class on the making of maple syrup (Loving you, Alfred U.) SEE THE CLASSES

If I was in college I would like to take a class on how to make a cool looking Facebook or Twitter photo for my profile.

(Thanks Brian!)

Meyerland Plaza gets a Best Buy

UPDATE 3/22/2010
Best Buy Meyerland gets an opening date

Big news for electronic/tech/music lovers in the Meyerland, Bellaire and Westbury area of Houston.

I snapped this photo of a "Best Buy coming soon" sign in the empty Meyerland Plaza Circuit City store.  Seems Best Buy is taunting Circuit City by moving in on its old territory and saying, "We are the last ones standing!"

I have no information on when this store is opening.  Looking through the window you can tell there is a lot of work to do on a mostly empty retail space.  So if you have the knowledge of how long it takes a Best Buy store to set up and open...please let us know.

Former KENS 5 anchor wants your vote

Jeanne Jakle in San Antonio reports that a former KENS 5 anchor is competing for a big honor and needs your vote:

Don Hammond, a popular newscaster on KENS back in the '90s, is a finalist in Redbook Magazine's, um, Hottest Husband of 2010 contest.

During his KENS tenure between '95 and '97, Hammond handled both the evening news -- next to Deborah Knapp -- and morning and noon news. He currently anchors the weeknight news for the Fox affiliate in Dayton, Ohio. READ MORE

You can cast your vote here.

90.1 KPFT's DJ Sun gets some press

DJ Sun of 90.1 KPFT's Soular Grooves gets interviewed by Spinner.com:

I started as a DJ as a sort of fluke. Making a mix of music on cassette tapes for friends in 1993, I was recommended to the host of a Galveston beach party. Everything sort of started there. I've been a DJ since then, with a radio program at KPFT 90.1 (Pacifica) on Saturday (nights). READ THE REST