WFAA changes, Sachse back story and more

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KTRK's Allen has soft spot for 2011 Texans
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- KTRK 13's Bob Allen emptying his TV locker this year
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WFAA8's next news director could be a first for D-FW market
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WFAA anchors before they came to News 8
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The back story: Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu
KPRC anchor and fiance set a wedding date - Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu.
- KPRC 2's Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu's new wedding plans
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Rich Lord Survives Planes, Trains & Automobiles
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KDFW Reporter Peter Daut Joins WSOC-WAXN
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Channeling Marvin Zindler
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WOAI may be making light side too light
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S.A. radio vet Chris Duel axed from sports show
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All-Comedy Station Hits Dallas Radio February 1
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New morning show debuts on Austin’s Greatest Hits
Bo Chase is now helming the wakeup shift on 98.9 FM Austin’s Greatest Hits, a station focused on oldies from the 1960s and ’70s. He debuted today in the 6 to 10 a.m. timeslot.
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S.A. TV beauty, ex-beau on upcoming ‘Amazing Race’
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Activists want climate change on TV weather reports
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How Rick Perry helped America discover the Texas Tribune
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For 26 Episodes in 1966
WFAA Played Host to the Funkiest, Most Soulful TV Show in America

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MOVING
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- DFW reality TV show follows 'American Pin Ups'
- Mix 102.9 KDMX lands Khloé Kardashian Odom
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- KPRC 2 hires Chris Best as assistant ND from KTVT-KTXA
- Where has KTRK 13 anchor Sharron Melton been?
- Fox 26 KRIV assistant ND Carolyn Mungo leaves station

Where has KTRK 13 anchor Sharron Melton been?

UPDATE AUGUST 25, 2014
Why is Sharron Melton a KTRK abc13 'field anchor' now?

Lots of emails coming into this blog asking where KTRK 13 morning news anchor Sharron Melton has been?

Don't worry Melton fans, she will be back. Here is what Melton wrote on her Facebook fan page:

"Sorry I've been away for so long. But, for those of you who do not know I have a painful back injury. As soon as I get past this, I will be back on the air. Thank you to all who have sent words of encouragement and prayers because I really do appreciate it."

Melton is not the only KTRK anchor disappearing from the channel 13 airwaves lately. Longtime anchor Dave Ward injured himself after a fall while heading to the news desk to anchor the 10pm news a few weeks ago. He is currently recovering from surgery.

RELATED
- PHOTOS: KTRK 13 morning show promo shoot
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(Image courtesy of Girl Scouts of San Jacinto)

Fox 26 KRIV assistant ND Carolyn Mungo leaves station

UPDATE
Carolyn Mungo named news director at WFAA channel 8 Dallas

It was in 2005, that Carolyn Mungo left the glitz and glamour of the Houston TV reporting world an entered the rough and tumble, often political world of TV news management. (That's enough of my noir writing experiment.)

Simply put, Mungo was a reporter at KHOU 11 and moved over to Fox 26 KRIV to be the managing editor about seven years go. In 2009, she ascended to the assistant news director role at the Fox owned and operated station.

I was alerted last Friday that it was Mungo's last day at KRIV.

"I can say I am very excited about my future," Mungo mysteriously told mikemcguff.com.

While Mungo is remaining mum for now, sources tell me her contract and non-compete were up and she is moving on from KRIV. To where, I don't know yet, but I understand she has several opportunities out there.

According to her old channel 11 bio, Mungo started at KHOU in 1999 and picked up a ton of awards while there such as 12+ Emmys, the Texas Associated Press' "reporter of the year" in 2001, a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for best documentary and two Gold World Medals from the New York Film Festival. It says she began her career in Austin and worked in Minneapolis and Phoenix before moving to Houston.

UPDATE
Carolyn Mungo named news director at WFAA channel 8 Dallas

KPRC 2's Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu's new wedding plans

After the engagemnt of KPRC 2 anchor Dominique Sachse and businessman Nick Florescu was my number one post in 2011 in terms or reader traffic, you know I will follow up on this one. In fact, Sachse is clearly so popular in Houston, that I should be posting about her everyday!

Shelby Hodge of Culturemap is back with an update on the couple's upcoming wedding:

Copyright © 2011 Michelle Watson. All rights reserved.

Yes, Dominique and Nick Florescu will tie the knot in mid-May in Houston, having abandoned the early romantic idea of a wedding in Rome. ( Too many complications with family, children and orchestrating the perfect across-the-Atlantic nuptials.)


They will be wed in a private ceremony, family and intimate friends only, in the Memorial area home of John and Becca Cason Thrash. READ THE REST

Hodge has more details on the ceremony including the DiSanto gown Sachse will be wearing.

KPRC 2 hires Chris Best as assistant ND from KTVT-KTXA

Chris Best via Twitter
@CBS11BestEP

KPRC 2 has hired the Best candidate for its open assistant news director position. Well at least the guy has the Best name.

Chris Best from CBS stations KTVT 11/KTXA 21 in the Dallas-Fort Worth TV market, is taking the Houston TV management gig (I'm sure Chris likes stuff like this as much as I like Crime Dog talk).

According to an internal KTVT memo about his new gig, Best is passionate, very good at breaking news and incorporating technology into the newscasts. It says he has been the driving force behind TXA21 News.

Best joined KTXA as managing editor in 2007 from WKMG Orlando where he was the assistant news director.

Best’s last day in DFW TV will be February 17th. As you might imagine, he is getting well wishes from the Metroplex TV community including former KHOU 11 reporter (now WFAA 8) Jason Whitely.

Best replaces Rick McFarland in the assistant news director role. McFarland is now the senior executive producer in charge of the areas like special assignments, the investigative unit, scheduling and sports.

Best did not get back with me for a comment.

Telemundo Houston KTMD hires Antonio Hernandez for morning news

Former Univision 45 KXLN anchor Antonio Hernandez is returning to Houston TV after a few years out of the industry. This time Hernandez is moving up the television dial to Telemundo Houston KTMD.

"I left Univision almost five years ago because I opened a Real Estate company," Hernandez told mikemcguff.com. "I missed TV and started to produce infomercials and commercials, but that was not enough."

The call back to television for Hernandez came in the form of a new morning show for Telemundo Houston. Hernandez serves as both the morning anchor and assignments director.

"I love the daily contact with our Hispanic Community and the great opportunity I will help to help inform, educate and motivate Houston Latinos every morning," Hernandez said. "I enjoy working on human stories that motivate others to achieve their own goals."

Hernandez told me becoming a TV journalist has been his goal since age 14 while working as a migrant worker in South Texas.

"I would be working the potato and tomato seasons, but my mind would be on my goal of becoming a journalist," Hernandez remembered. "TV was my window to get away from the poor reality I was living, I never lost hope.

"Now I want to take that message to the Hispanic youth of today, 'Never lose hope, never.'"

NBC, the company that owns Telemundo, announced in August it would be adding a local version of Buenos Dias Houston by January 2012 featuring a format modeled on Buenos Dias Los Angeles” The format includes local, national and world news, weather and traffic reports and special segments tailored to the unique interests of Houston’s Latino community.

The new morning newscast, which is labeled on TV Guide as Noticiero Telemundo Houston, just started this Monday. It runs from 5 to 6am.

RELATED
- Telemundo 47 KTMD to launch morning news; weekend newscasts with KXTX Dallas

KTRK 13's Bob Allen emptying his TV locker this year

UPDATE OCTOBER 20, 2016
Bob Allen has died after cancer battle

UPDATE 4/11/2013
Bob Allen replaces Butch Alsandor at KHOU 11

Bob Allen with Laura and Dave Ward

UPDATE 1/18/2013
Bob Allen scores with emotional goodbye; talks future plans

What is Houston sports without KTRK 13 sports director Bob Allen? According to Allen's bio, he's been with the ABC station since 1974 (it also says he has the longest tenure of any major market sports anchor in the country).

Tuesday night on the channel 13 10pm newscast, we got our first glimpse into a future without Allen helming the Eyewitness Sports desk. That's because Allen told the audience he is leaving KTRK by the end of the year.

"It's something I've thought about for a while and those close to me know that I've been kicking it around for a few years," Allen wrote. "I am not -- repeat -- am not retiring; it's just that after 38 and a half years of sharing Houston's sports news with all of you at this station, and over 40 years of covering Houston sports, I want to do some other things while I can."

Some of those other things he says include possible public speaking, writing a book and possible duties with his alma mater of Stephen F. Austin State University. Overall it appears he wants a change of course, but is not ruling out a future role in television.

Allen actually had expressed some of these wishes to me the last time I saw him a few years ago.

Another thing he told me was a story about his early love of television - a story anyone who has been bitten by the TV bug will appreciate.

Allen told me as a boy he used to ride his bike to the KHOU 11 studios when they were located in the Texas Medical Center. In fact those very studios were just demolished this month. Allen told me in those days security was not what it is today and he could basically walk in, observe and learn. Clearly that education paid off considering his tremendous television career.

One thing Allen can always fall back on is his movie acting.

Naturally thoughts of Bob Allen lead to longtime anchor Dave Ward. As you probably know, Ward injured himself after a fall while heading to the news desk to anchor the 10pm news more than a week ago. He is currently recovering from surgery.

UPDATE 1/18/2013
Bob Allen scores with emotional goodbye; talks future plans

RELATED
- KTRK 13 sports director Bob Allen's Hollywood fame
- Bob Allen lives a double life in Lone Star
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Mix 102.9 KDMX lands Khloé Kardashian Odom

Mix 102.9 KDMX in Dallas has just landed a big asset for its mid-day lineup. That's right, new Dallas resident Khloé Kardashian Odom. She's in the Metroplex because her husband, Lamar Odom, is a recently traded Dallas Mavericks player now.

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s MIX 102.9 – KDMX -FM announced today that, Khloé Kardashian Odom will be the newest member of the on-air staff. The Mix Up with Khloé Kardashian Odom on MIX 102.9 takes over DFW from 12 noon – 1 pm CST starting Monday, January 30.

The Mix Up with Khloé Kardashian Odom on MIX 102.9 is a daily, one hour, commercial free show where Khloé will take requests, chat with her celebrity friends and more, during Mavs season while she's with her husband. “Khloé has the perfect mix of personality and sincerity that will fit right in on MIX 102.9,” stated Operations Manager, Patrick Davis.

Khloé, star of, ‘Khloé & Lamar’, ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’, co-designer of Kardashian Kollection and other projects will now add daytime radio host in her new hometown of Dallas to her list of credits.

“We embark on a new era where our on-air talent is also an international star,” says Program Director, Jay Michaels; “I am excited to see how this unfolds on-air and the entertainment it will offer our listeners.”

“I have always loved doing radio! The best part is connecting with the callers and I'm so excited to get to know the Dallas audience,” stated Khloé.

In addition to her new role in Dallas as hostess of The Mix Up with Khloé Kardashian Odom on MIX 102.9, you can find Khloé active in her different business ventures, engaged in her charity work and filming.

Tune in Monday, January 30 at 12 noon for the debut of The Mix Up with Khloé Kardashian Odom on MIX 102.9…..the voice that will become DFW’s source of entertainment.

DFW reality TV show follows 'American Pin Ups'

Dallas based network news producer, Derik Lattig (also formerly of KTVT 11 and KTRK 13), tells me he is embarking on a new project and it involves women and reality TV. Sounds like it a winning formula in that world!

It's called American Pin Ups and follows pin-up models and a photographer in Fort Worth:

Safari Productions presents the new original real-life series "American Pin Ups," which follows two Texas pin up models and a photographer who are hoping fame and fortune are just one click away. A “pin up” craze is sweeping the country and this trio hopes their photographs, costumes and attitude will propel them into the national spotlight. The soon to be shot 10-episode half-hour series is currently being shopped to several major Networks.

Each episode of "American Pin ups" dives into the fun but competitive world of retro pin up photography. Watch as these nationally published professional’s juggle their day to day lives and battle for the chance to land a cover or spread in major magazines. The show begins featuring Lorelei Lee and Flossie Carmichael who appear to be everyday wives, moms and homemakers. Appearances can be deceiving though as a phone call can transform this pair into sexy rock and roll gals from days gone by or elegant fur clad models. The man behind the camera is Rene Soliz, who has his own magazine “Delicious Dolls”. He too works to balance his “real job” as an engineer with his love of photography. It’s a rock and roll filled half hour show illustrating the rollercoaster life of a pin up.

From pesky garage workers on location to conflicts with other models to the truly bizarre, these models do what it takes in hopes of reaching the top. The high-stakes race is on as they set out to get that perfect picture, and any setback can cost big bucks.

From shooting in freezing cold temperatures in front of Texas landmarks to dark damp warehouses, no shoot is too hard for these professionals to handle. Lorelei Lee has been featured in numerous magazines, films and commercial TV over the past several years and clearly has a knack for the business. She always manages to keep a smile on her face and makes the best of adverse situations both in front of and behind the camera. Flossie Carmichael may be slightly newer to the pin up world but is no rookie. She’s about as tough and competitive as they come. She has participated in dozens of shoots since 2009. Whether at work in his historic Deep Ellum studio in Dallas or on location Rene Soliz is a true professional whose photographs and magazine have received a lot of attention.

www.Americanpinups.tv

NBC 5 Program Nominated for GLAAD Media Award

NBC KXAS 5 sent me a release about how one of its shows has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. The station says it is the only local TV station nominated for this national award:

NBC 5’s “NBC 5 Spotlight,” a locally-produced program for and about North Texans, has been nominated by The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for their annual GLAAD Media Awards, which recognize and honor media for outstanding images of the GLBT community.

“NBC 5 Spotlight: GLBT in Texas” is nominated in the Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine category and is the only local television station to earn a nomination among any of GLAAD’s 116 nominees across 25 English-language categories.

The 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media from across the nation for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.

“NBC 5 Spotlight: GLBT in Texas,” a thirty-minute program, originally aired in February 2011 on NBC 5 and DFW Nonstop, NBC 5’s 24/7 digital channel. The program tells the stories of local people in touching reality: the first Dallas Police Department officer to transition gender during her career with the department; a Fort Worth lesbian couple successfully adopting an at-risk youth into the family; and, a video essay on the Dallas Diablos Rugby Football Club who openly include both gay and straight team members.

NBC 5 anchor/reporter Kristi Nelson hosted and reported in the nominated episode and NBC 5 executive producer Reginald Hardwick produced the program.

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 24, in Los Angeles on April 21 and in San Francisco on June 2.

Goofy TV news videos, Dave Ward update and more

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Dave Ward fans flood KTRK with well wishes after fall takes Houston TV icon off the air
Dave Ward of KTRK Ch. 13 took a small, but nevertheless nasty, fall on set Friday only minutes before the evening newscast. Noted local media blogger Mike McGuff reported a mysterious change of venue and personnel during Friday night's KTRK broadcast, as Melanie Lawson went through the day's events from the newsroom rather than the typical desk area viewers know and love.
- Dave Ward recuperating, hopes to return to Channel 13 newscasts in early February

NBC Sports seeks incentives to put studio downtown
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Teresa Woodard leaving KTVI to work at WFAA in Dallas, her hometown
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- WFAA to Welcome Home Teresa Woodard

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Reporter Julie Tam Leaving KXAS in Dallas
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KEYE-TV, KXAN-TV Short Staffed; Anybody Notice?
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Sarah Frazier Named SVP/Market Manager For CBS Radio Houston
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Girl, Wanted, by Texas Watchdog’s Steve Miller, nominated for Edgar Allan Poe award
Texas Watchdog reporter Steve Miller has been nominated for the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award.

Radio consultant Bob Cohen strengthens ties with Gow Broadcasting
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MegaTV Channel 55 in Houston, Texas Reveals Its 2012 Upfront Plans
Spanish Broadcasting System Inc., plans to hold its Upfront presentation for advertisers in Houston, Texas at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at the MegaTV Channel 55 Broadcast Center.

Spurs will remain a Clear Channel property on WOAI
The San Antonio Spurs will remain on WOAI 1200 and the Rampage and Silver Stars will be aired on KTKR 760.

KUT’s John Aielli thanks listeners for their support
KUT’s John Aielli, 65, suffered a heart attack Jan. 4 and was off the air nearly two weeks while he recuperated at an area hospital.

Dallas company buys DFW area TV station
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DIGITAL
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- David Sadof joins Third Rock radio at NASA.gov
- Weatherman's bet with KHOU 11's Gene Norman did not cost his job
- Daniella Guzman IS NBC5 WMAQ bound from KPRC 2
- VIDEO: KHOU 11 promotions for Shern-Min Chow and more

VIDEO: KHOU 11 promotions for Shern-Min Chow and more

Here are three new KHOU 11 promos just released.




KHOU 11 News Anchor Shern-Min Chow speaks her mind about Houston. Find out why she loves living and working in this city.

KHOU 11 News (Then & Now)
A look back at how KHOU 11 News has brought you breaking news coverage over the years, and how our commitment to breaking news coverage continues today...

KHOU 11 News - Halfway Across...
Whether it's halfway across the world, or halfway across town... KHOU 11 News is committed to bringing you the best coverage of news that affects your life!

Daniella Guzman IS NBC5 WMAQ bound from KPRC 2

Earlier today I blogged how longtime Chicago media reporter Robert Feder was taking time out to report that KPRC 2 weekend anchor Daniella Guzman was getting hired in the Windy City.

Feder reported Guzman would jump to weekday mornings at NBC owned and operated NBC 5 WMAQ:

After more than five years at KPRC-TV in her native Houston, Guzman is the odds-on favorite to succeed Zoraida Sambolin as anchor of NBC 5 News Today. Sambolin signed off last November to join CNN as co-anchor of Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield.

Well Guzman told me earlier this evening the deal is actually done and she is leaving her birth city for the bigger TV market.

"I'll be heading to NBC 5 in March," Guzman told mikemcguff.com. "Opportunity knocked and I opened the door. I will miss Houston very much!"

RELATED
- KPRC anchor Daniella Guzman gives birth
- KPRC 2's Daniella Guzman to NBC 5 WMAQ???

KPRC 2's Daniella Guzman to NBC 5 WMAQ???

UPDATE
Daniella Guzman IS NBC5 WMAQ bound from KPRC 2

Longtime Chicago media reporter Robert Feder is reporting that one of our Houston anchors could be going to the Windy City. It's none other than KPRC 2 weekend anchor Daniella Guzman too. Feder reports she's up for the big morning gig at NBC 5 WMAQ.

I know many of my male readers have a crush on her. At least TV stations have websites where you can watch video from afar now.

Here is Feder's report:

Daniella Guzman, a reporter and weekend news anchor from Houston, soon could be the new face of mornings at NBC 5 in Chicago.

After more than five years at KPRC-TV in her native Houston, Guzman is the odds-on favorite to succeed Zoraida Sambolin as anchor of NBC 5 News Today. Sambolin signed off last November to join CNN as co-anchor of Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield.

If all goes as planned, Guzman could start at NBC 5 in early March, insiders said. It’s not clear whether she’ll co-anchor with Rob Elgas or be part of a reconfigured talent lineup from 4:30 to 7am weekdays. There’s talk of shifting Elgas off the morning show to anchor duties later in the day. READ MORE

It seems all I write about lately are posts about Houston TV news people leaving town!

I contacted Guzman, but have not heard back from her yet.

UPDATE
Daniella Guzman IS NBC5 WMAQ bound from KPRC 2

RELATED
- KPRC anchor Daniella Guzman gives birth

Weatherman's bet with KHOU 11's Gene Norman did not cost his job

The Baltimore Sun's TV critic David Zurawik writes that WMAR weatherman Justin Berk's bet with KHOU 11 chief meteorologist Gene Norman did not cost him his job.

Let me start from the beginning now. TVSpy first wrote Friday how Berk and Norman made a bet about the Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans game. The website said the terms of the bet were Berk’s crab cakes against Norman’s barbecue sauce, which the loser must eat on the air in the opposing team’s gear.

Turns out that was the last day for Berk on air.

Zurawik blogs that the rumor for Berk's departure was the bet with Norman, but the station denied that. You can read more about Berk's dismissal here.

TV prank calls, KDFW Twitter and more

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ABC-13 faces critical ratings period without Dave Ward as he recovers from fall
Viewers flooded ABC-13’s website Tuesday with well wishes for the recovery of news mainstay Dave Ward, while the station faced an impending ratings period without a star anchor.
- KTRK 13's Dave Ward falls, will be off news desk

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Mary Benton, TV news reporter
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Behind enemy lines
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Wrapping up bowl ratings
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UH School of Theatre & Dance Lending Talents to CBS' '48 Hours'
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Photog blogger Turdpolisher writes first novel
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Nick and Artie Show jumped out of the gate in 2012
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Southbound Food debuts on a new station, NewsRadio 740 – KTRH Saturday, Jan. 14.

'The Prison Show' Helps Texas Inmates Find Escape
The Prison Show has been trying for decades to relieve the harshness of the Texas penal system, which leads the country in executions and has the largest prison population of any state. The show broadcasts from KPFT in Houston, a nonprofit Pacifica Network radio station based in an old house near the city's downtown.

Social Embed Makes Houston News Stickier
Belo's KHOU in Houston has embedded Facebook and Twitter features into its iPad news app, giving users a full mobile social media experience and enticing them to stay with the app much longer than the average three-minute visit.
- Facebook commenting coming to KHOU.com

KXAN’s Jim Swift Still Spinning Yarns After 34 Years
Austin TV news has reporters of all shapes and sizes and skill sets. KXAN-TV’s Jim Swift is more than a reporter. He’s a story teller. And he’s been doing it for 34 years.

New KVUE Crime & Courts Reporter Returns Home to Texas
KVUE-TV’s newest reporter is a native Houstonian happy to be back in Texas. Jessica Holloway, 27, is covering the police and courts beat.

New KVET morning show debuts
nne Hudson, who works evenings at sister station KASE 101, will team up with “The Roadhouse” host Chris Mosser weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m.
They replace longtime KVET-FM host Bob Cole, who departed the station last month after 20 years on the air.

Documentary covers KTRH host
Documentary "Vox Pop: The Story of Parks Johnson" tells tale of former 740 KTRH host who was behind the microphone during World War II.

Houston, We Have a Problem: Let's Talk Radio in Houston
Why aren't there more Black radio stations in Houston?

Former local news anchor dies at 66
Merrell Gregory, one of the first female TV news anchors in El Paso, died of cancer Friday in Asheville, N.C. She was 66.

KIAH dumps Universal Sports
Universal Sports has disappeared from the air on KIAH's (Channel 39) 39.3 over-the-air signal and from channel 319 on Comcast.

'Texas Trib' Ropes In Funds and Readers
Surpasses Evan Smith's expectations

Belo Promotes Valentine and Weir
Belo Corp. announced today that Michael Valentine has been named vice president/Content. In this newly created role, Valentine will direct news content strategies across multiple platforms for the Company's 15 television markets. He will also help explore additional digital opportunities for new and existing content. Belo also announced the promotion of Joe Weir to vice president/Digital. In this role, Joe will continue his interactive leadership for the Company as well as lead Belo's future digital initiatives and new product launches.

KTMD Houston Names McAlone Sales VP
Former Univision account exec Michael McAlone is tapped to lead sales efforts at Telemundo's Houston O&O.

Craig James Debuts in Senate Debate
Former ESPN broadcaster and SMU star running back Craig James, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, made his debut in the first major Republican debate on Thursday in Austin, TX.

The Live Well Network Adds Two New Shows to Winter Schedule
The Live Well Network (airing on .2 channels like KTRK 13.2 and WFAA 8.3), announces the January 14 premiere of "My Family Recipe Rocks!" hosted by TV personality, actor and former *NSYNC star Joey Fatone, and "We Owe What?" hosted by award-winning financial expert Mary Caraccioli.

KRIS Files Complaint with FCC against Time Warner
KRIS Communications filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington DC.

NATIONAL
- Ex-announcer Franklin settles lawsuit against ESPN
- Real-Life The Hangover Destroys Weather Man’s Life
- CNN's Dana Bash Targeted By Ron Paul Super PAC
- Clear Channel Radio Is Rebranded As Clear Channel Media and Entertainment

DIGITAL
- YouTube turns pro
- Video ads are generating billions of dollars, but not for news organizations
- Comcast rolls out live TV streams to subscribers' iPads
- Enquirer Designs an App for Gossip
- How Google+ Hangouts will transform traditional TV broadcasting

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- KHOU 11 puts Lily Jang in mornings from KCPQ Q13 Seattle
- KUHT 8's InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse back and nationwide
- KPRC 2 anchors use tablet for scripts on air
- KCOH owner Michael Petrizzo passes away
- Houston WikiLeaks debate for for journalists lawyers and others 1/28/2012
- KTRK 13 moves anchors to newsroom for a night?
- KTRK 13's Art Rascon's son Jacob to KNBC Los Angeles
- KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt joins ABC News

David Sadof joins Third Rock radio at NASA.gov

I told you in December how NASA.gov gets alternative online radio through RFC Media. What this means is Pat Fant, the guy who created Rock 101 KLOL and 107.5 The Buzz KTBZ, is behind it.

Fant has just hired a well known music guru to join the online venture, former Lunar Rotation and Exposure host David Sadof.

David Sadof with Tori Amos

The mission of NASA’s Third Rock Radio is to explore new worlds of music and present the best of those discoveries for the enjoyment of audiences everywhere. Such an assignment calls for the most inspired among us to take the first watch.

RFC Media has tapped noted music explorer and expert discographer David Sadof to join the programming team of Cruze and Donna McKenzie in the creation of the infinite playlist that supplies NASA’s Third Rock – America’s Space Station with a continuous source of New Rock/Indi/Alternative.

Sadof and RFC Media’s Pat Fant first connected over a spinning turntable in 1986 at Houston’s Rock 101/KLOL where Sadof’s specialty program Lunar Exposure became Houston’s radio launch pad for unheard of bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins.

David Sadof, Fant and Cruze first came together as a trio when they kicked off Houston’s alternative rocker KTBZ, The BUZZ in 1995. Now, a full rotation later, the band is back, along with Her Highness Donna McKenzie, to make more atmospheric waves around Radio Powered by NASA.

Welcome to David Sadof, now in residence at RFC Media, Houston, Texas.

Houston-based RFC Media, LLC, designs, produces and executes private label radio stations enabling brands to stream custom content live online and across the mobile broadband networks. The firm brings a rich history of broadcast management, programming and media marketing to private enterprise in the development of on-demand media.

RELATED
- David Sadof talks to the Mike McGuff Blog
- Houston rock radio pioneer dumps FM for Web broadcasting - mikemcguff.com exclusive
- HISD's and RFC Media's K12 Radio launches

KHOU 11's Mark Greenblatt joins ABC News

I heard KHOU 11 investigative guy Mark Greenblatt was going network. I asked him to confirm but never heard back. Now we know. ABC News fills us in:

Mark Greenblatt joins ABC News as a correspondent in New York and will file for all platforms. He comes to us from KHOU-TV where he worked for seven years as an investigative reporter, winning many awards including the duPont-Columbia, Peabody, National Headliner, National Emmy and two National Murrows.

Over the course of his career, Mark’s investigative reports have led newscasts at WBBH-TV in Fort Myers, FL; KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs, CO; and KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO.

Mark credits his considerable reporting gifts to his parents. His late father spoke 16 languages fluently, and worked in military intelligence before retiring to the civilian sector. His mother worked as a paralegal for much of her professional career and always kept her teaching license because of her love of English and writing.

While in Houston, Mark spent significant time volunteering with arts organizations and speaking to children about making a difference. He enjoys road cycling and recently completed the MS150, a 180-mile two-day ride from Houston to Austin. A native of Denver, Mark is an avid Boston Red Sox fan and looks forward to rooting for his team even when he lands in the Big Apple. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri's School of Journalism.

RELATED
- KHOU 11's Christine Haas to KNSD 7 NBC San Diego
- KHOU 11's Lucy Noland headed to KNBC 4 LA
- Former KHOU 11 reporter Dave Fehling joins NPR
- KHOU 11's Alex Sanz to WPTV 5

KTRK 13's Dave Ward falls, will be off news desk

KTRK 13 anchor Gina Gaston ended Monday night's 6pm newscast with a note about Dave Ward.

 It turned out when I blogged how KTRK 13 moves anchors to newsroom for a night over the weekend, it was not technical issues that caused the location switch, but an accident. Reader comments came in since to that post talking about the incident.

Gaston said the number 13 is usually lucky for KTRK 13, but not in this case:

Bob Allen with Laura and Dave Ward

Eyewitness News anchor Dave Ward took a little fall Friday night just minutes before the newscast. Tonight he tells us he's already out of bed and the doctors have him walking around.

Dave plans on getting back in his chair on the news desk as soon as he gets the medical OK, which could be no more than a few weeks.

If you would like to send Dave a get well message, add your comments below. He would love to hear from you. READ MORE

Glad he is recovering.

RELATED
- PICS: KTRK 13 anchor Dave Ward's 45 year party
- KTRK 13 anchors play Santa

KTRK 13's Art Rascon's son Jacob to KNBC Los Angeles

UPDATE AUGUST 16, 2017
Jacob Rascon joins KPRC

UPDATE JULY 24, 2014
Jacob Rascon now at NBC News

I told you in April how Jacob Rascon started reporting at KFOX 14 El Paso. Name sound familiar? Houston viewers know Jacob's dad as KTRK 13 Live at Five anchor Art Rascon.

And just like his father before him, Jacob Rascon is now California bound. That's right, the younger Rascon hasn't been reporting a year yet for KFOX and he's already landed a gig in television market number 2 at KNBC 4 Los Angeles. (Former KHOU anchor Lucy Noland left for KNBC too).

"We love El Paso and didn't expect to leave so soon," Jacob Rascon told mikemcguff.com. "But my family and I are thrilled about this opportunity."

As I blogged before, Rascon showed up in El Paso ready for the big time. Back then, I wrote Rascon looked like a clone of his father in appearance and reporting style. A reader commented the term "Ras-clone." Clever.

Jacob will work as an Inland Empire bureau reporter for the station. (Former KHOU 11 and KIAH 39 reporter Leticia Juarez left Houston to cover the Inland Empire for KABC.) He tells me this is an MMJ position (aka one man band) but he will probably have a photographer some of the time.

Rascon's are no strangers to TV audiences in the Inland Empire or Los Angeles in general. Jacob tells me his uncle Dan Rascon worked as an Inland Empire reporter for KNBC in the past (Dan is now at KUTV). Before Jacob's father, Art, worked for CBS News as a network correspondent and eventually KTRK 13, he worked for KABC.

As for Art, he is naturally very proud of his son's accomplishments.

"My wife Patti and I are thrilled for Jacob and his family," Art Rascon told mikemcguff.com. "This is a terrific, and I might add a challenging opportunity for him. Having worked at ABC in Los Angles, I know well the shark tank he is diving into.

"He's a solid journalist, has a bright future, and as a father I couldn't be more proud. I look forward to continuing our near daily conversations about his journalistic adventures."

Above is Jacob Rascon's latest KFOX demo reel for your viewing pleasure. Congrats on the new gig.

UPDATE AUGUST 16, 2017
Jacob Rascon joins KPRC

UPDATE JULY 24, 2014
Jacob Rascon now at NBC News

RELATED
- Art Rascon at Dave Ward's 45 year party
- Art Rascon talking about Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals

KTRK 13 moves anchors to newsroom for a night?

UPDATE:
KTRK 13's Dave Ward falls, will be off news desk
It turned out when I blogged how KTRK 13 moves anchors to newsroom for a night over the weekend, it was not technical issues that caused the location switch, but because KTRK 13 anchor Dave Ward fell.


Friday night I was watching a documentary on KUHT 8 PBS about The National Film Registry followed by the KISS Gene Simmons interview with Ernie Manouse that I had DVR'ed earlier in the week. But maybe I should have been watching a few channels up the dial.

Here is what an anonymous reader emailed me after the Friday 10pm newscast:

Something very strange happened on the Friday, January 13th 10pm news on ABC 13. During primetime, there were news teases that ran which were obviously recorded by Dave Ward. Then at 10pm, Melanie Lawson anchored the news from their newsroom. It seems something happened to Dave Ward and they were unable to recover, so the news was read from the newsroom. Any idea what happened?

Here is video of Melanie Lawson anchoring from the newsroom just as the reader mentioned.





Being that it is the weekend, we are not getting answers on this. But I would guess there was some technical problem that forced the crew to do the news from the newsroom where there is only one talent seat. I blogged before about how this happened years ago and Gina Gaston anchored from the newsroom.

Last time I saw KTRK 13 get hijacked by technical problems, the station announced it on social media. However this time, there apparently was no delay in getting the show on the air so I would assume there was no reason to make any online statements.

Hopefully all is well for the station's Chevron Houston Marathon coverage Sunday morning.


UPDATE:
KTRK 13's Dave Ward falls, will be off news desk
It turned out when I blogged how KTRK 13 moves anchors to newsroom for a night over the weekend, it was not technical issues that caused the location switch, but because KTRK 13 anchor Dave Ward fell.

Houston WikiLeaks debate for for journalists lawyers and others 1/28/2012

WikiLeaks Debate – Sat 1/28/12 at South Texas College of Law

The 26th Law and the Media Seminar will explore the legal, ethical and practical implications of WikiLeaks for journalists, lawyers, and the people and institutions affected by “antisecrecy vigilantes (New York Times).” The program will feature Geoffrey Robertson, the London-based lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt, who interviewed Mr. Assange and assessed the first trove of thousands of diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks.

The program also will include a panel discussion of the issues featuring Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press, Washington, D.C.; Don DeGabrielle, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas; David Adler, federal criminal defense attorney; and moderated by Tom Forestier, managing shareholder of the Houston office of Winstead PC.

Journalists, communication professionals, law students and journalism students attend at no charge. The cost for attorneys is $40 with advance reservations and includes 3.0 hours of MCLE credit, including 1 hour ethics credit. Door registration for attorneys is $50, space permitting. Continental breakfast is included.

Saturday, January 28th, 2012
8:00-8:55 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:55-9:00 Welcome and Introductions
9:00-10:00 Geoffrey Robertson QC, Doughty Street Chambers via Skype from London
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15-11:15 Eric Schmitt, Reporter, New York Times
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30 The WikiLeaks Debate
Panelists: Lucy Dalglish, Don DeGabrielle, David Adler and Tom Forestier

KCOH owner Michael Petrizzo passes away

KCOH 1430 owner Michael Petrizzo, 89, died yesterday in his home according to his obituary.

Petrizzo started out as an accountant with KCOH 1430, became general manager and eventually purchased the station with partners in 1976. Before his radio career, Petrizzo served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was originally from Brooklyn, New York.

According to its website, KCOH Radio is the oldest black radio station in Texas as well as the southern portion of the United States. The Houston station has been recognized as a forerunner in black radio stations for more than 50 years. It was the first in the field to include talk show programming, gospel and many other types of shows with their urban listeners in mind. The station is now located in Third Ward.

“Mike was that voice of reason, that bright idea in a dark room and a person who could get things done," Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said in a statement. "KCOH was the same way – that voice of reason for many in the Houston area who called KCOH theirs. Mike made sure KCOH would be the community’s voice when others would not listen to them. I want to express my gratitude and thanks to Mike for maintaining a station that was part of the heart of our community. The mold was truly broken when Mike was born because he was truly one of a kind."

Petrizzo's obituary says his Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 13, 2012 at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris, Bellaire, TX 77401.

RELATED
- Michael Petrizzo, A Pillar of the Community, Succumbs to a Long Illness
- Obituary

KPRC 2 anchors use tablet for scripts on air

KPRC Local 2 anchors Bill Balleza and Dominique Sachse with the Barnes and Noble Nook instead of TV news paper scripts.

An eagle eyed reader of mine wrote to me right before Christmas and said he saw KPRC anchors using a tablet instead of paper scripts during a newscast. Sounds like Santa brought some stocking stuffers early for the Houston NBC affiliate.

"We’re using Nooks (ed. note: Nook is by Barnes and Noble) instead of paper scripts on set," KPRC 2 Vice President/Creative Services Director Mike Guerrieri told mikemcguff.com. "It’s a custom program we wrote that updates scripts in real time."

Very high tech.

In my ephemeral time at KIAH 39 (and before I showed up I presume) anchor Mia Gradney used an iPad instead of paper scripts too.

KUHT 8's InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse back and nationwide

I did not know that KUHT 8's InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse was on 100 PBS station across the US. Here I thought it was just a good local Houston show. Well Manouse is back with a big roster of guests for the show's 10th season starting this month:

At 10:30 p.m., Thursday, January 12, the 10th season of the HoustonPBS nationally syndicated award-winning series, InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse, launches with an all-new lineup. Currently airing on more than 100 PBS stations throughout the country, Emmy award-winning host Ernie Manouse continues his conversations with guests from across the pop landscape. Joining Manouse this season are actors Kate Walsh and Marsha Mason, Rocker Gene Simmons and PBS luminaries Jim Lehrer and Bill Moyers to name a few.

“It’s amazing how time flies,” said Manouse. “It seems like just yesterday we sat down with Anne Rice, Patti LuPone and Frankie Avalon to launch our first season, and in little over a month, we will air our 150th episode. As with our other seasons, we continue talking to some of Houston and the nation’s most intriguing cultural icons - from arts to entertainment, from literature to politics – in a season of InnerVIEWS there is always something for everyone!”

Other guests this season include: best-selling author Charlaine Harris (True Blood); Soap Star Kim Zimmer; and legendary photographer Greg Gorman.

“Each episode offers an intimate conversation, where our guests feel comfortable enough to share their unique, personal, and surprising life stories in a warm, comfortable and open way unique to television interviews,” continues Manouse.

InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse airs at 10:30pm every Thursday night on HoustonPBS, with re-broadcasts at 2:30pm on Sundays. For national airdates and times, check with your local PBS stations.

Complete List of Season #10 InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse Guests
1/12/12 - KISS’ Gene Simmons
1/19/12 – PBS NewsHours’ Jim Lehrer
1/26/12 – Actress Kate Walsh (Private Practice & Grey’s Anatomy)
2/2/12 - Photographer Greg Gorman
2/9/12 – Trumpeter Chris Botti (Repeat from past season)
2/16/12 – Actress Loretta Divine (Dreamgirls, What Women Want & Eli Stone)
2/23/12 - PBS’ Bill Moyers (InnerVIEWS... 150th Episode)
3/1/12 – Activist, Actress and Film Maker Alana Stewart (Farrah’s Story)
3/22/12 - Soap Star Kim Zimmer (Guiding Light)
3/29/12 - Gospel Singer Yolanda Adams
4/5/12 – Actor/director Martin Sheen (West Wing) and Emilio Estevez (Breakfast Club, Young Guns & The Outsiders)
4/12/12 - Actress Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl, The Middle)
4/19/12 – Broadway composer Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly!, Mame, & La Cage aux Folles) (from past season)
4/26/12 - Publisher Larry Flint
5/3/12 - Author Charlaine Harris (The Southern Vampire Mysteries- inspiration for HBO’s True Blood)

KHOU 11 puts Lily Jang in mornings from KCPQ Q13 Seattle

UPDATE DECEMBER 23, 2016
Lily Jang exits KHOU 11

New KHOU 11 morning anchor Lily Jang courtesy of KCPQ Q13 Seattle.

It's ironic that it has rained like cats and dogs in Houston today because Houston is getting a new morning anchor from Seattle (aka Rain City). Turns out Fox affiliate KCPQ Q13 Morning News anchor Lily Jang is headed to KHOU 11's morning anchor chair to replace Christine Haas next to Ron Trevino.

Just last week, I blogged how now former KHOU 11 morning anchor Christine Haas was headed to San Diego's NBC owned and operated station KNSD NBC 7.

"I am incredibly blessed that KHOU is giving me this opportunity," Jang told mikemcguff.com. "Excited to finally be home where I grew up and my parents can watch me."

Jang was born in Vietnam but grew up in Houston. She graduated from Langham Creek High School and the University of Texas in Austin.

She's moving back home to help take care of her father who is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Jang told Seattle blogger John Yeager, “Everything I ever did was because of my parents.”

Jang will blow up the Houston media social media scene. According to her Q13 bio, the Emmy nominated anchor has been honored by The Huffington Post twice as a Twitter Powerhouse. She has nearly 20,000 Twitter followers as I am writing this. That should make her one of the top Twitter users in the Houston area. She's big on Facebook too.

Before working for Tribune owned Q13, Jang was an anchor/reporter for Northwest Cable News. She also worked at WIAT Birmingham, Alabama and KFDA in Amarillo.

Yeager blogs that Jang's last day at Q13 is February 10th. Then she begins February 13th at KHOU.




RELATED
- KHOU 11's Christine Haas to KNSD 7 NBC San Diego
- Q13′s Lily Jang: Re-purposed Journalist Goes Home
- KHOU 11 grabs Rekha Muddaraj from KFMB San Diego

Reporter punches boy on live TV, KRIV wedding and more

MORE VIDEO
- Reporter punches boy in live shot (Thanks Eric)
- Matt Lauer Celebrates 15th Anniversary As 'Today' Co-Host
- ‘World News Now’ Celebrates 20 Years
- ESPN's Jon Gruden Mistakes the First Lady for Lisa Salters

Texans’ playoff win draws massive TV audience
More than one-third of the Greater Houston area’s 2.1 million television households watched the Texans’ playoff wild card win Saturday over the Bengals.

Fox anchor Jose Grinan ties the knot
Fox 26 KRIV anchor Jose' Grinan married long time girlfriend Kathryn Griffin Townsend.

Shawn Rutherford Gone From KXAN TV
Morning weather anchor Shawn Rutherford is gone from KXAN-TV reports Jim McNabb.

KHOU 11 studio demolished...the old one at least
A big boom could be heard at the Texas Medical Center on Sunday as demolition crews brought down a 20-story building that used to be home to KHOU 11 News.

Another Belo split completed
It’s been nearly four years since Belo Corporation split in two, with the newspaper side being spun off into a new company, A.H. Belo Corporation. Now the two have finally divided up their real estate holdings.

Dynamo, KPRC-TV reach historic agreement to broadcast games for 2012 season
The Houston Dynamo and Houston’s NBC affiliate, KPRC-TV, have reached an agreement to broadcast six regular season matches for the 2012 season. KPRC will exclusively air a “Match of the Month” on the station’s main channel, KPRC Local 2, and feature Dynamo ancillary programming on its digital channel throughout the season.

Billy The Kidd Signs Multi-Year Clear Channel Deal
CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40 KHKS (106.1 KISS-FM)/DALLAS APD/MD/afternoon jock and syndicated PREMIUM CHOICE jock BILLY THE KIDD has signed a multi-year deal that will allow him to continue kicking ass for the company for the foreseeable future.

Mark Shecterle Named NSM At News 92 FM/Houston
RADIO ONE News KROI (NEWS 92 FM)/HOUSTON has named METRO NETWORKS regional Dir./Sales MARK SHECTERLE as GSM. SHECTERLE is a former VP/GM of crosstown Top 40 KRBE when it was owned by SUSQUEHANNA.

KEYE News Crawl Delivers Old News
KEYE-TV made the crawl even less important Tuesday on its 10 p.m. newscast when it ran stories that were several days old.

All That Jazz
Critics say KTSU has lost its listeners, not to mention its soul, by ditching its cutting-edge music and many of its veteran DJs.

5 Replacements for The Jim Rome Show
​Jim Rome is done in the Houston sports-talk radio market after KILT-AM 610 dropped the popular The Jim Rome Show last week.
Rome's show had become more than a little tedious in recent years, so replacing it should be easy; here are five replacements that would make for riveting programming in Rome's vacated three-hour hole.

Say howdy to freshly scrubbed Hank-FM at KTFW, outside Fort Worth
LKCM Radio Group’s KTFW-FM (92.1 FM) relaunched Friday, January 6 at 6 a.m., as Hank-FM, a broad country-based format in the realm of variety hits Jack and Bob.

Shout out to Houston journalist Matt Sampsell
He's former sports reporter/ anchor from FOX 26 who has transferred his skills to the radio. Matt now works as a general assignment report for the new News 92 radio in Houston.

A Tim and Bob Gallery
Often referred to as Houston's first morning duo, Tim and Bob were together on KPRC for over a decade.

Disney, Comcast Set Major Carriage Deal
The 10-year agreement provides Xfinity TV customers broad access to sports, news and entertainment content across multiple screens in and out of the home. Also included are retransmission consent rights for the seven ABC O&Os (KTRK).

KTMD drops Inmigrante for new rerun channel
KTMD channel 47 has dropped Manuel Solis’ Inmigrante TV from channel 47.2, replacing it with “Exitos TV.”

"Kat Country" KATP Amarillo, Texas, Adopts Jockless Presentation
Townsquare Media's KATP (Kat Country 102) Amarillo, Texas, has let its air staff go and is adopting a Jack-FM like, jockless presentation, while keeping the format country, according to Radio Info.

MOVING
Napoli Management Group let's us know LoriAna Hernandez renews her agreement with KTBC in Austin as primary anchor.

NATIONAL
- For ‘CBS This Morning,’ Showtime Has Arrived
- Changing the State of Play
- NBC Entertainment Head Weighs In on ‘Community,’ ’30 Rock’ and ‘House’
- Keith Olbermann: Not Worth It
- Chelsea Clinton's NBC News Tenure May Be Over Soon: Report

DIGITAL
- Houston, Dallas, San Antonio among first cities to get Sprint’s 4G LTE
- Analyst: Netflix Now the 15th Most-Watched TV 'Network' in U.S.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Changes at 740 KTRH and 950 KPRC
- KHOU 11's Christine Haas to KNSD 7 NBC San Diego
- Oprah to air Joel Osteen interview with tough questions
- New 740 KTRH and 950 KTRH lineup schedule 2012
- Understand weight loss, calories and MTV through books