Houston media shutdown Arturo's Uptown Italiano

Friday night, The Roundtable, a group of Houston journalists and political types, closed down Bill Sadler's Arturo's Uptown Italiano in Uptown Park.

For media lovers who read this blog, those in attendance included Bob & Carol Martin "The Accountant to the Stars," Fox 26 KRIV reporter Isiah "Factor" Carey AKA The Insite, former KTRK abc13 investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino, KPRC 2's Phil Archer, KTRK abc13 reporter Miya Shay and husband Democratic State Representative Gene Wu, KHOU 11's Doug Miller, former KPRC 2 reporter Mary Benton, Dan Zindler, Lori Freese and Dr. Richard Murray. I even got to meet KPRC 2 anchor Bill Balleza's brother, Walter. Walter used to work with his brother at channel 2 as a photojournalist!

And I was told that former Former President George W. Bush's brother Neil was there. CultureMap's Clifford Pugh also reported that former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst was in attendance.

Tthe Houston Business Journal reports the folks behind Max's Wine Dive and The Tasting Room will open a Tex-Mex restaurant called Añejo in the current Arturo space. As for Sadler who has behind places like River Café, Café Noche, Beso, the Moose/Blue Agave, the future is wide open.

RELATED
Isiah Factor|The Insite coverage

Univision 45 KXLN wins during February 2015 sweeps in key demo

Univision is the number 1 broadcast station in early and late local news in Houston (KXLN 45) and Los Angeles (KMEX 34) for the February 2015 sweeps among adults 18-49 and 25-54

February 2015 sweeps are over and that means my blog break is too. As usual, Univision 45 KXLN was Houston television's big winner in the key demo. Here is some ratings data the station provided mikemcguff.com.

Early Local News (5-5:30 p.m.)
Live +SD P25-54

Title (grouped)	Station	Air Times	Rating (Imp)
NOTICIAS 45-5P	45 KXLN UNI	5:00p-5:30p	2.0 | 52,702
CH 2 NEWS 5PM	2 KPRC NBC	5:00p-5:30p	1.3 | 34,907
LIVE AT 5	13 KTRK ABC	5:00p-5:30p	1.2 | 31,886
KHOU11 NWS @ 5	11 KHOU CBS	5:00p-5:30p	1.0 | 26,175
FOX26 NEWS@5PM	26 KRIV FOX	5:00p-6:00p	0.8 | 21,461

Late Local News
Live +SD P25-54

Title (grouped)	Station	Air Times	Rating (Imp)
NOTICIAS 45 EN	45 KXLN UNI	10:00p-10:30p	3.8 | 101,795
CH 2 NWS 10PM	2 KPRC NBC	10:00p-10:30p	2.6 | 69,109
EYEWIT NWS-10	13 KTRK ABC	10:00p-10:30p	2.2 | 59,995
KHOU11 NW @ 10	11 KHOU CBS	10:00p-10:30p	1.8 | 47,456
FOX26 NEWS@9PM	26 KRIV FOX	9:00p-10:00p	1.7 | 44,791

Univision stations also did well in Dallas and Los Angeles. You can read more about that below from the press release:

Univision Local Media today announced that Univision broadcast stations in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas ranked No. 1 in early and late local news in the February sweep among Adults 18-49.

In Los Angeles and Houston Univision broadcast stations also ranked as No. 1 broadcast station in early and late local news with Adults 25-54. In Total Day viewing Univision stations in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas ranked No. 1 among Adults 18-49 and 18-34.

During the February sweep, Univision stations in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas delivered both the No.1 early local newscast and the No. 1 late local newscast among Adults 18-49, and the No. 1 early and late local newscast among Adults 25-54 in Los Angeles and Houston. For the fourth consecutive sweeps period, KMEX Univision 34 in Los Angeles ranked No. 1 in Primetime among Adults 18-49, regardless of language, ahead of ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations.

“Holding the No. 1 position in early and late local news in competitive markets like Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas is no small feat,” said Kevin Cuddihy, president of Local Media, Univision Communications Inc. “These accomplishments speak to the strength of our local content and to the power of the Hispanic community in these markets.”

Additional Local Highlights:

Primetime
During the February 2015 sweep period, Univision was the No. 1 broadcast station in primetime among:
· Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles
· Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas

Univision outperformed ABC, CBS and FOX among Total Viewers 2+ in Miami; and among Adults 18-49 in Houston and Dallas.

Total Day

During the February 2015 sweep period, Univision was the No. 1 broadcast station in total day viewing (Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-2 a.m.) among:
· Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas

Univision outperformed CBS, NBC and FOX station in Total Day viewing among Adults 18-34 in New York. In Total Day viewing, Univision stations also outperformed ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations among Total Viewers 2+ in Miami and ABC, CBS and FOX stations among Adults 18-34 in Phoenix.

Early Local News

Univision stations delivered the No. 1 early local news among:
· Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas

Univision stations delivered the No. 2 early local news among:
· Adults 18-49 in New York, Miami, Phoenix and Sacramento
· Adults 25-54 in New York, San Francisco and Phoenix

Late Local News

Univision stations delivered the No. 1 late local news among:
· Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas
· Adults 25-54 in Los Angeles and Houston

Univision stations delivered the No. 2 late local news among:
· Adults 18-49 in Phoenix
· Adults 25-54 in Dallas and Phoenix

Source: Nielsen, NSI, Feb15, (1/29/15-2/25/15). Early local news is defined as local newscasts with a Mon-Fri 5 p.m.start time. Late Local News is defined as local newscasts with a Mon-Fri 9/10 p.m.start time. Morning Local News defined as local newscast between 5-6 a.m. Includes regular newscasts only. Primetime is defined as ABC/CBS/NBC/IND/UNI/UMA/TEL/AZA/MFZ/ETV Mon-Sat 7-10 p.m./Sun 6-10 p.m., FOX/CW Mon-Sat 7-9 p.m./Sun 6-9 p.m. Total Day defined as Mon-Sun 6 a.m.-2 a.m. Rankings based on average impressions. Live+SD.

Blogging break in effect

I'm taking some time off, but the Houston and Texas media party will still continue on my social media accounts. Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what's going on while I'm away from here.

And just because I'm not currently posting, doesn't mean you have to stop dropping by here. I have a Houston news page updating stories 24 hours a day, the same for a media news page, Houston TV Instagram photos and a page with Houston media member tweets.

KPRC's Rachel McNeill wins, Austin TV changes, media job moves and more

MORE VIDEOS
- Bob Simon Interview on His Early Career: An In Memoriam Tribute
- Watch how Brian Williams' accounts of his time in Iraq have changed since 2003
- Watch BriWi spin a whopper to Tim Russert
- Eat the Press
- Creepy TV live shot with Sports Illustrated model
- Weather dog takes over weathercast
- What happens when an anchor gets more lines to read than co-anchor
- Jim Cantore gets really excited about "thundersnow"
- You know these had to sting the Peacock
- Because it is really all about us

George Riba, the man behind 8,000 stories, closes book on 37-year WFAA career
On Sept. 12, 1977, Riba began in the sports department at Channel 8. His hop-scotching from station to station was over. Almost 37 1/2 years later, Riba’s run ends Feb. 20. He’s retiring.

Kidd Kraddick's Big Al Helps Car Chase Accident Survivor
YEA NETWORKS’ syndicated KIDD KRADDICK Morning Show co-host BIG AL MACK helped give a new minivan to a DALLAS woman whose vehicle was struck during a high-speed chase in DALLAS.
- WFAA RAW VIDEO: Police chase ends in crash with mom going after suspect

102.1 The Edge announces Edgefest 2015
102.1 The Edge KDGE-FM announced EDGEFEST 2015, an iHeartRadio Festival, which will take place on April 25, 2015 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The double staged, day-long concert event will feature an all-star lineup including The Offspring, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, AWOLNATION, Hozier, Vance Joy, Dirty Heads, New Politics, Banks, Yelawolf, Robert DeLong, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Kooks, Joywave and will close with a special guest DJ performance by GIRLTALK. For over 20 years, Edgeheads have gathered together for this legendary concert event in Dallas / Ft Worth. Tickets go on-sale on Friday, February 20, at 10 a.m.

Rachel McNeill wins
KPRC 2 anchor Rachel McNeill wins Best On Air TV Personality from the Media Alliance of Houston

Houston Chronicle restaurant critic ranked low in integrity in national chefs survey
When food reviewers are rated

KEYE names new ‘We Are Austin’ hosts
“We Are Austin” will get a pair of new hosts. Jordan Steele and Taylor Ellison are set to take over KEYE’s 9 a.m. lifestyle show.

KXAN celebrates 50th anniversary
50 years ago, Central Texans turned on their televisions and discovered a brand new station.

KXAN tweaks weather team (Scroll down to see this part after linking over)
Meteorologists David Yeomans and Mark Monstrola have traded places, with Yeomans taking over the weekday morning shift and Monstrola heading to weekend evenings.

ESPN On The Way To College Station
Brazos Valley Communications’ Active Rock “Rock 103.9” KJXJ Franklin/College Station, TX is on the verge of a format change that will soon see ESPN Radio return to the home of Texas A&M University.

Hunters wound a Texas tower
Owner says the antenna used by “News Talk 95.9” KBRA, Freer, TX was "severely damaged."

MOVING

Former News 92 KROI managing editor Norm Uhl is the new director of communications and marketing for the Houston SPCA.

Casey 'Catnip' Atnip Joins KTBZ's Rod Ryan Show As AM Producer
iHEARTMEDIA Alternative KTBZ (94.5 THE BUZZ)/HOUSTON hires CASEY "CATNIP" ATNIP as morning show producer of THE ROD RYAN MORNING SHOW.

KCEN Waco reporter/producer/anchor Matt Reed leaves for NBC 10 WJAR Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

Reeve Takes His Leave
One of the Texas Tribune's original reporters, Reeve Hamilton, is leaving.

Erik Breon Named KCBD News Director
Raycom Media announced that Erik Breon has been named News Director for KCBD, the company's NBC affiliate in Lubbock, Texas (DMA 144).

ZOLTAN CSANYI-SALCEDO returns to the ND chair of KGBT Harlingen.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- 93Q says it's almost Rodeo Houston time
- WFAA iPhone show host Mike Castellucci talks how he did it; plus advice on how you can do it
- Rekha Muddaraj adds to the KHOU 11 family

Rekha Muddaraj adds to the KHOU 11 family

KHOU 11 weekender Rekha Muddaraj delivers baby girl

Rekha Muddaraj

I told you in early January that channel 11 anchor Rekha Muddaraj was taking off from KHOU weekends for maternity leave.

In late January, KHOU made the announcement that Muddaraj's daughter had arrived:

Help us welcome Rekha Muddaraj KHOU's precious bundle of joy to the world, Lara Anika Badlani!! Isn't she gorgeous? smile emoticon
Lara was born Tuesday at 6 lbs, 7 oz and 21 inches long. Congrats to you and your family, Rekha!

Someone alerted me and I totally forgot to find the info. So I apologize.

Readers asked who was going to fill-in on the KHOU weekend anchor desk? KHOU 11 Executive News Director Philip Bruce told mikemcguff.com the substitute gig is going to reporters Lauren Talarico, Grace White and Malini Basu.

Post by KHOU 11 News.

(Thanks Robin)

WFAA iPhone show host Mike Castellucci talks how he did it; plus advice on how you can do it

WFAA Dallas Good Morning Texas host Mike Castellucci shares his iPhone shooting secrets

Mike Castellucci 

A few weeks ago when I wrote about WFAA Dallas Good Morning Texas host Mike Castellucci shooting an entire half-hour special with iPhone, who knew that it would sweep the internet like it did.

As the unofficial Houston bureau of the TV trade industry, many of my posts have a life beyond this blog, but this Dallas post seemed to have a big life on its own.

I got in touch with Castellucci (possibly on his iPhone) and asked him about the special, Phoning It In, that has received so much attention as of late. WATCH THE SPECIAL HERE

Mike McGuff: Why did you decide to shoot a special with an iPhone?

Mike Castellucci: Occasionally I was shooting and editing stories on the iPhone for our 4pm broadcast and was enjoying the way they were looking. I had done a few half hour special in the conventional way and I knew I could do it. I started thinking that it’s nearly impossible to be the first at something in TV anymore, but this could be it.

MM: What were the challenges?

MC: I think the biggest challenges quite honestly involved the structure. I really wanted to drive home the fact that I was doing it alone with one phone. I also wanted to talk about the elephant in the room...the fact that this type of technology is coming and being used like it or not. So, discussing it with some humor, (Mark Muller, our chief photographer, was terrific) was a goal. Technical challenges were few. I never could really zoom in to anything and make it look good, so I would just get close. (Can’t really show the crane operator without climbing up the dang ladder!)

MM: Do you suggest any apps or equipment?

MC: The only app I used was a free time lapse app that now is standard on the 6. I did it on a 5, and sure enough, the line near the end of “27 minutes ago this phone was IN, now it’s probably outdated” really fits!

95 percent of the time, I had a wide angle attachment on it. It’s called the olloclip, just slides over the camera lens. About 50 bucks I think.

The audio is clear thanks to an attachment you plug in to the headphone jack. I plugged that in to a wireless transmitter I’d put in my pocket and put a wireless microphone on my subjects.

I used a suction cup clamp for driving, a small tripod, an L.E.D. light, etc.

MM: Do you think this is the future of TV? A reporter and an iPhone?

MC: Is it the future of TV? Well something else may come along by then, but there are so many MMJ’s these days, that it certainly is a possibility. I really like the fact that our parent company Gannett is open to innovation, and I’m thankful I have bosses like Mike Devlin and Carolyn Mungo who give me the opportunities.

-------------

After I wrote the original post, Lionel “Chris” Pinon who is a City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering webmaster (and former Photojournalist at Univision 45 KXLN) sent me an iPhone produced video he shot for work.

If you are interested in giving the iPhone a try as a video production tool, check out How to Create Social Videos With Your Smartphone.

Got any other tips? Email me or comment below.

93Q says it's almost Rodeo Houston time

93Q KKBQ's new billboard signals start of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and radio battle

93Q KKBQ's new billboard on Interstate Loop 610 across from NRG Stadium has alerted us to the fact it's almost Rodeo Houston time.

It will be a war between The New 93Q and The New Bull @ 100.3 KILT on who can out-country radio the other during the rodeo. Which on-air staff can wear boots and hats the best. Where a win can be as simple as a dial position on a publicly heard radio on the NRG complex grounds. I say they should settle it with a little morning show staff bull riding competition!

Back to the 93Q billboard, you'll notice two stowaways that might want to stay away from the livestock show though.

Now if Chick-fil-A is looking for cow stunt advertising, I'll gladly add them to the top of my blog. Imagine my cartoon image being defaced by cattle writing "chikin." I can't think of a better bovine revenue stream.

On a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo note, I'll once again be participating in the Reliant Energy Rodeo Roundup representing a yet unnamed Houston charity! Stay tuned.

Police angry with Dallas TV, Houston FM station returns plus more

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- Weather guy has to deal with REALLY high temps
- Monty Python gang guest hosting on AM America 1975 (Thanks Mike)
- Live Report On Dangerous Driving Conditions Interrupted By Car Wreck
- 'Big Bang Theory' star Jim Parsons has strong Houston roots
- WTTG Celebrates Working Naked Day! Weather in the Almost Buff
- The cartoons that inspired 'Family Guy' and 'Office Space'
- KHOU Houston Feb. Sweeps Promo/Story

Sheriff’s Deputy Tries to Block Live Shot While Reporter is Live
When FOX 4 KDFW reporter Saul Garza went live with a story yesterday about a Montague County Sheriff’s deputy who was shot and killed, viewers were treated to the added voice of a Wichita County Sheriff’s deputy named Hatcher.

Ft. Worth police lash out at Dallas station
The Ft. Worth Police Officers Association is not too happy with KTVT in Dallas.

"Morning people come in as many flavors as sunrises do"
D-FW’s Gannett8 has been on a roller coast ride of late with its early morning Daybreak program.

Talking points in D-FW television news
Saturday’s 10 p.m. newscast on NBC5 may have been a first for a D-FW English language TV station.

The scoop -- and the poop -- on Kaley O'Kelley's impromptu CBS11 anchoring debut
CBS11 opted to sneak preview new anchor Kaley O’Kelley Friday night during a 10 p.m. newscast that might best be remembered for her touting of a “glowing toilet seat.”

What are they thinking? Jim Moroney’s digital-reaching Dallas Morning News
Jim Moroney’s newspaper once dominated Dallas as only a monopoly daily can.

Ex-TV reporter Charles Duncan still preaches ‘Eat, Drink & Be Wary’
Dinner invitations may be a little scarce for Charles Duncan. Don’t get me wrong. The former WFAA-TV (Channel 8) investigative reporter is a charming guy with great stories — including one about new romance. But he’s probably a little too conversant in cockroaches and E. coli.

In 1962 Dallas’ KBOX-AM was an early pioneer of sampling and mash-ups. Here’s proof.
In the 1960s there were two top-of-the-pops pop stations in Dallas: the immortal KLIF and the lesser-remembered KBOX, born from the ashes of KGKO.

Where Is 94.5 The Buzz's Doug
What happened to Doug Faulk of 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ's Rod Ryan show? Facebook and Reddit are wondering? So are my readers.
- What happened to Doug from The Rod Ryan Show?

How the Houston Chronicle is catching up to a changing city
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Federal indictment for former KCOH owner
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Houston news anchor's tattoos tell a story
Greg Onofrio - he prefers just "Grego" - isn't your typical tie-and-jacket, clean-shaven, straight-arrow news anchorman in Houston.

It's official
Maggie Flecknoe officially becomes morning cut-in news anchor for EyeOpener on CW39. She shot a promo with NewsFix voice Grego. That job was previously held by Mia Gradney.

KTRU Returning to Houston Airwaves
Rice's student-run radio station received an FCC permit today to resume broadcast on a new frequency, 96.1 FM.

ESPN Broadcasts UH Game But Doesn't Bother To Send Any Announcers
ESPN, which was broadcasting the game, didn't even bother to send any announcers to the game, instead choosing to have them broadcast the game, won 57-44 by Tulsa, from some studio in another state

Sweeps debut! KENS-TV opts for sexy ‘swingers’
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Major anchor, weather changes at WOAI/KABB
WOAI/KABB is introducing a new weekend team that will lead the newscasts on both stations.

The Perea Story
Producer fired by KTBC last year kills himself at Fox headquarters

KXAN shuffles weather lineup
The forecast at KXAN calls for new assignments for some members of the station’s weather team.

KEYE debuts new morning anchor lineup on Feb. 16
Chris Saldaña and Allison Miller will take over as anchors of “KEYE TV Morning News” starting Feb. 16, the station said.

KUT aims to set the ‘Standard’ with new show
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New aerial photos show scope of damage to KCBD tower
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Maverick Moves In College Station
Bryan Broadcasting has signed-on 100.9 KVMK Wheelock, TX.

SHSU hopes professors utilized by news media
With more breaking news coverage demanding expert analysis, Sam Houston State University is plugging more professors to news outlets for commentary.

Big Data Remakes Texas Campaign Ad Spend
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REMEMBERING

Houston traffic's Vikki Taylor loses cancer battle
Vikki Cummings Taylor Rosenkranz, better known as Vikki Taylor, was a fixture on KTRK abc13 and 104.1 KRBE

Former KTRK abc13 producer Brian Shields has passed away. In Dallas he worked for KXAS, KERA and KRLD.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Ken Hoffman joins Twitter @KenChronicle & brings unique humor along
- Hey KPRC 2, where's the 'Local?'
- Minerva Perez tells the good and bad in 'I GOTTA STORY: My 30 Years in TV News'
- KPRC 2 to get a new station, plus secret of current building
- Fox 26 KRIV's 'Wake Up Money' seems to be sleeping in
- KHOU's Brooks Garner named TV Guide's '10 Sexiest Weathermen on Earth'
- Root Sports releases 2015 Astros spring training TV schedule
- Houston TV has been attacked by potholes
- Houston & Texas media job moves, plus Houston TV goodbye party

Is KTRK abc13 changing names too?

KTRK abc13 alters names on Facebook, my readers want to know what's going on

After KPRC 2 changed its name recently, my readers have become a little gun-shy when it comes to Houston TV news branding.

This weekend I started getting questions about KTRK abc13. Is the station changing names just like KPRC? The short answer is I don't think so.

The reason behind the confusion is, if you are following the Disney/ABC Television Group Houston station's page on Facebook, then you got an email from Zuckerberg and crew stating it was changing names from "abc13 KTRK Eyewitness News Houston" to "ABC 13 Houston."

If I had to guess, I'm gonna have to take responsibility for this one. It goes with the whole "Father of Houston TV social media and overall dunderpate" thing at the top of this very blog.

Back in 2008, I created the KTRK Facebook page before management (or any other Houston TV station) was really even sure what this social networking thing was. That meant there was no promotion of the FB  page ad nauseam on air or online like you find today.

So when I was coming up with a name, I just packed the "abc13 KTRK Eyewitness News Houston" title full of every branding element known to the audience as you can probably tell. I figured this way you would find the station on Facebook no matter how you searched for it. At this point there were probably less than 100 television stations even on Facebook.

It was my argument we needed to jump on this Facebook and Twitter thing quickly to establish a presence and followers before everyone else. Time proved that was probably the only smart thing I've ever pushed for.

If I hadn't left the station in 2009, I would have wanted to shorten the Facebook page's name by now so it's probably good the station is just getting around to doing a little social tidying up if you will.

In 2010, when I consulted KPRC on its Facebook pages, there was already the "KPRC Local 2" branding in place so the naming decision was already taken care of.

To my readers, "Keep Calm and Chive On" or whatever the kids say these days. But if you see KTRK changing names on air, then please notify me and feel free to call me an idiot.

Houston & Texas media job moves, plus Houston TV goodbye party

Lots of Houston and Texas media job moves, plus Fox 26 KRIV's Caitilin Espinosa's goodbye party


Keith Connors Named WTNH News Director
Former KHOU 11 news director Keith Connors is leaving Houston for WTNH in New Haven. So what does this mean for his wife and KTRK abc13 reporter Karla Barguiarena?

Don Nelson announces KTRK abc13 departure
After nearly 40 years, Don Nelson is leaving KTRK abc13.

Andrew Horansky to leave KHOU for Cleveland's WKYC
KHOU 11 reporter Andrew Horansky heading home to WKYC Cleveland as multimedia journalist and reporter

After more than 30 years, KTRK abc13 photographer Johnny Rivera Marquez is set to retire.

Jason Jobes jumps to KTRK abc13 as assignments manager from KHOU 11.

Stephanie Kuzydym joins the Houston Chronicle as a sports GA/enterprise writer from Cleveland.com.

Chris Tritico, Caitilin Espinosa, Jacquie Baly, Bob Martin

Fox 26 KRIV's Caitilin Espinosa's goodbye party
Fox 26 KRIV's Caitilin Espinosa's had a going away party at the Cedar Creek Inn last Saturday.

Bob Neumann Exits KHMX, Bruce Logan To PD Only KILT
Changes at CBS RADIO/HOUSTON. Hot AC (MIX 94.5) KHMX PD BOB NEUMANN exits, while Country KILT and Top 40/Mainsteam KKHH (HOT 95.7) PD and VP/Programming BRUCE LOGAN gives up HOT 95.7 and will concentrate on the Country station.

Houston PD Changes At “Beat"
KQBT “93.7 – The Beat” programming chair Mara Melendez departs theiHeartMedia iHeartMedia Houston urban contemporary outlet.

S.A. news vet leaving WOAI-TV — again
You could call WOAI-TV news veteran Randy Escamilla a human boomerang — considering all the times he’s left the station and come back.

San Antonio TV station recruits top Valley reporter Ryan Wolf
Sinclair Broadcasting announced Friday that San Antonio television station KABB-TV has recruited Ryan Wolf — perhaps the Rio Grande Valley's most recognizable reporter — to anchor the station's nightly newscast.
- S.A. TV welcomes new anchorman

KEYE traffic anchor Erica Brennes departs for RideScout gig
Traffic anchor Erica Brennes has left KEYE, but she’s still keeping an eye on your commute.

Former KXXV Waco weekend anchor/reporter Adam Hommons has joined KEYE Austin.

Juliette Dryer becomes Multimedia journalist at KEYE TV from Mid-Missouri's KRCG 13.

News director David Marino leaves KWES Midland to become senior producer for Time Warner cable news in Austin.

KVUE Assistant chief photographer Michael Moore leaves for the Texas House of Representatives as a Video Producer/Editor.

FOX Charlotte Station Names El Paso Reporter Evening Anchor
Bill Melugin has been named co-anchor of the WJZY 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. newscasts.

Adrienne Alvarez no longer with KTSM
KTSM News Anchor Adrienne Alvarez posted a note to her fans on Facebook that she was no longer with KTSM.

Braddock named QR editor
Scott Braddock is being promoted to the position of editor of Quorum Report.

Leadership shuffle at Texas Monthly
A little less than a year after losing its star editor in chief to The New York Times, Texas Monthly has seen another shake-up in its leadership.

Andrew Horansky to leave KHOU for Cleveland's WKYC

KHOU 11 reporter Andrew Horansky heading home to WKYC Cleveland as multimedia journalist and reporter

Andrew Horansky

After nearly three years, KHOU 11 reporter Andrew Horansky is leaving Houston for Cleveland's NBC affiliate WKYC blogged TVSpy today.

"I’m THRILLED to be coming home," Horansky told Director's Cut. "My wife will be practicing pediatrics and we’ll be able to raise our 7-month old daughter, Juliet, closer to family now. We have relatives and friends all over the city, including parents and grandparents."

The reports say that Horanksy will be both a multimedia journalist (MMJ) and reporter at the KHOU sister station.

Horansky arrived to KHOU after working at sister station KVUE in Austin. He also worked as a freelance reporter at the NBC Newschannel in Chicago, HD News - Voom Network Television, New England Cable News and WWTV/WWUP, Cadillac, MI.

Don't worry, we are getting another reporter in return from Cleveland. Houston Chronicle sports editor Nick Mathews tweeted the paper is hiring Cleveland.com's Stephanie Kuzydym as a GA/enterprise writer for the sports section. It's a little unplanned journalistic swap action.

Houston TV has been attacked by potholes

TMZ has celebrities, Houston TV has potholes in February sweeps 2015

February's 2015 Houston television sweeps period has been dominated by potholes. Hopefully there won't be a dip in the ratings (See what I did there?).

A reader wrote to me about the popular topic:

Ha, I joke but is it February pothole month in Houston or something? Of course, this is Houston, they're going to report on the same stories but pothole stories, all the stations all at once?

The big 3 - KPRC 2, KHOU 11 and KTRK abc13 have all driven across Houston, and nearly ripped up their news vehicle's tires, to find out where the most torn up roads are in H-town.

KHOU 11 kicked off sweeps by filling its first hole on the old sweeps calendar with the bad road story. The Gannett station even sent this press release to the Houston Chronicle ahead of time. Then created a section on its website called Pothole Patrol and hashtag #11PotholePatrol dedicated to the decaying problem.

KPRC 2 followed a few days later with its own Pothole Patrol story detailing its year long investigation into the problem and which roads are being repaired.

The next day, KTRK abc13 came in with a follow up to its pothole investigation from last April. Reporter Ted Oberg even sat in a pot hole.

Houston's Bumpy Broken Pothole Process takes too long to fix your street. Join Us at 10 @abc13houston to find out why pic.twitter.com/FjuARYD0QU
— Ted Oberg (@tedoberg) February 3, 2015

Each station has continued to do stories on potholes through the February book.

Hey, potholes have always been an issue in Houston. I produced a story on potholes with Patrick Nolan more than a decade ago for channel 13.   Countless stories and weekly segments were done way before that and continue to this day, but the problem seems to get worse every year thanks to 2011 drought conditions, the recession and aging roads.

Last March, Mayor Annise Parker said on News 88.7 KUHF's Houston Matters the city was fixing potholes as fast as possible but more and more kept popping up. However, thanks to the ReBuild Houston initiative, more money would be available. Then in November, she returned to the show and told host Craig Cohen:

"We're putting more money than we ever have in the history of Houston toward street and drainage work and I would say that in the next two to three years, you're going to see a tremendous impact. So, I like to say the next mayor is going to look like a genius. However, it also means there are going to be lots and lots of streets under construction."

Well, even after the mayor made that statement, the stories this February seemed to have hit a hole in the road. Wednesday, Parker addressed the problem once again.

"This is my issue, we're going to deal with it," Parker told KHOU at city hall. "I intend to have this fixed while I'm in office."

KHOU reported Parker has taken ownership of the problem and set a deadline to tackle it. So thank you February sweeps. Now I can go get some brotox to celebrate.

Root Sports releases 2015 Astros spring training TV schedule

ROOT Regional Sports Network to Broadcast Four Astros Spring Training Games & Additional Astros Programming Leading Up to 2015 Baseball Season

ROOT SPORTS™, the new television home of the Houston Astros, announced today that the network will broadcast four Houston Astros spring training games prior to the start of the 2015 Major League Baseball regular season. The games are set for March 17that the Pirates’ spring training home, McKechnie Field in Bradenton, and March 20th, 22nd and 23rd at the Astros’ spring training home, Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.

Day/Date Game Time
Tuesday, March 17 At Pittsburgh Pirates 12:00PM
Friday, March 20 vs. Washington Nationals 12:00PM
Sunday, March 22 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 12:00PM
Monday, March 23 vs. Atlanta Braves 12:00PM

Bill Brown, Alan Ashby and Geoff Blum will continue to call the action in 2015. Brown will handle play-by-play duties, Ashby will provide both play-by-play and color analysis and Blum will serve as a color analyst. ROOT SPORTS’ on-air personality Julia Morales will deliver coverage from on the field as Astros sideline reporter. Coverage of spring training games from Kissimmee will start with a 30-minute Pregame and conclude with a 30-minute Postgame show. In addition, ROOT SPORTS™ will air exclusive Astros programming prior to the start of the season such as new episodes of Bases Loaded, a weekly 30-minute show giving viewers an inside look at the Astros both on and off the field, beginning in February.

ROOT SPORTS is currently available on the following cable and satellite providers (check local listings):
AT&T U-verse
Coastal Link
DIRECTV
enTouch
Comcast Xfinity
Phonoscope
Consolidated Communications
Ozona Cable

(This post is from a press release sent to me by Root Sports)

KHOU's Brooks Garner named TV Guide's '10 Sexiest Weathermen on Earth'

UPDATED FEBRUARY 06, 2019
Brooks Garner gone from KHOU 11

KHOU 11's Brooks Garner is causing a heat wave on KHOU 11 as one of TV Guide's '10 Sexiest Weathermen on Earth'

KHOU's 11 weather hunk Brooks Garner and girlfriend Erica Harness

These days when I tune into KHOU 11, I can't tell if that's George Clooney or meteorologist Brooks Garner. It all became confusing as soon as Garner made TV Guide's The 10 Sexiest Weathermen on Earth list.

Serioulsy, I haven't been this excited about a hunky weather guy since KPRC 2 meteorologist Jonathan Novack was cast in ABC's The Bachelorette in 2010. Is that a warm front coming into Houston or am I just suddenly getting overheated?

Since one of Garner's newscasts is channel 11's noon show, will we see him bare chested on the weather wall talking about a vertically erect system? (That is seriously a real weather term)

"Shirtless on the Noon," Garner laughed with mikemcguff.com. "Only after I secure a seven-digit contract with CBS network as a permanent fixture on, The Young and Restless. Of course, I'd have to get my chest waxed and tanned. Yeah -- so not going to happen."

Garner was surprised by his #10 slot on the sexy list, but he figures a snarky tweet might have gotten him nominated.

"Several months ago, People Magazine solicited newscasters around the country to enter into their 'Sexiest People' contest, and snarkily, I tweeted something about it (and never heard anything else), so I'm wondering if TV Guide somehow stumbled upon the idea of rating weather people," Garner told me.

Sexiest Weatherman!? Vote in People Mag's by tweeting @peoplemag with name (and Twitter handle, like @BrooksKHOU) using #SexiestAnchorAlive
— Brooks Garner⚡️ (@BrooksKHOU) October 7, 2014

But before you dismiss this hot weather dude as all beauty and no brains, Garner actually came up with the idea for KHOU's weather wheel which has since been adopted at other television stations across the country.

"One day, David Paul and I were brainstorming simple ways to present detailed forecasts," Garner told mikemcguff.com. "It would be too much info on one TV screen to try to squeeze 12 hours of data, so I conceived the weather wheel. We agreed it was a viable solution and I sent my drawing up to the art department, and KHOU's lead graphic artist masterfully executed our objective."

And sorry ladies, before you try to find Garner's SnapChat username, I have to tell you his girlfriend Erica Harness (pictured above), might take issue with you hitting on her man.

My Orogenous Zone is tingling (no serious, once again a real weather term).  Special thanks to theweatherprediction.com's list of sexy sounding weather terms for helping me write this post.

RELATED
KHOU meteorologist Brooks Garner has UFO sighting

Fox 26 KRIV's 'Wake Up Money' seems to be sleeping in

Long running Fox 26 KRIV segment "Wake Up Money" is MIA

Someone seems to have turned off the alarm clock on Fox 26 KRIV's "Wake Up Money."

The segment which has been running five days a week for about seven years on the Fox owned and operated station's morning newscast featured Houston-area professionals offering viewers financial tips.

I've been getting emails asking me about the segment's whereabouts.  A Fox Television Stations rep told mikemcguff.com the segment has been taken off the air, and the station is trying new things.

Those professionals who have been on the air include names like:

- Investment strategist and co-portfolio manager Lance Roberts (also host of AM700 KSEV's StreetTalk Live)
- Financial coach and author Charlotte Stallings
- CPA Bob Martin
- Money manager and author Richard Rosso
- Realtor Chris Schilling

You can watch old Wake Up Money segments here.

KPRC 2 to get a new station, plus secret of current building

UPDATE JANUARY 17, 2017
- New KPRC building moves channel 2 into 21st century
- Full coverage of new KPRC 2 building 2017

KPRC 2 will upgrade to a new, state of the art facility; plus the secret oddity about the current building

UPDATE JANUARY 2016
KPRC 2 new studio construction begins

Rumors have been flying around that KPRC 2 (don't call it Local) is planning to build a brand new, state of the art station at its current location on 8181 Southwest Freeway.

I held off from posting about this because the details are still being finalized. For example, will the current building be torn down or will the current station, which is more than 40 years old, be upgraded?

Recently someone posted details concerning the new KPRC facility on the Houston Architecture Information Forum (HAIF). KPRC Vice President/Creative Director Mike Guerrieri told mikemcguff.com those details aren't totally correct as the station is still working on the plans, but yes, a new channel 2 building is in the works.

As a result of talking with Guerrieri, I learned something new about the station which was built in the early 1970s in what I think could be called "brutalist architecture" (aka it looks like a fortress). Guerrieri was looking at the original plans for the current building and says from above, the station was designed to look like a giant film lens. Now that makes sense for a TV station at the time. Time to rent a helicopter (or drone) and take a look. Who's with me?

Down the the freeway towards downtown, KTRK abc13's current studio looks like a little Astrodome (although with recent updates it's harder to tell). According to Wikipedia, KTRK actually pre-dates the Astrodome by 10 years. Architect Hermon Lloyd designed both buildings.


Old timers will yell at me if I don't mention that KPRC was originally on Post Oak right where the Williams Tower (UPDATE: Former 950 KPRC employee Jim Bell says the old spot was actually across the street by the lake where Hidalgo and Richmond sit today Bill Bremer sent this photo.). That works perfectly for this post because Williams Tower (or Transco as I like to call it) has a secret cat design on its corners. 

Are we on the way to figure out The Da Vinci Code with all of this or what?

If you want to learn more about the history of KPRC-TV, go check out the book The Fault Does Not Lie With Your Set: The First Forty Years of Houston Television.

Stay tuned to mikemcguff.com for more details on the new KPRC facility as they become available.

UPDATE
Gary Griffin of Retronuvo Media adds that KPRC's original building was a Quonset hut down 610 behind what is now the giant Houston Community College (HCC) building inside The Loop. He says that was when the call letters were KLEE-TV.

Former KPRC 2 sports anchor Craig Roberts added he heard the Hobby family designed The Houston Post building to look like a typewriter from the sky. The Hobby's owned both KPRC and the Post at the time.

UPDATE JANUARY 17, 2017
- New KPRC building moves channel 2 into 21st century
- Full coverage of new KPRC 2 building 2017

UPDATE JANUARY 2016
KPRC 2 new studio construction begins

RELATED
KPRC Channel 2 documentary from 1965

(Thanks Bruce)

Minerva Perez tells the good and bad in 'I GOTTA STORY: My 30 Years in TV News'

I GOTTA STORY: My 30 Years in TV News gives a rare look into a TV anchor's career through the life of Minvera Perez

Minerva Perez is here to say that a TV anchor's life is not all glamour and fame. There are struggles one might encounter when the camera isn't rolling.

The former abc13 KTRK anchor (and former KTLA 5 anchor for my LA peeps) is jumping into the literary world with a new autobiography about her television career and how the road to anchoring in top TV markets isn't always paved in gold.

"My book is about my adventures and my journey as a broadcast journalist telling you what it is really like in the trenches," Perez told mikemcguff.com. "On the way to telling you those stories, there are tales about the people who got in my way. Some people were especially abusive and I went around them."

"I Gotta Story" My 30 Years in TV News recounts the major stories the ground breaking Latina journalist covered throughout her extensive career (which took her to Los Angles, Houston and Phoenix) while weaving the good, the bad and the ugly of what was going on and off camera.

Perez tells personal tales of reporting in Cuba and her encounter with Fidel Castro. While at KTLA Los Angeles, being one of the first people to ever see George Holliday's amateur video of the Rodney King beating and how her newsroom got the first copy of this historic clip. Then there was the time she camped out with Wayne Dolcefino and other members of the channel 13 staff while covering the Branch Davidian compound siege near Waco and the harsh conditions of the media's so-called "Satellite City." And then one of my personal favorites from Perez's career - how she was sampled by U2 while anchoring at KTLA.

Oh and I can't forget her Marvin Zindler stories while working during the golden era of KTRK's Eyewitness News. Apparently that chapter opens with the Houston TV legend telling Perez, "You're going to outlive the bastards." That sounds like classic Marvin.

The idea to write a book hit Perez after she would tell tales of her storied career while giving community speeches. She says people would always come up to her afterwards wanting more.

"I have all these stories and I did all these amazing things and I've been going around with barn doors on, not even realizing my accomplishments until I started writing the book," Perez told me.

Through those accomplishments and struggles, Perez hopes to inform the next generation of broadcast journalists about what might await them and how they can learn from her experiences.

Speaking as a media blogger, I think I'll grab some popcorn, sit back, relax and get ready to read this TV biography that sounds like it actually has some reality in it! Too many times media bios are totally glossed up, devoid of truth and quite frankly, boring.

Catch Perez on television's Latina Voices: Smart Talk.


UPDATE
Minerva Perez I GOTTA STORY: My 30 Years in TV News book signings:

Feb. 18th
6:30 P.M.
Talento Bilingüe de Houston Theater
333 S. Jensen Dr.
Houston, TX 77003
www.talentobilingue.org

Feb. 24th
7:00 P.M.
Brazos Bookstore
2421 Bissonnet St.
Houston, TX 77005
www.brazosbookstore.com

Don Nelson announces KTRK abc13 departure

After nearly 40 years, Don Nelson is leaving KTRK abc13

Don Nelson

Don Nelson announced this morning in a quick segment at the end of the morning news that after 39 years and four months at KTRK abc13, he is retiring at the end of the month.

His last day will be Friday, February 27th.

Clearly after nearly 40 years, Nelson has a long history with the Disney/ABC Television Group station. According to his bio, he joined the station as the Dialing for Dollars co-host in the mid-1970s. In that show, where Dave Ward also served as a host at one time, KTRK and a phone call could win viewers some cash.

As the times changed, that show morphed into Good Morning Houston. At that shows peak, Nelson hosted the show with Jan Glenn. I can remember my mom and her friends watching and talking about that show.

One of the reasons I'm still obsessed with Houston TV today is from an appearance I made on the show as a fifth grader!


No anchor wants to hear, "I was on TV with you when I was 10 years old and now I'm working with you," but when I first arrived at KTRK in 2001, Nelson was gracious about it.

Of course, Nelson has also been doing traffic since the early days of channel 13's morning newscast. He and anchor Tom Koch have worked together a longtime and you can tell by their on air chemistry. In the past, I've heard there were times you could add up all the other Houston TV stations' ratings at that time and still could not reach the rating KTRK's morning newscast was hitting!

Really you could call Nelson a total station utility guy. The managers can just move him to where he is needed and TV magic happens. Over the years, Nelson has been the station's entertainment reporter, tech reporter and bizarre news guy with the "Nelson Files."

Former 13 anchor Shara Fryer & Nelson

In the early 2000s when the KTRK 4pm newscast started, Nelson did double duty. He would be on the morning show and then come back for the 4pm and Live at Five too where he would be featured throughout the shows.

While all that was going on, he also hosted many of the station's half-hour specials. Nelson and the programming department crew would travel the world showing us different countries and cultures. He would also head west to Los Angeles and interview the stars of ABC. And of course he has also been apart of local programming events like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade and the Power of Houston festival. You probably also heard his voice at times as the station's announcer.

Many people might forget that Nelson also was a live street reporter for a time on KTRK's Deborah The Debra Duncan Show way before the talk show host went across the street to KHOU 11 and made her name longer.

Many of my readers have been guessing this announcement would be coming soon and have been very upset by the idea of Nelson not being on KTRK anymore. The station has been preparing for this day by hiring Nelson's presumed traffic successor Katherine Whaley after she left KHOU last summer.

Why has Nelson been so successful? Viewers love him. He is the same guy on air as he is off the air. A genuine guy. And of course hilarious. Readers complain on my blog that TV newscasters try to be funny and it falls flat. Nelson is a naturally a funny guy so it works. Combine his proclivity for humor with Tom Koch and it's television gold.

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Houston traffic's Vikki Taylor loses cancer battle