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WATCH: Mike McGuff's "Runaway Radio" 101 KLOL documentary - now streaming on Tubi!

Friday, January 29, 2016

FOX 26's Ashley Johnson is leaving

FOX 26 KRIV reporter Ashley Johnson is leaving the station

If you blinked, you might have missed reporter Ashley Johnson on FOX 26 KRIV because she was in Houston for less than two years.

She posted on Facebook she's outta here.

"#‎BREAKINGNEWS‬ tonight was my last newscast at FOX 26," Johnson wrote. "Glad to stay with the FOX family and move closer to home. But Houston you were great to me."

She only hinted where's going, but a source reports to me she's going to WWOR-TV New Jersey for the Chasing News thing they are doing up there that is like TMZ for local news.

Johnson came to Houston from WPHL 17 in Philadelphia in March of 2014.




Thursday, January 28, 2016

Casey Curry back at abc13 KTRK

Casey Curry returned to the KTRK abc13 11am news

UPDATE JANUARY 28, 2016

 photo Currybackontv_zps6s8ff4il.jpg

Casey Curry returned to the 11am news today with a wrapped arm.

Anchor Melanie Lawson introduced her with something to the effect, "Here are some words I haven't said in awhile, here's meteorologist Casey Curry."

It has been a long time. Curry was injured during the 11am news back on September 15, 2015 and broke her wrist.

***ORIGINAL POST***

The most anticipated return in my blogging history - we now have photographic evidence KTRK abc13 meteorologist Casey Curry is back at the station

Casey Curry
Casey Curry
Casey Curry is back at KTRK abc13, but was not on the 11am news Tuesday morning.

It just so happens that I was answering reader emails last night about KTRK abc13 meteorologist Casey Curry's whereabouts.

But really, what makes last night different from any other?  I get so many inquiries about Curry's return that I was considering hiring an assistant to field them for me.

Well, forget all of that because CASEY CURRY HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED INSIDE THE KTRK ABC13 STUDIO!!!!!

Miya Shay tweeted this photo of her with Curry and anchor Samica Knight.

"BreakingNews! Guess who's back at #abc13," Shay asked in a tweet. "@CaseyWeather! We missed her! #welcomeback"

I'm sure they have missed her. It's been four months since Curry fell on the day old KTRK set live during the 11am newscast, breaking her wrist. Afterwards she debuted a pink camo cast.

Curry fans were writing in worrying she was never coming back. I predict a Curry return with sunshine.

UPDATE
In Tracy Clemons' tweet, you can see that Curry still has a wrapped arm.



Wednesday, January 27, 2016

KPRC 2 new studio construction begins

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

KPRC 2 announced a new building last year and starts construction in early 2016

 photo kprc_building_construction2016_zpsu9bbj0zl.jpg

Last week when I wrote about KPRC 2 is hiring for a new daily lifestyle and entertainment show, we learned from the job description that the Houston NBC affiliate is moving ahead with building a new station which I first blogged about last year.

Naturally I couldn't resist and had to find out more. As you can tell from the above photo, I even stopped by yesterday to see the early stages of construction for myself. It looks like the new station is being built on the former employee parking lot. So I guess the new parking lot will be where the current building is now. And I don't even have an engineering degree. Employees must be parking off site.

KDC, the commercial real estate developer behind the project, says the new 65,000 square foot station will take 19 months to build. A company called Corgan did the architecture work and DPR Construction is doing the building.

 photo KPRC_rendering_zpsckzmbqb5.jpg
Credit: KDC

KPRC's parent company, Graham Media Group, seems to have made a wise decision in hiring these companies since all have expertise in building for media entities. Turns out KDC and Corgan were behind the brand new KXAS NBC 5 building in Fort Worth which has garnered lots of praise.

In the following video, you can see first hand how KXAS' new digs turned out. Pretty nice. Read more about KXAS' building here and here. For those keeping score, Corgan also did the new Hobby Airport expansion which looks really nice if you haven't seen it.


Meanwhile DPR built offices for The Weather Channel and Pixar.

If you are really a media geek, then you can join me by checking in on the KPRC construction webcam.

To attract top talent, you better go big or go home if your station is not located in upscale West U or near downtown.

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





FOX 26's Michelle Merhar announces baby #3

Viewers who were asking on Facebook were right, FOX 26 anchor & Traffic Authority Michelle Merhar is expecting

Michelle Merhar
Michelle Merhar
Instead of just scripts and coffee, this morning on the FOX 26 KRIV news set, there was a teddy bear, pickles, cookies, chips and baby bottles!

The secret is out, anchor and Traffic Authority Michelle Merhar is pregnant with baby numero three.

"We don't know the gender yet, I don't know if we are going to find out yet, I don't know I kinda want to be surprised," an excited Merhar said.

Baby #3 arrives in July to meet Merhar's other kids Abby, 2, and James, 18 months.

"Hoo-wee you are going to have your hands full," added co-anchor Tom Zizka.

"We're doing the no sleep thing all at once, we're trying to knock it all out," replied Merhar.

I don't even really need to go into the current Houston TV baby wave we're in again. As you can tell from the links below, I'm going to busy in the next few months with birth announcements. But I can confidently say this, I will be nowhere as busy as the folks having kids!

Personally I am out of the baby phase of my life. It is now the beginning of the driving one here, one there, this birthday party, that birthday party, this sports activity, that sports activity. Get this, in the month of January we had birthday parties each Saturday and Sunday of the last two weeks.

RELATED
- Ilona Carson and the baby trifecta
- Telemundo Houston's Crystal Ayala delivers baby
- Miya Shay and Gene Wu expecting baby number 2
- TV anchors deliver and announce baby
- One Houston anchor on baby leave; another returns
- Michelle Merhar delivers baby boy
- Michelle Merhar, Fox 26 KRIV, delivers baby girl


Fox 26 Meteorologist Mike Iscovitz, Jose Grinan FOX 26 Tom Zizka on Fox 26 Michelle Merhar FOX 26 Traffic Authority sit on set with a teddy bear, pickles, cookies, chips and.... BABY Bottles!Hmmm. Guess who's having a baby?!?!?! See big announcement here
Posted by FOX 26 Houston on Wednesday, January 27, 2016


Monday, January 25, 2016

WFAA's Mike Castellucci makes iPhone shot show sequel

WFAA's Mike Castellucci is back with his phone and emotional storytelling in Phoning It In: Life on an iPhone


I just finished watching Phoning It In: Life on an iPhone by WFAA 8's Mike Castellucci up in the Dallas-Fort Worth TV market. This is the sequel to last year's Phoning It In, which as you might guess by the titles, are both entirely shot on iPhones. Go see how many 2015 Lone Star Emmy Awards the first show won.

Don't let that the phone camera thing scare you off. It still looks great. I wrote last year, this could be where TV news is heading.

Once you start watching though, you'll forget about the phone thing for the most part because Castellucci's storytelling skills overshadow that part. The shot composition, interviewing, writing and editing are all superb. What...actual emotion in a TV news story? How novel.

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

Mike Castellucci
Mike Castellucci
Castellucci tells me my 2015 post on the first show made that sucker go viral. In fact, he even went on to participate in a European mobile journalism conference.

"The main reason I wanted to do another one was to stretch to see if I could make it even better," Castellucci told mikemcguff.com. "You know what they say about sequels-never as good as the originals. But if I’m to believe my boss, she said that’s not the case with PHONING IT IN: Life on an iPhone. She liked it even more than the first."

Since I wrote this post last year, I would suggest journos taking a look at the Samsung Galaxy S6. I bought one and find the camera and video to be outstanding. Maybe even better than the iPhone. I've ditched my pro-cameras and have started using the S6 to take photos for my blog.

Now before TV stations begin to throw away their pro TV biz cameras for phones, as I wrote before, you have to find folks as talented as Castellucci to use them. From what I see out there, Castellucci is part of a dying breed.

If you can't see the embedded video above on your mobile, click here.



Saturday, January 23, 2016

KHOU 11 has video server crash; replaces morning news with CBS

KHOU 11 learns old Beta SP tapes were more reliable

During a blizzard, you'd expect the TV stations in the affected areas to have technical trouble, but Saturday morning, it was a Houston station that got attacked by gremlins.

KHOU 11's Saturday morning news was taken down by the old computerized newsroom thing. Anchor Sherry Williams took to Facebook to explain the problem.

"All dressed up with no place to go," Williams wrote. "Our video player system crashed at #KHOU this morning. We couldn't do our newscast. So sorry peeps! We are fixing the problem and we will see you on air later today!"

Ahhh, technology...

Viewer reports say the CBS national feed took the local news slot.

This isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened over at channel 11. In September 2014, I wrote how CBS Evening News took the place of KHOU's 6pm news.

All dressed up with no place to go! Our video player system crashed at #KHOU this morning. We couldn't do our newscast. So sorry peeps! We are fixing the problem and we will see you on air later today!
Posted by Sherry Williams KHOU on Saturday, January 23, 2016


(Thanks Kelly)




Vox Culture Hosts Film Screening & Open Discussion on Refugees

Vox Culture will be hosting a film screening and open discussion on the topic of refugees, to introduces its 2016 series, Connecting our Local and Global Neighbors. The goal of the series is to engage in a deeper conversation on the subject of refugees. The event will feature three short films while the open dialogue session will focus on topics related to refugees in Houston, what is being done locally to address the subject, and how we can best integrate refugees and work together towards the continued development of our community.

This opening event for the Connecting our Local and Global Neighbors series is being held in collaboration with several community partners including: The Community Cloth, PAIR Houston, IEDA Relief, and OCA Houston.

https://voxconnectingourglobalneighbors.eventbrite.com

The event will take place at the Vox Culture Warehouse (8570 Katy Fwy. Suite #116, Houston, TX 77024) on Sunday, January 31st from 4:00PM to 6:00PM. The latest updates can be found by visiting the Vox Culture page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voxculturehouston.

Inquiries may be directed to carlos.schuler@voxculture.org.

Vox Culture is a Houston-based arts and advocacy network, whose mission is, “to connect our Houston community to social causes in creative ways.” Through the use of various art forms, collaborations with artists and bringing everyday people together, they seek to address numerous forms of poverty and injustice that affect the city and the world by applying creative solutions through educational, awareness, and fundraising events and projects.

(This post is from a release by Vox Culture)


Thursday, January 21, 2016

KPRC 2 is hiring for a new daily lifestyle and entertainment show

KPRC 2 is taking on KHOU 11's Great Day Houston

UPDATE JANUARY 2016
KPRC 2 new studio construction begins

Remember when KTRK abc13's Good Morning Houston used to rule the airwaves? Those days are gone. And KHOU 11's Great Day Houston's Deborah Duncan, a former channel 13 talk show host, is the only one flying the morning talk flag in Houston.

But that is about to change.

KPRC is hiring an Executive Producer for an unnamed Live/Daily/Variety Show. And the job description is equally exciting for the fact it mentions that KPRC is getting a new building for the station. I first blogged about the upcoming construction last year.

Channel 2's San Antonio sister station, KSAT 12, already has a lifestyle show called SA Live hosted by former FOX 4 KDFW reporter Fiona Gorostiza.

Here is the job description (see more TX TV jobs):

Executive Producer, Live/Daily/Variety Show
Posted: 11:22 PM, December 17, 2015

The company: KPRC2 is a #1 NBC affiliate and a Graham Media Group station with strong ratings and deep community ties. We are known for our aggressive news coverage and for our support of local causes. We are in the process of building a brand new, state-of-the-art media complex and launching a daily lifestyle and entertainment program.

The role: Oversee daily production of KPRC2’s to be named lifestyle program. You will oversee a staff of co-hosts, multi-media journalists, and producers as well as all aspects of production of a variety format live, on location daily show. You will be responsible for oversight of program content, for calling the shots in a control room, for managing shooting schedule of all talent, and you’ll assist in writing, editing, promoting program, and participating in community outreach for program. You will be responsible for managing the vision of the program and for helping to produce all segments to fit within the vision. Strong mentoring and interpersonal skills are imperative. You will be a leader who manages a team and maintains editorial control to help evolve the program.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Oversees a staff of producers, video journalists, show hosts and interns.
• Manages the daily show from the control room, handling all editorial duties, back-timing, social on-air feeds, talent communication and all matters related to the live production of the show.
• Generate fresh ideas and meets with production staff and hosts to develop program segments.
• Works with KPRC2’s Sales Department to secure and deliver quality/entertaining segments which are “integrations.”
• Oversees program’s web/social presence; develops new audience outreach models.
• Write and edit copy for on-air, web site, and promotional use.
• Post social media content consistently for program and promotional purposes.
• Works with other producers and interns to respond to listener requests and emails.
• Develop long-term coverage ideas for the show, including special segments, sales initiatives, fun and entertaining segment ideas, fresh/compelling content.
• Manages archives for “Best Of” show clips for future episodes.

REQUIREMENTS:
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills.
• Five or more years of experience producing a daily, live program on TV or radio.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and must be comfortable calling the shots in a control room during live production.
• Strong ability to write and edit copy and edit video.
• Vast knowledge of current and emerging social media platforms and how to use them to grow the brand of a show.
• Ability to work under very tight deadlines, and be comfortable working with a live, variety show.
• Effective internal and external communication skills.
• Understand KPRC2’s presence in the community and the core values associated with our brand.

To apply please send resume via email or mail to:

Human Resources
8181 Southwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77074
jobs@kprc.com

No Phone Calls Please

KPRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition to complying with the requirements of federal law, KPRC will comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.


UPDATE JANUARY 2016
KPRC 2 new studio construction begins


Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Bob Presley of KILT fame passes away

KILT radio's Bob Presley dies at age 78

 photo bobpresley2_zpsfcetsqef.jpg
Bob Presley
Bob Presley, 78, who longtime Houston radio listeners and media watchers will know from KILT radio, passed away a few days ago in Sugar Land.

Born in Clarksville, TX, the future Texas Radio Hall of Famer got bitten by the broadcasting bug when he did a fill-in announcing gig one night at the Texas Tech University student station according to his obituary.

That fateful night led him to a 42 year gig at radio stations in Austin, Dallas and Houston. In the mid-1960s, Houston radio listeners would hear him on 610 KILT from noon to 3pm weekdays. Future KTRK abc13 sports anchor Dan Lovett was his newsman.

Presley later moved to the other side of the microphone and joined the station's sales team. He rose in the ranks to become the Vice President and General Sales Manager of KILT-AM/FM and KIKK-AM/FM or 26 years.

A funeral service will be held at the Sugar Creek Baptist Church Chapel, 13223 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX, Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 4:00, with viewing starting at 3:00.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Bob Presley Scholarship Fund for the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling at Houston Baptist University (Houston Baptist University, Office of Advancement, 7502 Fondren, Houston, TX 77074, C/O Jan Danvers or call (281) 649-3348).

RELATED
97 Rock and #KLOL legend Bill Moffett passes away



Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Ilona Carson and the baby trifecta

KTRK abc13's Ilona Carson continues the Houston TV baby wave

Ilona Carson
Ilona Carson
KTRK abc13 anchor Ilona Carson is announcing baby number three.

She took to Facebook and posted a video made up a series of images announcing the upcoming birth.

The images show her first two children holding up the number of their birth order with the third one in ultrasound form.

After two boys, Carson is having a girl this time. She's due in June.

By the way, Pierce was born in 2012. James was born in 2009.

RELATED
- Telemundo Houston's Crystal Ayala delivers baby
- Miya Shay and Gene Wu expecting baby number 2
- TV anchors deliver and announce baby
- One Houston anchor on baby leave; another returns


Hey friends- I have some news to share!
Posted by ABC13-Ilona Carson on Tuesday, January 19, 2016



Joeseph Martinez joins Telemundo 40 Rio Grande Valley

Telemundo 40 Rio Grande Valley KTLM hires Joeseph Martinez

Telemundo 40 Rio Grande Valley / KTLM today announced that Joeseph Martinez has been named Weather Anchor for Noticias Telemundo 40 fin de semana. Martinez, whose first day with Telemundo 40 is today, joins News Anchor Ana Cecilia Mendez, Sports Anchor Hector Zapata and an enterprising and dynamic team of reporters to help provide Spanish-speaking viewers in the Rio Grande Valley the most-up-to-date local breaking news and weather forecasts. Martinez will make his on-air debut in late February 2016.

“Noticias Telemundo 40 is committed to hiring the best journalists to help us deliver the news and information our viewers can count on,” said Miguelángel López, News Director, Telemundo 40. “Joeseph’s experience and background in forecasting weather and meteorological events will add to the powerful teledoppler system we have so we can provide our viewers with the most precise weather information they need.”

Martinez joins Telemundo 40 after concluding his Broadcast Meteorology internship at Puerto Rico TV / WIPR in 2015. Before this, Martinez also conducted climatology research at the National Weather Service in Brownsville, Texas. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico and is a member of the American Meteorological Society, Puerto Rico chapter.

(This release is taken from a press release sent to me by Telemundo)


Friday, January 15, 2016

Telemundo Houston's Crystal Ayala delivers baby

It's a boy for Telemundo Houston KTMD's Crystal Ayala

Crystal Ayala
Crystal Ayala
Telemundo Houston KTMD Consumer Investigative Reporter/fill-in anchor Crystal Ayala, and husband KTRK abc13 photographer Noe Cumplido, have announced the arrival of their new baby.

In a simple Facebook post, Ayala wrote, "Amigos, les presento a mi nueva razón de vida. ¡Es varón!"

Translated by FB into english:

"Friends, I give you my new reason of life. It's a boy!"

Ayala joined Telemundo Houston in March 2015. She previously worked for Univision TV stations, including Univision Houston (KXLN) as a reporter and fill-in anchor and Univision Dallas (KUVN).

RELATED
KTMD's Crystal Ayala announces pregnancy




Tuesday, January 12, 2016

97 Rock and #KLOL legend Bill Moffett passes away

Bill Moffett put 97 Rock KSRR on the map and became the voice of 101 KLOL

Bill Moffett
Bill Moffett being interviewed for my KLOL documentary
The musical world lost a genius in David Bowie yesterday and the radio one lost too.

 Bill Moffett was the booming voice you heard for decades on 101 KLOL in its rock n' roll days, but he would probably want to be known as the guy who put 97 Rock on the map.

Moffett, had been a DJ at KLOL and I believe KAUM in the 70s, but as the KSRR promotions director, he was one of the driving forces of 97 Rock's rise to prominence.

"I wasn't going to take a back seat to [KLOL]," Moffett told me last year in an interview for my upcoming KLOL documentary. "I wanted to lead. So we bombarded them. I mean, I, I put that station everywhere I could. We had a million bumper stickers printed. At first run. And we gave them all away and printed another million."

That was no joke. Years after 97 Rock changed formats, you still saw those black and white iconic bumper stickers on cars across Houston and beyond.

And the bumper sticker battle was just a sample of what he did for that station. There's way more.

"I lost a dear old friend yesterday," wrote former 97 Rock morning man Moby on his Facebook page. "A radio warhorse from my rock n roll days. Bill Moffett. He was a great guy. God bless us all, AND bless Bill's friends and family."

After 97 Rock, Moffett went on to become one of THE VOICES in the industry. In an interesting twist, he became the announcer of KLOL, his former arch rival, and made rock history. You also heard him on other radio/TV stations and commercials across the country.

[LISTEN TO BILL VOICE A KLOL PROMO HERE]

In fact, his sons took over Moffett Productions which still operates to this day.

"What a voice, what a talent, what a man," former KLOL DJ Dayna Steele wrote on her Facebook page. "He was as much a part of KLOL as any of us. Those booming Rock 101 KLOL promos you would hear on air and on TV? That was Bill."

In 2010, I got to see Moffett inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

I only got to spend a short time with Bill and his good friend Scott Hunter who had also worked at 97 Rock (thanks for your help Scott), but it was an incredible time. His house was like a museum of Houston radio and rock music. Plus he loved Corvettes. There was a classic one sitting right next to him during the interview.

UPDATE
William Wohrer obituary

UPDATE
Funeral service

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15
8:30 AM - Doors Open
8 – 9:30 a.m. - Seating and viewing
9:30 - 11 a.m. - Service
11 a.m. - Noon - Burial Ceremony
Rosewood Funeral Home - Humble
2602 S Houston Ave, Humble, Texas 77396

Funeral services will be followed by a "MoffRest."




José Alberto Suárez named President and GM of Telemundo 60 San Antonio KVDA

The Telemundo Station Group today announced that José Alberto Suárez has been named President and General Manager of Telemundo 60 San Antonio / KVDA, the local Telemundo station owned by NBCUniversal that serves Spanish-speaking viewers in the San Antonio market. Suárez, who starts his new role today, will report to Manuel Martinez, President, Telemundo Station Group.

“José is an innovative and creative leader with proven experience leading various television stations newsrooms and marketing and sales departments across his 20-year local television career,” said Martinez. “Telemundo 60 has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years and I’m excited to see how José will use his many talents, including his creativity, innovation and exceptional drive, to help Telemundo 60 grow even further and help the station continue to serve the San Antonio community.”

Suárez returns to Texas after working for various local television stations in Florida, Ohio, New Mexico and Texas. He joins Telemundo 60 from NBC 6 South Florida / WTVJ, where he most recently worked as Director of Creative Services and Local Programming. During his tenure at the station, he was also Executive Producer for the station’s local weekday entertainment show, 6 in The Mix, and other non-news and sales specials and an Executive Producer for NBC 6’s local weekday newscasts. While at NBC 6, Suárez successfully led the station’s marketing, sales promotions and integration and community outreach teams to create unique and dynamic marketing and on-air promotional materials in English and Spanish-language, to meet the South Florida market’s demographic demands.

Before joining NBC 6, Suárez worked at the Telemundo Station Group as Director of Digital Platforms, where he was responsible for managing the online editorial content for Telemundo-owned stations located all across the country. Suárez has also worked as Director of Digital Media for NBC 6 and Telemundo 51 Miami / WSCV and played a pivotal role in creating content that helped promote both stations’ news properties as well as other entertainment and consumer materials. Before joining NBCUniversal, Suárez held various roles inside newsrooms all across the country, working as a News Director for CW South Florida / WSFL, Fox Toledo / WUPW and NBC 3 San Angelo / KSAN in Texas. Before taking on his newsroom leadership roles, Suárez worked as a Reporter and Photographer for the CBS affiliate serving New Mexico and as an Associate Director for CBS 4 South Florida / WFOR.

“I am thrilled to join the Telemundo 60 team and to return to Texas, where I loved my time as News Director at KSAN many years ago,” said Suárez. “Telemundo 60 has experienced significant growth and I’m excited to have an opportunity to lead the innovation and evolution that will help Telemundo 60 reach new heights.”

As President and General Manager, Suárez will be responsible for leading the overall management of the station’s operations. Launched in 1989, Telemundo 60 was formally integrated into the Telemundo Station Group in May 2014 and has been serving the Hispanic community in San Antonio for more than 25 years. Thanks to an investment made by NBCUniversal in all of its Telemundo stations, Telemundo 60 formally launched a new weekday half-hour local newscast at 4:30 PM CT in 2014, hired newsroom staff to support the boost in local news, added a digital web editor to help increase the station’s digital presence, launched revamped station digital platforms and established a new Telemundo Responde (Telemundo Responds) consumer investigative unit that is charged with standing up for consumers. Launched in 2014, the Telemundo Responde teams have collectively recovered more than $4 million for consumers all across the United States and Puerto Rico, including San Antonio.

An award-winning journalist, Suárez has received numerous journalism awards, including three Cleveland chapter Emmy® awards for “Outstanding Daily Newscast” (Market 41+), a Suncoast Chapter Emmy® award for “Outstanding Station Promotion Image" for his work at NBC 6 and numerous Associated Press awards for his work at Fox Toledo / WUPW. A native of South Florida, Suárez will be relocating to the San Antonio area.

(This post is taken from a press release sent to me by Telemundo)


Ann Harder's 20th Anniversary at KXXV Waco, Temple, Killeen

Ann's 20th Anniversary

This week we're celebrating Ann Harder's 20th Anniversary! She has been breaking stories for Central Texas since 1996. How long have you been watching?

Posted by News Channel 25 on Monday, January 11, 2016

It's my honor to post that anchor Ann Harder has been at KXXV 25 in Waco for 20 years! Before television, Harder was a strong journalistic presence in radio too.

Besides all of that, she is one of the nicest anchors you'll meet in the TV biz. Congrats Ann!

Houston viewers will recognize the guy next to her too. That's former KTRK abc13 sports reporter and Houston Rockets radio announcer Bruce Gietzen.


Friday, January 08, 2016

MEGA 101 KLOL extends contract with PD Tony Luna

CBS RADIO’S MEGA 101 FM (KLOL-FM) is pleased to announce Tony Luna will continue his role as Program Director for the popular Spanish station as part of a multi-year contract extension. Luna has been the driving force, taking the station to its highest weekly cume for Spanish radio in the market.

Charese Fruge, Vice President, Programming, CBS RADIO Houston, stated, “In the short time I have worked with Tony he has proven to be a great leader, as well as a strategic and successful programmer. The Mega brand is a monster in the Houston Hispanic community and that is largely due to Tony and his team's passion for its culture”. We couldn't be more thrilled to have him committed to Mega 101 for several more years.”

Luna’s radio career started at age 15 as an on-air personality at Super Q-104 in Puerto Rico. From there, he became the music director for Cosmos 94 in Puerto Rico where the reggaeton music movement started back in the 90’s. He also served as the program director of WSKQ and WPAT in New York City for 10 years.

“We have built an incredible and winning team and I am beyond ecstatic to be part of the CBS RADIO family,” said Luna. “I’m looking forward to many more years to come.”

(This post is from a release sent to me by CBS Houston)



740 KTRH makes changes for 2016

740 KTRH changes music and becomes ABC News affiliate

Looks like a Houston radio station has New Year's resolutions like people. Well, NewsRadio 740 KTRH has at least made some changes for 2016.

Last Monday, I realized the station changed its news update music and national news affiliation from FOX News Radio to ABC News. I swear the new KTRH music has ABC music elements in it.

I emailed the station with some questions about this, never heard back with answers, so I am going to have to go with the rest of this post off my memory.

If I remember correctly, KTRH switched from CBS News to FOX News Radio back in the early 2000s. I believe in the past, KTRH has been an ABC affiliate.

You might remember that the shuttered News 92 KROI was an ABC affiliate.

Readers have asked me where FOX News is going in town...if you hear it pop up...let me know.

UPDATE
Folks who worked at KTRH in the late 90s/early 2000s, plus my own comments section say that KTRH was a CBS affiliate, switched to ABC around the turn of the century and became an FOX News Radio affiliate in 2003. Based on this post, we see how my memory has served me so far today, but that all makes sense. It seems like then KTRH reporter Aaron Katersky covered the Iraq war for KTRH in 2003 and then was hired by ABC News soon after that.


Where is Brien Straw on SportsRadio 610's The Bstraw & PaulyG Show?

Sounds like layoffs took out Brien Straw on SportsRadio 610's The Bstraw & PaulyG Show

Brien Straw
Brien Straw
My email box is starting to fill up with questions about what happened to SportsRadio 610 KILT's The Bstraw & PaulyG Show host Brien Straw.

I've already told you about the whereabouts of another CBS Radio Houston employee, PK from the Hot 95.7 morning show, this week.

Two missing CBS Houston radio employees on the same week? Sounds like something is going on.

 And according to a Dec 21, 2015 Philadelphia Business Journal article, there were "nationwide layoffs of roughly 200 employees — including several on air, sales and support staff at the six local CBS stations."

So that might clear up the questions. Has there been anyone else off the airwaves of a CBS Houston station as of late?

Straw took to Twitter to answer listener questions and when someone asked him point blank, "Yes or no question. Did you leave on your own?" the sports talk host answered, "no."

Right now, Straw tweeted he is looking for work.

His former radio partner, Paul Gallant, continues on with Gallant at Night in the same 7pm to 11pm time slot. You'll have to scroll down on this link to hear it, but Gallant opened a show this week mentioning Straw, how he missed him and that they are friends. (Where is Houston Media Watch when you need them?)

In case you don't know, Straw has an interesting story when it comes to getting into sports talk radio. According to his website, he was selling commercial insurance benefits by day and doing a weekly podcasting at night back in 2004. That Ole Miss sports podcast got him gigs at several radio stations that led him to Houston's SportsRadio 610.

I had a chance to compete with Straw at the 2014 TXU Houston media turkey calling contest. Seemed like a nice guy.



Thursday, January 07, 2016

Miya Shay and Gene Wu expecting baby number 2

Lights, camera, action, KTRK abc13 reporter/anchor Miya Shay and hubby are having a sequel...er second kid!

JULY 05, 2016
Miya Shay and Gene Wu have #BabyWu 2

Miya Shay
Miya Shay
We have a new Houston TV baby wave on the way.

KTRK abc13 reporter/anchor Miya Shay and husband, Texas State Representative, District 137, Gene Wu, have announced a second baby is on the way.

"We have #BreakingNews today," Shay tweeted. "@GeneforTexas & I are super excited for the #babywu sequel!"

The couple had a son back in 2013.

Hollywood is calling!



JULY 05, 2016
Miya Shay and Gene Wu have #BabyWu 2

RELATED
KTRK's Miya Shay and Gene Wu's wedding photos



Houston TV invaded by $23 weather dress

Watch out...that $23 Amazon dress has made it to Houston TV

Remember the $23 Amazon (plus shipping and handling) dress that TV meteorologists were wearing across the country?

How could you forget?

It got a ton of media coverage.

Well, now Houston Chronicle Fashion & Beauty Editor, Joy Sewing, is tweeting that dress is showing up on Houston televisions and not just in the weather centers.


Sewing herself bought one, as did KPRC 2 anchor Jennifer Reyna, KTRK abc13 reporter/anchor Miya Shay and KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang.

RELATED
What is that Houston TV anchor wearing?





John Fenoglio joins KTLA Los Angeles

Former KTRK abc13 temporary reporter John Fenoglio announces KTLA LA gig

John Fenoglio
John Fenoglio
After his departure from KTRK abc13, reporter John Fenoglio announces to us on Twitter where he's landing, and for his Houston fans, I've got bad news, it ain't the Bayou City.

Fenoglio is heading back to California.

"I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be joining the @KTLA News team," Fenoglio tweeted. "I'll see you on the airwaves soon, Los Angeles."

LA viewers will recognize the Houston native from his time on KCAL-Channel 9.




All the new and disappearing faces on Houston TV screens in 2015

I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello


Remember years ago, like in 2005 when I first started writing this blog, when TV reporters and anchors put in decades on Houston TV?

It still happens in some cases, but with less regularity. Now it can be a matter of months and they are gone or out of the business in a blink of an eye.

Massive Texas media job moves through late 2014 right here

Chauncy Glover joins KTRK abc13 as anchor

Caitilin Espinosa to leave FOX 26 & going digital

Josh Chapin joins KHOU 11

Irene Sans leaves Telemundo Houston KTMD

Brandon Walker joins KPRC 2

Don Nelson announces KTRK abc13 departure

Andrew Horansky to leave KHOU for Cleveland's WKYC

Rebecca Spera becomes abc13 KTRK afternoon traffic anchor

Malini Basu leaves KHOU 11 for WFXT Boston

Crystal Ayala named Telemundo Houston KTMD Consumer Investigative Reporter

Lindsey Day joins FOX 26 KRIV

Radio One's Houston boss Doug Abernethy leaves for Entercom

Sonia Azad leaves KTRK abc13

Amy Bishop named News 88.7 KUHF arts and culture reporter

Sofia Ojeda joins KPRC 2 weekends

Adam Bennett joins KHOU 11 from KEYE Austin

Phillip Mena leaves KPRC for ABC News

Keli Rabon joins KTRK abc13 from KMGH

Jeremy Desel is leaving TV news

KHOU's Jack Acosta becomes KENS San Antonio news director

Maria Corrales gone from FOX 26 KRIV

Lily Jang & Shern-Min Chow alter KHOU 11 schedules

Kayla Ayres joins KPRC 2

Sharron Melton exits KTRK abc13

John Fenoglio joins KTRK abc13


Angela Chen departs KTRK abc13, joins FOX 26 KRIV

Jonathan Martinez joins KPRC 2 as weekend anchor

Elita Loresca joins KTRK abc13 after LA's KNBC 4

Karla Barguiarena exits abc13 KTRK

Cathy Hernandez joins KPRC 2

Mix 96.5 KHMX drops 'The Atom Smasher Morning Show'

Sara Donchey joins KPRC 2 from KRIS

Devi Dev promoted at 93.7 The Beat KQBT

Casey Curry and Travis Herzog to switch places on KTRK abc13

The Dave, Mahoney & DK Morning Show to hit Mix 96.5 KHMX

Pablo Alsina Joins KHOU 11

Courtney Fischer joins KTRK abc13

Media job moves across Texas since May 2015

Mayra Moreno joins KTRK abc13 from KENS 5

Craig Roberts returns to KPRC 2

Scarlett Fakhar joins FOX 26

Nate Griffin of SportsRadio 610 KILT joins FOX 26 as reporter

Irika Sargent to Chicago's WBBM & Vicente Arenas out at CBS News

Keli Rabon leaves KTRK abc13

September 2015 Texas media job moves

Texas TV & radio job moves for October 2015

Sonia Azad joins WFAA 8 after KTRK abc13

Houston morning show hosts embark on new careers after radio

Katie McCall to leave FOX 26 KRIV

Mayra Moreno is new abc13 KTRK weekend morning anchor

Lauren Tostenson joins KHOU 11

Mia Gradney named KHOU 11 5pm anchor

Karla Barguiarena working for ABC News One

Texas TV & radio job moves November 2015

KPRC 2's Mark Boyle and KTRK abc13's John Fenoglio say goodbye

Philip Bruce is leaving KHOU 11

Jake Reiner joins KPRC 2

Marla Carter joins KTRK abc13

Melissa Correa joins KHOU 11

Stephanie Whitfield joins KHOU 11

REMEMBERING

Houston traffic's Vikki Taylor loses cancer battle

RIP: Stevens and Pruett player Jake Ray aka "Tito"




Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Best TV news bloopers 2015 part 3



RELATED
- Best TV news bloopers 2015!
- Best TV news bloopers 2015 part 2


Where is PK on the Hot 95.7 morning show?


UPDATE DECEMBER 30, 2016
Hot 95.7 becomes The Spot

UPDATE MARCH 21, 2016
PK joins Power 96.1 Atlanta


PK teams up with DK and leaves Hot 95.7 morning show behind

photo hotshow_zps4fba8per.jpg

The New Year is already bringing me questions about the whereabouts of PK on the Hot 95.7 morning show KKHH.

According to his site, PK has left the CBS Houston building:

I’ll start it by saying I’m not going to comment on my departure from Hot. What I will comment on is how I personally go about accepting a job/new position. I always ask myself three questions:

Will it allow me to be creative?
Can I learn and grow from the people involved?
Will it be fun?
If the answer to all three is yes, I take the job. If the answer to any is no, I check out.

Fun Fact- Pay is the last thing I ask. I moved to Houston with out asking about salary until I was in the building.

It’s a fact and maybe a fault, but it is what it is. I won’t speak any further about this situation but to say that one or all three became a no. I’m not blaming anyone and have nothing but appreciation for the time.

What’s next? To figure that out we go back, about two years to be precise. That’s when we started the PK and DK show. READ MORE

The show he references is his podcast/video show he does with his wife Denise. You can watch it live every Wednesday night at 7pm at www.PKandDK.com.

The couple promises a no holds barred, real, daring look into their relationship and life. The trailer video for the show is embedded below.

Fans of the HOT Show can still listen to Sarah Pepper and Ivan who remain with the station.

UPDATE
Brien Straw from The Bstraw & PaulyG Show on Hot 95.7 sister station SportsRadio 610 KILT disappeared the same week as PK.

According to a Dec 21, 2015 Philadelphia Business Journal article, there were "nationwide layoffs of roughly 200 employees — including several on air, sales and support staff at the six local CBS stations."

UPDATE DECEMBER 30, 2016
Hot 95.7 becomes The Spot

UPDATE MARCH 21, 2016
PK joins Power 96.1 Atlanta



Tuesday, January 05, 2016

790 KBME announces new 2016 lineup

Former Houston Oiler Sean Jones Joins Talk Roster

790 KBME, Houston’s Home for local Sports Talk, announced today a new lineup featuring live and local programming from 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. including former Houston Oiler Sean Jones joining weekdays, beginning Monday, January 4.

Jones, a former All Pro, who played with the Oilers and Packers and Raiders, will team up with host Adam Clanton weekdays from 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. “We’re thrilled to be adding Jones to the team. The former Super Bowl champ brings a unique perspective from his days on the gridiron. Jones has some strong opinions and we can’t wait to unleash him on Houston sports talk fans, said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeart Media Houston.

Matt Thomas will move to morning drive and will join Lance Zierlein from 6:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. on The Proper Gentlemen of Sports. In the Trenches with former NFL stars Greg Koch and N.D Kalu will move back an hour from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and veteran sportstalk host Charlie Pallilo will add an hour to The Drive Home and will be live from 3:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.

The full KBME Sportstalk 790 programming line-up:

The Proper Gentlemen with Lance Zierlein & Matt Thomas from 6:00 a.m-10:00 a.m.

In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

The Bottom Line with Jones and Clanton from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

The Drive Home with Charlie Pallilo from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

The Jay Mohr Show 7:00 p.m-10:00 p.m.

In addition to being live and local from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sportstalk 790 is home of the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets and Texas A&M football and basketball.

iHeartMedia Houston has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises – both broadcast and digital – including KBME-AM, KQBT-FM, KODA-FM, KPRC-AM, KTBZ-FM, KTRH-AM – and produces legendary marquee events including Buzzfest and The Houston Beat Down. It’s programming and content are available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; online via its branded digital sites; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio.

(This post is from a release sent to me by IHeartMedia Houston.)



Texas TV & radio job moves December 2015

Media job changes around Texas December 2015

DALLAS

And to all a good night: D-FW's list of 2015 TV newsroom exits.

NBC5 KXAS has added Cory Smith to its news staff after the South Oak Cliff native’s three-year stint at ABC affiliate KSAT-TV in San Antonio.

HOUSTON

John McKeon named president and publisher of the Houston Chronicle.

KVUE Hires Assistant News Director from Houston.

Meteorologist Lisa Vaughn of WPTV West Palm Beach left her job and moved back to Houston.

KIAH-TV Newsfix editor Louis Kubiak has been promoted to sound designer.

- KPRC 2's Mark Boyle and KTRK abc13's John Fenoglio say goodbye
- Philip Bruce is leaving KHOU 11
- Jake Reiner joins KPRC 2
- Marla Carter joins KTRK abc13
- Melissa Correa joins KHOU 11
- New KPRC 2 reporter is Rob Reiner's son
- Stephanie Whitfield joins KHOU 11

AUSTIN

Adam Racusin left KEYE Austin for KGTV 10 San Diego.

Longtime Time Warner Cable News anchor Paul Brown departs TV.

KVUE hires new meteorologist Nathan Gogo from KWTX Waco.

KXAN hires new morning news anchor John Dabkovich.

Kate Weidaw has been promoted to noon news anchor at KXAN.

Maite Luna is leaving Miami for a position as anchor/reporter for the 5 and 10 pm newscasts at Telemundo Austin.

KVUE celebrates Mike Barnes' 26th year with station.

AROUND TEXAS

Patrick Chalvire joins KGBT as MMJ.

Raycom has named Kelvin Mize vp and gm of its Lawton, Okla., ABC affiliate KSWO.

RELATED
Texas TV & radio job moves November 2015



Best TV news weather bloopers 2015


Green screens and naughty words...


RELATED
- Best TV news bloopers 2015!
- Best TV news bloopers 2015 part 2




Monday, January 04, 2016

Guns N' Roses playing Houston [VIDEO]





Back in 1992 when Houston embraced the Astrodome, the Republican National Convention had just wrapped up weeks before, and on September 4, the Eighth Wonder of the World was home to the mighty Metallica and Guns N' Roses tour with opener Faith No More!

I believe the 1992 Astrodome show was the last one "the original" GNR played in Houston.

Dayna Steele of 101 KLOL was there introducing the bands! 

This was a time when the media covered rock music (outside of Eddie Trunk) and KTRK abc13 was on the case.  Then anchor Shara Fryer tossed to a live report from Chris Adams at the scene for a story on all of the rock and roll mayhem and excess.

"In the audience, it looks like a riot, but it's just dancing," Adams reported. "All in all, a headbangers paradise."

According to the channel 13 story, 45,000 people attended the seven-and-a-half-hour show. More than 50 concertgoers were treated for "health-related problems" and about two dozen were arrested.

"The bulk of the arrests made were for public intoxication," Adams said. "A number of people had to be treated or even carried out, but it was not as bad as it might have been."

I remember sitting at Lamar High School that day and seeing a much emptier campus than normal. Faith No More went on in the afternoon so fans, including my school-mates, had to get there early.

My mom wouldn't let me go back then even though I was obsessed with Axl Rose and crew. She also wouldn't let me go to the last Houston Nirvana show in 1993 at the Astro Arena, God rest her and Kurt Cobain's souls.

In the early 90s, I studied GNR lyrics, read books and magazines about them, and taped photos from them on my closet door. Has that obsession really waned? Is anyone still reading this blog from the early days when practically every other post was about Guns N' Roses and the upcoming Chinese Democracy?

I was attracted to the music. After all, Appetite for Destruction is considered one of the best rock albums ever by many music fans, and think, that was the debut album! And the band certainly knew how to cultivate that dangerous edge. Although even I needed a break from them by the time the Sympathy for the Devil cover was released.

While I never saw an original era Guns N' Roses show, I would later go on to see an Axl Rose only fronted version in 2006 at the Hard Rock Hotel's The Joint in Las Vegas. Saw most of the same lineup later in Houston at The Toyota Center in 2011. Then witnessed one of the alleged best shows (Axl's vocals) on the 2016 tour at NRG Stadium with the reunited Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan.

Here is the Guns N' Roses setlist from the Houston Astrodome show according to Wikipedia:

(Taken from the Houston, Texas Astrodome show on September 4, 1992)

"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Mr. Brownstone"
"Live and Let Die" (originally performed by Paul McCartney)
"Attitude" (originally performed by the Misfits)
"Nightrain"
"Bad Obsession"
"It's So Easy"
"Wild Horses" (originally performed by The Rolling Stones)
"Patience"
"Double Talkin' Jive"
"Civil War"
"It's Alright" (originally performed by Black Sabbath)
"November Rain"
"You Could Be Mine"
"Sweet Child o' Mine"
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (originally performed by Bob Dylan)
"Don't Cry" (Original)
"Paradise City"

Here was the Metallica setlist from the Houston Astrodome show according to Wikipedia:

(Taken from the Houston, Texas Astrodome show on September 4, 1992)

"Creeping Death"
"Harvester of Sorrow"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"Sad but True"
"Wherever I May Roam"
"Of Wolf and Man"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
"The Unforgiven"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Fade to Black"
"Master of Puppets"
"Seek & Destroy"
"Whiplash"
"Nothing Else Matters"
"Am I Evil?" (originally performed by Diamond Head)
"Last Caress" (originally performed by the Misfits)
"One"
"Enter Sandman"


*Post updated after Guns N' Roses lineup with Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan reunited.



TV anchors deliver and announce baby

KTRK abc13's Rebecca Spera delivers, while KPRC 2's Lauren Freeman announces baby #4!

Rebecca Spera
Rebecca Spera
At the beginning of December, KPRC 2's Amy Davis returned from maternity leave, while KHOU 11's Grace White took it, and later on there was more Houston TV baby activity.

First up, KTRK abc13 afternoon traffic anchor Rebecca Spera announced the birth of her son!

"Introducing Gray James," Spera wrote. "He's named after the very special men in our families that we love so much."

Look for his name to be on the back of an LSU jersey one day! Spera and husband Eric Valentino were married in Galveston earlier in 2015.

Next up is KPRC 2 anchor Lauren Freeman who I assumed was pregnant from watching what was in my most read posts section.

Lauren Freeman
Lauren Freeman
One my old posts about Freeman expecting a child jumped to the top of the charts as curious viewers were hitting Google to find out more on her apparent bump.

If you are self conscious do yourself a favor and never become a female television news anchor. 

Those TV news viewers seem to notice everything!

"Many of you have asked...we are expecting baby boy #4 in April," Freeman wrote. "We are thrilled!"

UPDATE
I just post this and find out KTRK abc13 morning anchor Samica Knight is pregnant too! Oh and get this, I also heard another anchor is pregnant rumor...stay tuned.

Well, I've been meaning to tell you something. Lol!Facebook Family ... My husband and I are expecting! We're so excited!

Posted by ABC13-Samica Knight on Monday, January 4, 2016

Hello, Friends! Remember that "looking good during labor" post the other day? Well, there is no such thing! I had...
Posted by Rebecca-ABC13 on Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Many of you have asked...we are expecting baby boy #4 in April. We are thrilled!
Posted by KPRC2 Lauren Freeman on Wednesday, December 23, 2015