Three TV 8 KUHT shows to air nationally in tandem with Ken Burn's THE VIETNAM WAR

The Ken Burn’s documentary series THE VIETNAM WAR premieres on Sunday, September 17 at 7pm on Houston Public Media TV 8 and PBS stations across the country

Lily Jang returns to TV for "Saigon Stories" to air on TV8 KUHT and nationally  

Last April, I wrote about attending a preview of the upcoming Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary THE VIETNAM WAR.

Here we are in September already and the series is debuting this Sunday at 7pm on Houston Public Media TV 8 KUHT and PBS stations across the country.

Episodes 1-5: Sun-Thu, Sept 17-22 @ 7 p.m.
Episodes 6-10: Sun-Thu, Sept 24-28 @ 7 p.m.

Trust me when I say this is going to be an unflinching look at a tumultuous time in our history. Very raw and emotional. What makes this docu-series different from the other films I've watched is the access to the North Vietnamese view of the war.

If you are a fan of Burn's work, then you know what you are getting. Just like any of his other covered topics, it will be a very comprehensive and passionate look at a wound in history Burns says we are still healing from as a country.

On a local note, Tran Ngoc Toan, a South Vietnamese soldier who now lives in Houston, is interviewed for the documentary.

Since so many Vietnamese families relocated to the Houston-area after the war, Houston Public Media has produced three accompanying shows that localize the complex history the series will cover.

And I just found out that PBS stations across the country have picked up the Houston produced shows and will be airing them as complimentary programming to the Ken Burns series. VIETV, the largest Vietnamese language TV network in the country, is airing all three as well.

The first show is one I covered on Facebook earlier this year while I was on my blogging break.

Former KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang hosts and co-produces "Saigon Stories." Houston Public Media Executive Producer Don Geraci, and former KHOU colleague to Jang, approached the former morning anchor about working on the show with the station.


This show will be worth a watch. Not only is it great seeing Jang on television again, but this is a fantastic show from top to bottom. I called Jang after watching an advanced copy and told her submit this for the Lone Star EMMY awards.

Even though Houston is home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities, I don't know much about the Vietnam of today. Jang, Geraci, and crew travelled to Vietnam to provide a look at how Saigon has transformed after the war. She also gives us a glimpse of her personal story as she is originally from Saigon or as it is now known, Ho Chi Minh City.

The next KUHT produced show is “Getting Here: Journeys From Vietnam.”

This show features stories of Houstonians who were Vietnamese refugees. One name many will know is H-Town designer Chloe Dao and winner of Project Runway.

This show will either bring you to tears or make the hair on the back of your neck raise. Dao and others, like VIETV marketing director Jimmy Nguyen, talk about the harrowing experience of escaping their homeland and facing a high probability of death during their journey.

You'll also learn of their experience in coming to America.

There is a third show called “Peace Meals” which I honestly did not have time to preview at the time of this writing. But if it's anything like the other two shows, it will be a worthwhile watch.

Kudos to the entire Houston Public Media team for their excellent work. I know they have been working on these shows for much of 2017.

“Saigon Stories” with Lily Jang – Sept. 18 @ 8:30pm
“Getting Here: Journeys From Vietnam” – Sept. 24 @ 8:30pm
“Peace Meals” – Sept. 21 @ 8:30pm

houstonpublicmedia.org/Vietnam/

Bob Boudreaux update, Houston/Dallas radio ratings and more

MORE VIDEO
- Former KTRK 13 promotions producer Michael Penix's WLTX Super Bowl spots
- The Real News Photographer
- Morning anchor gets unintentionally sexual
- CBS 11 News Doug Dunbar Promo
- HARLEM SHAKE (Ksla News Edition)
- 98FM KFMK Houston top of hour
- CHAMILLIONAIRE AS THE ANCHOR MAN WITH JOSE GRINAN!
- 15 TV News Reporters Who Deserve A Hug

New deal for DeDe McGuire
DeDe McGuire signs new contract with Service Broadcasting’s urban “K-104” KKDA-FM, Dallas.

Former Dallas TV journalist Rebecca Rodriguez is new communications chief for Dallas ISD
Dallas ISD hires Rebecca Rodriguez, former news reporter and current city of Arlington spokesperson, as new communications chief.

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

VOTE!: I'm trying to win money for charity from Reliant Energy's Rodeo Roundup...all you have to do is click a button to vote (and you can even do it once a day!) VOTE HERE

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

KTXD Dallas Launches New Local Program
In partnership with D Magazine, London Broadcasting’s KTXD Dallas (DMA 5) launches D: The Broadcast followed by the debut of D Living.
- Seismic shift at KTXD -- from Perry Mason to D: The Broadcast

Houston and DFW radio ratings
ALL ACCESS presents JANUARY PPM market radio rating highlights for Houston and Dallas, compiled by the Ratings Experts at RESEARCH DIRECTOR, INC. and powered by XTRENDS, radio's #1 PPM and diary analysis tool.
- Radio One Houston gets praise

Former KTRK anchor still acting
Former KTRK abc13 anchor Bob Boudreaux is still acting (he was in stage productions while still an anchor). His latest credits, Banshee and the upcoming A Little Christmas Business.
- Bob Boudreaux and Dr. Red Duke together for award

Ashby, Blum join Astros' TV booth
With a move to the American League and a new color scheme, the Houston Astros also have made changes to their broadcast teams -- both television and radio -- for the 2013 baseball season. The club announced former Astros players Alan Ashby and Geoff Blum will join Bill Brown, entering his 27th season with the organization, in the TV booth this season. On the radio side, Robert Ford will call play-by-play and Steve Sparks will be the color analyst.
- Thoughts on the Astros’ new voices and the continuing CSN Houston carriage stalemate
- Network carrying Astros, Rockets games unavailable in Austin area

‘Mighty Gwinn’ moving to 1560 AM
Dylan Gwinn, who has hosted midday and evening talk shows on KBME (790 AM) since 2010, will move to David Gow’s Yahoo! Sports Radio next week.

Former Fox 26 anchor goes nationwide
Former Fox 26 KRIV anchor Jan Jeffcoat will host new syndicated show "The List."

KIAH and KDAF get new big boss
Tribune Appoints Larry Wert As President of Local Broadcasting.

Ron Paul comes to radio
Former congressman and Presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-TX) has signed to host twice-a-day one-minute commentaries.

REMEMBERING

FOX San Antonio's Karen Martinez Passes Away
FOX San Antonio anchor Karen Martinez has passed away after her long battle with breast cancer. Karen was 37.

Anderson, longtime KTSU host, dies after aneurysm
Longtime KTSU (90.9 FM) radio host Myron Anderson died Thursday, four days after suffering a brain aneurysm.

KLBJ reporter dies from injuries suffered in wreck
KLBJ-AM Austin reporter Barbara McCarley radio died from injuries she suffered in a rollover crash.
- No charges in wreck that killed radio reporter

MOVING

Click2Houston.com managing editor Lyn Stewart leaves KPRC 2 after more than a decade on the job. Stewart announced on Facebook that she's leaving to become the Digital Communications Manager for Huntsman Corporation.

I'm late on this, but I hear producer Don Geraci left KHOU 11's Great Day Houston last fall to start a new arts program on Houston PBS called Arts Insight. (Thanks to the PR Fairy @farbulous)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Houston TV newscasts full of lovely ladies
- TV news' lost opportunity on Carnival Triumph story
- KTRK producer leads the blind through triathlons
- KTRK 13's Don Nelson back on air after surgery
- Bob Allen goes to Washington?
- Tom Doerr, Fox 26 KRIV news director to WFLD Chicago
- Sam Malone's debut on 1070 The Answer KNTH
- Comcast Xfinity app controls TV; now available in Houston
- Mix 96.5 KHMX moves Blake Hayes to mornings

Houston Public Media Selected to Participate in Digital Culture Accelerator Buddy Program

CPB taps 21 public media stations for the national digital initiative

Houston Public Media is one of 21 public media stations across the country participating in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Digital Culture Accelerator Buddy Program.

This innovative program provides participating public media stations with guidance to implement digital-first processes and change station culture for the digital age, as well as mentoring from a fellow public media station.

“Our participation in this transformative initiative comes at a time when Houston Public Media is refreshing its brand, reimagining its television studios, and laying the groundwork for the future through a new station strategic plan,” said Lisa Trapani Shumate, general manager of Houston Public Media. “This is the next step we’re taking to make digital an integral component of all we do.”

This year’s announcement builds on a successful year-long pilot project that helped 20 public media stations increase engagement and membership revenue, while driving innovations in how the stations are serving their communities. Houston Public Media is paired with Rocky Mountain PBS, a public media station in Denver, Colorado, that completed the accelerator program.

“This has inspired a station-wide cultural commitment to experimentation and testing, one that tracks progress and successes using metrics,” said Don Geraci, director of content at Houston Public Media. “Our station vision statement now better reflects where we want to head, and we’ve set an inspirational goal of doubling our reach to three million people each week by 2025.”

The CPB-supported, hands-on program is customized for each station’s operations, helping senior leadership focus on the organization’s vision and alignment, new audience engagement strategies and new membership models.

To learn more about the Digital Culture Accelerator and CPB’s efforts to accelerate digital transformation across public media, click here.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by Houston Public Media)

Houston NPR News 88.7 KUHF 2019 schedule changes

On September 7th, 2019, Houston Public Media will be changing its program lineup for News 88.7 KUHF the NPR affiliate.

One big change will be Houston Matters and its new time in the morning. The long running local issues talk show, which has aired at noon since its 2013 debut, will be moving to 9am along with other changes the station says are "designed to drive the news conversation of Houston."

"These changes are the result of an intensive look at our performance over the last 2 years; feedback from you, our listeners; and efficiencies we have identified with fees associated with show purchases," said Houston Public Media Executive Director of Operations Josh Adams in an email. "The long-term effect of these updates will push us to reach larger audiences and engage more of our Greater Houston listeners. We are headed into a contentious election year and must be positioned to deliver trusted news content to our audience so they may make an informed decision on Election Day."

For a look at the new program schedule and changes, click here.

You will also notice on the schedule, a new local, one-hour radio show. Next Question, hosted by Tomeka Weatherspoon, will air Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 12pm. The show will be executive produced by Don Geraci, with Technical Director Tom Carter, Production Director Jim Pivero.