Jerry Martin retires from KPRC 2 GM position

Jerry Martin, the KPRC 2 Vice President & General Manager, has announced he is retiring in an internal memo obtained by mikemcguff.com:

UPDATE AUGUST 30, 2022
Phil Lane named KPRC 2 GM

"After long reflection during the pandemic and in 2022, I have decided to retire on September 2, 2022. You might think this is part of the great resignation, but it really isn’t. I will turn 65 in November and having lost a brother and a sister in law over the past two and a half years, I have come to realize not to take life or my family for granted. Speaking of family, my wife and I have been in a commuter marriage for the past eleven and a half years of a 37 year marriage and it is high time we get back together.

 Most importantly, professionally,  I really wanted to leave KPRC on a high note with strong teams in place on air and in management. I love KPRC and would never bow out if I didn’t believe we are in great shape. We have a strong experienced management team, a first class news team, a rising star local program in Houston Life, a popular new evening anchor team and for the past 3 months...Houston’s number one station (just take a look at last Friday’s overnight).  I think that is leaving KPRC in a great position for the next leader to take over. 

So...I would like to thank everyone for their efforts for the past eleven and a half years, you have made it a great ride."

In a memo obtained by mikemcguff.com from President & Chief Executive Officer for Graham Media Group, Catherine Badalamente, Martin is celebrated for his achievements while leading KPRC:

 

"After over 40 years of dedicated service in broadcasting, KPRC VP & General Manager, Jerry Martin, has set his sights on a well-deserved retirement. Jerry has been at the helm of KPRC for over eleven years, leading the station through an unprecedented time of both triumph and tragedy.

It is hard to summarize the many contributions that Jerry has made over the years to the broadcast industry, KPRC, Graham Media Group and the Houston community. 

Jerry led his team through some of KPRC’s most difficult days including Hurricane Harvey and the Covid pandemic. He also enthusiastically celebrated the '713,' its first-class attractions, its booming growth and the incredible diversity of the community and its people.

Jerry understood the importance of his position and giving back. He dedicated much of his time, energy and passion to countless Houston organizations including the Houston Area Urban League, the Houston Ballet, and the Holocaust Museum Houston.

He helped architect and navigated the transition to a state-of-the-art broadcast station and studio, launched innovative programming, integrated digital operations into the day-to-day and achieved #1 status on all platforms.

A voracious consumer of information and media, Jerry has always been inspired by the changing trends in our industry. I am hopeful he will continue to email, text, and chat the many articles, videos, podcasts, and newsletters about everything from finance, digital and sales automation to Peloton’s best rides.

I am forever grateful to Jerry for his years of commitment to Graham Media and our industry. Jerry plans to stay with us until September. We will begin our search immediately for his replacement."

Martin joined KPRC in 2011 from Indiana's 4 WTTV and Fox 59 WXIN Indianapolis, Indiana where he worked from  2004 to 2011.

During his time with channel 2 Houston, Martin rebuilt the entire building to a modern broadcast facility.  In 2019, the station earned three regional Murrow Awards and two National Headliner Awards for “Best Newscast” and “Coverage of Live Breaking News Event.”

An active member of the community, Martin chaired the Houston Area Urban League, served on the Board of Trustees for both the Holocaust Museum of Houston and the Houston Ballet and is a Texas Association of Broadcasters board member. 

The University of Maine, Orono grad previously worked for:

- WB50 WBDC Washington, D.C. - vice president/general manager - 2000 to 2004

- FOX61 WTIC Hartford, Connecticut - vice president/general manager - 1997 to 2000

- FOX61 WTIC Hartford, Connecticut - general sales manager - 1993 to 1997

- WTXX New Haven, Connecticut - general sales manager - 1992 to 1993

- FOX40 KTXL Sacramento, California - national sales manager - 1987 to 1991

- Petry Television - account executive - 1984 to 1987

- WJAR 10 Providence, Rhode Island - account executive - 1980 to 1984

New KPRC 2 Houston GM is Jerry Martin

We found out today that WXIN Fox 59 general manager Jerry Martin is the new KPRC 2 GM.

“Jerry has a very impressive list of credentials and the staff is looking forward to our first chance to meet him tomorrow," KPRC 2 Vice President/Creative Services Director Mike Guerrieri told the mikemcguff.com blog. "We have a lot of exciting improvements coming to KPRC in the next few weeks that will be very visible to viewers and we’re looking forward to Jerry being a part it”.

The Indianapolis Business Journal reported the news first:

WXIN-TV Channel 59 General Manager Jerry Martin notified staff on Monday that he is leaving the Indianapolis station Feb. 25 to pursue a similar position in Houston.

Martin will join NBC affiliate KPRC, a Post-Newsweek-owned television station, as its general manager.

He has been at WXIN, commonly known as Fox59, for more than six years and helped the station triple its number of hours devoted to local news.

“I’ve worked at a top-10 market before, and it’s a good opportunity to get back into a top-10 market,” Martin said of Houston. “It’s a bittersweet move.” READ MORE

Martin will replace former KPRC 2 general manager Larry Blackerby who left in November 2010 for a new gig with McGraw-Hill Broadcasting at WRTV the ABC-affiliate station in Indianapolis.

So Indianapolis takes a Houston GM, but Houston takes one from there. I guess we are even now.

New KPRC building moves channel 2 into 21st century

MIKEMCGUFF.COM EXCLUSIVE: As the first new TV station to be built in Houston since the 1990s, KPRC is building for the future of TV and employee happiness - get your first look

Dave Strickland and Jerry Martin in new KPRC 2 newsroom SEE MORE PHOTOS

As I followed KPRC 2 VP/General Manager Jerry Martin through the hallways of the Graham Media Group station's future home, it became apparent that he has paid close attention to every little detail.

"Yeah, it's taken up a lot of extra time every day," Martin told mikemcguff.com. "So there's a lot on the general manager to get it done and get it done on time, on budget, etc. So it's my baby, yeah."


Still required to wear hardhats, the tour of Martin, news director Dave Strickland and myself encountered busy construction workers in practically every nook and cranny of the building site.

A representative from DPR Construction told me it has around 100 staffers working on the new 65,000 square foot station, being built directly behind KPRC's soon-to-be old building in the former parking lot. The current station has been there since the early 1970s.

"It was a great building, and I'm not trying to say anything about the architecture or this building, but it just doesn't lend itself to 2016 broadcasting," Martin admitted. "So, normally I think what would've happened is we would've just rehabbed this building, done a serious rehab. And we looked at that. But at the end of the day, we ended up with, a better building, but not a great building. And when we looked at building one in our own parking lot and we did the math on it, the difference between rehabbing this one the correct way and a new building, it wasn't too much of a difference."

And 2016 broadcasting means lots of computer servers and thousands of cable runs. The new building keeps all of that in mind, plus growth for KPRC's digital strategies with two control rooms and studios.

Then there is the employee morale factor.

The current KPRC newsroom looks like a bunker. That's because it was the home of the NBC affiliate's newscasts from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. As a result there could be no windows. Once the news set was moved back to its own studio, the news department now lives in a big gray room with fluorescent lighting. A few artifacts from the old set remain. One employee joked to me it was hard to tell when Hurricane Ike was actually hitting the building with its Brutalist architecture fortress motif.

"In our present newsroom, you wouldn't know if you're working the midnight shift or if you're working at four o'clock in the afternoon," Martin said. "So, I think for employee morale, it'll be a big deal."

New KPRC 2 newsroom SEE MORE PHOTOS

The new KPRC newsroom will be all about light and have an open concept feel similar to what you would think of an internet company. But like those dot com companies, I'm doubting there will be a foosball table and beer pong area...after all it is still a news operation! And forget about fluorescent lighting - the new station is all LED.

Balcony (inside view) SEE MORE PHOTOS

Part of the little details that Martin pointed out to me were an upstairs balcony in the sales department where all employees can get sun light and fresh air. It's an idea Martin had from living in a condo with a big balcony.

"It's a good option for people on both floors, second floor or first floor to get outside, but not be in an enclosed space where, if it rains or happens to rain, you're not going to get rained on at all," Martin explained.

Old and new buildings with tower SEE MORE PHOTOS

That balcony has a covered walkway jutting out of it for employees coming to/leaving work from the parking lot. Then it donned on me. How many TV stations have I ever been to that have covered employee walkways? Not many.

The central area SEE MORE PHOTOS

Next, what Martin calls, "the wow factor." The central part of the building could be called the Times Square of KPRC where all department wings come together in a lounge area enclosed by a grand staircase. Not only is this interior part the center of the station's universe, but much like Times Square, it also has some dazzle. A giant illuminated seven foot KPRC 2 logo will adorn the wall. Martin says employees can work, meet and socialize here.

KPRC management hopes the openness and flow of the new building will lead to collaboration between employees, because unlike the current building, someone from one department could actually run into someone from another. They realized the benefit of department-wide collaboration during the station's annual Habitat for Humanity community building project.

"You end up talking and working with people that you don't necessarily see on a day-to-day basis," KPRC news director Dave Strickland told mikemcguff.com. "And it's really nice, and I think that's what makes this place so unique."

Bottom line, beyond the need for technical upgrades, station management thinks the new building will help keep good employees and attract new ones. Especially as KPRC 2 has steadily moved up in the TV ratings over the last years and has good momentum going forward.

"It's a competitive business, and I think if people are considering Houston as a place to work in the TV business, that's an advantage that we're gonna have," Martin told me. "And we think we have an advantage as it is because we have a very solid management team. And we've got continuity going back now that we didn't have when I got here. We've got much better communication throughout the building, and I think this will just enhance that when we get there."


As the station opens a new chapter with its new building, it closes another as it will demolish the long-time current building. It's location will become the parking lot. I'm told the iconic KPRC tower that decorates the I-69/Highway 59 corridor will remain. A tall vertical KPRC sign will cover the front left side of the new gray and black building.

The new studio SEE MORE PHOTOS

March is the projected time for the first wave of staffers to move into the new building. Houston TV viewers will probably actually see a newscast from the new station in April. Martin told there will be a brand new set too. Don't ask me for details on how that will look since the studio is still under construction. There wasn't even a hint of a set in the room yet.

Meanwhile, excited KPRC employees will have to wait for their move-in day and continue parking in temporary lots. Minor discomfort aside, staffers still work interrupted in their current building and then get a chance to work in the first new television station built in Houston since FOX moved KRIV to its new studio in the 1990s.

"The statement that Graham's making and that Emily [Barr] (President & Chief Executive Officer of Graham Media Group) was making is Houston is a very important part of our station group," Martin added. "And that they're investing in the future, and they believe in broadcasting."

RELATED
- FULL COVERAGE: New KPRC 2 studio building for 2017
- KPRC 2 to get a new station, plus secret of current building
- KPRC 2 new studio construction begins

DID YOU KNOW?

KPRC channel 2 and AM were originally on Post Oak near where the Williams Tower stands today. Former 950 KPRC employee, Jim Bell, told me the old spot was actually across the street by the lake where Hidalgo and Richmond sit today.

Bill Bremer sent me this photo.

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

KPRC apologizes for Formula One Monaco Grand Prix dump

KPRC general manager Jerry Martin takes to the web to improve race fan relations

A follow up to a post I wrote Sunday. KPRC Local 2 general manager Jerry Martin wrote a letter of apology online to Houston Formula One fans concerning the station's decision not to run Monaco Grand Prix coverage.

As I wrote Sunday, F1 fans were very angry with KPRC since the NBC affilate  did not air the race and went after the station on its Facebook pages.

Here is the letter:

"I wanted to let you know that we heard from many Formula One fans this weekend regarding our decision to air our local news in lieu of the Monaco Grand Prix. We will reevaluate the decision for next year's race. That evaluation will not only be based off ratings data, but also the amount of viewer confusion caused by not airing the race after NBC promotes the coverage heavily in their programming.

Our rationale for not airing the race was based on KPRC being a "news comes first" local television station, which includes holiday weekends. That is why you will see us break into popular programming to air breaking news or severe weather alerts. We also took into account the Houston market under indexes in the national ratings when it comes to motor sports; and, the race was available live via the web and on a delayed basis on NBC Sports Network. I know this rationale does little to assuage your emotions regarding this matter since you are fans of F1, however, I do understand what it means to be a fan of racing. In my past, I was on the Indy 500 Festival Board and attended the race every year, and in some years with a pace car. I also went to the F1 races in Indy and witnessed firsthand the passion of F1 fans.

So I can honestly tell you we will give it very close assessment for 2014-2016 races and make our decision public well in advance of the race.

Also, we are airing the Formula One Race (Canada) on Tuesday June 9 at 1 p.m., the Formula One (USA, Austin, TX) on November 17 at 12:30 p.m. and Formula One (Brazil) on November 24 at 10 a.m."

Jerry Martin

We'll see if racing fans forgive the station. So far the comments beneath the letter are negative.

"News comes first" huh? So infomericals pre-empt one of the greatest live sporting events of the year. Makes tons of sense. You made the wrong decision and alienated many of your viewers," wrote commenter Doug Carroll on click2houston.com.

UPDATE
The Austin American-Statesman has reported on KPRC's decision not to air the race:

A spokesperson with NBC Sports said KPRC was the only major market not to air the race.

“The decision lies with the station, however, the network is disappointed the race did not air in Houston,” the spokesperson said.

Dave Strickland honored with Dave Ward Excellence in Media Award

Jerry Martin, Dave Ward, Dave Strickland, Don Kobos & Ted Oberg (Rachelle Rowe Public Relations)

KPRC 2 news director Dave Strickland was honored with Dave Ward Excellence in Media Award for 2021.

"I had the honor of presenting The Dave Ward Excellence In Media Award at the Houston’s Heroes Luncheon to Dave Strickland," Ward said.  "Although a former colleague and great friend, Strick’s credentials and merits speak for themselves."

In 2019, abc13 KTRK investigative reporter Ted Oberg was the first to take home the honor.

The award was in conjunction with the Crime Stoppers of Houston 2021 Houston Heroes Award Luncheon held at the Royal Sonesta Houston.

Those honored were recognized as those, “who have given exemplary service to make Houston a safer place to live, work, learn, and play.”

Strickland is a native Houstonian who grew up learning the ropes of the Bayou City journalism world in radio, newspapers and television.

As a Sam Houston State University student, he interned at channel 13 KTRK and started working there in 1984. 

"I hired Dave out of college after he interned for me in sports at 13," former KTRK sports director Bob Allen told mikemcguff.com in 2014. "I'm proud of him for turning into a terrific news director. It was an honor to work for and with him at 13."

Strickland rose through the ranks first as Allen's sports producer, news producer and eventually as a managing editor.

In 1994, he left for the East Coast to join WAVY 10 Norfolk, Virginia as an executive producer.  Within two years, he was promoted to news director.

Houston came calling in 2000 and Strickland returned to KTRK as Vice President and News Director where he guided Eyewitness News through ratings highs.

In 2016, Strickland "crossed the street" as they say in the TV biz to join KPRC 2 as news director. 

"This is a major win to have Dave joining and leading our news team," KPRC VP/General Manager Jerry Martin said at the time. "He is a Houstonian who knows the market, he knows the competition, and he’s a newsroom teacher who will take the foundation we’ve built the past few years at KPRC2 and raise it to a whole new level. This is great for the station and more importantly, it’s great for news viewers in the Houston market."

New KPRC 2 set and newsroom photos and video #TVnews

New KPRC 2 building is open for business with first broadcast from studio this week!


It's not everyday that a Houston TV station gets a brand new building (including an ultra modern studio set and newsroom) so I'm back with this one post during my blog hiatus. My Facebook page and Twitter followers saw the above video first on Monday, and now I'm posting the photos here.

KPRC 2, the station we're talking about, invited me in last Friday to document the process as crews put the final touches on the studio and a few of the news personnel were moving into the new newsroom.

In fact, as you will see in the video, I caught main anchor Bill Balleza in the act of unpacking his belongings. I learned we both share a love of Dr Pepper 10.

"This is the fourth building that I've worked in in 46 years and the first brand new one," Balleza told mikemcguff.com.

--------------
PHOTOS: See pictures from inside the new KPRC building
--------------

The building sure has come along way since I gave you a tour of KPRC's new home under construction at the time back in January. Back then, general manager Jerry Martin, news director Dave Strickland and I had to wear hard hats just to take a tour.

Michael Wright, owner and creative director of WrightSet, designed the new studio set and Houston-based 2020 Exhibits had the job of building it.


The new set looks great in person, so I am excited about seeing it on TV. It's very futuristic with lots of giant monitors (including one that has an angle in the middle of it as it wraps around the wall), a movable monitor wall and lots of LED lighting.

"The statement that Graham's making and that Emily [Barr] (President & Chief Executive Officer of Graham Media Group) was making is Houston is a very important part of our station group," GM Martin told me in January. "And that they're investing in the future, and they believe in broadcasting."


The thing you will notice in the rest of the building is the amount of space. I've seen my fair share of TV stations and this is one of the few that doesn't feel cramped. The huge windows and sunlight shining through certainly helps. The overall design of the station is modern with a retro vibe running through it. And speaking of retro, channel 2 has lots of history as you know, and that will be featured in shelves and wall decorations.


The new studio should debut on the 4pm news this Thursday. The old building will eventually be torn down and become a parking lot.

"It was a great building, and I'm not trying to say anything about the architecture or this building, but it just doesn't lend itself to 2016 broadcasting," Martin admitted to me earlier this year. "So, normally I think what would've happened is we would've just rehabbed this building, done a serious rehab. And we looked at that. But at the end of the day, we ended up with, a better building, but not a great building. And when we looked at building one in our own parking lot and we did the math on it, the difference between rehabbing this one the correct way and a new building, it wasn't too much of a difference."

RELATED
- FULL COVERAGE: New KPRC 2 studio building for 2017
- New KPRC building moves channel 2 into 21st century
- KPRC 2 to get a new station, plus secret of current building
- KPRC 2 new studio construction begins

ROCK 101 DOCUMENTARY UPDATE
Thanks for all the concern as to why I am not currently blogging. I appreciate the support. I'm taking a break to finish my Rock 101 KLOL documentary. My report on that is things are moving along. Gathering video to fill all the holes. Thanks to everyone who has helped out.

KPRC 2 back on air after power outage; explains what happened

KPRC Channel 2 blackout situation explained


This morning's severe weather and flooding knocked KPRC2 off the air. The technical difficulty was the result of a power outage. While power outages are not uncommon, the station usually seamlessly switches to their backup generator and it is unnoticeable to the public. In this instance however, there was literally a "perfect storm" of circumstances due to the construction of KPRC2's new facility.

The building is being built on their current property in Sharpstown, and it is believed that this caused a disruption to the normal flood mitigation. The result led to flood water submerging the transfer switch to the backup generator.

"The safety of our employees is, and always will be, our top priority," said KPRC2 VP/General Manager, Jerry Martin. "Once it became apparent that electricity could pose a safety threat when attempting to switch on the back-up generator, it was an easy decision to wait until we could get an electrician through the flood waters to properly handle the situation."

The station continued to deliver constant news and information the entire time via Click2Houston.com and social media. "We were never out of touch with the people counting on us to stay safe," said News Director, Rhonda LaVelle. "TV is just one of a wide portfolio of options that we deliver content, so we found ways to deliver critical information when it was needed."

As one dedicated viewer posted on KPRC2's Facebook page, "There has got to be some kind of special Emmy for the coverage by Channel 2 right now. Facetime, iPad & a remote transmission vehicle. Call it the MacGyver Award.” (Kristy Beins, Monday, April 18, 2016, 9:25AM)

"I can guarantee you we are in detailed and urgent conversations with the civil engineers and general contractor hired to construct our new facility to ensure flood mitigation does not cause an issue like this again," added Martin. "When deciding where to build our new facility, we weighed options that were less flood prone. Ultimately, we decided we are committed to Sharpstown and to making this area vibrant, and this does nothing to change that."

Centerpoint Energy has restored KPRC2 back to full power. The station continues to be 100% operational and a second backup generator has been installed.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KPRC 2)

KPRC 2 issues apology to KTRK 13 over tweeted photo

KPRC offers explanation and apology over tweeted photo

Yesterday I told you how KPRC 2 tweeted a photo that was taken from KTRK abc13's on air coverage of the overturned tanker on 610. Today the station sent mikemcguff.com an explanation and apology to KTRK from KPRC General Manager Jerry Martin:

"The image was not ours to post. After investigating, we discovered it was tweeted by an employee of a third party company contracted to assist with our traffic presentation and the matter is being handled privately.

Post Newsweek Inc. has social media guidelines in place and just recently held staff meetings covering this exact topic. We will make sure to extend that training beyond PNS employees to anyone with the potential to post under our brand on any platform. It was an oversight on our end and we extend an apology to Channel 13."

KTRK has been running several on-air promos concerning the incident. You can watch one here.

A few weeks ago, Martin also issued an apology on behalf of the station concerning the absence of NBC Formula One Monaco Grand Prix coverage on KPRC.

KPRC 2, KHOU 11, FOX26, CW39 join forces for COVID-19 PSA

Channels 2, 11, 26 and 39 come together to show Houston TV solidarity during coronavirus pandemic


April 9, 2020 – HOUSTON – A group of four Houston broadcast media outlets have joined forces for a one-of-a-kind effort encouraging Houstonians to work together to fight the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

In a gesture of community solidarity, television stations KPRC 2, FOX 26, KHOU 11, and CW39 Houston collaborated on “In This Together,” a public service campaign addressing the act of social distancing in the battle against COVID-19.

“We’re all fighting the same fight alongside our fellow Houstonians,” says Jerry Martin, KPRC 2 VP/General Manager. “This unique effort gives a clear, unified message to our community, “We’re in This Together.”

RELATED
FOX 26, KPRC 2 and KHOU 11 donate airtime to Houston churches for Easter

The locally produced public service announcements, aimed at delivering a positive note of encouragement to our friends and neighbors, will begin airing later this week across Houston airwaves.

“CW39 Houston is very proud to join arms with our Houston broadcast brethren to promote this timely effort and come together as one to combat our current challenges,” says Harvey Saxer, CW39 Houston station manager.

The three :30 PSAs feature a who’s-who of familiar Houston news anchors, including KPRC 2’s Owen Conflenti, Taniya Wright, Dominique Sachse and Kris Gutierrez; KHOU 11’s Jason Bristol, Mia Gradney, Len Cannon, Ron Trevino and David Paul; FOX 26’s Kaitlin Monte, José Griñan, Melissa Wilson and Jonathan Martin; and CW39 Houston’s Sharron Melton, Shannon LaNier, and Maria Sotolongo.

“This collaboration is so much more than just a promotional campaign; it’s about Texans coming together to help Texans. We are a vital public service and recognize that this crisis requires the unprecedented effort to maintain staff safety, while keeping viewers informed. Putting aside our competitive nature for the greater good is what Texans do.” says D’Artagnan Bebel, SVP/General Manager Fox 26 & My 20.

“Houston has a dedicated journalism community. For everyone who is tuning in, regardless of what channel you choose, we want you to know that we’re all working together and committed to delivering all critical information about COVID-19 while at the same time sharing the stories of hope and inspiration from our fellow Texans,” says Robert Springer, KHOU 11, President and General Manager.

You can watch “In This Together,” public service campaign here.



(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KPRC)

Tex the dog leaves KPRC 2

Tex the dog has been a familiar furry face on Houston Life and KPRC 2 over the last years, but now he is leaving the station.  Click to see a photo of Tex as a puppy. 

KPRC 2 Vice President & General Manager Jerry Martin is retiring this week and that means that Tex is moving with him away from Houston since he is Martin's actual pet.

The Maltipoo, who was adopted from the Houston SPCA in 2018, has his own Tex's Charitable Foundation while making appearances for the Houston NBC affiliate.

Houston Life showed highlights of Tex's time as a Houston TV star.

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KPRC 2's "Houston Life" is moving

UPDATE JANUARY 2023
Courtney Zavala leaves Houston Life on KPRC 2

UPDATE AUGUST 2020
Houston Life debuts at 3pm, Joe Sam joins plus other changes

KPRC 2's show "Houston Life" moves to 3pm starting Monday, August 17, 2020 - swaps time slots with "Dr. Phil" which moves to 1pm


HOUSTON – June 22, 2020 – KPRC 2’s HOUSTON LIFE, Houston’s #1 rated daytime lifestyle program, is making a bold move to weekday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. serving as the lead-in to KPRC 2 News at 4:00 p.m., starting Monday, August 17, 2020, station management announced internally on Wednesday.

Co-hosted by three-time Emmy Award-winner Derrick Shore and former KPRC 2 anchor Courtney Zavala, HOUSTON LIFE has quickly become the city’s go-to program for honest and witty conversations about all things H-Town, including family, community, food, fashion, entertainment and of course, the perfect mixed drink to go with whatever you do.

During the recent COVD-19 pandemic, HOUSTON LIFE’s popularity exploded among viewers, consistently winning its time period against national programming and consistently outperforms all other locally produced lifestyle/talk shows.

“We’re so confident in the direction and growth of the show,” says KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “It’s an essential part of KPRC 2’s community-based brand, and the move to the coveted 3:00 p.m. time slot will provide viewers with a fresh local perspective leading into our news at 4:00 p.m.”

Along with its new time slot, the HOUSTON LIFE team promises some fresh, new elements for the show that will appeal to current viewers and newcomers alike.

Now in its fourth year, HOUSTON LIFE launched in August 2016 from its first studio in the Galleria. After two seasons the decision was made to build HOUSTON LIFE its own home inside the new, state-of-the-art KPRC-TV Channel 2 studios on the Southwest Freeway.

Graham Media Group is comprised of 7 local media hubs, Graham Digital and Social News Desk delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, OTT, podcasts and audio devices. We are dynamic, local brands that extend well beyond the traditional TV set. Our work helps inform, celebrate and knit together the communities we serve.

GMG operates in 6 states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local), and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW). Based in Detroit, Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a leading industry innovator. Social News Desk, headquartered in Atlanta, provides its 2500+ worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms.

(This post taken from a release sent to me by KPRC)

Dominique Sachse to leave KPRC 2

  KPRC 2 bids adieu to beloved anchor Dominique Sachse after nearly three decades as one of Houston’s most recognizable faces and voices. 

UPDATE APRIL 2022
Dominique Sachse returns to KPRC on "Houston Life"

UPDATE NOVEMBER 1, 2021
Daniella Guzman joins KPRC 2

UPDATE OCTOBER 29, 2021
Dominique Sachse signs off KPRC 2

ANNOUNCED THE SAME DAY
- Art Rascon to leave abc13 KTRK
- Jacob Rascon moves to abc13 KTRK after KPRC 2

She will sign off for the last time Friday, October 29, 2021, on KPRC 2 News at 6 p.m.

Over the next month, KPRC 2 viewers can expect to see a lot more of the Emmy award-winning journalist as the station celebrates her and showers her with the well wishes she so richly deserves.

Dominique has proudly called Houston home since her arrival in 1975.  She is a graduate of Spring Branch I.S.D.’s Memorial High School, and the University of Houston with a radio/television journalism degree.  She joined KPRC 2 in 1993.

“You always know that days like this will come in the television business,” says Vice President & General Manager Jerry Martin. “That doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to someone who feels like Houston’s sweetheart.  We wish Dominique all the best; she will always be considered a Houston institution and a part of our KPRC 2 family!”

Dominique’s career began in local radio, as a Metro Traffic reporter for a variety of stations. One of those stations, MIX 96.5, hired her as a disc jockey, where she worked for the next two years on the overnight and then late-night shifts. 

She seized an opportunity at KPRC 2 in 1993 for the morning show traffic position as she continued to pursue her career in journalism.  All it took was one week as a fill-in anchor for Houston-area viewers to witness her passion and professionalism after her live coverage of the San Jacinto River fire. Since then, Dominique’s intensity yet ease on the anchor desk, as well as her down-to-earth demeanor, have been revered by Houston viewers and the rest is history as they say.

Dominique anchors KPRC 2 News at 6 and 10 p.m. and works on special reports throughout the year. Some highlights include covering President George Bush's inauguration in January 2001 and Pope John Paul II's visit to Mexico City canonizing Juan Diego in 2002.

 In 2006, she presented a compelling series on inflammatory breast cancer, along with a phone bank to answer viewers' questions.  She also traveled to London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016 to cover the Olympics

Dominique's work has been honored with countless awards from both the journalism and Houston community, including spot news coverage from The Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press. Dominique received the "Outstanding Young Communications Alumna" and "Distinguished Alumni" awards from UH. She was named 2002 and 2007's "Best Television Personality" by the Houston Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television, and newscasts she has anchored have won multiple Lone Star Emmy awards.  Some of her favorite recognitions, however, come from the community. Readers of the Houston Press and Houston Chronicle choose Dominique as their favorite when it comes to best newscaster or local personality.

Dominique will focus on a new book she has been working on since 2018 called “Life Makeover: Embrace the Bold, Beautiful, and Blessed You” (ORDER HERE). It will be released on April 5, 2022.  She will also focus on continuing to expand her social media empire, as her YouTube channel already has an impressive 1.52M subscribers.

“I have spent most of my adult life at KPRC, and the staff here is like family to me.  It’s that daily one-on-one interaction that I’ll miss the most.  It takes a team effort to produce a quality news product, and I’m so proud of this team’s character, integrity, and accomplishments.  But it’s mainly service to community, which is how I’ve always seen my role and will continue to do so in my new endeavors,” says Dominique Sachse. “I sincerely can’t thank the viewers enough for welcoming me into their homes for as long as they have and making me feel like their friend or neighbor.  Truly blessed.”

We will miss the professionalism, kindness, and grace Dominique brought through the doors of KPRC 2 every day and wish her well during her next chapter.  This is not goodbye but see you later.

You can keep up with Dominique and learn more about her through her website www.dominiquesachse.tv.

(This post comes from a press release sent to me by KPRC 2)

KPRC 2 Houston Astros stunt

Thanks KPRC 2 for letting me in on the Houston Astros stunt!


KPRC 2 knocked it out of the park Tuesday night during the “KPRC 2 Night at the Astros” event, featuring two card flip stunts worthy of the station’s historic year-long 70th Anniversary celebration.

On Tuesday, July 23, during the Astros game against the Oakland A’s, KPRC 2 hosted more than 264 staff, friends and fans in the upper deck of Minute Maid Park to execute two card flip stunts between the 3rd and 4th innings of the game. Along with recognition on the Minute Maid JumboTron, footage from the stunts was also recorded by KPRC 2 for future promotional campaigns. You
can watch the full card stunt here.

Leading up to the game, KPRC 2 hosted a contest on the station’s Facebook page for Top Fans to win tickets, selected by random draw, to the event along with a chance to rub elbows with many of their favorite on-air personalities. More than 15 anchors and reporters, 60 Top Fans and nearly 200 KPRC staff, friends and family participated in each of the 45-second stunts.

KPRC 2 News Today anchors Owen Conflenti, Amy Davis, Haley Hernandez, Jennifer Reyna & Meteorologist Britta Merwin, KPRC 2 News at 10 anchors Bill Balleza, Dominique Sachse, Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley & Sports Director Randy McIlvoy, Houston Life co-hosts Derrick Shore & Courtney Zavala, plus anchor/reporters Jonathan Martinez, Sofia Ojeda, Keith Garvin and Bill Spencer all made appearances at Minute Maid Park before and during the game. Given their vastly different work schedules, it’s a rare occurrence to have this many anchor teams in one place. See pictures here.

Local press members, including television blogger Mike McGuff and Houston Chronicle Digital Reporter Marcy de Luna, were present to participate and witness the spirited live stunt.

Viewers unable to attend the game were able to follow along with the festivities on all KPRC 2 social platforms, including

Click2Houston.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. See their posts here.

“We’ve had such a great time celebrating 70 years of KPRC 2 firsts,” said KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “What better opportunity to celebrate another first than with more than 250 of our favorite people – our viewers!”

The “KPRC 2 Night at the Astros” card stunt also served as the kickoff to “KPRC 2’s Million Likes Mania” campaign, encouraging viewers to “Like” the KPRC 2 Facebook page to help us reach a million likes.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KPRC)

KPRC 2 and Telemundo Houston team up for Harvey relief

KPRC-TV Channel 2 and Telemundo Houston team up with the American Red Cross to help the countless people and communities affected by the destruction of Hurricane Harvey.

“We are proud to partner with the Red Cross once again on raising critical resources to help the Houston and Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey,” says KPRC-TV Channel 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin. “These partnerships are crucial to help spread vital resources and volunteers throughout our community in times of natural disasters.”

On August 30 and 31, KPRC2 and Telemundo Houston will hold a Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief fundraising phone bank, beginning with Channel 2 News Today at 6:00am and running through 7:00pm. Donations supporting the Red Cross will be accepted over the phone and online on Click2Houston.com.

“As a Houston native I have been touched and inspired by the stories we have told showing the selfless acts of so many of our neighbors, “said KPRC-TV Channel 2 News Director Dave Strickland. “I know this city will find it in their heart to help those in need.”

The relief effort will be part of KPRC2’s continuous on-air and online live coverage of the flood disaster that has devastated our community. KPRC2 will continue to serve the Greater Houston area in the aftermath of Harvey on television and with a dedicated page on Click2Houston.com that is constantly being updated with the latest resources available to families in need.

(This post taken from a release sent to me by KPRC)

KPRC 2 celebrates diversity during Hispanic Heritage month

KPRC 2 is kicking off a long-term diversity campaign with Hispanic Heritage month, which is from September 15 through October 15, 2018.

As part of this on-air and digital campaign, KPRC 2 spotlights our community, featuring many of Houston’s Hispanic leaders, including Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, Telemundo News Anchor Crystal Ayala, and Artist/Muralist Gonzo247. Also spotlighted will be the diversity of our own KPRC family, both on-air and behind the scenes, hailing from Peru, Chile, Mexico and beyond.

Throughout the month, KPRC 2 News will share stories of Hispanic culture, honoring how so much of what makes our city great is created by the Latino community.

“Our KPRC 2 family is as diverse as the communities that we cover and the city we call home,” said KPRC 2 Vice President/General Manager Jerry Martin. “What better time to celebrate not only the high profile, but the everyday citizens, neighbors and co-workers who inspire us.”

New profiles are posted every weekday on click2houston.com/hispanicheritagemonth.

(This post is taken from a release sent to me by KPRC 2)

Texas TV news and radio job moves July 2022

Send tips for the monthly Texas media job list here.

Best TV News Bloopers July 2022

DALLAS - FORT WORTH

Sarah Blaskovich celebrates 10 years with the Dallas Morning News as food writer.

- Laurie Passman steps down as CBS DFW KTVT news director
- Spectrum News 1 Texas to simulcast on 55 KAZD DFW
- Collin Myers joins CBS 'NOW' out of DFW
- David Schechter leaves WFAA 8 Dallas 
- David Schechter joins CBS
- Pete Delkus makes big announcement on WFAA?
- CBS 11 DFW morning crew dives into "Little Miss" meme

HOUSTON

Eureka, California’s KEKA 101.5 (and companion translator in Arcata at 100.9) are the latest radio stations to carry “The Rowdy Ride Home” from Suite Radio.  The custom-crafted afternoon drive radio show from host Rowdy Yates celebrates it’s 6th signal since launching in late May.

Michael Lindenberger leaves the Houston Chronicle to become the Vice President and Editorial Editor for the Kansas City Star.

abc13 photojournalist/story-teller Andre Dorsey celebrates 35 years with the station.

KSBJ traffic reporter Bill Ingram honored for 25 years of service with “Mr Bill Bobblehead.” 

Anchor Andy Cerota celebrates 10 years with KPRC 2 (19 years in Houston).

KPRC 2 assistant news director Aaron Wische celebrates a decade with the station.

Keaton Fox found the courage to come out publicly with the support of ABC 13.

Allen Reid joins Harmony Public Schools after 25 years with KPRC 2 as sports photographer.

Jason Youngblood returns to KPRC 2 as a photographer from CW39 KIAH.

Nancy Meyer makes history as the new head of the Houston Chronicle.

Jon Sullivan has left the Houston iHeart cluster after 25 years where he was the market's online content director, overseeing all websites. More info at jonsullivan.net.

Sam Houston State University’s Marketing and Communications team has won 14 Telly Awards.

- Daniella Guzman rescues 'Luna' kitten while on live shot in San Antonio
- Ginger Zee live in Houston
- Dominique Sachse: "Watch My Life in Looks | How My Fashion Style Evolved"
- Lights go out during Travis Herzog's weather segment
- Don Nelson recounts abc13 days with Dave Ward
- Ron Treviño celebrates 40 years at KHOU 11
- Carlos Aguiar leaves KSBJ afternoons
- House 2 Home with Lily Jang
- Jose Griñan celebrates 70th birthday
- Jerry Martin retires from KPRC 2 GM position
- Bob Slovak returns to abc13 in a non-sports role
- KHOU 11 promo 1970s
- Melissa Correa leaves KHOU 11

SAN ANTONIO

San Antonio Current names KENS 5's Isis Romero as best new anchor and Bill Taylor best meteorologist for 2022.

KENS 5's Sarah Forgany updates whereabouts after going dark on social media.

Monica Nino becomes new assistant news director for KENS 5.

- Marina Neuman joins WSVN 7 Miami
- Chase Shannon leaves News 4 SA WOAI and FOX 29

AUSTIN

Why KVUE and the Austin American-Statesman released video of the Uvalde school shooting.

Kailey E. Hunt joins KUT Austin as a reporter covering Williamson County.

Austin PBS opens new facility in former Dillards department store.

KLZT-HD2-K274AX/Austin Flips To Sports As 102.7 ESPN Austin.

- Cory Mose joins KVUE Austin
- Austin TV anchor does the weather
- Daniel Marin replaces retiring Robert Hadlock at KXAN Austin
- KXAN Austin debuts 4pm newscast
- Adaleigh Rowe joins FOX 7 Austin
- Hunter Williams is engaged
- Central Texas TV has love in the air
- Erika Lopez does KVUE weather with baby Odie
- Alex Stockwell gives birth
- Robert Hadlock signs off KXAN Austin

AROUND TEXAS

Chris Babcock named new KTSM El Paso news director.

Josh Guevara Manager KVFE Del Rio, TX interview.

Laci Caviness On-Air Host KVNE Tyler, TX interview.

KORA-FM/Bryan-College Station, TX Names Keith James 'Fish' PD/PM Drive Host.

- Kate Bieri joins FOX13 Memphis
- Rudy Mireles promoted to KRGV evening anchor
- Garrett Hottle moves to KRHD Bryan evening anchor
- Baylee Bates joins KCEN Waco weekends
- Breanna Molloy is pregnant
- A’Darius McCormick joins KAVU Victoria
- Lubbock co-anchors are the same age
- Tylisa Hampton leaves KVEO for KARK 4 Little Rock, AR
- Sydney Gray leaves NBC 23 KVEO Rio Grande Valley
- Faith Woodard leaves CBS4 Harlingen
- Texas TV live shot ends up in pool!

REMEMBERING

Former KTRK ND Rehan Aslam dies after battle with brain cancer.

John Aielli, longtime Austin radio host, dies at 76.

Bill Balleza to hit 50 years on TV with KPRC 2 contract extension

KPRC 2's Bill Balleza to stay in anchor chair through 2021

Bill Balleza

After deciding to continue in his anchor role at KPRC 2, Bill Balleza will hit 50 years on the air in a few years, although not with the same station the entire time. With his latest contract extension, he will keep anchoring at channel 2 through 2021.

Balleza's illustrious TV career started as a gamble.

After serving three years in the Marine Corps (including 13 months in Vietnam where he was positioned as a scout/sniper), broadcasting was a degree Balleza's guidance counselor at San Antonio College advised him not to pursue. The reason, at the time in the late 1960s, Balleza says few Hispanics were working in the industry.

"I chose broadcasting anyway because there was no math requirement, and I had flunked algebra twice in high school," Balleza told mikemcguff.com.

Graduating with a degree he never expected to use, Balleza did manage to land a job on the floor crew at his hometown station KSAT San Antonio. And then Balleza says his big break came.

"Stations around the country were looking for minority candidates because activist groups began challenging their licenses based on employment practices," Balleza told me. "My first reporter job was at KRON in San Francisco in May of 1971."

Houston's own KHOU 11 hired the young Balleza as a reporter in 1973.

Balleza moved to KPRC in 1980, following the legendary Ron Stone as main anchor in 1990.

"Looking back, algebra might be the main reason my career will span 50 years when I retire in June of 2021," Balleza joked.

And on that summer five years from now, Houston viewers will say goodbye to another television legend. But hey, maybe we can twist his arm to sign another five year extension!

RELATED
- KPRC 2 claims top spot in November 2016 sweeps
- KPRC 2 launches new graphics package 2016

KPRC's official release:

KPRC 2 EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH VETERAN EVENING NEWS ANCHOR BILL BALLEZA

Emmy-Winning Journalist’s Career Spans More Than Four Decades

Houston, TX: KPRC 2 is proud to announce longtime news anchor Bill Balleza has renewed his commitment to Houston news viewers with a contract extension into 2021.

Balleza, who joined KPRC 2 in August of 1980, began his career as a reporter at San Francisco’s KRON-TV in July of 1971. With his contract extension, Balleza is set to reach a milestone of 50 years in television broadcasting.

“We are delighted that our viewers can continue to count on Bill, who they’ve known and trusted as a leader in the Houston community for more than 35 years,” said KPRC 2 VP/General Manager, Jerry Martin. “His energy and presence at the anchor desk represents the gold standard in the broadcast industry. I know our viewers join me in my enthusiasm as they welcome Bill into their homes on KPRC 2 News well into the future.”

Balleza anchors KPRC 2 News at 5pm, 6pm and 10pm, Monday through Friday.

“I am so grateful to be part of such a great news organization with such dedicated and caring professionals,” said Balleza. “I am grateful, too, for the opportunity to report news in the most dynamic and diverse city in America. The Houston area is a great place to live, and I’m so proud to have called Houston home for most of my adult life.”

KPRC 2 News at 10 with Bill Balleza, Dominique Sachse, Frank Billingsley and Randy McIlvoy is a consistent ratings leader and scored a dominant victory during the November 2016 Nielsen measurement period with a 2.7 rating representing a full point advantage over the nearest competitor (Adults 25-54 based on Nielsen Live + SD overnights, Monday-Friday for the measurement period of October 27, 2016 through November 23, 2016).

A native Texan, Balleza graduated from San Antonio College. He is a Vietnam veteran who served as a Marine Scout Sniper during the Tet Offensive of 1968.

Balleza’s remarkable journalism career has found him covering historic events like the Murrah Federal Building explosion in Oklahoma City, the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the election of Pope Francis and much more. He won an Emmy for his reporting on the deadly fertilizer company explosion in West, TX.

KPRC 2 claims #1 spot in November 2017 sweeps

Channel 2 wins at 4, 5, 6 and 10pm in Houston

Houstonians continue to choose KPRC Channel 2 as Houston’s Home for News.

Once again, they made the NBC affiliate the #1 station in key dayparts across the city among people ages 25-54 for the Nielsen November 2017 measurement period.

KPRC 2 News at 4 p.m. with Keith Garvin and Sara Donchey has grown 20% year-to- year and dominated November with a rating equal to that of KTRK and KHOU combined.

KPRC 1.2
KTRK 0.7
KHOU 0.5

KPRC 2 News at 5 p.m. with Bill Balleza and Lauren Freeman shows 8% year-to- year growth, and was the clear winner in November.

KPRC 1.4
KTRK 1.0
KHOU 0.7

KPRC 2 News at 6 p.m. featuring Bill Balleza, Dominique Sachse, Meteorologist Frank Billingsley and Sports Director Randy McIlvoy brought the station another victory with a 1.8 rating at 6 p.m. That team also continued their long-standing late news ratings dominance, achieving the market’s top rating of 2.2 for KPRC 2 News at 10 p.m.

“Our evening newscasts continue to outshine the competition and we’re proud of our growth at 4 and 5 p.m.,” said KPRC Channel 2 General Manager, Jerry Martin. “It’s a testament to the hard work our news team puts in to bring viewers breaking news, up-to- the-minute developments on Houston’s big stories and of course strong, investigative journalism on issues that matter to Houstonians every day.”

KPRC 2 News Today (4:30-7 a.m.) finished November strong, taking a close second place by only a tenth of a point with a 1.4 rating in the 6 a.m. hour.

Entertainment programming also drew viewers to KPRC Channel 2, with #1 November ratings (Adults 25-54) for Dr. Phil (3 p.m.), Extra (4:30 p.m.), Entertainment Tonight (6:30 p.m.), Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show.

All ratings are Adults 25-54 based on Nielsen Live + SD overnights for the measurement period of October 27 th , 2017 through November 23 rd , 2017, M-F 6-6:30 a.m., 4-4:30pm, 5-5:30pm, 6-6:30pm and 10-10:30pm.

KPRC Channel 2 is the NBC affiliate for Houston, TX. The station is owned by The Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and is one of seven in the television division along with WDIV Detroit, WKMG Orlando, KSAT San Antonio, WSLS Roanoke and WJXT & WCWJ in Jacksonville. KPRC has long been an innovator as the first television station in Houston and the 12 th in the nation. KPRC was the first in Houston to broadcast in color and the station that beamed Neil Armstrong’s famous words “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” across the world. KPRC’s innovative spirit continues to this day through communications advances and community partnerships. Other KPRC properties include Click2Houston.com and THIStv.

(This post taken from a release sent to me by KPRC)

RELATED
Telemundo Houston delivers Houston’s largest late news audiences in November 2017 sweeps

KPRC 2 gets new news director Deborah Collura, plus her other duties

UPDATE MAY 05, 2014
KPRC ND Deborah Collura leaves for WCNC Charlotte

Many TV news directors feel they probably have enough responsibility with their respective newsroom. Not Deborah Collura.

She has just been named the KPRC 2 news director. This in addition to her duties as vice president of news for Post-Newsweek Stations (KPRC's owner).

Here is more about Collura's past from her bio:

She was the news director at WDIV-TV and solidified the NBC affiliate's reputation as an award-winning and top-rated Detroit news station.
Collura started at WDIV-TV in July 1997.
Prior to arriving at WDIV, she was vice president of news at the NBC affiliate, WTVJ-TV in Miami. At KTSP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Collura served as news director from 1991 to 1993. In Sacramento at KCRA-TV from 1987 to 1991, she became assistant news director after serving as an executive producer.
At KSDK-TV in St. Louis, she was a news producer from 1984 to 1986 and at WREX-TV in Rockford, Ill., she was a news producer and later became executive producer.

As I have mentioned before, Collura was already working from KPRC in the past few months.

Congratulations to Collura.

UPDATE MAY 05, 2014
KPRC ND Deborah Collura leaves for WCNC Charlotte

RELATED
New KPRC 2 Houston GM is Jerry Martin

Vanessa Richardson joins KPRC 2

KPRC 2 adds Vanessa Richardson to the Channel 2 sports team roster. Richardson will make her Houston debut on August 5th, alongside Reporter Ari Alexander and Sports Director Randy Mcllvoy.

UPDATE DECEMBER 2021
Vanessa Richardson leaves KPRC 2

Richardson is a self-described “small-town” Indiana native obsessed with basketball, live music, Mexican food, and telling a good story. Vanessa is an avid open wheel racing fan and attends the Indy 500 each year with her father.

Richardson comes to Houston from Ohio where she worked at the NBC affiliate, WLWT and covered the action for the Big East Digital Network.

Prior to WLWT, she was in Indianapolis, Indiana reporting from the sideline for several networks as an in-game host for the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Indians. In addition to her on-screen experience Vanessa has hosted segments on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom show.

“Vanessa’s passion for sports and human-interest stories go beyond highlights and stats,” said KPRC 2 Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin. “Her storytelling will enrich sports content on all our platforms.”

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by KPRC)