RIP KNWS 51 Houston

Remember when KNWS 51 Houston signed on the air and was an all news format? This was back in the 1990s. That's why the station had those awesome news sounding call letters!

Shout out to my main man and KNWS anchor Steve Ottesen. Ottesen is still in the Houston TV biz. After Channel 51 he worked at the Baylor College of Medicine for a while but now works at KIAH 39.

Now 51 is KYAZ and is a Spanish language station. Let's toast the station's rebirth!

Remember KNWS 51? Anchor Michael Quinn's reunion stories

Michael Quinn

Remember KNWS 51? Back in 1993, it began as Houston's version of CNN's Headline News at the time. And come on, you can't get better call letters for an all news station!

The station had a loop of local news, tons of local sports coverage and a morning talk show with former KPRC 2 weatherman Doug Johnson.

Years later, the concept would serve as a blue print for Time Warner's News 24 Houston. Both eventually would leave the airwaves and cable lineup, but did usher in the era of MMJs which all the stations have now. Back then they were called one-man bands, VJs, backpack journalists...etc.

Former channel 51 morning anchor Michael Quinn has been thinking back fondly on his time with the all news station and making the rounds this month, catching up with his former news team.

Michael Quinn and Wendy Granato

He first got to catch up with KNWS anchor/news director Wendy Granato, who you will know now as the Vice President of News at abc13 KTRK.

"Wendy is like a sister to me, she's awesome, and look at her, she's as beautiful as the first day I met her in 1993," Quinn said.

Melanie Johnson and Michael Quinn

Quinn also met up with another person who he says was instrumental in his career, former 51 anchor and station owner Melanie Johnson.

"She is responsible for my television news career...period," Quinn added. "If there wasn't Melanie Johnson, Wendy nor Channel 51 would have been in my life or Houston for that matter."

Michael Quinn and Dave Ward

Also he wishes Dave Ward a speedy recovery. It was just by chance he visited channel 13 and got a selfie with the legendary anchor.

"Dave is a good man and the last of the original Eyewitness News anchors started by Al Primo in the 60's," Quinn said. "I interned under the legendary Bill Bonds at WXYZ-TV in Detroit. Dave told me he never met Bill (who is now gone), but they remind me of each other every day. I've been fortunate to have worked in two major Eyewitness News markets (Detroit & Houston). Dave always remembers me, is always kind and an honor to know."

KNWS Channel 51 owner files for bankruptcy

The owner of Channel 51 KNWS has filed for bankruptcy. TVnewsday.com reports that Douglas R. Johnson is the sole owner of KNWS and part owner of KLDT in Dallas.

READ MORE
- Channel 51 Owner Files For Bankruptcy
- Channel 51 owner files for bankruptcy
- Small Texas Broadcaster Goes Chapter 11

Former Houston TV anchor opens up about depression battle

By Michael Quinn - guest post
former KNWS 51 anchor and abc13 KTRK web producer

It is the first time I have ever written a story that is so personal. This is the story of my secret battle with depression. We have read about famous people who were apparently battling depression--Robin Williams, Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade. As I read those stories in the past and on the morning word of Anthony Bourdain's suicide broke, I never thought I would be so close to a similar situation had I not received the proper treatment.

In late October 2018, my mother Janeanne Marie Maisonville passed away. She was nun for the first three years of her adult life from 1958-1961 as Sister James Regina, then married for 50-years to my father Charles Edward Maisonville.

Yes, my father proposed to a nun.

Now, with both my parents gone, I kept on working and ignoring what was happening to me.

A return

It was a depression that had hit me three other times in my life--1993 when I came to Houston to anchor at KNWS-TV 51, 1998 while working at Florida's News Channel and 2004 when I was in Charlotte, North Carolina. There were no triggers--life was good, my financial situations were solid, some of the episodes were in the summer or winter and the only commonality linking each episode was me.

I know my father suffered from depression--I always figured it was his work in Alaska on the pipeline and the lack of sunlight. This was genetic. I knew it. Mine was about to hit me like a Category 5 hurricane. My weight would drop from 205 lbs. to 173 lbs. in a matter of weeks.

We live in Houston and know a great deal about hurricanes. We can board up, stock up and pray, but the hurricane will eventually make landfall. We cannot stop it. My Category 5 depression was going to make landfall--nothing was going to stop it, not medication or meditation. I have to educate doctors about my form of depression, "It's going to hit me no matter what. Please listen to me," I would tell them, "My father had this." Doctors sit and listen to a man in his 50s already suffering from a fear of falling asleep, a man who makes it a practice not to go to funerals because he is uncomfortable with finality (I never went to either of my parents funerals and my father never went to funerals either), a man who about to experience near fatal depression.

The storm

By mid-December my depression was hitting me. I live alone and we are depression's best friends--those who live alone. I knew that I did not have the ambition to answer my phone or send a text (I did send a few when necessary). And my small dog, Astro, would not leave my side, and many times when I woke up from a rest, would be standing on my chest not looking at me, but off in a distance--that stoic look dogs give when they are protecting someone.

Quinn with his dog Astro at a Houston area dog park (Astro has his own Facebook page ‘Astro The Adopted Dog’).  He credits Astro with helping him through his struggle with depression.

"God if this is how I am to end, please let me join you peacefully," I would say to myself as warm tears stretched down the side of my face, "I miss you mom, I miss you mom", is what I usually would say to myself with my Bible near me. I sleep next to my Bible. I was not hungry and did not care to eat--I had no hunger pains throughout my ordeal. This was a dangerous situation--a secret crisis unfolding in the privacy of my own place. The two worst things were about to unfold--I was accepting my potential outcome and my body was beginning to starve itself to death. Keep in mind, there were no hunger pains and I had no idea how serious the situation was--I live alone.

I began to think of my life and milestones, turning points and my relationship with God. I reached out to personal friends, as well as friends in the media who knew me well--I text them about my situation finally, thinking that if I did, everything would be okay. I reached out to those in my Bible Study group at Crosspoint Church in Bellaire. It's difficult to text anything during a Category 5 storm--they were few test messages, but important ones. I was certain this was where my life was to end. When you are in a situation like this, and you cannot find the ambition to get help because you feel it is that far out of control, you accept what is about to happen.

For someone who makes it a practice not to go to funerals, I knew KTRK-TV Vice President of News Wendy Granato and several other friends would oversee reading my eulogy--a few had the updated pass code to my cell phone so they can get into it and I knew ABC13's Katherine Whaley, as well as a few others media people in town, were to read scriptures from the Bible. I asked Katherine to read one of her choosing summing up our friendship.

During this time, there was one friend who was so relentless about seeing me, I really think she would have called the police and busted into my place, emergency medicine physician Joanne Oakes, MD. I texted Katherine that Joanne was going to see me, which put Wendy, Katherine and abc13.com executive producer Gina Larson at ease. Katherine was so concerned on a call, I think she would have busted down the door, too. Longtime friends Melanie Johnson and Todd Duplantis continued to urge me to get professional help. They wanted to make sure I was getting help.

In the world of depression, everything could be great or crashing around you, but none of it matters--the only thing that matters is what is happening inside of you. My body, not my mind, wanted it over. My body and mind were in constant negotiation about what I was doing on any given day. My mind would want to eat, my body was not going to have any of it. I was in a compatible relationship with this disease. I was going to starve in my place and someone was going to find me after Christmas.

By January 2019, my situation was still a crisis, but in my world it was stable. I was going to lick this on my own--it was the worst mistake I could ever have made. When you are not eating properly or not eating at all, your mind, not just your body gets weak. I saw my electric toothbrush move on its own near my sink. I saw the mirror shift from side to side, but I was determined to get passed this. It was not the case.

"You are very brave", said one of the emergency medicine physicians who pointed out that most people don't seek help. All the victims of depression who do not seek help, famous people with resources and those are not well known and die alone.

Getting help

At the hospital, they were working around the clock to make sure I was going to eat. Eventually I gained back some of my appetite. The reality of that is no cell phone, no shoe laces or sharp objects and there was food in front of me three times a day and group sessions too. I now weigh 187 lbs.

I ask anyone who reads this story to please get help earlier than I did--please go to your doctor, an ER, tell someone about your situation. Do not keep it a secret. If you have a family member with depression, talk to them about it--make sure you know the warning signs and triggers. I hope my story will help you.

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

Quinn is a former Houston TV journalist who was worked as an anchor at KNWS 51 and as a web producer at abc13 KTRK.

Wendy Granato is KTRK abc13 news director

UPDATE AUGUST 07, 2019
Wendy Granato named KTRK President and General Manager

Wendy Granato gets newly expanded role of KTRK abc13 Vice President of News and Digital Content

Wendy Granato

Yesterday, the news came out of KTRK abc13 that special projects executive producer Wendy Granato is taking over the seat left by longtime news director Dave Strickland in July. This makes Granato the first female news director in the station's history.

If Granato's last name sounds familiar...there's a reason for it. Her husband is longtime sports radio talker John Granato (now 1560 KGOW; Formerly 610 KILT, Houston Texans sideline reporter & KNWS 51).

 The couple's quarterback son also made news when Rice University creatively recruited him from Kinkaid.

I don't know if KTRK bothered to send a press release like the other stations do for such a big hire, so I'm posting the internal memo KTRK general manager Henry Florsheim sent the staff:

After literally speaking with candidates from coast to coast, it turns out the next ABC 13 News Director was already right here in Houston. I’m most pleased to let everyone know that Wendy Granato has a agreed to become the new Vice President of News and Digital Content at KTRK-TV. Along with an extensive news background, everyone who has worked with Wendy knows she has suburb communication and organizational skills. As technology has allowed viewer patterns and consumption practices to change, she has taken a leadership position in the newsroom embracing and initiating any number of new digital projects. At a time when our industry and business is facing unparalleled change and challenge, Wendy has time and again demonstrated an ability to create top quality content across a wide range of formats and platforms.

Over the last twelve years at the Station, Wendy has a proven track record of success on multiple high profile projects in both the News and Programming Departments including signature Station events that cross departments . As senior Executive News Producer, Special Projects for a decade, Wendy has overseen special promotable news reports, medical reporting, and consumer reports, alerts, and investigations. For many seasons she coordinated much of the station’s pre and regular season Texans coverage; and has served as Executive Producer of the Houston Marathon programming and race coverage. Wendy has moved from News to Programming and back throughout her career. She first came to the station in 1998 to join the Programming Department. She was promoted from Producer, to Senior Producer to Executive Producer of the Debra Duncan Show.

Wendy’s first broadcast experience was in News as a producer/reporter/ anchor/ assignment editor and Executive Producer at various times at KATC-TV in Lafayette, Louisiana. She moved to Houston to a position of anchor/ producer at KNWS-TV--the 24 hour news operation-- in 1993. Over time, as had occurred previously, she found herself increasing drawn toward production; and over a span of three years held a series of positions culminating in being named News Director from 1996 to 1998. During that period she oversaw editorial content, staffing, and operations of station.

An Louisiana State University graduate, Wendy double major in Broadcast Journalism and History. In case you haven’t heard, she’s said to have a keen interest in football. I’m sure we’ll all give her a hand as she steps into her new role.

RELATED
- Houston Internet musical "Horrible Turn" debuts with KTRK 13 cameo
- Don Kobos retires from KTRK abc13
- KTRK abc13 EP Jerry Vazquez to be KTMD news director
- KTRK abc13 news director Dave Strickland resigns

KNWS 51 Houston adds Retro TV Network

Houston gets another network digital channel or .2 channel. KNWS 51 is adding the Retro Television Network to its digital offering:

RTN is a television network that provides each affiliate a customized feed with classic hit shows, in addition to local programming including news, weather and sports. RTN is specifically designed to go on a broadcast digital channel. READ THE REST

Houston's 55 KTBU is becoming a Spanish network called Mega TV

I kind of wondered about some of the recent programming changes over at Houston's 55 KTBU (formerly The Tube). It all started when I heard lots of its locally produced shows were getting the axe. Now we know why as the station is being sold to Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. which will air Mega TV on the channel.

Interesting swap lately. We've recently seen KNWS 51 go Spanish, Channel 57 KUBE become English and now KTBU 55 go Spanish.

Here is more from the official release:

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. ("SBS" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:SBSA) announced today that on May 2, 2011, it entered into an agreement to acquire KTBU-TV (Digital 42;Virtual Channel 55) and other television assets serving the Houston market from U.S. Farm & Ranch Supply Company, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries for $16.0 million. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011, pending FCC approval.

KTBU-TV is a full-power television facility reaching approximately 1.8 million households in Houston, the nation's fourth-largest Hispanic television market, through its over-the-air, cable and satellite distribution platforms.

Raúl Alarcón, President and CEO of SBS, commented, "Houston is a leading U.S. Hispanic market and this transaction is an ideal expansion of our Mega TV footprint, given the rapidly growing national Hispanic population."

The Company intends to fund the acquisition from cash-on-hand and free cash flow generated from operations.

Since SBS launched Mega TV five years ago, the network has expanded its distribution to 5.6 million households via affiliates in 11 cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as well as cable and satellite distribution throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. SBS leverages its diversified media resources to provide infrastructural support to Mega TV and develops original content for the network at production facilities located in Miami, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico, with additional bureaus in New York and Los Angeles.

"Mega TV has always been at the forefront in providing original Hispanic programming to an audience that expects high quality and engaging content. We are proud to expand our commitment to our viewers by bringing Mega TV to Houston on KTBU Channel 55," commented Albert Rodriguez, Chief Revenue Officer of SBS.

http://www.mega.tv/

Hot 95.7, HISD + Chron, “Nuestra Belleza Latina”, TX journo events and more

KKHH Middayer Kelly Kelly Adds MD Stripes
CBS Top 40 KKHH (HOT 957)/HOUSTON OM/PD MARK ADAMS reports that longtime midday personality KELLY KELLY has been promoted to the newly-created MD most, retaining her on-air duties.



Ron Franklin’s firing seems harsh
Apology, suspension not enough for ESPN

HISD Makes a Deal With the Chron (KTRU's Ghost Walks the Halls)
Houston Chronicle gets exclusive embargo for HISD magnet audit story.
- The New Mr. Positive
- HISD PR debacle fallout: Examiner News to beef up HISD coverage

KDFW-KDFI name new sales managers
Jarrett Hale is promoted to VP-general sales manager while Jennifer Owen-Scott becomes local sales manager of Fox's Dallas-Fort Worth duopoly.

Univision to hold reality series auditions in San Antonio
Spanish-language network Univision has scheduled auditions for its popular reality competition “Nuestra Belleza Latina” (Our Latin Beauty) in San Antonio.

More People Watched Snooki and The Situation than Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric
Jersey Shore featuring Snooki, J-Woww, Sammi, Ronnie, Vinny, Pauly D, “The Situation,” and a new girl whose name we haven’t yet (or probably ever will) learned, scored better than the season average of “World News with Diane Sawyer” and the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric” and nipped the heels of “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.”

CNN Debuts New Graphics Package
The network replaced the red, black, and occasionally yellow graphic for something new.

TEXAS MEDIA/JOURNALISM EVENTS

"Law and the Media" seminar
Jan. 29 (that's a Saturday) at South Texas College of Law here in Houston. Dina Temple-Raston of NPR will headline a half-day program on counterterrorism. It's free admission for all journalists, journalism students and communications professionals.

2011 First Amendment Awards
Open to all journalists in Texas and Oklahoma. These are given out by the Fort Worth chapter of SPJ. Cost is $35 per entry for pros, $15 per entry for students.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- New 1560 KGOW The Game programming schedule
- RIP KNWS 51 Houston
- Former KHOU 11 news director Keith Connors joins WTHR 13
- TV reporter's live shot slides downhill fast
- Houston news producer Sara Boyles says 'adios' to the TV news world
- KTRK 13's Ted Oberg has a brother Matt on The Onion SportsDome

One Year After Eyewitness News Creator’s Death, Story of Houston Friendship Surface

Wendy Granato and Michael Quinn

September 29, 2023 marks one year of the passing of Al Primo, the man who created the Eyewitness News concept for the ABC Owned and Operated television stations in the mid to late 1960s. 

Former KNWS-TV51 anchor Michael Quinn tells us for the first time about his unique low-key friendship with the ‘Father of Eyewitness News’, Al Primo:

I never met Al Primo, but we talked several times a year. Only a few people knew that I had a connection with Al. 

We became friends over the phone – either he would call me…or I would call him. We would talk about Detroit and WXYZ-TV, Channel 7, where that market’s legendary Bill Bonds once worked for several decades…or his time in New York when he ran the news operation for WABC, Channel 7, with anchors Bill Buetel and Roger Grimsby…and, there was stories about Philadelphia and KYW-TV where Mort Crim worked (where Al first implemented the Eyewitness News concept—KYW rose to #1 in the ratings—he would tweak the format when he left for WABC-TV), Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco…and of course we talked about Houston and KTRK-TV, our city’s own Channel 13, where we have our own legendary Dave Ward, now retired. Dave Ward and Mort Crim are the only two original Eyewitness News anchors left for us to honor and pick their brains for advice about television news.

How did our unique friendship begin? 

Al Primo and I connected in 2013 on social media – then he called. He enjoyed talking about television. I was very nervous...this was the guy newsrooms around the country need to thank for starting faster-paced newscasts, ‘happy talk’ between anchors, better use of sound bites…the list goes on. When he called the second time, I was at ease. Year after year, we talked about the television news industry.

As many know, one of my long-time friends is former TV51 anchor Wendy Granato…now President and General Manager of KTRK-TV, Channel 13. Every year, I like to do something different for Wendy’s birthday –and for two- years in a row, once while Wendy was still Vice President of News and once as President and General Manager – I still remember where I was, in my SUV, driving up Kirby, I just crossed Richmond Avenue, Al was returning my call, “Al I have a favor to ask”…I had asked Al Primo to call her on her birthday. Al was happy to have been asked to do it. This is the kind of guy he was – I figured he had guided the ABC O&O’s in the late 1960s and into the 1970s – it would just be a nice gesture.

He really was the nicest person in the world—and he would call me back to tell me that he had called Wendy to wish her ‘Happy Birthday’. In August of 2022, I had checked in on him – his daughter had texted me from Al’s cell number that he was sick. Al Primo died on September 29, 2022.

It was really a great experience to know the man who thought up the concept of Eyewitness News. I was the kid who would draw news sets when I was age 4 and 5. There were drawings all over my room. At that age it was all I ever wanted to do. In college, to interned at WXYZ-TV, Channel 7 and to work years later at KTRK-TV, Channel 13 – and for a ten-year span to know the man who helped create what we see as modern-day television news, Eyewitness News. Al, thank you for your friendship and I know Wendy appreciated those kind birthday calls, too.

As the kid who drew hundreds of news sets, and dreams of being a television news anchorman…and made it...from me to you – may you rest in peace, my friend. I miss our conversations.

 

Houston TV Halloween flashback videos

Watch Houston Halloweens from the past through old TV news clips

KTRK





KNWS



KHOU



Turns out this one wasn't really Halloween, but it is spooky.

KTRK 13 grabs photog Matt Robbins from KIAH 39

The whole KIAH 39 and KTRK 13 swapping employees thing is continuing. Just last week I told you about KIAH 39 assignments editor Kristy Gillentine going to KTRK as a web producer (not to mention former KTRK-ers Mark Garay, Ben Lutman and David DeFranchi joining 39 in the last months - and before that Alex Radow going to KTRK plus all the others ahead of that!).

Here is this week's swap.

My good pal KIAH 39 photographer Matt Robbins is heading east on Westpark and will join KTRK 13 as a photog in the programming department in a few weeks. We got the sad/good news the other day at channel 39 (internally referred to jokingly as 13 West).

As a KIAH 39 reporter, Matt is the guy who makes me look good! When a press conference wraps up at 4:15pm or so and we have to get a package on for the lead of the 5pm news...Matt and I can get it done.

This is not the first time Robbins has been featured on the mikemcguff.com blog. Back in July 2009, I posted on how he was the first KIAH 39 multi-media journalists. In fact I think he was the first backpack journalist in the city at an affiliated broadcast station (not counting cable channel News 24 Houston or the former KNWS 51 mind you)! If I'm wrong on this, I know someone will slam me in the comments. If not, you can slam me for the fact I misspelled his name as 'Robins,' instead of 'Robbins' in that old post. Oops.

Outside of being great at his job, Matt is a good guy and someone I'm proud to call a friend. Good luck to Matt at my old stomping grounds, he'll work with a great bunch of people and have a good career there.

Houston's 55 KTBU goes Spanish to Mega TV

I got so caught up in the new KHOU 11 News at 4 and the hiring of former CBS/NBC correspondent Don Teague as the main Fox 26 KRIV anchor that I almost missed another big Houston TV change.

Houston's 55 KTBU switched formats just like I told you it was going to do in early May. Channel 55 is now Mega TV. It must have happened earlier today because people are hitting my blog suddenly looking up information on KTBU 55. Don't worry, I actually left the computer to turn on the TV and check for myself. It is now definitely Mega TV.

As I blogged in May, we've recently seen KNWS 51 go Spanish, Channel 57 KUBE become English and now KTBU 55 go Spanish.

Little bit of trivia for you, KTBU was started by Lakewood Church's the Osteen clan. It was The Tube. Now channel 57 is The KUBE. Coincidence?

Doug Johnson of KPRC has died

Beloved former KPRC 2 weatherman Doug Johnson had passed away at the age of 79


It's with sad news I pass on the news that one of Houston's most popular weathermen, KPRC's Doug Johnson, 79, has died, his former station is reporting.

I can still remember sitting in my grandmother's living room watching her TV friends Ron Stone and Doug Johnson on the "Scene at 5" just having a friendly conversation on the channel 2 newscast. Years later, I watched a clip of those two again and it was amazing how effortless they made it look compared to today's more scripted fare.

RELATED
Video: KPRC 2 remembers Doug Johnson

I would guess that was the appeal of Johnson, he really was like someone you knew in real life. He also helped pioneer television news while covering some dangerous Houston weather.

Johnson was also a fixture on 950 KPRC AM when the Hobby family owned both the television and radio stations, probably only making him more popular with Houstonians.

According to the Liberty County Vindicator newspaper, Johnson was born in the Houston Heights and was a fifth generation Texan. He attended Reagan High School, TCU, Alaska Baptist University and Alaska University.

His first radio job was at KBYR Anchorage, Alaska. He joined KPRC in 1962 and remained on the NBC affiliate until 1994.

Johnson returned to Houston morning TV after KPRC on what was at the time KNWS 51.

In KPRC's excellent story on Johnson's life, the station featured the infamous clip of Wilma the Weather Chicken. Yes, there was a chicken before Radar the Weather Dog.

Johnson told Ernie Manouse on A Conversation on Houston Classic TV on Houston Public Media TV 8 KUHT in 2012 all about the clip which I have transcribed below.

"Ron Stone thought of millions of things over the years that would make my life miserable. And he always thought I needed help with the weather and Wilma the Weather Chicken was one of his inventions," "He presented it to me on the five o'clock show. And he told me to open up the lid, take the chicken out, and it would peck food from the bowl indicating the weather for the next day. We had a bowl called 'partly cloudy,' one called 'cloudy,' and one called 'clear.' So I reach in to grab the chicken, and I've seen chickens before, I had spent some time on the farm up in Franklin, TX, but I had never seen a chicken like this one before. It looked more like the cross between a buzzard and a dove. And it bit me as I was taking it out. And I enjoy sympathy so I wore a big bandage to work the next day. Anyway I set the chicken down and it took off. It didn't peck from any of the bowls, but flew up into the rafters after it landed on Bill Worrell's desk and defecated. But it stayed into the rafters for probably a week until they hired a wrangler to come out and get it."

Houston's 57 KAZH changing formats to English programming

I didn't see this one coming. Broadcasting and Cable is reporting that a Houston station is switching formats from Spanish language programming to English programming.

Channel 57 KAZH is the station we're talking about and is currently a Vasallo Vision Network affiliate.
Titan Broadcast Management who operates the station tells BandC that it can make more money with the format change.

Titan CEO Dan Sullivan told the publication, "The availability of quality classic television programming was also a driving force in this decision to change format."

Does that mean the Houston channel will air something akin to the RetroTV Network or ThisTV? Tribune just announced it is starting a secondary digital network that will offer older shows but that won't debut until next year supposedly. Well at least we know what the new programming probably won't be then.

The article says we should find out the new programming soon. The station changes at the end of September.

Care to take a guess on what it will air? Maybe old Mr. Ed episodes? Maybe that is just me wishing out loud.

http://www.kazh57.com

UPDATE
TVnewscheck reports that the KAZH format change came from news that KNWS 51 could change to a Spanish language format.

(Thanks Matthew and Michael)

Wendy Granato: "TV is seeing a huge resurgence"

Wendy Granato, abc13 KTRK president and general manager: "We thought we'd lost the 20-something year olds, we thought we lost them to social media, we haven't."


It's not everyday we get to hear from a Houston TV general manager in such an honest and refreshing way, but Director of Houston Community College's (HCC) TV Communications, Todd Duplantis, got the scoop out of abc13 KTRK president and general manager Wendy Granato.

UPDATE
KTRK GM Wendy Granato tests positive for COVID-19

Duplantis knows TV well after working as a reporter for FOX 26 KRIV and, I have to throw this in there because my wife and I watched him on channel 5 in Houston, as a host on Hit Video USA.

One thing I learned about Duplantis in the interview was that he and Granato both worked at KNWS 51, Houston's own 24-hour news channel which aired from 1993 to 1996 or so.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Positive COVID-19 case at KTRK - How the station handled the positive COVID-19 test of anchor Chauncy Glover. Granato says she talks to Glover almost everyday and has to keep him from hurrying up and returning to work too soon.

- "What's old is new again" - Granato discusses how TV is being forced to return to ways it was decades ago when one person was doing it all - from being on camera to capturing the video all by yourself and everything in between. I would go a step further and say TV was starting to do this even before COVID-19 as you see news departments shrink thanks to technology and more MMJs hired (a person who runs the camera, appears on camera, edits the story...etc. all by themselves). When I have interviewed Dave Ward, his stories of KTRK in the 1960s involve a far smaller news department where reporters filmed/edited everything themselves.

"Even the most high tech, live television, we are in many ways going back to the way it all began," Granato added.

If you read the TV trades and social media chatter, many TV staffers think the changes being made now because of the coronavirus, might not return to the way TV station have traditionally done things, even after the virus goes away.

- Houston media working together at press conferences - Granato talks about how the TV stations and the Houston Chronicle now work together to cover press conferences to comply with social distancing. One station (or the Chron) is responsible for asking officials questions for a week. Then the next week comes and a new station covers all pressers for that week.

- "TV is seeing a huge resurgence" - Over the last decade, many TV stations have seen sharp ratings declines. But the pandemic, with its stay at home orders, is getting people to turn on TV newscasts again. The New York Times even wrote an article headlined "The Evening News Is Back."

"We just got off a research presentation, where we're seeing television is the number one, dominant source for local news right now for all ages - especially you younger viewers out there," Granato said. "We thought we'd lost the 20-something year olds, we thought we lost them to social media, we haven't. The younger viewers now realize, they do want to tune into television to get those very important updates."

But Granato says the station has pivoted to "go all in" on Facebook to show press conferences and values all the various social media platforms. She says the station's mantra is, "You won't be number one at anything, unless you're number one at everything."

Unfortunately for TEGNA employees who are being furloughed, sudden surging television ratings don't matter much as advertisers are pulling commercials.

"On one hand, we're experiencing large increases in ratings and traffic across all our platforms," Dave Lougee, president and CEO of TEGNA recently told employees in an email. "But on the other hand, and for obvious reasons, many businesses have decreased or in some cases pulled their current advertising and marketing campaigns because of COVID-19. In anticipation of this possibility, we made operational decisions in early March to keep costs down, including eliminating all non-essential expenses."

Radio companies are also making sacrifices.


RELATED - OTHER HOUSTON TV MANAGERS IN THE NEWS
- KPRC A Disaster Expert, But Pandemic’s Different
- Hey COVID-19 — Meet Harvey ‘17!

Wendy Granato named KTRK President and General Manager

News executive Wendy Granato has been named the president and general manager of KTRK-TV, announced Wendy McMahon, president, ABC Owned Television Stations Group. In this new role, Ms. Granato has overall management responsibility for KTRK ABC13 and all of its ancillary businesses.

RELATED
KTRK GM Henry Florsheim announces retirement

As the vice president of News at KTRK ABC13 for five years, Ms. Granato cemented the station’s status as Houston’s leading source for local news and information, expanding coverage to serve audiences across broadcast, digital and social platforms.

In charge of all editorial decisions and operations, she was responsible for the successful merger of broadcast and digital departments. During her tenure, KTRK ABC13 became the home of Houston’s most-watched local newscasts and the leader across all social media platforms in the market.

She was instrumental in leading the station’s Emmy ® Award-winning coverage during historic events such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017, during which time KTRK was on the air nonstop for eight consecutive days.

Ms. Granato also helped build many of the station’s community outreach efforts with partners such as the Houston Marathon, the Houston Texans, Gow Media, VYPE High School Sports Magazine and the Voice of Asia News Group.

“As our head of News in Houston, Wendy has done an incredible job upholding our commitment to quality journalism and the communities we serve while driving modernization across the organization,” said Ms. McMahon. “I am incredibly excited to now have Wendy leading the way for us at KTRK ABC13, embracing change and innovation while maintaining a dynamic and vibrant culture.”

“Service to the Houston-area community is at the heart of everything we do here at KTRK ABC13, and I am beyond honored and proud to now serve in this new role,” said Ms. Granato. “Providing accurate, timely and relevant local news and information on all platforms has never been more important or necessary, especially when keeping the safety and security of our viewers in mind, and sharing the positive stories from all our Houston-area communities. I look forward to upholding the long-standing values and traditions of KTRK ABC13, and forging ahead with ideas and innovations that will grow our business. I am equally as excited about working closely with OTV President Wendy McMahon and our powerhouse sister stations across the country to achieve our goals of excellence and service.”

Prior to serving as vice president of News at KTRK ABC13, Ms. Granato served as executive producer of special projects and executive producer of the daily talk show “Debra Duncan.”

Before joining KTRK, Ms. Granato was the news director for KNWS Houston. Earlier in her career, she was a news reporter and morning news anchor for KATC in Lafayette, Louisiana. She studied at the Manship School of Mass Communication where she received a degree in broadcast journalism from Louisiana State University.

I just confetti’d @wendygranato after the big announcement: She’s @abc13houston’s new GM! 🎉❤️😎🙌🏽💎📺💻📲 Congrats, Wendy! pic.twitter.com/gAEAOK3kRJ

— Brandon De Hoyos (@BrandonABC13) August 7, 2019

About the ABC Owned Television Stations Group

The ABC Owned Television Stations Group includes WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The eight owned stations reach 23% of all U.S. television households. The Stations Group also includes the Live Well Network, a broadcast programming service for digital channels in owned markets. The Group further expanded the stations’ content portfolio and reach with the launch of the multiplatform, national lifestyle brand Localish, which is ABC’s viral storytelling brand that brings out the good in America’s cities. Created by and for millennials, Localish serves locally sourced stories that transcend city limits.

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

San Antonio to get new 24-hour local news channel?

Jeanne Jakle of the San Antonio Express-News reports that the city could be in the running for another 24 hour local news channel after the closure of News 9 San Antonio a few years ago:

Time Warner Cable here is in the midst of "a conversation" about one, confirmed Gavino Ramos, Time Warner-S.A.'s vice president of communications. However, in Ramos' words, the cable company has yet to iron out details.

Austin's Time Warner system initiated such a 24-hour local news channel — News 8 Austin — a decade ago, Ramos said, and it's thriving. It's been tried here before, too. In 2003, Time Warner partnered with Belo Corp. and launched News 9 San Antonio. It was shut down in 2004, because it just couldn't draw enough interest to sustain it. READ MORE

Will Houston see another 24 hour local news channel after the failed operations like News 24 Houston and KNWS 51's 1990s effort? Probably not. Without a cable company like Time Warner who likes them, I doubt it.

Texas Country Reporter goes national

One of my favorite TV shows on the weekend is Texas Country Reporter. Host Bob Phillips and crew know how to do feature stories right! (Read the show's history)

WATCH SOME STORIES HERE

The show is reportedly on in every Texas television market (Houston Channel 51 KNWS).

According to this New York Times article, Bob Phillips is going national. A national version of the show, On the Road With Bob Phillips, is planned to debut in January 2009.

If you are from Houston, you might remember The Eyes of Texas.  It was the Houston produced version. KPRC Channel 2 has resurrected that show, but the original episodes are back on the air too.

Houston's PBS station KUHF Channel 8 now plays the Ray Miller version of the show but calls it Texas Our Texas. You can see a promo for the original show here.

What happened to KTRK shooting suspect?, Austin anchor takes off and more

MORE VIDEOS
- Wanna be sexy like Houston TV news anchors?
- Steve Smith's Lone Star Emmy Awards tribute video
- WFAA promos: Dale Hansen vs fake Jerry & Ron Corning's Movember [VIDEO]
- Austin TV newscast opens from early 80s to present
- Watch This News Anchor Dance To T.I.’s ‘Where They At Doe’
- Weather Channel’s Mike Seidel was not caught with his pants down
- Reporter takes a licking and keeps on ticking
- Reporter Runs Red Light During Liveshot
- The story behind the KXVO Pumpkin Dance
- Hilarious kid completely owns weatherman's segment
- No camera, no problem going live
- Tom Brokaw breaks live studio rule
- Michael Quinn anchoring the KNWS 51 morning news in 1998
- Squatting on the Squatter
- Megyn Kelly slips up in an F-bomb manner on Fox News show's name

Cynthia Izaguirre on the record
WFAA's Cynthia Izaguirre on her biggest blooper, Ron Corning's antics.

It’s official
Texas Rangers moving radio broadcasts to 105.3 FM The Fan

Listen to an hour of KLIF from March 1968, when the Mighty 1190 was playing ‘the music that makes Dallas go ’round and ’round’
Today’s Dallas-radio flashback — as always, digitized and offered by the great George Gimarc — is a particularly special offering from the archives: close to an hour from The Mighty 1190′s broadcast night on March 28, 1968.

Television’s Life Lessons
Lots of life’s little instructions are learned over the span of a long TV career.

#6 Houston-Galveston TX
October 2014 Portable People Meter 6+ Mon-Sun, 6a-12mid (Updated: 10-27-14)
- Classic hip-hop goes ‘Boom’ in early ratings
- Radio One takes The “Boom” To Philadelphia

KTRK shooting suspect found not guilty
A woman who fired shots at Channel 13's studios has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

93Q Country's Recipe For Successful Radio
According to the station, more than 1.3 million people listen to 93Q during an average week. This kind of success comes at a time when some people regard FM radio as passe, given the plethora of music-delivery options available to consumers, first with satellite radio and especially now that streaming services like Pandora and Spotify have also gained a foothold in the marketplace.

Former KUHF anchor is first licensed Uber driver
The first licensed Uber driver just happens to be an easily recognizable name and voice to longtime listeners of News 88.7 – Rod Rice.

Sam Morton Named VP, Dir./Sales For CBS Radio/Houston
CBS RADIO/HOUSTON has tapped SAM MORTON has been named VP, Dir./Sales for the six-station cluster which includes Hot AC KHMX, Sports KIKK-A, Country KILT, Sports KILT-A, Top 40 KKHH and Spanish KLOL. MORTON’s position is effective NOVEMBER 24th.

KSBJ Hires Troy West As New APD/MD
TROY WEST has been selected as the new APD/MD at KSBJ EDUCATIONAL Contemporary Christian KSBJ (89.3)/HOUSTON.

Disney sells KMIC Houston
Radio Disney has sold off the first of its pending 23 divestitures as it sells 1590 KMIC Houston to DAIJ Media for $3.2 million.

Houston Public Media’s Lisa Trapani Shumate elected to PBS board of directors by member stations across the country
Houston Public Media’s Executive Director and General Manager Lisa Trapani Shumate was recently elected to serve as a professional director on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) board of directors. Member stations from across the country cast their ballots in August to elect Shumate and two other first-time directors to the board.

Bianna Golodryga speaking in Houston
Bianna Golodryga is coming to #H-Town to speak at the 2015 Jewish Federation of Greater Houston COLLAGE Luncheon on Tues. Jan. 20 at the Westin Galleria. She's the former weekend co-anchor for Good Morning America Weekend and current Yahoo anchor for news and finance. If you'd like to attend, contact Susan Farb Morris, susan [@] farbulous.com.

News 4 photographer competes in Ringside SA
News 4 photographer Fabian Juarez competed against District 8 councilman, Ron Nirenberg. Fabian won by technical knockout during the second round.

KEYE Anchor Deeda Payton Leaving TV News
Deeda Payton, anchor/reporter at Austin CBS affiliate KEYE, announced via Facebook she’ll be leaving the station–and television news at the end of the month.

The Texas Tribune is 5 years old and sustainable. Now what?
The Austin-based news nonprofit has success and a measure of stability with its business model, raising almost $27 million in its first five years. But now the Tribune has to figure out how it grows its audience outside the capitol
- Trib, Times Will End Partnership

MOVING

Robert Paniagua joins Telemundo Houston KTMD as an assignments desk editor.

Sara Patterson is leaving KPRC's social media producer gig for life outside of TV.

REMEMBERING

Goodbye to a newsroom friend
Paula Blesener, a longtime staffer at the Waco Tribune-Herald succumbed to the cancer.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Mike McGuff's diet challenge goal to be hot like Houston TV anchors
- Syan Rhodes upped to KPRC weekend anchor
- The media's report card on big stories
- Astroworld memories 1968-2005
- Jessica Holloway leaves KTRK abc13 for Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector office
- KHOU 11 crowns The Woodlands College Park High School Marching Band
- KTRK abc13 reporter claims assault by Dan Patrick supporters
- Angela Chen joins KTRK abc13
- Dave Ward to step down from KTRK ABC13's 10pm news

Dave Dickson, former Houston TV meteorologist, dies

Dave Dickson, a familiar face on Houston TV in the 1980s and 1990s, died in Brenham, Texas, on January 28, 2024.

When he arrived in Houston, Dickson was a meteorologist for KPRC 2, followed by FOX 26 KRIV and the now defunct KNWS 51. 

Prior to Houston, Dickson was a meteorologist/reporter for KVUE Austin from 1979 until 1986.

KVUE's Bob Garcia-Buckalew has an excellent profile on Dickson, which you can watch in the above video.

"He was one of the most versatile reporters I have ever known," former KVUE anchor Judy Maggio told Garcia-Buckalew about Dickson. "He was a fearless reporter who also had a great sense of humor. He knew how to put people at ease and make them laugh."