Want to Learn CS4? Here's Your Chance!

Erik Sondergelt from the Ohio Valley Chapter of the Media Communications Association - International asked us to plug their CS4 seminar coming up in Dayton....


Meeting: A presentation by Dave Helmly of Adobe - discussion of new CS4 features
for video

When: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (please note
date!)

Time: Social Hour: 5:30
Meeting Begins: 6:30

Where: Berry Womens' Health Pavilion at
Miami Valley Hospital
1 Wyoming Street
Dayton, OH 45409


The link to the MCA-I website is: http://www.mcai-ohiovalley.org/ for complete
information and directions.

WLWT to Use Live Blogs to Cover Events

WLWT-TV/DT 5 has expanded the tools at their disposal to cover stories as they happen.

Now, the station's website, is offering Live Blogs to cover some of the bigger stories in the Tri-State, including the current Ryan Widmer murder trial.

Widmer is accused of murdering his wife Sarah in August 2008 in their Hamilton Township, Ohio home. (Hamilton Twp. is in Warren County, which is where Kings Island is.)

Anyway, we're guessing that this tool was one reason WLWT wanted to have computers in the courtroom during the McCafferty trial, as we covered previously here. Apparently, this judge was not so strict and has allowed the use of the computers.

We're sure several other news sites use the tool, and we know that WWE uses it for their WWE Universe fan section, to do live blog coverage of Monday Night Raw and Pay-Per-View events.


http://ohkyintristatemedia.blogspot.com/2009/03/wlwt-expands-blogging-tools.html

Former Lexington Anchor Hits the Stage in Chicago

FOX5's Holly Morris joins the cast of CHICAGO on stage at the National Theatre during the 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 5. Morris will perform in three separate scenes as one of the ladies incarcerated in the Cook County Jail, including the number "Razzle Dazzle."

Tickets are priced $46.50 to $91.50, with a limited number of premium seats priced at $151.50 (plus applicable service charges). Tickets are currently on sale now at the National Theatre Box Office, and through Telecharge at www.Telecharge.com or by calling (800) 447-7400. For group tickets, call (866) 276-2947. For information, call the National Theatre at (202) 628-6161 or visit www.nationaltheatre.org.

http://broadwayworld.com/article/FOX5s_Holly_Morris_Joins_Cast_Of_CHICAGO_In_DC_45_20090327

Did WHAS Jump the Gun with Gillespie Firing Story?

Are you kidding me?

The University of Kentucky has sent a statement to WHAS-TV in Louisville saying that the story of Billy Gillispie’s firing is NOT true.

Initially, the station stood by their report that the coach will not return next year.

But they’ve now pulled the story off their website (as of 11:35pm EDT).

The story originally said that sources had confirmed to two WHAS reporters that Gillispie was out.

We’ll have much, much more tomorrow morning.


http://mrsec.com/story/uk-denies-whas-tv-story-of-gillispies-dismissal

WBNS in Columbus to Help Viewers Survive the Storm

In coordination with Ohio’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, Gazette news partner WBNS 10TV will present a 30-minute weather special with important safety information as severe weather season begins.

“Surviving the Storm,” hosted by 10-TV Chief Meteorologist Chris Bradley and the Live Doppler 10 Weather Team, will be shown at 7:30 tonight.

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20090325/NEWS01/90325003

Coupons Available for Digital Switch Once Again

The $40 converter-box coupons are back.

More funding for the delayed digital transition means the end of the waiting list and a second chance for those whose coupons expired.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which runs the government's TV converter-box coupon program, is using about $490 million of the $650 million it received from the stimulus bill for the coupons.

Some of that money has been spent clearing out the waiting list for coupons, said Anna Gomez, acting assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information.

Those on the waiting list should receive their coupons in the next two weeks, she said.

"We are processing all new coupons as they come in," Gomez said.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/03/24/converter.html?sid=101

Evansville Fox Welcomes New Weatherman

Fox 7 WTVW is pleased to announce the addition of Josh Breslow to our weather and reporting staff. Josh comes to the Fox 7 family from Gainesville, Florida where he recently graduated the University of Florida. Josh is trained both as a weathercaster and a reporter. Josh is a Miami Native and will begin his duties this weekend on Fox 7 News at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Fox 7 Chief Meteorologist Ron Rhodes welcomed Josh to town during our Monday weather segment on the outdoor patio.

See Video Here
http://tristatehomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=62241

Former WTHI Weather Guesser Lands in W. Lafayette

WLFI's Station Manager Tom Combs has released the following statement:

"I am pleased to announce that Chad Evans will be joining WLFI as chief meteorologist replacing Mike Prangley. We are proud to welcome someone from part of the LIN Television family.

"Chad has worked in Evansville at WEHT and most recently spent over 4 years at WTHI in Terre Haute. His first day will be May 11 and we look forward to welcoming him as part of the WLFI staff. He is a native of Odon, Indiana and an ISU grad.

http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local_wlfi_westlafayette_welcomechadevanstowlfi_20090323

Digital Switch Could Mean a Weak Signal in Evansville

As June 12 — the date for TV stations to switch from analog to digital signals — nears and uncertainty looms about the process, the Federal Communications Commission continues to set regulations and guidelines for broadcasters.

The FCC notified television stations last week that, if they expect to lose 2 percent or more of the population in their analog viewing range after the switch, they must broadcast the news of the signal loss to their viewers before June 12.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/mar/21/digital-tv-transition-could-mean-weak-signal/

Mills James Ranks #1 in Columbus

Mills James Productions took the top spot in Columbus C.E.O. magazine’s recently published list of Central Ohio audiovisual production companies.

In the April 2009 issue of Columbus C.E.O., Mills James is named the #1 Audiovisual Production Company based on the C.E.O Leaderboard survey, which ranks companies by number of Central Ohio employees.

This latest recognition comes just months after Columbus C.E.O. readers voted Mills James as the “Best Audiovisual Production Company” in the November 2008 issue’s “Best of Business in Central Ohio” list, which stated that Mills James “blew away the competition.”

In addition to the Columbus C.E.O. honors, Mills James has consistently been named the top-ranked company in Business First Columbus’ annual list of Greater Columbus Audiovisual Production Companies.

Columbus C.E.O. is Central Ohio's largest business magazine, with a monthly circulation of more than 26,000. The magazine delivers in-depth business reporting on the area's financial arena, with a blend of business-related articles, profiles of movers and shakers, in-depth reporting of local trends and more.


Employee-owned, Mills James has been providing creative media solutions for a wide range of advertising, broadcast and corporate clients, including many Fortune 500 corporations, since 1984.

Cincinnati and Ketucky Public TV to Switch to Digital Early

TV's transition from analog to digital will come quicker for area public TV stations than commercial stations, which are waiting until the government's June 12 deadline.

CET (Channel 48), Oxford's WPTO-TV (Channel 14) and Dayton's WPTD-TV (Channel 16) announced Wednesday they will shut off duplicative analog signals May 1.

Covington's WCVN-TV (Channel 54), and the statewide Kentucky Educational Television network, had previously said they will drop analog April 16.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090319/ENT/903190347

News Hour With Jim Lehrer Comes to Dayton

A crew from the public television's national "NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" began a three-day visit to Dayton on Wednesday, March 18, to take a snapshot of the arts community.

"Dayton was recommended to us as a place where the economy has been hit hard, but where the arts are strong," said Anne Davenport, media producer for the program, which airs locally from 6 to 7 weeknights on WPTD-TV, Channel 16.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/18/ddn031809newshourweb.html

Louisville's CW Wants to Clear the Air

Here’s a follow-up to yesterday’s story about the CW. The station’s CEO, Carol LaFever, was understandably upset when she learned a competitor was telling advertisers that her station might fold in a few weeks and was being evicted from its building.

First, it wasn’t true. And more importantly, it could be bad for business. We certainly believe that Fox41’s Bill Lamb put an immediate stop to the rumor-spreading when he found out about it, but LaFever was compelled to write a letter explaining the station’s status.

http://thevillevoice.com/2009/03/18/clearing-the-airwaves-on-the-cw/

Longtime WHIO Employee Honored

The Montgomery County Commission honored long time WHIO-TV videographer Denny Cheatham on Tuesday.

Denny is retiring April 3, the day before his 65th birthday.

At Tuesday's commission meeting, commissioners issued a proclamation in Denny's honor congratulating him on his 46 years of service at News Center 7.

http://www.whiotv.com/news/18952612/detail.html

Emmy Fight Over New Media Award Ends

The fight over how Emmys for new media will be distributed has been resolved, ending a protracted battle between the National Academy of Television and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and setting the stage for deeper cooperation.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/emmy_fight_over_newmedia_award.php

Columbus News Director Position Eliminated

Maybe a sweeping reorganization can help Media General get its groove back. On Monday, the newspaper and TV owner announced it would reorganize its local assets into five geographic regions, discarding the traditional organization that grouped businesses by its three media segments, publishing, broadcast and interactive media.

In addition to the five geographic regions, Virginia/Tennessee, Florida, mid-South, North Carolina and Ohio/Rhode Island, Media General will have a sixth business segment, interactive advertising services, which will encompass Blockdot, DealTaker.com and NetInformer. (more)

Editor's note: Here's a link to more on the Media General restructuring and the full news release coming out of Richmond, Virginia. Media General breaks down the new georgraphic regions and leadership this way:

The following Media General executives have been named President, Market Leader, for these five market segments. They will report to Reid Ashe, Chief Operating Officer:

Virginia/Tennessee - James A. Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman is currently President of the Broadcast Division. In 2008, the VA/TN market had revenues of approximately $235 million.

Florida - John R. Schueler. Mr. Schueler is currently President, Florida Communications Group. In 2008, the FL market had revenues of approximately $215 million.

Mid-South - John R. Cottingham. Mr. Cottingham is currently Senior Vice President, Broadcast Stations. The Mid-South market includes South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. In 2008, the Mid-South market had revenues of approximately $170 million.

North Carolina - James R. Conschafter. Mr. Conschafter is currently Senior Vice President, Broadcast Stations. In 2008, the NC market had revenues of approximately $105 million.

Ohio/Rhode Island - Richard E. Rogala. Mr. Rogala is currently Vice President and General Manager, WCMH in Columbus, Ohio. In 2008, the OH/RI market had revenues of approximately $62 million. (more)

Rick Gevers reports that Dan Bradley has been named Director of the Digital Newsroom for the company's WCMH-TV, the NBC affiliate in Columbus, OH. Dan will oversee production, engineering, news, and IT, and work with Brand Manager Ike Walker, who oversees the newsroom on a day-to-day basis. Bradley tells Gevers the position of News Director at WCMH has been eliminated, and that he will continue to serve as VP/News for Media General's TV stations.


http://www.tvspy.com/shoptalk.cfm?page=1#editor

Where Are The Ad Bucks? The NCAA

TV viewership for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament has been falling for years, but advertising revenue has been rising just as steadily.

That’s the finding of a new report from Nielsen, released yesterday, three days before this year’s tourney tips off on CBS. It finds that over the past five years, TV ad spending on March Madness has jumped an impressive 34 percent, from $434 million in 2004 to $580 million last year.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Sports_TV_52/Where_the_ad_bucks_are_March_Madness.asp

Media General Board Dissidents Leave

3 Media General board members will leave after their term is up after a rather contentious run.

http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/13425.html

Radio Want Ads are Hit With Louisville Employers and Job Seekers

John Barger was devastated when he lost his printing job late last year. With the economy in shambles and many other people looking for work, the Kentucky man says he didn't know where to turn.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/14/radio.want.ads/

New Albany Firm Takes Over WYCS

Mark up another step forward for New Albany Broadcasting Co. The operator of WNDA, which has facilities in Clarksville and broadcast a daily news program covering southern Indiana, has come to an agreement to operate Louisville’s WYCS-TV.

The company also operates a talk radio station at 1570 AM. That station airs a morning radio show featuring Rocky Knight from 6-9, along with a lineup of syndicated hosts.

http://thevillevoice.com/2009/03/12/done-deal-new-albany-firm-buys-wycs/

3 Columbus TV Stations to Pool Resources

Three TV stations in this Midwestern city are following the cost-cutting trend in the broadcast industry. WCMH-TV, WXYX-TV and WTTE-TV will now share news operations. WCMH is the NBC affiliate owned by Media General, and WTTE is a Fox and WSYX is the ABC owned by Sinclair.

“The stations’ assignment desks have built a back channel to communicate with each other and a workflow to schedule shoots,” WCMH said in a press release. The announcement likened the arrangement to a pool feed, which stations have done for years, but the notion of pool-feeding regular local news is relatively recent though catching on.


http://www.televisionbroadcast.com/article/76014

Time Warner Announces 3 New HD Channels in Cincinnati

Time Warner cable has announced the launch of three new high-definition channels in Cincinnati. The cable operator has added following HD channels:

WXIX-TV

Chiller and

The MLB Network

Time Warner has added WXIX-TV’s “This TV,” which will bring programming like ‘The Outer Limits,’ ‘Mister Ed,’ ‘Patty Duke’ and ‘Burke’s Law.’

The cable operator has added NBC Universal’s Chiller on Channel 179 and the sports network on Channel 178.

http://direct-sat.com/?p=181

10TV to Honor Former Anchor Heather Pick at Race for the Cure

WBNS-10TV announced Tuesday that it is teaming up with Wolfe Associates, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Charles Penzone, Inc. to help carry on the legacy of Heather Pick, the 10TV morning and midday anchor who lost her public battle with breast cancer in November.

The collaboration will involve the creation of "Heather's Team" for Komen Columbus Race for the Cure, to be held May 16. Those who register to be part of "Heather's Team" will pay $45 and receive a T-shirt with Pick pictured on the front, a pink wig like the one she sported in her final public appearance shortly before her death. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts and wigs will go to Komen Columbus in her honor.

http://10tv.com/live/content/station/stories/2009/03/10/story_komen_heather.html

WBKI Up For Sale

Louisville’s CW affiliate television station is on the auction block.

Station CEO Carol LaFever says the economy isn’t necessarily the reason for the sale. Rather, the station’s licensees have decided to get out of the television business altogether.

The buyer will decide what happens to the station’s employees and CW affiliation, but LaFever says she has high hopes for WBKI’s future.

“We have allowed access to the airwaves for some minorities, diversities and nontraditional broadcasters and we’re hoping that through this process they may have a chance to look at the opportunity and possibly again have a point of entry where they might not otherwise,” she says.

Bidding for WBKI starts at $750,000 and continues through April 17th.


http://www.wfpl.org/CMS/?p=3953

Tiny Columbus Station Seeks to Become Beacon of Arts

It might seem a long way from home shopping to ballet, but WDEM-TV (Channel 17) made the journey with the flick of a switch.

The little-known Grandview Heights station, a home-shopping outlet for more than a decade, changed its format a few weeks ago to a mix of TV classics and a fledgling arts-and-culture program called Lifeline Columbus.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/03/09/1A_WDEM-TV_--_timely.ART_ART_03-09-09_D1_EED4EE7.html?sid=101

Laure Quinlivan for City Council

Laure Quinlivan, Emmy and Peabody award winning journalist and former I-Team reporter for WCPO, has announced her candidacy for City Council. So what does this announcement mean for her current lawsuit against her former employer, WCPO, for pregancy and gender discrimination? Who knows. But here's her website showing what she plans to do for Cincinnati if elected.

http://lqreportingtoyou.com/

WHAS Employees Among Belo Cuts

WHAS-TV, Louisville’s ABC affiliate, has informed four employees that they would be laid off at the end of the month as part of a companywide staff reduction announced Wednesday by the station’s parent company, Belo Corp.

http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2009/03/09/daily38.html

WHAS' Chuck Olmstead Passes Away

It is with heavy hearts that we bring you the sad news that our good friend and colleague Chuck Olmstead passed away early Tuesday morning.

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/whas11-topstory-090309-chuck-olmstead.1eea3d38.html

Memorial Ceremony Held For Uncle Al

A memorial was held Saturday for Cincinnati television legend Al Lewis.

Lewis died on Feb. 28 at the Heartland of Hillsboro center. He was 84 years old.

Remembering "Uncle Al"

The service was held at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro, Ohio. No visitation was scheduled.

“Uncle Al,” as he was known for 35 years, was known for the "Uncle Al Show" on WCPO.

He starred in the show along with his wife of 59 years, Wanda “Captain Windy” Lewis.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29569258/#storyContinued

The Latest on WHAS' Chuck Olmstead

It was great to get the phone call I just received here at WHAS 11. On the other end, Chuck Olmstead's wife Candy. She couldn't wait to tell you, our viewers how thankful she and her entire family are to this community. In fact, Candy said if she could embrace you all with a hug, she would. And believe me, Candy's got the energy to do it.

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/whas11-localnews-090306-chuck-update.cd7390a.html

WDTN Hires New Morning Anchor

A new face will be gracing morning TV screens in the Dayton area soon. Pam Elliot has been hired as the new anchor of the 2 News Sunrise edition from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. on WDTN-TV Channel 2.

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/03/02/daily70.html

Media General Newscasts Mix On Air with Online

Columbus, Ohio’s WCMH NBC 4 began airing its @5:30 on 4 newscast that incorporates Internet interaction with viewers last month – one of several experiments the Media General station group is undertaking to incorporate “social media” such as Twitter and Facebook into television programming.

At WSPA in Spartanburg, South Carolina, anchor Amy Wood has been making social media feedback part of the show she anchors on the CW affiliate for the past year.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/189475-Media_General_Newscasts_Mix_Online_with_On_Air.php

Anietra Hamper Moves From WCMH to WBNS

Veteran journalist and anchor Anietra Hamper was named co-anchor of WBNS-10TV's weekday morning and noon newscasts, president and general manager Tom Griesdorn announced Wednesday.

Hamper will join Chuck Strickler, Mike Davis and Karina Nova to become the primary anchor team for top-rated 10TV HD News at 5 a.m., 6 a.m. and noon. She will begin her on-air duties in June.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/03/04/story_hamper.html?sid=102

Dayton Broadcasting Icon Carl Day Out at WDTN

Carl Day, a veteran Dayton and Emmy-winning television news anchor, said he has received notice from WDTN-TV Channel 2 that his contract with the station has not been renewed.

The contract ended on Dec. 31, 2008. Day has been fighting leukemia for a fourth time. He also suffered shoulder, back and leg injuries when he said he took a fall backwards, in the television studios in October 2008.


http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/04/ddn030409daleweb.html

Wheeling Radio Station Loses Second Employee in 2 Weeks

Our condolences, again, to employees of RCK 1 Group talk WKKX/1600 in Wheeling WV, as a second member of their radio family has passed away.

West Virginia Media CBS/ABC/Fox affiliate WTRF/7 and sister newspaper The State Journal report that WKKX talk host and newsman Tod Jeffers has died at the age of 67.

Among the stations on Jeffers' resume according to AllAccess - Columbus' WBNS-FM/97.1, which recently changed from hot AC to sports as "97.1 The Fan".

WKKX is mainly a Wheeling-centric station, and doesn't cover nearly as much of the Ohio side of the Ohio Valley region as Clear Channel talk competitor WWVA/1170 (or the two local TV stations, WTRF and Cox NBC affiliate WTOV/9 Steubenville OH).

But we did note the passing of Ohio Valley broadcast legend George Kellas...who was a co-worker of Jeffers at WKKX. That means the Wheeling talk station's employees are now grieving over the second staff member death in under two weeks...

Big Cutbacks in Kent PBS and Columbus Dispatch

Let's see where the Tuesday morning item mix takes us...unfortunately, it's mostly not good news...

http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com/2009/03/some-mixed-news.html

Conservative Dayton Radio Host Says He Was Fired

Mike Scinto, a local conservative talk radio host who has spent the past 10 years of his longtime radio career at WDAO-AM (1210), said he was terminated Monday, March 2.

Scinto, in an interview by phone Monday night, said station President and General Manager Jim Johnson called him Monday morning to say advertisers were not supporting his show, "Expressions II," which aired noon to 2 p.m.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/02/ddn030209scintoweb.html

Fun Facts About Al Lewis

All the things you never knew about Al Lewis. We'll miss you "Uncle Al"!!


http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/localshows/goodmorningtristate/letter/story/Uncle-Al-Fun-Facts-GMTS-Newsletter/w_Ki-GY2gUqDZmO2FHJl_A.cspx

Children's TV Pioneer "Uncle Al" Dies

CINCINNATI (AP) — Al Lewis, who was known as "Uncle Al" on a long-running children's television show that aired nationally in the 1950s, has died. He was 84.

Lewis produced and starred in "The Uncle Al Show," which ran daily from 1950 to 1985 on WCPO-TV. The show aired nationally on ABC affiliates on Saturday mornings over two years in the late 1950s.

WCPO, which announced Lewis' death Sunday, said he died Saturday in Hillsboro, Ohio, where he and his wife Wanda lived. No other details were released.

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20090302/UPDATES01/90302013

9 to Join Dayton Area Broadcasting Hall of Fame

Nine Dayton broadcasters will be inducted into the Dayton Area Broadcasting Hall of Fame in September.

One of the honorees is legendary television news photographer Denny Cheatham of WHIO-TV Channel 7 News, who is also announcing his retirement. Cheatham said he plans to end his career of chasing news stories after 46 years.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/oh/story/opinions/columns/2009/03/02/ddn030209dale.html

The Ultimate Guide to Watching TV Online

With our economy in freefall, everyone is looking for ways to cut back on their budgets. Giving a little more thought to the cable bill is a popular place to start. In previous days giving up cable basically meant giving up TV. Sure you could probably pull in a few snowy over the air channels, but your options ended there. Things have changed tremendously on this front even in the past year. There are now tons of options for cutting out your cable bill entirely without pain or feelings of deprivation. Here’s a comprehensive guide to sites that if implemented well could end up saving you quite a bit of money:

http://tv.popcrunch.com/watch-tv-online/

Digital Switch Gets Mixed Reception in Columbus

Mar. 1--Back in 1997, I wrote this about my weariness with the hype surrounding the far-distant switch to digital television:

"Someone alert me on the day . . . when I can no longer get a picture on my existing television. At that point, I will pay attention."

Well, I was true to my word.

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3079706

Send Well Wishes to Chuck Olmstead

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/stories/022709whascwTopChuckO.db9d726.html