WHIO Anchor Jim Baldridge Looks Back at His Career

Before he started working at WHIO-TV Channel 7 in 1972, Jim Baldridge already had several years of experience.
His career in communications started as a senior at Lima Shawnee High School when he worked as an announcer at a radio station. He missed his high school graduation ceremony because he was needed at the station. Later, he served as an announcer and reporter for the Armed Forces Radio and Television services while in the U.S. Army.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/dayton-still-home-for-retiring-tv-anchor-baldridge-266116.html

WDTN Director of PR Inducted into Hall of Fame

Sharon Howard, executive director of community and public relations for WDTN-TV, was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
She was one of 12 women to receive the honor during a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse.
Howard has been honored for her work in the community, including the James E. Stamps Communication Award from the Dayton Inter-Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund, and the Dayton YMCA Women of Influence Award.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/wdtn-tvs-howard-joins-ohio-womens-hall-of-fame-268039.html

Reading Rainbow to Disappear from PBS Stations

An era ends on PBS stations Friday, when the contract expires for Le Var Burton’s “Reading Rainbow.” After 26 years, and 24 national Emmys, the excellent children’s show will vanish from WPTD-TV (noon weekdays, Channel 16) and many other public TV stations.
The show premiered in 1983. It ceased production in 2006, when funding ran out. The PBS contract expires Friday, so it can no longer feed it to stations.
However, off-air educational rights remain in effect for a year following the last broadcast of each episode, says Darwin McPherson, communications director for Buffalo’s WNED-TV, which has produced the series since its debut in July, 1983. Says McPherson: “We ‘re confident that the Young Writers and Illustrators Contest will live on through PBS Kids.” No word on that yet.
Thanks, LeVar, for your fine work. And thanks from my kids too.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2009/08/25/reading-rainbow-soon-to-be-tv-history/

New Seasons, New Local Shows

Our new cover story on stations “controlling their own destiny,” as several sources put it, and launching local programs this fall, spotlighted several such programs. But certainly not all.
Others include Fox O&O KMSP Minneapolis launching Fox 9 News: Morning Buzz at 9 a.m. September 14, and of course WNBC New York debuting its LX New York show at 5 p.m. that same day. (Here’s the promo for the latter.)
Then there are a 4 p.m. on KEYE Austin as well as WDSU New Orleans, a 7 p.m. at WTVR Richmond, a 9 p.m. at KNVA Austin, and a 10 p.m. at KOIN Portland, among others. Most are Foxes, but some are not. Most new shows are newscasts, but some are lifestyle-oriented, such as KVVU Las Vegas’ More at 4, and others focus on high school football, such as WXIX Cincy’s Fox19 Friday Prep Rally.
Despite the miserable economy, most sources said it actually made economic sense to produce their own shows–they can keep the ad inventory and, as several GMs said, stations will live or die based on how strong their local content is.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/blog/Station_to_Station/21342-New_Season_New_Local_Programs.php

Fox 7 Announces New Anchor

When Julie Dolan was a third grader growing up in Cincinnati she’d make up her own newscasts at home. Play anchorwoman.
“I’d interview my brother and make him dress up as different people,” the 25-year-old journalist said this afternoon, sitting at the anchor desk of WTVW-Fox7 in Downtown Evansville prior to delivering her first official broadcast as the station’s permanent co-anchor.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/aug/24/fox-7-introduces-its-new-anchorwoman/

WKYT Spends 1 Million on a New Radar

CBS affiliate WKYT (Channel 27) will announce today that it has bought a new weather radar system that it boasts is "simply the most important, life-saving advancement in weather technology and forecasting ever in Kentucky."
The First Alert Defender dual-polarity radar, which will begin operating in September, was an investment of more than $1 million, partially financed with a sponsorship by Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, that is part of a new class of weather radars that provide more information to meteorologists.

http://www.kentucky.com/101/story/906731.html

ESPN Tests New 3D Technology for Ohio State vs. USC

ESPN will flex its 3D production muscle with its coverage of the powerhouse USC vs. Ohio State college football matchup Sept. 12. It will be the first 3D test being vetted before a general viewing audience in two years of testing the technology, which has become a growing piece of the theatrical film market.The game will be in HD and standard def for home viewers, but will be delivered in 3D at The Galen Center on the USC campus and at a handful of theaters--Columbus, Ohio; Hartford, Conn.; and Hurst, Tex.ESPN won't collect a gate for the venue showings, but will instead give fans a chance to win tickets via radio station promotions, including ESPN stations in L.A. and Dallas and WBNS Columbus.ESPN says the production test will include the first true stereoscopic 3D graphics in a telecast, and will be kicking the tires "various transport mechanisms," including cinema projection and "consumersized-sized" LCD monitors, just not any consumers' homes this time around.ESPN said the 3D production will have its own trucks, crews and commentators. Mark Jones and Bob Davie will call the 3D game, while Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit will handle the 2D duties.

http://production.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=827683

Time Warner to Drop and Move Channels

Time Warner's 640,000 cable TV customers from Cincinnati to Dayton will see radically different lineups starting Tuesday.
On the digital service level, channels will be clustered by themes - sports, family, news, entertainment, shopping, free on demand, HDTV and local digital programming - on channels 100 through 1700.
Basic and digital subscribers to Time Warner - the area's largest cable operator - also lose eight of 22 public TV channels, despite appeals by area public broadcasters since the changes were announced a month ago.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090823/ENT/908230336/1175/Time-Warner+to+drop+54++16++move+channels

Why Derek Beasley Left WLWT for Alabama

Why would Derek Beasley quit as WLWT-TV chief meteorologist in Cincinnati, market No. 34, for the same job in Mobile, Ala., market No. 60?
Because he wants the challenge of forecasting hurricanes.
"Market size means nothing to me. Happiness does, and this is a great opportunity for me," says Beasley, who started at NBC affiliate WPMI-TV last week after four years here.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090823/ENT/908230333/1175/Beasley+left+to+forecast+Ala.+hurricanes

Remembering "The Sportsman Show"

In 1958, with local television in its infancy, The Sportsman Show began its successful run on WTHI-TV. With its popular and knowledgeable hosts, Jack Ennis and Jack Kerins, the show became a real boon to the outdoorsman and would continue to be seen throughout the Wabash Valley for the next twenty years, moving eventually to WTWO-Ch2. The last show was done in September of 1978, but many still remember it.

http://www.tribstar.com/history/local_story_234190829.html

WOSU Programming Off Time Warner Cable Southwest Area

Local fans of the Columbus-based WOSU PBS channel won't be able to view it on Time Warner Cable after Aug. 25, according to Michael Pedelty, vice president of communications for Time Warner's southwest Ohio region."We currently have it available through Dayton operations but we are making changes with some of our public broadcast stations to eliminate duplication of programming," he said Friday. "This was part of a national agreement and streamlining of services."

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=151794&TM=83105.32

2 New Additions to the WLWT Family

Two Quick Hits on this Friday, both having to do with WLWT-TV 5/Cincinnati:QUICK HIT 1: Congratulations to WLWT's Sandra Ali and WKRC-TV 12/Cincinnati's Shawn Ley. Their baby boy, Roman Alexander Ley was born Thursday. John Kiesewetter reports that Ley emailed his co-workers that mom and baby are doing just fine.

QUICK HIT 2: WLWT has hired back John Bateman, reports Kiese in the above link. Bateman had left Channel 5 back in May, when his contract was not renewed. He gets the call back following the unexpected departure last week of Derek Beasley, who bolted out of town to the chief meteorologist job at WPMI/15 in Mobile, Alabama. (And really, working the split shift, who could blame him?)

http://ohkyintristatemedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/couple-wlwt-quick-hits.html

Cox Media to Share Resources Among TV, Radio, and Newspaper

Cox Media Group Inc.’s new business operations model involves bringing together newspaper, radio and television properties and expertise while protecting independent news and editorial functions.
But it’s all about serving customers better, said Alex Taylor, newly appointed group vice president for Cox Media Group’s Dayton and Louisville, Ky., markets.
“Our No. 1 goal is to make sure the products improve,” Taylor said.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/cox-media-to-share-resources-between-newspaper-tv-and-radio-properties-257137.html

YouTube Signs Deal with Time Warner for Popular Programs

YouTube has signed a deal with Time Warner Inc to feature program clips from a range of its cable networks, including CNN, Cartoon Network and TNT, the online video site said on Wednesday.
The move is the latest by the Google Inc-owned video service to increase the range of video clips through which it can sell advertising as it tries to improve its chances of becoming profitable in the near term.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkyu/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1544562/Arts..and..Culture/YouTube.signs.deal.to.feature.Time.Warner.cable.shows

WKRC Fires Anna Townsend

Major changes to the number one morning show in Cincinnati. Effective immediately, WKRC has let go of morning anchor Anna Townsend. Townsend came to Local12 nearly four years ago from Missouri, and while Townsend confirmed to the Cincinnati Enquirer she was fired, she nor station will comment on the events that led to today's dismissal. Starting Monday, viewers will see Liz Bonis with John Lomax. Bonis has been the station's health reporter and most recently, morning news reporter. Bonis came to WKRC from the morning show on MIX 94.1 FM. What do you think of the changes? Will this hurt WKRC's morning ratings?

http://cincydaytonmediacenter.blogspot.com/

60 Minutes Creator Don Hewitt Passes Away

Don Hewitt, recognized as a father of modern television news and the creator of the medium's most successful broadcast, 60 Minutes, died today. He was 86.cessful broadcast, 60 Minutes, died today. He was 86.

http://kdka.com/national/don.hewitt.dead.2.1134964.html

Cox Media Brings New VP to Dayton and Louisville Markets

Cox Media Group, Inc. announced Wednesday, Aug. 19, the appointment of Alex Taylor as group vice president for its Dayton and Louisville, Ky., markets, effective immediately.
This is part of Cox Media Group’s new operating concept that reorganizes its media businesses by maximizing the expertise and talents of its media professionals across its portfolio of newspapers, radio and television businesses, the company said.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/cox-media-group-taps-taylor-as-dayton-louisville-group-vp-255515.html

Where in the World is former WKRC Chief Meteorologist Derek Beasley Heading?

We just got the word on Derek Beasley's new market location. And we were off...wayyyyy off.

http://ohkyintristatemedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/post-monday-mix.html

WLWT Hires News Director

Stacy Owen, news director at KXTV in Sacramento, has been hired by WLWT-TV (Ch 5) to replace Brennan Donnellan, who left the station a month ago. Owen has been news director for three years in Sacramento. Before that, she spent 13 years at KRON-TV in San Francisco as an assistant news director, executive producer and producer and three years as news director.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2009/08/17/wlwt-tv-hires-news-director-stacy-owen/

Louisville's CW Affiliate Has New Owner...Officially

It's official.Louisville's CW affiliate, WBKI [34/28], now has a new owner.Louisville TV Group, LLC, which was formed by Iowa-based Fusion Communications for the purpose of buying the station, won approval from the FCC on Thursday.The sale was announced in May.

http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/derby-city-digest-wbki-sale-now.html

WKYT Switching Up Morning Anchors

Viewers of the morning news on CBS affiliate WKYT (Channel 27) have begun seeing a new face.
Stacy Ellison is now co-anchoring the 5-7 a.m. newscasts with Bill Bryant, as longtime anchor Barbara Bailey shifts schedules.
Bailey will continue to anchor the noon news with Bryant. The two moved to the morning news shift in 2006 and have helped increase its viewership dramatically.

http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/896455.html

Evansville Celebrates 1 Year of RTN-TV

August 25 will mark RTV's first anniversary in the Evansville market on WEHT 25.2.If you've been with us from the earliest days of JDTVB, you may remember my excitement at being able to watch the classic programming on what was then known as RTN TV 25.

http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/flashback-1-evansvilles-rtv-then-rtn.html

Public Stations Plan Protest of Time Warner Cable's Plan

Cincinnati, Dayton and Oxford public TV stations launched a campaign Wednesday to protest Time Warner's plans to eliminate eight public TV channels Aug. 25.

"We want our stations to continue to be available to all Time Warner subscribers," said David Forgarty, president of Public Media Connect Inc., which manages CET (Channel 48), Dayton's WPTD-TV (Channel 16) and Oxford's WPTO-TV (Channel 14).

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090813/ENT/908130327/Public+stations+protest+cable+plan

Emmys Go Back to Real Time

It has been a season of reversals for the Primetime Emmy Awards. First, the ceremony was shifted from Sept. 20, only to be returned to that date two weeks later. Now, in an even bigger about-face, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has scrapped a plan to time-shift eight categories on this year's broadcast after a firestorm of criticism from the creative community.As a result, all 28 categories slated for the CBS broadcast will be awarded live.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i41bbbd5e87896f5542a5d2c298275b28

WEHT's Work on Antenna Shuts Them Down

It looks like WEHT [25.1 ABC/25.2 RTV] is about ready to take the next step in their new antenna project, but, according to the following message on their website, they'll have to spend most of Saturday off the air (and, for safety purposes for those working on the tower, it's understandable):
http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/getting-you-closer-weht-tower-work.html

ThinkTV and Time Warner Cable at Odds

Think TV Communications manager Sue Brinson said that a Time Warner Cable official contacted Public Media Connect shortly after this article was posted. No decision has been made about the proposal discussed below.
After getting no response from Time Warner Cable about alternatives to dropping seven local public television channels, ThinkTV is taking its message to the public.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/seen_and_overheard/entries/2009/08/12/thinktv_customers_will_lose_cr.html

Moutain Stage Returning to WOUB

It's been a couple of years since Mountain Stage took the show over to Athens, OH, home of Ohio University. So we're pleased to announce our return to the home of WOUB on October 11 at the Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium (Mem-Aud as the kids call it).

http://www.wvpubcast.org/blogs.aspx?id=10712&blogid=340

Significant Signal Issues at WEHT?

Evansville ABC/RTV affiliate WEHT is mentioned throughout this post. I'm fairly blunt in my own assessment of the station's (significant) signal issues, and I am also firm in my belief that what they're doing now will, more than likely, not be sufficient to take care of the problems at hand.

http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/vhf-vs-uhf-revisited-why-weht-just-wont.html

WSYX's Kent Justice Gone

Back in halcyon days at Channel 6, employees used to spend their working hours griping and grumbling about news director Lyn Tolan.

Tolan, who earned a reputation as a bit of slave driver before her retirement earlier this year, even had her own nickname: “Ayatolyn.” But employees at WSYX are in no mood to come up with clever word-plays these days. The station’s recently hired news director, Mitch Jacob, may be stifling the creative environment a bit.

Jacob, a Toledo native, started in “June.” And he lives in “Grandview.” Things at the station are “good.” Those one-word answers are about as chatty as Jacob was willing to get this week, not exactly batting away his fast reputation for being distant and unreadable. But it’s not his personality that bugs news staffers as much as Jacob’s ability to lower the ax with no warning.

http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2009/08/06/front/doc4a7aea02a994b169254390.txt

Carl Day Honored on Walk of Fame

Carl Day, an award-winning radio and television broadcaster who spent more than half a century on Dayton airwaves, is among five honorees in this year’s Dayton Walk of Fame.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, according to Doris Ponitz, chairwoman of the Walk of Fame Advisers.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/carl-day-desoto-bass-namesake-among-walk-of-fame-inductees-237674.html

New Faces on the BlueJackets Broadcast

John Michael and Ray Crawford have been added to Fox Sports Ohio's broadcast lineup for the Columbus Blue Jackets' 2009-10 season.
Michael spent the past six seasons as a minor-league hockey play-by-play voice, including the past two for the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland. He will serve as the in-game reporter on all broadcasts, the network said. He'll also host the postgame show.
Crawford, who worked previously for WSYX (Channel 6) and the now-defunct Columbus Sports Network, will serve as studio host for pregame shows when the Blue Jackets are on the road.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/08/04/0804nhlnotes.html?sid=101

WOSU-TV GM Retires

After almost three decades on the job, Ed Clay is taking a break.

The longtime station manager of WOSU-TV (Channel 34) retires today.

A native of Dayton, he taught history at Dunbar High School there before beginning his career in public television at WDTN-TV (Channel 2).

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/08/01/2_Q_A_ED_CLAY.ART_ART_08-01-09_D2_B1EL0F4.html?sid=101

Jake's DTV Blog - Poll for Evansville Market Readers

Good morning, readers! I have now posted the August poll questions, which for this month will be geared to our Evansville-market readers who watch OVER THE AIR only, so for those of you who read us in the Bowling Green, Louisville and Nashville markets, please do not vote this month.Of course, if you have a poll question you'd like to submit for a station or topic in your area, you are most welcome to do so.

http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/august-polls-now-up-and-running.html

Dayton and West Virginia Stations' Parent Company Receives Loan Extension

Cunningham Broadcasting Corp. has received another extension from its lenders on a $33.5 million loan. Payment was due today, but Cunningham, which is closely aligned with Sinclair Broadcast Group, now has until Oct. 30 to pay.

http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=811336

WCMH Lays Off 4 People

Three staff members have lost their jobs at WCMH-TV (Channel 4), including Amy Basista, co-anchor of NBC 4 Today and The NBC 4 Midday Update.
Channel 4 management would not comment on the layoffs.
Basista said she hopes to stay in Columbus and in television. "I wish the station the best of luck," she said. "There are a lot of very talented people there."
A week ago, station owner Media General, which has been cutting operating costs, reported a profitable second quarter despite drooping ad revenue. In May 2008, Channel 4 laid off seven people, including a midday co-anchor, a meteorologist and five off-camera employees, as part of a companywide reduction in work force by Media General.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/30/wcmh_cuts.html?sid=101