Another WAGM change

Angela DiMillo who has been filling-in at 5:30 for a few months, has became the saturday anchor at 8, as well as still filling in at 5:30.

WAGM Makes a small change

Kara Lauristen who was the weather anchor/co-anchor/reporter at WAGM has been demoted to just reporter.

She was replaced by a newbie Kelly O'Mara. But as you know WAGM has a lot of turnover so its not overly shocking.

Update: Kara has now left 8.

Samantha Knapp Returns to WLNE

Samantha Knapp who was a reporter at 6, a few years ago has returned as a freelance reporter. She last worked full time at WKMG in Orlando, but more recently was freelancing at WCBS-TV in NYC.

WTIC gets a new Meteorologist

Rachel Frank who had been working as a meteorologist at WFMZ-TV an Independent station in Allentown PA, (part of the Philly market) doing the noon weather Mon-Wed and filling in otherwise, has joined WTIC as the weekend evening meteorologist for the 10PM news, and the newly launched 11PM news on Sunday. She will also be a weekday reporter.

Susan Farley leaves WABI after 5 years

Susan Farley who has been a bureau chief at WABI since Aug 2003 has left WABI. No reason known why she left, but she did leave WABI radio where she anchored from 1990-1995 to raise her children.


Her biography is still available via this link: http://www.wabi.tv/content/4123/Susan_Farley/

A video bio is also included at the link.

Update: Susan is freelancing at WABI now

Hena Daniels gets promoted at WFSB

Hena Daniels who has been at WFSB for exactly 3 years has been promoted to weekend evening co-anchor with Kevin Hogan. She replaces Erika Arias who left 3 for WTIC where she anchors the 11PM, after not getting the 11PM slot at WFSB.








This is her bio (it hasn't been updated to show her promotion yet) http://www.wfsb.com/newsteam/9325047/detail.html

Comings & Goings

There are few comings & goings.





Robert Goulston moves from WLNE (Freelance) to WFSB as the new, New Haven bureau chief. He last full time job was WTVF in Nashville.







Tom Lewis moves from WVIT to WTIC. This is his 3rd station in CT, he also worked at WTNH as well.












John Carroll moves from WVIT where he was a freelance meteorologist to KREX, where he will be chief meteorologist. He also worked as chief meteorologist at WTIC for a few years.

More changes at WPRI

A swap has happened again. Lin who owns WPRI is very unpredictable. They have swapped Elizabeth Hopkins & Pamela Watts. Pamela who would occasionally fill-in, is now the weekend evening anchor. While Elizabeth is now the weekday morning co-anchor with Mark Zinni and solo's the noon.


Elizabeth joined WPRI last year to fill the open slot that was open for a while. She was the 5PM anchor and the main co-anchor at her last two stations she worked at.

Pamela has been an anchor in RI market at 6 & 12. She started her TV career at WLNE (6) in the late 80's and later became the main co-anchor. She left 6 to go to 12 to become the solo morning anchor of Eyewitness News This Morning.

Here's a quick recent history of Eyewitness News This Morning:

Pamela Watts joins WPRI to solo anchor ENTM, along with long time friend and meteorologist Steve Cascione (long-time chief at WLNE). (late 2002-early 2003)

Pamela is joined by now main weekday evening co-anchor Mike Montcalvo.

Mike moves to noon & 5:30 co-anchor and Mark Zinni moves from weekend morings to join Pam. (June 2007) Pamela would still anchor noon with Mike.

Steve Cascione is demoted to various slots and goes back to WLNE to become morning meterologist. Michelle Muscatello become weekday moring meterologist moving from weekend mornings. (Late 2007).

And now this why can't WPRI decide they've replaced everybody!

Opinion: Back in the Pam & Steve days I wasn't that much of a news watcher, but I think the'll be a great team when they renuite sometime. Pam & Mike never had any chemistry and I couldn't watch. I was very happy when moved Mike away except for noon! Pam & Mark were great and I wished they did noon because I am rarely up that early. It's sad they moved Pam off because they were actually getting competitive. Elizabeth is really good and i'm going to miss her!

Pamela will probally end up at 6 or 10. She's too good to retire.

If 6:

A. Weekend Evening anchor though she might not want it.

B. Morning anchor though they probally won't bump Doreen off.

C. Senior reporter or something.

If 10:

A. 5:30 co-anchor and reporter.

B. Senior reporter.

C. Morning co-anchor with Frank....probally not.

Why i'm saying she might leave is that Steve did it and she would probally not like the demotion. A lot of people leave Lin stations for that reason.

NBC Weather Plus is Gone

NBC Weather Plus which was launched as a digital sub channel rival of the Weather Channel is going off the air. After NBC bought the weather channel its says were numbered. Here's what might happen to the local stations Weather Plus subchannel.

WJAR: They might have to the most to lose they carry there 10 minute 10PM newscast (mon-fri) with Gene. They don't have many options:

A. Add it to there RTN sub-channel it could replace 10-2 which carry's Weather Plus. 10-3 plays RTN (Retro Television Network) currently.

B. They premiered the market's first 10PM newscast on CW-28 back in April 1997 (which was short lived), the only problem is that the signal is coming out of Salt Lake City for WLWC, though they still have a sales office in Providence. It could be done but tricky.

C. They could launch a My Network TV sub channel and carry a 10PM newscast (my network tv is currently being ran overnight on WNAC). They would have to launch it which would take a while and legal things with Lin)

D. They used to run delayed broadcasts of the news on WPXQ for a while at 7PM & 11:30PM of the 6 & 11PM News. They still run it occasionally on weekends when sports preempt it. But Paxson prefers not to run newscasts on its stations after they ended their agreement with NBC Universal.

Most other stations with weather plus will figure out other uses for that subchannel probally.

WWLP has never had Weather Plus.

Jeremy Tung out at WLNE

Jeremy Tung who has worked as a reporter/sat evening anchor has left WLNE after 7 years. He had only done limited reporting as of late and occasionally filled in at 4PM for Paul. He was a long timer at 6. He was a decent anchor and a good reporter.






Editors Note: I couldn't get his cached bio pick from Google. Sorry.

Who could be next for HD Newscasts (opinion post)

Providence/New Bedford

WLNE: Less than a couple of a years ago, no one would have ever thought 6 would have produced the first local HD program in the market. But the Bristol 4th of July parade was the first and don't be surprised if 6 goes HD soon.

WJAR: A lot of WJAR's sister stations via Media General have gone HD while 10 hasn't, they only picked up up the HD-Ready graphics. There set is not ready for HD.

WPRI: 12 has only one Lin sister station in HD and there taking a while to add more. There ready for HD. Graphics and set and HD ready.

Presque Isle

WAGM: Not for a long while.

Bangor:

WLBZ: See WCSH

WABI: They are the most popular in the market, but the graphics and set need a change before HD. Either First of 2nd, if WCSH/WABI does or does not beat them.

WVII: Not for a long while.

Portland:

WCSH: The leader in Maine could go HD soon, Gannett has a lot of HD stations. Thought the graphics and set are not HD ready.

WMTW: Hearest Arygle could impress all of Maine and finally get out last place if they go HD, a lot of HA stations are HD already. Graphics aren't the HA high definition ones, and the set needs to be upgraded before HD can come.

WGME: Sinclair hasn't put a lot into HD, they only have their flagship station in Baltimore in HD. WGME is down the road its one its highest rated stations.

Springfield:

WWLP: They maybe the the top rated news station in Springfield, but it will be a while only Lin's flagship has gone HD so it will be a while. I think the graphics are HD ready but I never get to see WWLP so I don't know.

WGGB: I wouldn't have a clue honestly, the have the new owners, and they may go HD but they may not. Graphics are HD ready though.

WSHM-LP: Not for a while due to the low power status.

Vermont: (WFFF already in HD)

WCAX: They could be next, they have HD ready graphics, not sure on the set. 3's owners spend a lot of money on it. They could be 2nd.

WPTZ: Who knows its taking Hearst Arygle a while for HD, set could be ready. Graphics aren't because they wouldn't get them till they go HD.

Hartford/New Haven (Highest Market in the nation without HD Newscast)

WFSB: They are ready to go HD, Meredith has a few stations in HD, they moved to the new building for HD, the set, and graphics are ready.

WTNH: They may have HD ready graphics, set I'm not sure, but as with the sisters well be waiting for a while. Lin is very slow on the HD front.

WVIT: They picked up the HD ready graphics from NBC and there not being sold so its the best time to add HD, set is not ready. They may wait till the new building which is unfortunate, because it would help there dropping ratings.

WTIC: FOX 61 has made so many changes and HD will come the new tribune is giving stations HD, but tribune will need to give them a new set before HD because the graphics are already ready.

We'll see who next for HD.

Darren Sweeney moves from WFSB to WVIT

Darren Sweeney who was the weekend meteorologist at WFSB until July has been hired for rival WVIT for the weekend morning newscast. WVIT has been using freelancers on it weekend morning show, since Ryan Hanrahan was promoted to weekend evenings. Jeremy Schmidt who has been filling in as a meteorologist on the weekend morning show will be staying on as a freelance fill-in for now. Darren starts at 30 this Sunday.

Here's Darren's last forecast at WFSB: