Archive for April, 2011

Dish Network may drop WSYM in Lansing

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Posted 28 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Lansing

WSYM FOX 47Dish Network may remove WSYM (FOX 47) from their channel lineup in Lansing because of a retransmission dispute between WSYM parent company Journal Broadcast Group and Dish Network.

Dish Network could lose local stations in nine markets at midnight tonight if the satcaster doesn’t sign a new programming pact with the Journal Broadcast Group.

The two sides are battling over carriage rates in the new agreement. Journal Broadcast Group CEO Steve Smith tells NBC 26 in Green Bay, one of the stations affected, that negotiations are up in the air.

“We have granted an extension to that contract, so that Dish can keep our television stations on their system,” said Steve Smith, Chairman and CEO of Journal. “We don’t know if they’re going to accept that extension, so that’s the question. Are we going to be on the Dish Network after Thursday? We don’t know. We hope so.”

TV Predictions

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Did Jeff Varner already leave WWMT?

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Posted 25 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Jeff VarnerWWMT anchor Jeff Varner has been missing from WWMT (Channel 3) in Kalamazoo since Thursday. Varner’s online biography has been removed from the WWMT staff bios page.

Since giving a year’s advance notice that he would be leaving the Kalamazoo station at the end of his contract in June 2012, WWMT (Newschannel 3) lead anchor Jeff Varner has not been on the air.

In a call to Varner today, the two-time-Emmy-nominated anchor confirmed his absence from the 5, 5:30, 6, 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts since Thursday – the day he made his announcement via the Press.

“Yes, I am off the air. I will have a lot to say about why when the moment comes,” Varner said. “For more information at this time, I direct people to (General Manager) Jim Lutton.”

Calls to Lutton today were not returned.

Rachael Recker | The Grand Rapids Press

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Jeff Varner will leave WWMT in June 2012

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Posted 21 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Jeff VarnerJeff Varner will leave Freedom-owned WWMT in Kalamazoo when his contract expires in June 2012. Varner’s co-anchor Judy Markee will leave WWMT at the end of May when her contract runs out.

WWMT (Channel 3)’s two-time-Emmy-nominated lead news anchor Jeff Varner told the Kalamazoo station Wednesday that he would be leaving when his contract ends in June 2012.

The news comes in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement that longtime WOOD-TV (Channel 8 ) anchor Suzanne Geha is no longer working at the local NBC affiliate.

WWMT currently is looking to fill the anchor position formerly held by Judy Markee, who announced recently she will not be renewing her contract at the station after 22 years. Her last day is May 27.

Varner said he has not heard any rumors of Geha coming to the station, but wouldn’t mind the new company.

Rachael Recker | The Grand Rapids Press

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Where is Suzanne Geha?

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Posted 20 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Suzanne Geha

Veteran news anchor Suzanne Geha has been missing from LIN Media’s WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids for several weeks. Her biography is no longer listed on the station’s staff bios page. A cached version of her bio is still available thanks to Google. Did Suzanne Geha leave WOOD-TV?

Geha’s quiet disappearance from WOOD-TV coincides with Judy Markee’s announced departure from WWMT. Markee, another veteran news anchor in the West Michigan TV market, will leave WWMT at the end of May after 22 years with the station.

Could Geha resurface at WWMT as Markee’s replacement? WWMT has a history of hiring former WOOD-TV staffers, including Tom Van Howe. Van Howe produces a weekly commentary segment called “Tom’s Corner,” which airs every Thursday during the 5:30 p.m. newscast on WWMT.

Update: WOOD-TV issued a press release about Geha’s departure:

April 20, 2011

Suzanne Geha is no longer with WOOD TV8. We thank her for her many years of commitment and we wish her all the best.

Effective immediately, Susan Shaw and Brian Sterling will be our evening and late night anchor team. Brett Thomas and Emily Linnert will continue on Daybreak and the Noon News.

WOOD TV8 will continue to provide the best breaking news, investigative reports and severe weather coverage in West Michigan.

The Grand Rapids Press

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WWMT debuts HD news

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Posted 16 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

WWMTFreedom CBS affiliate WWMT in Kalamazoo is now broadcasting local news in high definition. The first HD newscast aired on Saturday at 6:00 PM. New on-screen graphics have accompanied the move to HD.

WWMT is the second TV station in the Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek market that broadcasts local news in high definition. Tribune FOX affiliate WXMI first launched HD newscasts in April 2009.

LIN Media NBC affiliate WOOD-TV and Gannett ABC affiliate WZZM currently broadcast local news in standard definition widescreen. WOOD-TV and WZZM have not publicly announced plans to upgrade their news operations.

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Bomb scare forces WDIV off the air

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Posted 15 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Detroit

WDIVPost-Newsweek’s WDIV in Detroit was evacuated last night after a suspicious package was found in the station’s foyer.

Police and firefighters spent hours Thursday at the WDIV-TV studios downtown, responding to a report of a suspicious package that temporarily forced the station off the air for its 11 p.m. news broadcast.

Anchor Devin Scillian was posting tweets from a bus where staff had been evacuated.

“Very odd trying to figure out a newscast right now … No access to the newsroom or studio,” he tweeted around 10:30 p.m. “This is a new one.”

The all-clear was issued after 11:15 p.m., when Channel 4 began to broadcast again. No injuries were reported.

Mark Hicks | The Detroit News

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Jordan Carson joins WOOD-TV

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Posted 14 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Jordan CarsonJordan Carson has joined LIN Media’s WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids as a full-time staff member. Carson was the 2009 winner of the “Face of 4″ contest on WOTV.

Jordan Carson, 2009′s winner of WOTV’s “Face of 4” contest, is now a full-time staff member at WOOD-TV (Channel 8).

Carson’s new role will be the on-air talent for special projects, which have yet to be revealed.

“We’re just kind of collaborating and putting ideas together and working on some really big projects that will hopefully be coming up in the near future,” she said.

She also will be doing segments and fill-in work for “eightWest” (11 a.m. weekdays, WOOD-TV), a lifestyle show for women with co-hosts Rachael Ruiz and Terri DeBoer, and live events.

Rachael Recker | The Grand Rapids Press

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Meredith partners with WorldNow for station sites

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Posted 08 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Flint-Saginaw-Bay City

Meredith, WorldNowMeredith is partnering with WorldNow for its 12 local broadcast web sites, including WNEM in Bay City. WorldNow plans to relaunch Meredith’s local web sites in June.

Meredith Local Media is partnering with web solutions outfit WorldNow to provide its 12 sites with “a suite of online services including web publishing, video, mobile, sales support and national editorial content,” the two companies said in a statement.

WorldNow had supplied web services for Meredith years ago, before the two parted ways.

“Meredith is very focused on expanding its digital footprint, and the WorldNow team offers robust products to support those priorities,” said Steve Schwaid, Meredith Local Media Group vice president of digital content. “Additionally, WorldNow has built strong social media applications which are very impressive.”

Michael Malone | Broadcasting & Cable

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Nexstar plans to launch local news at WJMN

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Posted 07 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Marquette

NexstarMarquette residents may soon have another choice for local news. Nexstar Broadcasting plans to launch local news at WJMN in Marquette after the group closes on its acquisition of the station.

Nexstar plans to launch local news at WJMN Marquette (MI) after the group closes on its acquisition of it and WFRV Green Bay, says president and CEO Perry Sook.

WJMN is run as a satellite station out of WFRV and rebroadcasts the Green Bay station’s programming. A skeleton crew, comprised of a salesperson and an engineer, works out of Marquette.

“We’ve found ways to make a lot of money on news in markets that size,” says Sook. “We plan to develop a separate news presence and sales staff; local news is definitely a part of the future for that station.”

Perry Kidder is president and general manager of WFRV and WJMN. He’s run the stations since 1992.

Michael Malone | Broadcasting & Cable

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Nexstar to acquire WFRV and WJMN

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Posted 07 Apr 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Marquette

WJMNNexstar will acquire WFRV Green Bay and its semi-satellite station WJMN Marquette from Liberty Media for $20 million.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group has agreed to acquire WFRV Green Bay and WJMN Marquette from an affiliate of Liberty Media Corporation for $20 million. Both are CBS affiliates. The acquisition will increase Nexstar’s CBS contingent to 13 stations and expand to 65 the number of stations either owned or operated by the group.

The deal includes $17.5 million of cash, which Nexstar intends to finance through borrowings under its senior credit facility, and Nexstar stock valued at $2.5 million to an affiliate of Liberty Media Corporation.

“The acquisition of WFRV and WJMN highlights Nexstar’s role in the industry as a leading consolidator of stations in mid-sized markets through accretive transactions,” said Perry Sook, Nexstar president and CEO. “The acquisition allows the company to expand and diversify its station portfolio and presents a new opportunity for the Company to leverage its intellectual capital and operating management. In addition, entering Wisconsin and Michigan represents a natural complement to our existing Midwest operations.”

Michael Malone | Broadcasting & Cable

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