News anchor Diana Fairbanks is leaving Barrington Broadcasting’s WPBN/WTOM (Channel 7 & 4) in Northern Michigan for a job at LIN Media’s WIVB in Buffalo.
WPBN-WTOM anchor Diana Fairbanks is joining Buffalo’s WIVB-WNLO on January 16.
Fairbanks, who tells TVSpy she is “excited about the opportunity,” says she will anchor the 5:30 p.m. newscast on WIVB and the 10 p.m. newscast on WNLO on weekdays. Her last day at WPBN-WTOM, the NBC-affiliate in Traverse City, MI, is Friday.
In a statement on the station’s website, WPBN-WTOM president Jill Sareela called Fairbanks an “integral part” of the station for the past 11 years, adding WPBN-WTOM was “fortunate to have her for that long.”
Heritage Broadcasting and Dish Network have reached a multi-year retransmission agreement. WWTV and WFQX have returned to Dish Network’s channel lineup in Northern Michigan.
Nielsen released new rankings for local television markets. The Detroit, Lansing and Alpena markets did not change. Grand Rapids, Traverse City and Marquette moved down one spot. Flint moved up one spot in the rankings.
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters announced their 2010 broadcast excellence awards.
The Grand Traverse Insider writes about WPBN/WTOM Chief Meteorologist Mark Watkins.