Happy Friday to all who celebrate. In this week’s edition of stories we didn’t get to for one reason or another, we have a wide range of things happening in the world of local TV.
An FCC renewal explores the line between divisions in a media corporation in Philadelphia, two station groups trade stations and a meteorologist takes over for an icon in Chicago.
WGN has named Demetrius Ivory as chief meteorologist. He’ll replace Tom Skilling (pictured) who is retiring after 45 years. Click here to read about it.
Gray sent out a press release saying it has reached agreements with Marquee Broadcasting, Inc. to swap television stations. Gray will sell its television stations in the Cheyenne-Scottsbluff and Casper television markets (DMAs 194 and 198, respectively) to Marquee in exchange for Marquee’s FCC permit authorizing the construction of new, unbuilt television station KCBU in the Salt Lake City market (DMA 27).
KVIA in El Paso is losing two anchors, one to retirement and one who is looking for a new adventure. Click here to read about it.
On Oct. 9, 2023, Mike Klis took an ambulance from 9NEWS to Denver Health after ignoring symptoms all day he’d thought was heartburn – it was a heart attack. Click here to hear the story.
New Baltimore Sun owner and Sinclair Broadcast Group Executive Chairman David Smith has been quietly involved in a lawsuit accusing Baltimore City Public Schools of defrauding taxpayers, documents show. Click here to read the story.
Fox Corp. is calling for the prompt renewal of its TV station license in Philadelphia, saying recent attempts to influence the Federal Communications Commission’s review are legally defective in falling outside the agency’s policies and traditions in deciding the merits of a renewal. Click here for more.
WHNT News 19 today announced the retirement of news anchor Jerry Hayes. March 26, 2024, is his last day at the Huntsville, Alabama station and it is also his 45th Anniversary at News 19. Click here to read about it.
ABC Owned Television Stations present Our America: In the Black, sponsored by Microsoft Corp., beginning Saturday, Feb. 3. This documentary special chronicles the efforts of Microsoft Philanthropies specialist Darrell Booker in his national quest to raise awareness about building financial health and wellness in the Black community. Click here to see what TVNewsCheck said about it.
KCEN 6 News Waco-Temple-Killeen saw some anchor changes at the end of 2023. Weekend anchor Baylee Bates moved to anchor Monday through Friday evening newscasts with Lindsay Liepman and Kris Radcliffe. Multi-skilled journalist Adriana Alexander took over weekend anchor duties. Click here to read what Houston media writer Mike McGuff had to say.