Happy Friday to those who celebrate! In this week’s edition of stories we didn’t get to for one reason or another, we see the big news is the speculation over whether Disney will sell its ABC locals to Nexstar.
We also have the usual sturm und drang and push and pull of folks coming and going at local stations around the country. But, also Disney and, now, possibly Byron Allen? Oh my.
Let’s do the thing:
>Deadline says Tom Carter, a longtime former Nexstar exec who is now a senior advisor to the CEO and board of directors, says the company could acquire Disney’s local ABC TV stations with “little friction” if they become available. Click here for more.
>CNN said that Bloomberg’s Christopher Palmeri and Thomas Buckley reported that Disney has “held exploratory talks” about selling ABC to Nexstar Media Group. The duo also reported that media mogul Byron Allen has also spoken with Disney about a possible deal. Click here for more.
>NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters nationwide pet adoption and donation initiative has now resulted in more than one million adoptions since its 2015 inception as more than 157,000 pets found new homes during the 2023 campaign Aug. 1 to 31. The announcement was made today in collaboration with Clear The Shelters partners Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Greater Good Charities and WeRescue. NBCUniversal Local said more than $575,000 has been donated to participating animal shelters and rescues as part of this year’s Clear The Shelters fundraising effort, which has been extended in recognition of reaching the one million all-time adoption
>The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, also known as The James, is bringing back the Heather Pick Music Program. Through the program, patients, caregivers, staff and visitors can enjoy performances featuring different musical styles and genres throughout the week. The Heather Pick Music Program was named after the late WBNS morning anchor who died on Nov. 7, 2008, after a public battle with breast cancer. Click here to read about it.
>Augusta, Georgia Fox affiliate WFXG welcomes back Jasmyn Cornell as the new morning anchor-reporter for the CSRA’s only 5-hour newscast from 5 to 10 Monday-Friday. She’ll join anchor-reporter Sabrina Shutters and meteorologist Alex Carter. Click here for the story.
>Matt Petrillo, a 2012 journalism alumnus and former KYW reporter, joined Temple’s Department of Public Safety on Aug. 28 as the new director of communications, a position the department had been planning to fill since the beginning of 2023. Click here for more.
>Grand Rapids, Michigan station FOX 17 said its morning news is expanding to 5 hours and welcoming a familiar news anchor to the team. Click here to read about it.
>Longtime anchor and community leader Ben Kaplan said goodbye to Tallahassee, Florida station WCTV on Friday. Click here for the story.
>The Price is Right has aired weekday mornings on Pittsburg, Kansas station KOAM-7 CBS at 10 a.m. as long as we can remember. So, the station said, it seems appropriate the new KOAM morning news anchor Katelyn O’Shaunessy appears on the show. Viewers were shocked to see Katelyn, “Come on down!” on Friday’s rerun show. Click here for more.
>Omaha, Nebraska’s 6 News WOWT said it “is excited” to welcome Erin Sullivan to its evening news team next month. Erin will join John Knicely and the 6 News team for nightly newscasts starting in October after wrapping up her work anchoring the morning news at our sister station NBC-15 in Madison, Wisconsin. Click here for more.
>Janelle Stelson, a longtime anchor at WGAL News 8, announced her departure from the station Thursday evening, amid reports she’s considering a 2024 congressional run. Click here for the story.
>Former Chopper 8 reporter Jo Eager is releasing a new book about her life and making healthy choices. Click here to read about it on the San Diego station’s website.