Clearinghouse over at KTVK?

[landtuna]

If Mac and Jewell were still around to see this, they'd be upset to where KTVK has gone over the past few years.

I think most old-time Phoenix area viewers would be just as upset. 3 was a good ABC affiliate. They ain't squat now.

And I'm also pretty sure most of us who remember the "old days" of Phoenix TV would say the entire suite of stations is much poorer than pre-Murdoch. 5 used to be one of the best independants I've ever watched with local productions considerably better than what airs on 3 today. 10 was CBS and there was no Fox (no great loss). 12 is unchanged. There was no 15 and 45 used to air old movies (kind of like TCM). 61 didn't exist then either and now it seems it is trying to replicate TBS "The StupidStation".

I readily admit I am not in the prime demo any longer. I am not enticed by obnoxious car ads or personal care products. I don't watch infomercials on how to reduce my debt, make myself into a Rocky replica or clean my colon. I don't even watch 90+ % of the non-sports programming available on terresterial TV. And I am definately not female! ;D On the other hand, I have no debt, own my home, use my credit card only when I can acrue air miles paying cash for everything else, don't own a cell phone and have three cars - all paid for. I suspect I am in a very small minority when it comes to pandering for dollars by advertisers today.

 

[dhett]

There was no 15 and 45 used to air old movies (kind of like TCM).

You realize that 15 predated 45 by about 6 years.

 

[happymelonline]

I was relieved to hear that I won't have to suffer through another report from Amanda Jahn. But I do agree, it is too bad that Heather Moore was let go. She was very pleasant to watch and seemed to not take herself too seriously (which is saying a lot for 3TV anchors/reporters...Brad Perry, I'm looking at you!). Luckily, they did not let Javier Soto go. Hubba hubba.

 

[landtuna]

You realize that 15 predated 45 by about 6 years.

That remark wasn't intended to be a timeline.

 

[dhett]

You realize that 15 predated 45 by about 6 years.

That remark wasn't intended to be a timeline.

I wasn't reading a timeline into your post.

 

[buster2]

Let's see...

Outside of very low income households, most everyone now has cable or satellite TV. The branding of channel 61 as channel 6 due to its cable placement is testament to this fact (and I'm sure COX, et al have precise figures).

That means that having a full power VHF signal in a soon-to-be digital world means less and less. Witness AZTV's success. In 1985, that station, no matter how well programmed (and it IS well-programmed Michael), is not going to make a dent in the Phoenix marketplace. Heck, that was true in 1995. Now? It's got a nice position on cable, at least, and they are a player.

Times are much different. Belo knows this.

They cannot sustain the number of staff they had in their heyday. People are watching less TV in general and those who are watching are cherry-picking what and when to watch.

That reminds me, I need to stop by COX and finally upgrade to DVR....

Phoenix has SEVEN TV station newsrooms, counting Univision and Telemundo. Five English-language TV newsrooms is a lot. It's great for competition, but hard on the bottom line, especially for an independent.

To that point, when Channel 5 was independent, they had a nice little news staff with some very good people. Their set was awful and the newsroom was a dump, but they had pros on the job and they filled a niche. When KPHO became a CBS affiliate, they immediately upgraded everything: more people, better set, helicopter, the works. Meredith owned KPHO when they spent almost nothing on news and they still own it now. Nothing has changed except the station was part of a network.

Where am I going with all this?

Channel 3 has lived on borrowed time for what, 13 years? They've defied expectations for an independent, and they skated on a very, very good reputation for news and community involvement that was built up during the late 80s early 90s. The audience is changing. Fewer people were around for the Cameron and Heidi glory days and don't know any of this great history. So Channel 3 loads up the roster of reporters with perky, chesty blondes - look at their billboards - in hopes of attracting viewers.

And their slogan - The place with more NEWS - is a last gasp. If you have to shout to the world that you do news and you've been doing news for 50 years, well, you've got problems.

I hate to say it because I know some folks there and they are hardworking, dedicated people. But by 2010, I suspect Channel 3 may have the same time of news operation KPHO did before 1996.

 

[formeraa]

I'm waiting for AZTV's newsroom! ;D

 

[oldiesfan6479]

The more recent posts on the TV Spy Watercooler
(two threads) allege the bloodbath has continued
and is now up to about 24 in number.

Was anyone missing--and not disclaimed as being
away--from GMAZ today?

 

[formeraa]

I will try to take a look at GMAZ tomorrow morning -- I have to be up early for 7am appointment. Logically, GMAZ is doing the best so I don't think that they would chop off talent wholesale. They may make minor tweaks -- like getting rid of the rather ordinary Brian Webb on GMAZ weekends.

 

[brian4]

Was anyone missing--and not disclaimed as being
away--from GMAZ today?

The Big Six were there: Tara, Scott, Dan, Brad, Olivia, April.

I have a lot more to say about this topic, but if there had to get rid of one female lead, I would think it would be Heather Moore. They "aren't" going to layoff Tara or Patti, so that leaves Heather and Beverly. KTVK might have more invested in Bev so Heather was the one.

 

[mninmesa]

I read at thedirty.com, the same website that nailed Matt Leinart during the spring with photos of him in a hot tub with some lady-folk that the now deposed Heather Moore and Ben Lamoine were getting pretty hot and heavy at Devil's Martini in North Scottsdale.

Irrelevant, tawdry and Gossip-y? (is that a word?) Yes. Some worthy filler on an otherwise slow day about TV News? You betcha!

http://www.thedirty.com/?p=27013

 

[Teddyo]

I read at thedirty.com, the same website that nailed Matt Leinart during the spring with photos of him in a hot tub with some lady-folk that the now deposed Heather Moore and Ben Lamoine were getting pretty hot and heavy at Devil's Martini in North Scottsdale.

Irrelevant, tawdry and Gossip-y? (is that a word?) Yes. Some worthy filler on an otherwise slow day about TV News? You betcha!

http://www.thedirty.com/?p=27013

Uhhh, thanks for the post and link. Although I did kind of feel like I wanted to wash my hands (and my computer) after visiting thedirty.

This one was interesting:

The Place with Moore Stuff Says:
May 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Saw Heather Mo’ out with Gordan Giricek of the Suns the other night. I’m sure he slipped her the ole Croatian sensation later on. Just another tv skank sleeping with the Suns. Katie Raml and Leandro Barbosa, Nichole Zaloumis and Raja Bell. Heard Bev Kidd wanted some Suns greg too, but got the shaft.

Get out! ABC 15's Katie Raml and Leandro Barbosa? So she's one of those huh? LOL

Man...this explains everything! You can't be no South Dakota farmgal and expect to join the Suns stable of Hos !

Bring on the bling, foot-thick make-up, and porn!

How's her pidgin Portugese ? I know, I know -- she probably opted for the oral exam.

Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[obihave]

*UPDATE*

Ch. 3 announced they are starting there morning show at 4:30am now. They've dumped there 10pm news and will start a new 9pm newscast soon.

And it appears they will loose Oprah in the future. They can't afford to keep paying the price they're paying for her. Maybe they can get Marie Osmonds show as a replacement. That'll attract most of Mesa.

 

[desertskies]

*UPDATE*

Ch. 3 announced they are starting there morning show at 4:30am now. They've dumped there 10pm news and will start a new 9pm newscast soon.

And it appears they will loose Oprah in the future. They can't afford to keep paying the price they're paying for her. Maybe they can get Marie Osmonds show as a replacement. That'll attract most of Mesa.

And your source is...?

 

[landtuna]

Maybe they can get Marie Osmonds show as a replacement. That'll attract most of Mesa.

Driven through Mesa lately? It is largely Hispanic. I really doubt La Raza has Marie at the top of their viewing schedule.

 

[KeithE4]

Maybe they can get Marie Osmonds show as a replacement. That'll attract most of Mesa.

Driven through Mesa lately? It is largely Hispanic. I really doubt La Raza has Marie at the top of their viewing schedule.

OK. How about GIlbert then? ;D

 

[obihave]

*UPDATE*

Ch. 3 announced they are starting there morning show at 4:30am now. They've dumped there 10pm news and will start a new 9pm newscast soon.

And it appears they will loose Oprah in the future. They can't afford to keep paying the price they're paying for her. Maybe they can get Marie Osmonds show as a replacement. That'll attract most of Mesa.

And your source is...?

....Belo!
http://www.belo.com/pressRelease.x2?release=20080521-1579.html

 

[brian4]

As of 25 May, KTVK has had a rotation of news readers taking the place of Brian Webb. 17 May: Frank Camacho, 18 May: Javier Soto, 24 May: Tyler Baldwin, 25 May Carey Pena.
I hope they settle on a permanent person soon. While Webb wasn't Mr. Electricity and hard for him to match the enthusiasm of Tess Rafols, he was dependable. Can't understand why they didn't have a replacement ready to go.

 

[desertskies]

*UPDATE*

Ch. 3 announced they are starting there morning show at 4:30am now. They've dumped there 10pm news and will start a new 9pm newscast soon.

And it appears they will loose Oprah in the future. They can't afford to keep paying the price they're paying for her. Maybe they can get Marie Osmonds show as a replacement. That'll attract most of Mesa.

And your source is...?

....Belo!
http://www.belo.com/pressRelease.x2?release=20080521-1579.html

In the words of the late, great Johnny Carson...
"That's wild...I did not know that".

Thanks for the response.

 

[formeraa]

As of 25 May, KTVK has had a rotation of news readers taking the place of Brian Webb. 17 May: Frank Camacho, 18 May: Javier Soto, 24 May: Tyler Baldwin, 25 May Carey Pena.
I hope they settle on a permanent person soon. While Webb wasn't Mr. Electricity and hard for him to match the enthusiasm of Tess Rafols, he was dependable. Can't understand why they didn't have a replacement ready to go.

Based on some inside info, I don't think that the managers had a long time to plan for this. You must remember the long period before Brian Webb that GMAZ weekend didn't have a permanent news anchor. After Heather Moore moved to weekdays, there were a rotation of news anchors for months and months. I was upset that they didn't promote Antoine Lewis to GMAZ weekend news anchor.

There's really nothing wrong with using rotating anchors on the weekend program, as long as Tess is there! Honestly, I'd rather have rotating anchors than the boring Brian Webb.