M
Mark_Giardina
Guest
Just for the fun of it, let’s look down the road a few years and guess who might replace the current TV anchors on Rochester television once they retire or leave.
Mind you this is just an observation on my part and by no means do I have any inside information, or psychic abilities, that what I’m about to write will actually happen. And please, feel free to add your own thoughts and opinions.
At WHAM TV it has been a forgone conclusion for a number of years both in and outside the industry that Doug Emblidge will be Channel 13’s lead anchor once Don Alhart retires. Personally I would be shocked if the management at 13 either promoted someone else to be Alhart’s replacement or hired an individual from outside the Rochester market. Emblidge, like Alhart, is a known quantity. Doug is likeable person, both on and off the air, and has been quite active in the community for many years. Regarding Ginny Ryan, I have no idea who would replace her. Not that 13 doesn’t have enough female staffers. The recent promotion of Holly Maynard to morning anchor is one clue that she might be considered anchor material for the evening newscasts. Personally I think the strongest contender would be Christine Webb.
Over at Channel 10, the question of who would replace Rich Funke is a bit more difficult to answer. Originally, as some of you might remember, Brian Martin was named to be 10’s main anchor when Gabe Dalmath “retired”. Martin’s tenure as anchor however was short-lived because, as some sources claim, Martin and 10’s management didn’t see eye-to-eye when it came to a salary increase. So while Martin was moved from the anchor’s chair to field reporter, and eventually left the station for another job, Funke was tapped to be 10’s co-anchor for their 5, 6 and 11pm newscasts.
Rich, like Don and Doug, is a likeable person both on and off the air and is well known in the community. And while 10 has a fine staff of veteran reporters, at the moment it would be anyone’s guess who would be selected to replace Funke should the day come he decides to retire. As for Janet Lomax’s replacement, the only person I see waiting in the wings would be Jennifer Johnson, 10’s current weekend anchor.
As for Channel 8, I’ve always maintained that Maureen McGuire is one of the best anchors on Rochester TV. Unfortunately WROC has a history of self-destructing. The station has never fully recovered from the strike of the 1970s when Tom Decker, Bob Mills and Mort Nusbaum were replaced by a series of revolving door anchors and reporters. Now, from what I understand, the station might face another personnel shake-up. So it’s really difficult to predict what will happen over there on Humboldt Street. My own personal observation is that if McGuire and Scott Hetsko, along with Dave McKinley and Rachael Barnhart ever left, or were replaced, 8 would really be in the ratings doghouse.
Last, but not least, looking at both FOX-31 and R-News.
What ever happens to Channel 8’s operation will impact FOX-31’s 10 o’clock news just because of the partnership, collaboration, whatever you want to call it, between WROC and WUHF. Personally I just can’t imagine that Lia Lando would turn down an opportunity to move on to a larger market if offered the chance. And let's be honest, would it really matter who anchors the 10 o'clock news on FOX?
As for R-News, the guessing game is whether R-News will be around in a few years. At least in its current format.
I would be curious to hear from people in Buffalo and Syracuse to their opinions about future anchor positions in their respective markets
<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
Mind you this is just an observation on my part and by no means do I have any inside information, or psychic abilities, that what I’m about to write will actually happen. And please, feel free to add your own thoughts and opinions.
At WHAM TV it has been a forgone conclusion for a number of years both in and outside the industry that Doug Emblidge will be Channel 13’s lead anchor once Don Alhart retires. Personally I would be shocked if the management at 13 either promoted someone else to be Alhart’s replacement or hired an individual from outside the Rochester market. Emblidge, like Alhart, is a known quantity. Doug is likeable person, both on and off the air, and has been quite active in the community for many years. Regarding Ginny Ryan, I have no idea who would replace her. Not that 13 doesn’t have enough female staffers. The recent promotion of Holly Maynard to morning anchor is one clue that she might be considered anchor material for the evening newscasts. Personally I think the strongest contender would be Christine Webb.
Over at Channel 10, the question of who would replace Rich Funke is a bit more difficult to answer. Originally, as some of you might remember, Brian Martin was named to be 10’s main anchor when Gabe Dalmath “retired”. Martin’s tenure as anchor however was short-lived because, as some sources claim, Martin and 10’s management didn’t see eye-to-eye when it came to a salary increase. So while Martin was moved from the anchor’s chair to field reporter, and eventually left the station for another job, Funke was tapped to be 10’s co-anchor for their 5, 6 and 11pm newscasts.
Rich, like Don and Doug, is a likeable person both on and off the air and is well known in the community. And while 10 has a fine staff of veteran reporters, at the moment it would be anyone’s guess who would be selected to replace Funke should the day come he decides to retire. As for Janet Lomax’s replacement, the only person I see waiting in the wings would be Jennifer Johnson, 10’s current weekend anchor.
As for Channel 8, I’ve always maintained that Maureen McGuire is one of the best anchors on Rochester TV. Unfortunately WROC has a history of self-destructing. The station has never fully recovered from the strike of the 1970s when Tom Decker, Bob Mills and Mort Nusbaum were replaced by a series of revolving door anchors and reporters. Now, from what I understand, the station might face another personnel shake-up. So it’s really difficult to predict what will happen over there on Humboldt Street. My own personal observation is that if McGuire and Scott Hetsko, along with Dave McKinley and Rachael Barnhart ever left, or were replaced, 8 would really be in the ratings doghouse.
Last, but not least, looking at both FOX-31 and R-News.
What ever happens to Channel 8’s operation will impact FOX-31’s 10 o’clock news just because of the partnership, collaboration, whatever you want to call it, between WROC and WUHF. Personally I just can’t imagine that Lia Lando would turn down an opportunity to move on to a larger market if offered the chance. And let's be honest, would it really matter who anchors the 10 o'clock news on FOX?
As for R-News, the guessing game is whether R-News will be around in a few years. At least in its current format.
I would be curious to hear from people in Buffalo and Syracuse to their opinions about future anchor positions in their respective markets
<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
Don't ask me why, but more competition is needed in the Rochester market is needed and for the process to begin WHAM needs to take that fall just like WKBW did in Buffalo. Then enter