Here are the facts:
1) Sherry Williams is a lightning bolt (and a very good broadcaster). She speaks her mind probably when she shouldn't. GM Roger Bare is a calm and very reasonable station boss. The Sherry Williams decision most likely came from Tribune Corp above Bare's head. There's no way Williams would have any reason to go at it with him.
2) Sherry will NEVER land back at KRIV. Upon her departure there in 2000 she landed some huge insults at their GM in a all-staff meeting. She flat called him a narscisist and an ego-maniacle jerk that would most certainly cause their newscast ratings to plummet. Funny thing is she was absolutely correct. All those things did happen to KRIV under D'Artagnen Bebel's tenure. As long as he is there Sherry will never get within 100 yards of the building.
3) Alan's demotion is another obvious Corp decision. He and Sherry did have terrific chemistry and Bare (KHCW GM) knew it. Their news ratings have never really materialized as they (Tribune Corp) hoped. Their not embarrassing numbers, but they are as probably as high as they can get given the makeup of the audience lead-in from an anemic CW network and other factors not related to newscast quality. My guess is Tribune Corp wants anchors that better match the lead-in audience provided by the CW. In reality that is a 12-34 audience at best. That audience will NEVER tune into their newscast no matter who is anchoring.
4) Their News Director Joe Nolan has also resigned. He says at his age "he thought he should do something else". Translation: Tribune Corp has forced him out, but they're paying him off to keep quiet. Joe was perhaps the best ND in the city and it is amazing that KPRC never hired him back when they had a ND opening. They went inside with an ND from another market. Joe, like Sherry Williams, is a pistol and wears his heart on his sleeve and that is probably why KPRC won't have him back, but his enemies there have all long departed.
5) 39's hour-long expansion is no doubt a last-gasp effort to see if they can generate demo ratings that can produce higher revenue to offset production costs. From what I have heard the news there has really never made it over the hump in revenue. Again, the average age of the CW viewer leading into the 9P newscast is well under 30. Those are not, never have been nor ever will be local news viewers. If these moves don't work over the next 6 months (and they won't IMO), you will see the news operation over there close down just as other Tribune station's newscasts in smaller markets have done. That is probably why Joe Nolan is ok with the way he left. Joe will land somewhere, but he fortay is Houston. He's been in the newS business here for 2 to 3 decades and NO other ND in the market has his knowledge and local market experience.
6) Sadly, Hemberger's time in Houston is done. When he finally leaves 39, KTRK won't hire him back. They let him go for some obvious reason to them and going back is probably not an option. If you haven't noticed, all the other stations are going to youth. That is not where Hemberger is. They are preparing younger reporters to step in for Dave Ward when he steps down someday. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sherry land in the market at either 2, 11 or 13 as a front line reporter. She is an experienced journalist with strong interviewing skills and a known market presence. As for Chief Keith, he is one of the best on-air meterologist in the market right up there with Heller from KTRK and Norman from KHOU. One of the other market stations is certainly smart enough to grab him when he becomes available. I don't know where his contract stands, but a new ND is a wildcard for any main anchor. There's a good chance he won't be happy. Per the post above, KRIV would be best served to get Keith if he became available. I agree, Dr. Jim is NOT a chief meterologist. He's a weekend guy at best. KRIV's other weather anchors are no where near being stars and one (John Dawson) is down right horrible. As for Robert Smith, God rest his soul. He wasn't the best weather anchor, but he was one of the best people KRIV ever employed.
That is the straight dope.
