WBZ Changes: Ken Barlow Out, Todd Gutner In

[bg02445]

Reported by Boston TV News: "The Scoop"
http://hinghamweather.com/bostontvnews/?p=974#comments

"Big changes are coming to the WBZ-TV weather department.

Ken Barlow, who has been WBZ’s chief meteorologist since 2006, is no longer with the station. His contract was not renewed, but WBZ “thanks him for his service, and wishes him luck in his future endeavors.”

Todd Gutner, who has been ‘BZ’s morning meteorologist, will work the evening shows.

Melissa Mack, who arrived earlier this year from Cleveleland, will be the station’s new morning meteorologist.

Barry Burbank will continue to work weekends, and will be assisted by Sarah Wroblewski who will be freelancing with the station."

It appears that Barlow's last night was last night, because Barry Burbank was in tonight.

 

[navygal]

Sorry to hear that Ken is out. Not a fan of Todd or newcomer Melissa Mack. Apparently young and pretty is what is important now. Surprised that Jack Williams is still there.

 

[DToTheJ]

The irony is, with these changes in their weather department, WBZ-TV is really setting the bar low.

 

[formeraa]

Young and CHEAP is the motto of the day.

 

[BRNout]

Barlow was okay, but hardly spectacular. That being said, everyone here is right - CBS is sinking WBZ to a new low because he was by far the best met they had.

 

[fmradio1]

How much could Barlow have been making? He was only there a few years. I'm sure there may have been some bottom line reasoning behind this move, but I don't think it was the determining factor.

In the end my guess is that they felt Gutner is more "likeable" than Barlow. He does a decent job in the morning. He can explain the weather just as well as Barlow did, and seems comfortable in front of the camera. I'm sure he makes a few bucks less, but it was clear Barlow wasn't endearing himself to the prime time audience. Barlow seemed a bit intense, and came off as stiff on the air. Gutner may work out as a longer term solution for them.

Melissa Mack is unproven at this point, but mornings are where you place young talent to see if they work out. Chances are she'll be there for a few years and then move on. That's the nature of TV news talent in morning drive. You're either getting experience at the beginning of your career or finishing out a contract toward the end of it.

 

[Blackroc]

How much could Barlow have been making?

I believe he left Minneapolis for BZ so he was probably doing very well. While there have been cutbacks in sports min's in the newscast, weather is still huge so they better get good results from the new hire.

 

[12 In a Row]

Young and CHEAP is the motto of the day.

Back in the day, Jack/Liz/Bob and Bruce were young. Time moves on.

 

[formeraa]

Young and CHEAP is the motto of the day.

Back in the day, Jack/Liz/Bob and Bruce were young. Time moves on.

No, Jack has always looked old!!!

 

[Jweathernut]

What difference does any of this make? With the ridiculous "Accuweather"forecast, so-called meteorologists are no longer needed! Accuweather dictates the forecast weather, temps,etc.
Why not just have the anchors read it like they do on bz radio.
It's a crime what BZ tv is doing. What CBS had to do with it i don't know.
I refuse to watch BZ weather any more.
Barlow is the lucky one here.
At least wherever he ends up, he can create his OWN weather forecast, not some pre-packaged, syndicated garbage.

 

[bg02445]

Accuweather will *not* be used as the source of the forecast. Terry Elaisen, the executive weather producer at WBZ, posted on the weather blog that they will not be changing anything, and that the WBZ meteorologists will still completely formulate their own forecast.

 

[BRNout]

Accuweather will *not* be used as the source of the forecast. Terry Elaisen, the executive weather producer at WBZ, posted on the weather blog that they will not be changing anything, and that the WBZ meteorologists will still completely formulate their own forecast.

OK, sure. But then why hype it? Why hype the Accuweather forecast then backtrack on it? Or, perhaps that's what the wx producer hopes is the case. I'm sure Accuweather sold the station on their capabilities to do practically everything for them (for a price) and that is NOT what the weather producer wants to hear.

 

[bg02445]

On March 29th, WBZ-TV launched AccuWeather...you have probably heard an anchor mention it in a toss to one of our meteorologists or perhaps heard Todd, Melissa or Barry say something like "And now for a look at my AccuWeather 7 day forecast..."

We have received several emails and "curiosities" surrounding this launch and I would like to briefly describe to our viewers what exactly AccuWeather means to our weather operations here at WBZ.

First some background on the company Accuweather...AccuWeather provides local and world wide weather information to more than 175,000 clients including major media organizations, businesses, government agencies, and institutions. They have a team of more than 100 meteorologists focused on local weather information and analysis.

WBZ-AM Radio has been a partner with AccuWeather for over 25 years now. No doubt if you have tuned to 1030AM on your way to or from work you have heard their "Accuweather forecast" more than once. And likely are familiar with the name Elliot Abrams, who has forecasted on WBZ radio during the morning drive for decades.

So, while our forecasts on WBZ-TV will still come solely from our own staff here (Barry, Melissa, Todd, Sarah and myself), AccuWeather will provide us with a very valuable additional resource. WBZ-TV will be able to use the vast array of AccuWeather indexes including allergy, heat, pollen indexes. AccuWeather will also provide additional online content augmenting the weather news and information available on wbztv.com. We will have access to their meteorologists who specialize in forecasting for other parts of the country when big weather news is happening elsewhere, as well as their many hurricane and severe weather experts.

-Terry Elaisen, WBZ Weather Producer

 

[MachineMonkey]

For those keeping track, Barlow will land as chief met for News10 in Sacramento. For the most part, we use WSI graphics and data, though our '10.2' is based on AccuWeather's canned cycles. We wanted to get rid of Accuweather completely, but didn't have content replacement for the dot 2 and feared losing that Comcast bandwidth if it went dark.
Anyway, Ken will be on the left coast starting in June.

 

[BoscoGoldBear]

For those keeping track, Barlow will land as chief met for News10 in Sacramento. For the most part, we use WSI graphics and data, though our '10.2' is based on AccuWeather's canned cycles. We wanted to get rid of Accuweather completely, but didn't have content replacement for the dot 2 and feared losing that Comcast bandwidth if it went dark.
Anyway, Ken will be on the left coast starting in June.

Ken will be up against his old bosses now (CBS owns 13 out there, a competitor to ABC/10; Hearst, with NBC/3, is also competition).

 

[Firebird1976]

I thought Barlow did a great job. I can't stand watching Todd Gutner. He comes across as smug and arrogant. Melissa Mack is cute but looks uncomfortable. At least she is better than Sarah Wroblewski who was probably the worst I have ever seen.

 

[BoscoGoldBear]

At least she (Melissa Mack) is better than Sarah Wroblewski who was probably the worst I have ever seen.

I like Sarah's replacement Joe Joyce - didn't he come from NECN? (As a subscriber gto DirecTV, I no longer have access to cable-only NECN.)

 

[rjoc]

At least she (Melissa Mack) is better than Sarah Wroblewski who was probably the worst I have ever seen.

I like Sarah's replacement Joe Joyce - didn't he come from NECN? (As a subscriber gto DirecTV, I no longer have access to cable-only NECN.)

Yes, Joe Joyce was previously at NECN, and before that on local WVII ABC7 Bangor, ME. He always came across as a sharp professional guy who knew his stuff.
Unfortunately now, WVII relies on AccuWeather.