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WLBT taking over WDBD news Monday?

R

rkcling

During Sunday's Saints-Falcons game several breaks on Fox 40 appeared where a new red and blue Fox 40 logo showed up after what appeared to be a switch thrown. On another break a spot appeared promoting a website entitled "Mississippi News Now" (which as of Sunday evening is not up yet). During this spot were several logos where WLBT and WDBD were shown together. There was also a few seconds of WLBT's Cheryl Lassiter and Eric Law on set with a Fox 40 logo behind them. That explains why WLBT changed their news set for the second time in a few months. Dave Roberts signed off from WDBD weather on Friday,and Lassiter said she was leaving WLBT's Sunday morning reports. Nothing official has been posted on either WLBT or WDBD's websites, but does this mean that WLBT will be doing Fox 40 news on Monday? Will this also mean the news will be piggybacked to WDBD's tower from Jefferson Street? This will be interesting.
 
Thats a new one on me. Why would they do that. I thought WDBD was doing fine with their news. However WUFX 35 was recently sold to Toogaloo college and from what I understand it will be operated by the company that owns WLBT. Or something like that. it confusing trying to keep up with this stuff
 
If you viewed the Video at Fox40tv.com of Dave Roberts' departure the News Team at Channel 40 was hinting at some changes in a new building. That may have been enough of a hint without letting the cat out of the bag. This among the things you saw was enough of a hint. I see nothing on WLBT's web site or Fox 40's web site. The morning show at 7AM on Fox 40 may give other hints.
 
Another clue... during Fox's Sunday night cartoon block they showed the Web Site ad again and then a notice that the 5:30 report would have Joy Redmond and Barbie Bassett, and the set they were on was not the existing news set at Fox40. May be an entertaining Monday.
 
From what I have been able to gather, WLBT is taking over production of WDBD newscasts as a result of the shared services agreement between American Spirit Media (new WDBD owner) and Raycom Media (WLBT owner). The following changes are occuring:

Cheryl Lasseter and Brandon Artiles will be doing the WDBD FOX 40 A.M. show, replacing Laura Britt and C.E. Huffman.

Joy Redmond and Barbie Bassett will be doing the WDBD FOX 40 5:30 news. (Barbie replacing Dave Roberts.) (I assume Travis Recek will still be doing sports.)

Eric Law will apparently be doing weather for WLBT at 4, 4:30, 5, 6, and 10 and for WDBD at 5:30 and 9. (Not really sure how Eric and Barbie are both going to be involved. I've seen a commercial for Joy & Barbie doing the WDBD 5:30 news, yet Eric announced on Sunday morning the times mentioned above as the newscasts he will be involved. So I guess some combination of Barbie/Eric will be involved in all WLBT and WDBD P.M. newscasts.)

Jewell Hillery and Michael Haynes will replace Cheryl Lasseter and Eric Law on the WLBT weekend mornings.

Dave Roberts is the only on-air job casuality that I am aware of, but fear the same for Laura Britt, C.E. Huffman, and Jon Wiener. (Letting go of Laura would be a huge mistake in my opinion.)
 
I tried the new web site and they said it was under construction. I bet the web designer and webmaster will have the site up before morning.
 
richllewis said:
I tried the new web site and they said it was under construction. I bet the web designer and webmaster will have the site up before morning.
Click to expand...

Which web site is it: Fox40tv.com or WLBT.com?
 
Tuned in to Fox 40 at 7:00 AM. Fox 40 had a WLBT ID in just before the 7:00 news. It is so obvious that they are using the same set. And they held over Paul Williams for the 7:00 AM News on Fox 40 after doing two hours of weather on WLBT's 5AM and 6AM report. I wonder if they are going use the same set while Brian Williams is on at 5:30 on WLBT?
 
WLBT and WDBD has combined web sites and renamed the WLBT web site Ms News Now at http://www.msnewsnow.com .

I also have a theory of what Barbie Bassett is doing at 5:30PM on Fox 40. Instead of weather she will be doing what Maggie Wade does at 4:00,4:30, 5:00 and 10:00 and what Marsha Thompson does at 6:00 on WLBT. And I am guessing that Eric Law got promoted to Chief Meteorologist for both stations. By the way, http://www.fox40tv.com has not been taken down yet.
 
According to the Clarion-Ledger (http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121112/BIZ/121112013/Fox-affiliate-WDBD-Fox-40-begins-joint-news-operation-WLBT?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|s, "WLBT would hire one camera person, one reporter, one anchor, etc. from the old Fox 40 staff." However, Joy Redmond and Michael Haynes are confirmed to be coming over from Fox 40, and on the last Fox 40 newscast, Joy and Travis Recek indicated they would both be involved with the new staff when they said their goodbyes to Dave Roberts, so I would assume Travis will be coming over as well. (But if he has to report to an inferior talent that is Rob Jay, he will jump at the first job opportunity that comes his way.) (Also, I reiterate, a big mistake in not bringing over Laura Britt.)
 
So does that mean that all the newscast will originate from the WLBT building and the WDBD set will no longer be used. They spent quite a bit of money putting news on WDBD, including the set, cameras and other equipment. Will some of that stuff transfer over to WLBT? I thought it was WUFX that was being taken over by WLBT, not WDBD.
 
Every WLBT and WDBD newscast will originate from the same WLBT studio set. The WDBD set is apparently no more, which is a shame.

WUFX is being taken over by Tougaloo College.
 
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