Cook Not Renewed
By Michael Page | March 9, 2010
According to The Boston Herald, Alice Cook’s contract has not been renewed. Cook, who has worked in WBZ’s sports department for 25 years, was reportedly informed on Friday that her contract “wasn’t being renewed and she could continue to report throughout the football season”.
Since it appears Alice won’t be replaced, her departure reduces WBZ’s sports department to Steve Burton and Dan Roche.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 11 Comments »
WCVB “Sweeps” the Board
By Michael Page | March 4, 2010
The latest viewership numbers are in for this past month, and WCVB swept the board despite stiff competition against the Olympics.
For the first time in recent memory, WCVB was the most watched station during every newscast, including 11 PM which has been dominated by WBZ.
Here is the breakdown by newscast (numbers are P2+).
5-6 AM
WCVB: 60,000
WHDH: 46,000
WFXT: 35,000
WBZ: 22,000
6-7 AM
WCVB: 108,000
WHDH: 79,000
WFXT: 61,000
WBZ: 42,000
7-9 AM
WHDH (Today): 91,000
WCVB (GMA): 89,000
WFXT (Local): 74,000
WBZ (Early): 29,000
Noon
WCVB: 112,000
WHDH: 81,000
WBZ: 78,000
5-6 PM
WCVB: 192,000
WHDH: 134,000
WBZ: 97,000
6 PM
WCVB: 233,000
WHDH: 142,000
WBZ: 120,000
WFXT: 52,000
11 PM
WCVB: 138,000
WBZ: 134,000
WHDH: 127,000
WFXT: 88,000
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 24 Comments »
Don Kent Passes Away
By Michael Page | March 2, 2010
It is with great sadness that I report Don Kent, the legendary WBZ-TV meteorologist, passed away early Tuesday at the age of 92.
Kent started with WBZ-TV as Boston’s first television meteorologist in 1955, and had recently been in declining health.
Read more about Kent’s storied career at wbztv.com.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 17 Comments »
Marshall No Longer with WBZ
By Michael Page | March 1, 2010
Dr. Mallika Marshall, who has served as WBZ’s medical reporter and anchor of the station’s HealthWatch series, is no longer with the station.
The station tells me that, “with multiple sources of comprehensive, Massachusetts based health care information available, and with Dr. Mallika Marshall nearing the end of her contract, the station is no longer in need of a full time HealthWatch anchor and reporter.”
However, WBZ “greatly thanks” Dr. Marshall for her time with the station and wishes her success as she continues in prviate practice and in her various media projects.
You may remember that in 2008, WHDH let its health reporter go as well.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 23 Comments »
Caputo To Arrive from Charlotte
By Michael Page | February 23, 2010
Tim Caputo, currently a reporter at WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be joining WHDH as a reporter in April.
Caputo, who is a New York native, previously worked in New Mexico.
Topics: WHDH (Channel 7) | 8 Comments »
Lambert Headed to WHDH
By Michael Page | February 13, 2010
Chris Lambert, currently a weekend meteorologist at NBC 2 in Fort Myers, has been hired by WHDH. He will serve as the weekend morning meteorologist. Word is that he starts next month.
Lambert is a Westwood native, and apparently worked as a weather producer at WFXT for a time.
Topics: WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 38 Comments »
Super Bowl Brings Big Ratings to WBZ, CBS
By Michael Page | February 8, 2010
Last night’s match up between the Colts and Saints was not only great for sports fans, but also for CBS execs.
The game launched into television history, becoming the most watched program ever. According to CBS, 106.5 million people tuned in for the game, passing the 105.97 million viewers who watched the finale of M*A*S*H in the 1980s. Keep in mind that the overall viewing audience was smaller in the ’80s, however.
Locally, WBZ was also thrilled with the game. At the peak of viewership (around 9:15 PM), 2,378,500 people were tuned in to channel 4.
You also might be interested to know that the :30 local spots WBZ got to sell for the game went for as much as $200,000, according to The Boston Globe.
Topics: National, WBZ (Channel 4) | 12 Comments »
January ‘10 Ratings
By Michael Page | February 4, 2010
This past month included big news, from Scott Brown’s surprise win to the devastation in Haiti. Here’s how the ratings played out locally:
The following numbers are total viewers P2+ Monday through Friday (1/7-2/3).
5-6 AM
WCVB: 57,000
WFXT: 33,000
WHDH: 31,000
WBZ: 25,000
6-7 AM
WCVB: 105,000
WHDH: 71,000
WFXT: 65,000
WBZ: 42,000
7-9 AM
WCVB (GMA): 86,000
WHDH (Today): 69,000
WFXT (Local): 67,000
WBZ (Early): 44,000
Noon
WCVB: 111,000
WBZ: 89,000
WHDH: 69,000
5-6 PM
WCVB: 181,000
WHDH: 116,000
WBZ: 92,000
6PM
WCVB: 225,000
WHDH: 118,000
WBZ: 113,000
WFXT: 45,000
11 PM
WBZ: 153,000
WCVB: 134,000
WHDH: 128,000
WFXT: 76,000
Keep in mind that WHDH is hoping that the Winter Olympics are a ratings and advertising boon for them in February.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 25 Comments »
WBZ Moves
By Michael Page | January 24, 2010
Alana Gomez Dong joined WBZ-TV as a general assignment reporter last Monday. Prior to joining WBZ-TV, Alana worked at KPRC-TV in Houston, Texas.
Also at WBZ, it was announced that today was Dawn Hasbrouck’s last day at the station. Dawn will be returning to her native Chicago to serve as the co-anchor of WFLD-TV’s Noon newscast beginning February 15.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 25 Comments »
Special Election Coverage
By Michael Page | January 19, 2010
This special Senatorial election has gone from uninteresting to feverish. We have been bombarded with commercials as of late (a boon to local stations), and the national media has been flocking to the Bay State to cover this race which may have national implications.
However, just one broadcast station is on air with special coverage tonight. Here’s what’s going on as of the 8 PM hour.
WBZ: Ticker results showing on air, special webcast with Lisa, Jack, and Jon online.
WCVB: Full coverage on air with Ed and Heather anchoring, and streaming online.
WHDH: Ticker results showing on air.
WFXT: Um, is anyone in the building? They have a webcast set for 9 PM.
NECN: Full coverage on air.
In my mind this seems like a substantial local (and national) issue that deserves extended coverage. What do you think?
Ratings (Households)
Here are the ratings from Tuesday evening, as supplied by WCVB. The numbers show WCVB was the dominant source for news during the evening. The data also reflects pretty good numbers for WHDH, while WBZ pulled in lower numbers. This stands in contrast to general rating trends as of late. Fox 25’s 10 PM newscast suffered, likely because they all but ignored the election for much of the evening.
8 PM
WFXT (American Idol): 404,000
WBZ (NCIS): 240,000
WCVB (Election Coverage): 178,000
WHDH (Biggest Loser): 141,000
9 PM
WCVB (Election Coverage): 228,000
WBZ (NCIS/Election Coverage): 199,000
WHDH (Biggest Loser): 175,000
WFXT (Human Target): 130,000
10 PM
WCVB (Election Coverage): 224,000
WHDH (Election Coverage): 155,000
WBZ (Election Coverage): 123,000
WFXT (Election Coverage): 108,000
11 PM
WCVB: 122,000
WHDH: 121,000
WBZ: 76,000
WFXT: 45,000
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 27 Comments »
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