FOX 25 At 6
By Michael Page | June 23, 2009
FOX 25 is changing its early evening news schedule come this fall. Beginning on September 14, FOX 25 will dump its 5 and 5:30 pm shows. Instead, they will air a 6-6:30 news program. The 5-6 PM slot will be filled with a show hosted by Dr. Mehmet Oz.
As you may know, FOX 25 has struggled to gain an audience at 5 PM in the past, even though it excells at 10 PM. It will be interesting to see if the move will increase the early evening ratings, or if viewers will still rely on the major 4,5,7 shows for news at 6.
Topics: WFXT (Channel 25) | 24 Comments »
7 Sports Addition
By Michael Page | June 18, 2009
A few of you have been asking me about Rhett Lewis, WHDH’s new sports reporter. He joined the station last month, and according to WHDH.com, he comes to Boston from WVUE (Fox) in New Orleans.
Topics: WHDH (Channel 7) | 14 Comments »
Comcast Buys Out Hearst’s Stake in NECN
By Michael Page | June 18, 2009
Comcast announced today that it bought out Heart’s ownership in New England Cable News.
The deal brings NECN under Comcast’s sole control, instead of NECN’s former split ownership between Hearst Corp. and Comcast.
The price of the deal was not disclosed, but the acquisition certainly makes Comcast more of a player in the market, as it also controls Comcast Sports Net as well.
In fact, the Vice President and General Manager of Comcast SportsNet, Bill Bridgen, will run both the SportsNet and NECN. That means Charles Kravetz, who has been NECN’s President and General Manager for just over a year, is out of a job.
The station says the move will result in no operational impacts, including the use of the shared chopper with WCVB.
Topics: NECN | 17 Comments »
HD Coming at Last
By Michael Page | June 14, 2009
June 14, 2009 Update: Well, Fox 25 is HD as of tonight’s 10 PM broadcast, as we reported it would be earlier this week. The graphics feature the new O & O look, and the new intro is similar to the old intros they had before the previous graphics update (showing the studio, news van, cityscape etc.).
This means Boston is now totally HD for news!! It took long enough, that’s for sure.
June 12, 2009 Update: The latest information I have says that the HD switch will happen this Sunday at 10 PM.
June 1, 2009: The last station to go HD in Boston, Fox 25, is making the transition this month. While no specific date has been set, expect to see FOX 25 newscasts go HD in a few weeks, provided that no major snags come up at the last minute.
We also hear that there will be some graphic refreshes as well.
Topics: WFXT (Channel 25) | 50 Comments »
Randy in at 5
By Michael Page | June 2, 2009
Just weeks after Randy Price was seen interviewing at WCVB, we can now confirm that Randy will be joining the station next Monday.
In Randy’s new role he will co-anchor the Eyeopener with Bianca de la Garza, replacing David Brown. David will now focus on reporting and filling in for meteorologists from time to time.
Remember that Randy suddenly parted ways with WHDH earlier this year. It certainly seems like WCVB is trying to make it known to Boston that it values seasoned talent, perhaps more than a station like WHDH that seems to go for the young blood.
Topics: WCVB (Channel 5) | 127 Comments »
Mish Moving On
By Michael Page | June 2, 2009
Sad news for the Boston TV weather-world today, as Mish Michaels told The Herald she is leaving WBZ. Her departure will be effective July 31.
Since 2001 Mish has worked as a part time meteorologist and Environmental Reporter. She was offered promotions several times while on Soldier’s Field Rd., but never took them so she could maintain a certain level of flexibility.
Prior to WBZ she worked at WHDH and the Weather Channel.
On a totally personal note, this will be a loss for TV. Mish is a great meteorologist, and a very nice person- I wish her nothing but the best in her new adventures!
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4) | 25 Comments »
Dick Albert to be Honored at Local Emmys
By Michael Page | May 27, 2009
The Boston/New England chapter of the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences will hold the 32nd Emmy awards this Saturday May 30th in Boston.
The awards ceremony, which will be hosted by Tom Bergeron, will honor various stations for notable work over the past year. Dick Albert, long time WCVB meteorologist, will receive the 2009 Governors work in commemoration of his 41 year career.
To see the full list of nominees, click here.
June 1 Update: Click here to view the winner’s list.
Topics: NECN, WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7), WLVI (Channel 56), WSBK (Channel 38) | 15 Comments »
Sweeps Ends with No Major Shocks
By Michael Page | May 22, 2009
The May sweeps period is over, and there really weren’t many surprises.
Just as we have seen in last books, WHDH has picked up lots of ground to win the morning hours. WCVB, on the other hand, has been slipping as of late, but still remains in second place overall.
Midday and the early evening shows were dominated by WCVB, and FOX still has a hold on the 10 PM hour. At 11 PM WBZ took the prize, which it has done for the last 12/14 sweeps periods.
Here are the rough total viewership (2+) numbers for each time slot. Remember that the abundance of Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins games took a bite out of the normal May viewership. That makes direct year to year comparison a bit challenging. Still, here are the numbers from last May, last November, and this past March.
5 AM
WHDH: 47,000
WCVB: 42,000
WBZ: 36,000
WFXT: 30,000
6 AM
WHDH: 77,000
WCVB: 77,000
WFXT: 71,000
WBZ: 65,000
Noon
WCVB: 107,000
WBZ: 71,000
WHDH: 65,000
5 PM
WCVB: 154,000
WHDH: 77,000
WBZ: 71,000
WFXT: 24,000
6 PM
WCVB: 201,000
WHDH: 95,000
WBZ: 89,000
9 PM
WSBK: 24,000
10 PM
WFXT: 172,000
WLVI: 47,000
11 PM
WBZ: 166,000
WCVB: 142,000
WHDH: 119,000
WFXT: 71,000
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7), WLVI (Channel 56), WSBK (Channel 38) | 11 Comments »
Randy Interviews with 5
By Michael Page | May 20, 2009
Yes, it is true; Randy Price interviewed at WCVB-TV today.
I should be quick to point out that this doesn’t guarantee that Randy will make a return to the airways, however. The station said that “We have had many qualified candidates come in” to interview for the open position Randy interviewed for. Still, it is something to keep an eye out for.
Remember that Price parted ways with WHDH earlier this year, stunning most Bostonians.
Topics: WCVB (Channel 5), WHDH (Channel 7) | 39 Comments »
WBZ and WFXT to Share Resources
By Michael Page | May 19, 2009
It is a growing trend among local stations in markets across the country, and now resource sharing is coming to Boston.
WBZ-TV and WFXT-TV both confirmed today that sharing between the two stations will come in two phases.
Phase 1: Begins June 1
In the first phase of sharing, WBZ and WFXT will share one helicopter between the two stations. This means that the footage you see of a car accident or house fire will be the same on WBZ and WFXT. Although the video you see will be the same from the air, both stations will use the video in stories created by their own respective staffs. Both stations will also have discretionary time to use the aircraft if station specific stories require aerial video.
The biggest benefit to both stations in this first resource sharing phase will be fincial, as the cost to lease and operate a helicopter will be cut in half.
As you know, FOX 25 has made Doug Meehan Boston’s eye in the sky during their Morning News Show. When asked what Doug’s role would be under the new, shared helicopter plan the station would only confirm that Doug will still do traffic in the mornings. However, we hear that Doug will be doing the traffic reports from the ground.
Phase 2: No set date, likely summer or fall of this year
The details of the second phase are still being worked out. However, this phase will focus on ground video sharing. That means the two stations would only send one camera to some press conferences etc. Again, only the video, and not any reporting tasks, will be shared.
This phase of the sharing will allow channels 4 and 25 to free up their other resources, which in turn will allow them to cover more local stories, according to the stations.
WBZ said it would like to see other local stations join the resource sharing plan in the future.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WFXT (Channel 25) | 23 Comments »
« Previous Entries