Arkansas TV NEWS

40/29 10pm Anchor's Duties Expanded

2008-07-23T20:34:00.002-05:00

Source: KHBS/KHOG Press Release Donna Bragg, a twelve-year veteran of 40/29 News and current 10 p.m. co-anchor, will expand her duties by joining Craig Cannon on the 5 & 6 p.m. newscasts beginning Tuesday, September 2nd , 2008. Bragg moved to a part time role in 2002 for family considerations.

“I’m excited about returning to the anchor desk for our early evening newscasts,” Bragg said. “I look forward to expanding my role in the newsroom.”

“With Donna’s extensive experience in the market, combined with Craig’s 25-year tenure…40/29 News will have the most experienced anchor team in the area,” said Mike Courington, 40/29 News Director.

KHBS/KHOG TV also announces that Leslee Wright, 5 and 6 p.m. co-anchor at 40/29 News, is stepping down at the ABC affiliate to focus on starting a family. “Leslee has made significant contributions to our news operation,” said Courington. “We wish her all the best.”

“I’m looking forward to focusing my attention on starting a family,” Wright said. “The past ten years have been a tremendous experience and this was a tough, bittersweet decision. I hope to continue working on special projects for the station.”

“We wish Leslee well. I know this was a difficult decision for her to leave a profession she loves so much. We certainly understand and respect her decision,” said Jim Prestwood, KHBS/KHOG TV’s President and General Manager.

Rumor Has It... KHOG Anchor Leaving

2008-07-20T15:53:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: Rumor has it that Leslee Wright from 40/29 News has decided not to re-sign her contract, and she will be leaving the station at the end of August, when her contract is up. She may do some part-time work for the station, but her plans are to stay home. Apprently, if this takes place, Donna Bragg will be promoted to full-time anchor and will take over duties as co-anchor at 5 and 6pm.

THV Told to Cease "Dirty Jobs" Series

2008-07-15T15:46:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: KTHV Dirty Jobs series cut short due to a cease and disist order from the Discovery Channel. THV had promoed Arkansas Dirty Jobs on their web site, and had a few taped and ready for air, but the Discovery Channel heard of the plan and cut it short fast. I am curious how Gannett would have approved this with the title "Dirty Jobs" owned by Discovery.

Former KSLA Chief Met to KTAL

2008-07-15T07:38:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: KTAL News to fill Rustin Dukes spot with former KSLA's Patrick Dennis.

Note: Dennis left KSLA awhile back to start his own production studio

May Numbers are In....

2008-07-13T06:34:00.002-05:00

Arkansas Business.com has the scoop on the May Neilson numbers. Below are some highlights:

At 10 p.m., KTHV's 10.3 household rating and 20.9 share in the market tied KATV-TV, Channel 7, for the top spot. However, when you look at year-to-year growth, KTHV's rating jumped 16 percent, while KATV's fell 12 percent. KTHV also took an impressive lead in the persons 18-49 demo, where KTHV scored a 7.1 to best KATV's 4.2, and in the women 25-54 demo, where KTHV posted a 9.4 rating to KATV's 6.8.

The ratings also show impressive growth for KARK-TV, Channel 4, and KLRT-TV, Channel 16. NBC affiliate KARK continued to dominate the household ratings at noon, when it airs "Dialing for Dollars," while also showing year-to-year growth at 5 p.m. in the demographics mentioned above. KARK posted the second-best household ratings during the 5 p.m. newscast, trailing KATV.

Fox affiliate KLRT and its 9 p.m. newscast can now claim household ratings approaching the other stations and ratings in the two major demos that surpass its rivals. The station began broadcasting at 9 p.m. in May 2004, when it scored a 1.8 rating and 3.2 share. The station's May 2008 book has a 7.1 household share and 12.4 rating for the market, and its 5.6 rating in persons 18-49 takes the demographic's second spot when compared with its 10 p.m. competitors.

Though KATV maintained its household lead in the market at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., the station's newscasts showed negative year-to-year growth in the majority of household ratings and coveted demos.

The ABC affiliate won at 5 p.m. with a household rating of 11.3 and 26.7 share. The ratings were down compared with last year, though, and the station also lost the persons 18-49 demo, falling from a 5 in 2007 to a 4 in 2008. KATV held onto its lead in the women 25-54 demo, though, posting a 5.4 rating. The 5.4 rating is an 18 percent drop compared with 2007's 6.6 rating in the demo.

KARK'er Leaving

2008-07-08T20:42:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: Kim Betton is leaving KARK and going to Washington, DC. Announced on air during the 6 p.m. news.

KAIT Reporter/Anchor Leaves

2008-07-05T20:31:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: Just a heads ups, KAIT Reporter Rebecca Smith is moving to another station. She was also the weekend anchor.

2008-06-27T22:16:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts the past couple of weeks. My job is keeping me working some 12 hours or more a day..hopefully things will return to normal soon....

Axe Falls at KLRT

2008-06-18T21:00:00.002-05:00

This from a tipster: the axe has fallen at fox in little rock. mass firings. randy dotson(graphics); bob dunn(sales manager); lauren trager (assignment desk); chris kolkhorst (sports anchor); hunter loy (photographer); cheesa parham (producer).

Update:
This from an e-mailer:
Your post about KLRT lays has some very wrong information in it.

Cheesa Parham, Bob Dunn and Chirs Kolkhorst didn't get laid off.

Cheesa is still the Weekend Producer, Bob is still the General Sales Manager.

Chris made the decision in May to get out of the business. He is getting married and moving back to New England. KLRT is replacing him.

Movin' and Shakin' in Shreveport

2008-06-10T18:12:00.000-05:00

This from a tipster:

KSLA fills Carl Pendley chair with Pat Simmon.

KTAL is going to move Paula Van Drisse to weekends and Shelli Briery to mornings.

O'Neill to Co-anchor THV's News

2008-06-09T20:57:00.003-05:00

Arkansas Business.com reports KTHV Sports Director Craig O'Neill will be co-anchoring channel 11's 10pm newscast. AB.com reports O'Neill will be taking a leave of absence from sports to spearhead the stations new "community journalism" feature.

KAIT Loses Sports Director AND Producer

2008-06-06T18:08:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: Sports Director Glenn Marini and his wife, 10 PM Producer Emily are leaving. Glenn has accepted the sports director position at WANE in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is a great opportunity for them and it’s close to Glenn’s hometown. Their last day will be June 27th.

KAIT Reporter Leaving

2008-06-04T21:29:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: After several years at KAIT, Anchor/Reporter Heather Flanigan is
leaving. Her last day is Sunday, June 15th. Heather is getting married to former Region 8 Reporter Brett Garrett. They plan on living in Mississippi after the wedding.

KFSM Met Leaves for South Carolina

2008-06-01T19:10:00.002-05:00

This from the KFSM Weather Blog:

My last show on 5NEWS is Sunday morning. I have had such a wonderful experience living in Fort Smith and getting to know the community and becoming part of the 5NEWS family. The people of Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Rogers, Clarksville, etc. have been so supportive and friendly to me and I'll never forget it!

I am headed to Greenville, South Carolina to take a job as Chief Meteorologist at WHNS-TV. This move is a big one for me professionally and personally. It is a big step up in my career but also gets my fiance and I closer to family.

Brad and Garrett are 2 of the best meteorologists in the business, and I have learned so much from them... from "why Fayetteville gets so cold on calm nights" to "how much ice will Benton County see in the next ice storm". They are true professionals, but really cool too! I'll be faced with new challenges in Greenville including ice storms, hurricanes and severe weather.

Thanks again for all of your kind words and support through the past 2 years.

Kendra

New ND at KAIT

2008-05-29T12:40:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: Hatton Weeks has officially been named ND at KAIT.

KTAL Has New ND

2008-05-23T16:53:00.000-05:00

This from a tipster: KTAL has a news director now, Paul Bergen from KBTV in Beaumont, TX he
started back in April.

KNWA Reporting Leaving

2008-05-23T16:51:00.001-05:00

This from a tipster: Doug Currin's last day at KNWA is May 30th. He is transferring toWBRE/WYOU in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA, after a year and a half as Senior Reporter at KNWA/KFTA. He starts as his duties as morning & midday anchor at WBRE on June 9th.

Today's THV Slashes Positions in Master Control and Graphics Departments

2008-05-16T15:45:00.003-05:00

Arkansas Business.com reports KTHV, Channel 11 will be eliminating 7 jobs in the master control and graphics departments. Station GM Larry Audas tells AB.com master control operations for KTHV and Gannet's other CBS affiliates will be centralized and ran from Greensboro, North Carolina. The more complex graphics will be handled out of Colorado.

Shreveport Reporter Busted for Drugs

2008-05-16T15:37:00.003-05:00

The Inquisitor reports KTAL reporter Joe Arena was arrested on drug charges recently. The incident happened on March 2 and that the charges "have been taken care of".

Husband of KAIT Anchor Claim Domestic Abuse

2008-05-09T17:34:00.002-05:00

Source: Jonesboro Sun The husband of a KAIT-TV news anchor filed a complaint of domestic abuse with Jonesboro police on Tuesday.

Mitchell Wright, 42, the husband of Diana Davis Wright, 1105 Dove, Jonesboro, filed the complaint of misdemeanor third-degree domestic battery at 8:42 p.m. Tuesday.

On Wednesday afternoon Diana Wright filed a complaint of filing a false report weith a law enforcement agency against her husband.

Mitchell Wright alleged his wife struck him in the face Sunday afternoon in their home, according to a police report. On Tuesday Mitchell Wright filed a report, claiming Diana Wright, 43, broke his nose during Sunday’s incident.

Jonesboro Police Capt. Kelly Baggett, commander of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division, said police are investigating and he could not comment.

“Mr. Wright advised that on May 4 he and his wife Diana got into a verbal argument,” Jonesboro Patrolman Jonathan Wood wrote in his report Tuesday. “[Mr. Wright] stated his wife then hit him in the face with an open hand, causing soreness to the bridge of his nose.”

Mitchell Wright said he was still sore on Monday so he went to a physician and discovered his nose was broken, Wood reported.

On Wednesday Diana Wright’s attorney, H.T. Moore of Paragould, released a police report that Jonesboro detectives withheld pending investigation.

Patrol officers Rick Guimond and Julie Dummer wrote in that report that Mitchell Wright met them at the end of the driveway of the couple’s home Sunday.

Mitchell Wright said his wife struck him in the face, while trying to knock his hat off, after an argument, the officers reported.

Police reported they could not see any injury even after Mitchell Wright pointed to where he was struck below his left eye.

“... He stated that he and his wife had been in an argument because while they were at a restaurant Mrs. Davis had disciplined their children on something and it upset him that she did this in front of so many other people,” Guimond wrote, adding they’d argued in the car on the way home.
“At one point [Mitchell] Wright asked us to get back in our car and leave and that there was no problem and not to worry about this,” Guimond reported.

Diana Wright said she may have accidentally knocked her husband’s hat off when she reached for their child he was holding, Guimond reported, adding that her hands showed no signs of injury.
Diana Wright told police she left Mr. Wright earlier this year after he pushed her elderly mother, Guimond reported.

Guimond wrote that Mitchell Wright told officers three times he did not want to file a police report and did not want his wife arrested.

Diana Wright told Guimond she would leave the home with her mother and child and would not return for a few hours, according to the report.

In the complaint filed by Diana Wright, a narrative written by Officer Rodney J. Smith says that she contended she did not hit her husband and that he made up the story about being injured. She also told the office

Francis Name Chief Met at KARK; New Hires Made in Wx Department

2008-05-06T17:18:00.002-05:00

Source: KARK KARK-TV Channel 4 is pleased to announce the promotion of Mike Francis to Chief Meteorologist. Mike has more than 15 years of meteorological experience. He received his Bachelors degree in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. While there Mike worked at the National Storm Prediction Center and the National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Weather is Mike’s passion. Having chased storms across tornado alley he has witnessed more than fifty tornados first hand. Mike is a decorated veteran. As a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, he served in both Iraq and Panama. Mike will move to KARK 4 News at 5, 6 and 10pm on May 23rd.

There will soon be a new face on KARK 4 Today. Harry Bounds will join Melissa Simas, Matt Mosler and Tracy Douglass. Harry is originally from Alabama and is very familiar with our local weather patterns. Harry is also a veteran. He served 6 years in the U.S. Navy. His first day will be May 14th. Harry received his meteorological training at Mississippi State University.

Harry isn’t the only new member of the KARK 4 Weather Authority. Meteorologist Greg Dee will be joining the team on May 28th. Greg is currently the Chief Meteorologist at WDHN in Dothan, Alabama. He was named a “Hometown Hero” for his life-saving coverage of a deadly tornado that struck Enterprise, Alabama. Greg has a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and a Masters in Geography.

Yet Another Out at KNWA

2008-05-04T21:42:00.000-05:00

This from a tipster: Meghan Dill of knwa has put in her two weeks. she is leaving the bisiness to pursue a career as a pharmaceutical salesperson.

KARK Losing Two Mets

2008-05-01T23:16:00.002-05:00

Arkansas Business.com reports KARK meteorologists Bret Cummins and Jason Kadah will leave in mid-May. AB.com says Cummins has no comment on what his future plans are ...AND Kadah is leaving for Spokane, Washington.

KTBS/Shreveport Co-Founder Passes Away

2008-04-30T14:51:00.002-05:00

Source: The Shreveport Times Shreveport businessman George Downing Wray Jr. has died. He was 92.

Wray, best known for his family's local Ford dealership and as a co-founder of KTBS-TV, collapsed while attending an opera at Riverview Theater on Saturday, his family says. An aortic aneurysm caused his death.

Wray's family and friends will remember him as a socialite who loved business.

KLRT Awarded AP Best Newscast

2008-04-29T22:06:00.001-05:00

Source: KLRT FOX16 News was awarded the coveted “Best Newscast” award from the Associated Press this past Saturday night in a ceremony conducted in Downtown Little Rock. FOX16 News anchor Donna Terrell and chief meteorologist Troy Bridges were among those on hand at the Holiday Inn Presidential to accept the award. Terrell had this to say: “We proudly accepted the award on behalf of all the dedicated members of our team who’ve worked tirelessly to make our product worthy of this recognition.” FOX16’s weekend sports anchor Chris Kolkhorst walked away with two first place awards in the News Feature and Sports Coverage categories, while weekend news anchor Kelly Dudzik earned an honorable mention in the Continuing Coverage category.

FOX16 News continues to make significant strides in the market, and now lays claim to the market’s longest continuous anchor team with Donna Terrell, Kevin Kelly, Troy Bridges and David Raath. FOX16 News Director Ed Trauschke says that his team’s success comes from consistently focusing the needs of the viewer. “Segments like Kevin’s ‘Consumer Alert’, Donna’s ‘Family Healthcast’, or our “County-by –County” coverage are just a few examples of ways that we’ve been able to create a pinpoint focus for our viewers.”

FOX16 has been in the news business for just over four years now, having launched on March 29, 2004. It added early news at 5p and 530p just over a year ago. “It’s particularly satisfying that the AP chose FOX16 News over the three established news stations in the market”, said FOX16 General Manager Chuck Spohn, “It echoes exactly what we’re seeing in the ratings; more and more viewers continue to make us their new choice for news.” The award comes just weeks after FOX16 posted their strongest Nielsen ratings numbers to date. FOX16 News @ 9’s audience grew an additional +70% from where it was this same time last year, and with that surpassed or tied several competiting newscasts airing in the 10pm hour. The growth was even more impressive at 5p and 530p where FOX16 grew well over 100% from the most recent rating period.