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Jterry

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Posts posted by Jterry

  1. Approaching almost two years exactly since Joyce left WATN which likely was the length of her non-compete. Would seem very possible she could be joining WMC. Morning anchor would be first guess but it could be nearly any position. And looking at her twitter profile her top banner is now a WMC logo - I would say it's nearly a certainty she is going to Ch 5.

     

    Intriguing this huge expansion in its news output. The 3:30 newscast seems really out of place. Not sure there is a place for it in the market though we shall see.

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  2. WREG has announced former KHOU anchor Greg Hurst will be the channel's new weekday evening co-anchor alongside Stephanie Scurlock, replacing Richard Ransom. Start date TBD

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  3. There had been rumors but this evening WREG's Richard Ransom appeared to confirm on Twitter that he has left the station effectively immediately. No reason given (but probably could make some educated speculation)

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  4. Speaking of Raycom cuts:

     

    FTVLive is reporting that WMC will not be renewing its contract for its chopper and its use will end after January 1. That will leave the Memphis market without a helicopter, and WMC without a chopper for the first time in nearly 20 years. WHBQ employs a drone, and the report indicates WMC will be working with Raycom to test drone coverage as well.

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  5. WATN's Joy Lambert is leaving the station as of today. In a Facebook video, she indicates she was offered a contract extension but her and her family decided it was time to move on to other opportunities outside the city. She indicates a new anchor will be taking over next week.

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  6. WHBQ sports director Matt Stark is leaving the station at the end of May after stating his position has been "eliminated"

     

    https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1263251517036167

     

    Naturally that phrasing makes one wonder if this means that Cox is eliminating WHBQ's sports department entirely. Stark had been with WHBQ since 2001. He is looking to continue in the Memphis area so best of luck to him in finding a new venture.

  7. Per WREG's Twitter feed, the station is adding a "new" face to their morning newscasts beginning Monday morning (adding that she is a familiar one to Memphis television).

     

    My guess is that it's Donna Davis, who hasn't been in the news business since 2008 when WMC-TV was forced to lay people off due to budget cuts by Raycom at the time.

     

    That seems most likely. Donna Davis actually recently co-hosted a few episodes of 'Local Memphis Live' on WATN a month or so ago. Perhaps the bigger question may be whether a substantial format change may be coming to WREG's morning show, similar to the change WMC has undergone over the last year with three anchors (but with more of a primary focus on two female anchors), assuming Markova Reed is staying which there is no indication she isn't.

  8.  

    Confirmed: John Bryant is the new Chief Meteorologist for WATN. Unknown what happened to Paul Williams.

     

    http://www.localmemphis.com/story/d/story/john-bryant-named-chief-meteorologist/19149/FFAEOyBfQkOt-BYaa-my4w

     

    Apparently, and not surprisingly, Paul wasn't pleased with his position when John was moved to weekday evenings during November sweeps, so he knew his best option would likely to be to leave. According to his twitter, he's looking to move to another market soon. Ironically its very similar to the position John Bryant was placed in at WMC when the move toward Dave Brown's semi-retirement began to take shape earlier this year that led to him leaving there.

  9. WHBQ weekend morning anchor & reporter Kristin Tallent announced her departure from the station Today. She is taking a job as Public Information Officer for the Shelby County, TN School District, which should ensure she remains regularly seen on Memphis television, but now across all stations.

  10. Here we go again: WATN Chief Meteorologist Paul Williams' bio page has disappeared from their website as of this afternoon. This is in advance of Lauren Raymer's return to mornings from maternity leave on Monday, with Sean Parker likely to return to weekends. While not confirmed, it seems very possible that Williams has now been fully let go from WATN with John Bryant perhaps becoming the station's new chief, as he has been on all of the weekday evening newscasts during November sweeps.

  11. Perhaps the least surprising news ever. After being taken off the anchor desk, which clearly that wasn't his decision, I knew he would be leaving at the first opportunity available. He'll land somewhere else I'm sure, don't know whether it will be in the Memphis market however. Best of luck to him.

  12. So, I'm watching the debut newscast on WATN with Katina Rankin and Brandon Artiles anchoring, and interestingly John Bryant is the meteorologist on duty. He's even a part of the talent intro. He's not being called chief meteorologist, but is it possible they have moved Paul Williams to another position/time?

     

    I see too on their website that John Bryant is now listed "above" Paul Williams as part of the weather team, though again Paul is still referred to as the chief. I wonder if they're pulling a WHBQ and doing some sort of alternate scheduling.

  13. Based on a promo that just aired on WATN, WLBT morning anchor Brandon Artiles has been hired as weeknight co-anchor alongside Katina Rankin. So I guess recreating WLBT's morning show for Memphis is the strategy they have been building toward this last year!

  14.  

     

    Finally, this one is completely speculative, but I couldn't help but notice this morning that Nexstar has posted an opening for a news anchor at WATN, with the same description as the one that preceded Joyce Peterson's departure (for weeknights). http://nexstar.hirecentric.com/jobs/71253.html Is Cameron Harper on his way out before Katina Rankin even gets a chance to make her debut?

     

    Update: As of this morning on WATN/WLMT's bio page, while Cameron Harper is still listed he is now being referred to as a "reporter" for the two stations rather than the weeknight anchor alongside Katina Rankin. So it would appear WATN is indeed looking for a new primary anchor but Harper is staying on with WATN in this reduced role. It's unclear what's caused this change in his position.

     

    http://www.localmemphis.com/aboutus/team

  15. WMC anchors Pam McKelvy and Lindsey Brown have announced their departure from the station. Lindsey is moving to Minneapolis for an anchor position (I believe at KSTP) while its unsure the reasoning for Pam's departure. At WHBQ, FTVLive is reporting GMM anchor/reporter Brooke Thomas is leaving to join Tribune's new "Eye Opener" syndicated show.

     

    Finally, this one is completely speculative, but I couldn't help but notice this morning that Nexstar has posted an opening for a news anchor at WATN, with the same description as the one that preceded Joyce Peterson's departure (for weeknights). http://nexstar.hirecentric.com/jobs/71253.html Is Cameron Harper on his way out before Katina Rankin even gets a chance to make her debut?

  16.  

    That should make severe weather coverage all the more interesting, especially if they have all 4-5 at hand plus Melton if needed.

     

    Will be interested to see how much Dave Brown is present in severe weather coverage, whether he remains the primary face of it or basically hands off most of that to Ron. Especially for events on weekends and such.

     

    One small note, according to WMC's official release: http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/26341216/dave-brown-to-provide-6-pm-weather-coverage-ron-childers-named-managing-meteorologist

    Ron Childers is being promoted as "Managing Meteorologist". I can only assume that means Dave Brown is still technically chief, but that might be playing semantics with the terminology and for all practical purposes Ron is in charge next month.

  17. This one almost slipped under the radar but legendary WMC meteorologist Dave Brown, while a guest on James Spann's weather podcast last night, announced that he will be entering semi-retirement in a "couple of weeks", cutting back to the 6 PM news only, but likely to exit completely a year or so from now. He noted this is completely his decision. The announcement is not official yet but I assume we'll see something formal soon since this is not far off from taking effect.

     

    It's widely known though not officially said yet that morning meteorologist Ron Childers will become the new chief meteorologist upon Dave's exit. What's not clear yet is his role during this interim period, whether they will move him to the 5 & 10 PM in preparation or keep him at mornings. As previously noted, WAAY meteorologist Spencer Denton is joining as Noon and 4 PM meteorologist later this month.

     

    This news would also better corroborate something I heard a few days ago, but never posted as it seemed flaky, about a second new meteorologist expected to join WMC next month. I suspect we may hear actual news on this too shortly.

     

    Here's the link to the podcast...

     

    The brief remarks on semi-retirement come about an hour and ten minutes into the video.

  18.  

    Bryant hasn't been at WMC for months, so I'm guessing his non-compete clause was a short one with this move, and comes at the right time for WATN with both Lauren Raymer and Joy Lambert expected to go on maternity leave in the coming weeks.

     

    I thought Bailey Melton was Bryant's replacement though. Does that mean Melton is gone too, or is WMC just adding another meteorologist to the four they already have?

     

    I believe Bailey Melton's role was mainly as a substitute when needed (which was pretty regularly in Bryant's absence) and not as a permanent replacement, as he has a job outside broadcasting in pharmacy. His twitter bio also says (https://twitter.com/BaileyWMC5) "Part of the WMC Action News 5 Storm Tracking Team when needed" I suspect he'll remain in that role after Denton's arrivial, however.

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