Behind the Scenes People Gone at KATV?

This from a tipster: "I heard KATV lost their assignment editor, morning show producer, 11:30am producer, and 5pm producer on Friday. Is this true? If it is.... what's going on there?"

Former KFSM Anchor Pops up in Texas

This from a tipster: "Tim Malone, former anchor for KFSM-TV 5, has appeared in the anchor chair in Sherman, Texas, on KTEN. Does this mean he was able to get the DWI charges dropped and get out of Arkansas?"

KTHV Number One in Nation in Big Brother Streaming Test

CBS conducts a test with affiliates testing Big Brother streaming on
sites...

KTHV #1 in nation in Big Brother Streaming Test beating LA and DC
markets.

Four (4) Gannett stations in the CBS Top 10 for the Big Brother affiliate test. KTHV #1 & WLTX #2. WMAZ #6 & WFMY #10. WUSA #17 & WTSP #26. 40 stations participating. Our six (6) affiliates (15% of sample group) are responsible for 28% of all referrals in this latest report.

Source: Gannet Press Release

Some New Yorker's Not Liking Sullivan

From this thread in the TV Spy Watercooler, some New York TV viewers aren't impressed with former KATV'er Kate Sullivan so far. Sullivan left KATV a couple of months ago for WCBS in The Big Apple.

Former KTHV Weekend Anchor Goes On the Record About His Disorders

In Friday's Arkansas Democrat Gazette's Paper Trail's column, former weekend KTHV anchor Win Noble tells about his struggle with obsessive-compulsive and bipolar disorders. To his viewers, Noble says, “I hope they are able to forgive me if they feel I’ve done them wrong.”
“The person they invited into their home is still that person. I didn’t do something that couldn’t have easily ended with an apology from me.”

Read the full article HERE.

Noble lost his job this spring after a fight at a Little Rock night club.

Sams Signs Three Year Deal with 11

This from Wednesday's Paper Trials column in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette: "Longtime TV news anchorman B.J. Sams continues his run on local TV; he’s just signed a new three-year contract with KTHV, Channel 11. " According to his bio KTHV.com, Sams has been in broadcasting more than 50 years and at KTHV since 1982.

KTHV, KARK to Pre-empt Daytime Soaps for LT Governor's Funeral

KARK and KTHV will cover the funeral of Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller LIVE Thursday. HERE's KARK's schedule for Thursday:

The following is our schedule for Thursday : 12:00pm - 1:00pm KARK 4 Midday, 1:00pm - 2:00pm Rockefeller Memorial Service, 2:00pm-3:00pm Days of Our Lives, 3:00pm - 4:00pm Passions, 4:00pm - 5:00pm Judge Judy.

> KTHV will also broadcast the service LIVE on the web. THV.com features a comprehensive memorial page with dozens of links to browse through. Also worth noting, KTHV is streaming video of Rockeller's body lying in state at the Capitol. Watch HERE.

No word IF KATV will air the service.

NWA May Numbers

Arkansas Business.com has the May ratings for the station in NWA. Below are the highlights from the article:

> KHBS+ (which includes KHBS, Channel 40 in Fort Smith, and KHOG, Channel 29 in Fayetteville) had a 9.3 rating at 10 p.m. for Washington, Benton and Madison counties combined. KNWA had a 5.5 rating during the same time slot, down from 7.4 in November, but still beating KFSM, Channel 5, which had a 4.6 rating.

> KFSM was the clear winner in the entire 11-county designated market area. KHBS+ was the winner during all three evening time slots in Northwest Arkansas.

KNWA-TV/KFTA-TV Promotes From Within for New Razorback Nation Anchor, ALSO Names New Met

Source: KNWA-TV/KFTA-TV Press Release KNWA-TV / KFTA-TV today announced the promotion of Derek Ruscin from Weekend Weather Anchor / News Photographer to full-time Sports Reporter for KNWA Northwest Arkansas News. At the same time the station named Dan Ashley as the new Weekend Meteorologist. The announcement was made by Blake Russell, Vice President and General Manager of the television stations.

“As we continue to grow the news department, it's exciting when we already have someone here that can take a new position and run with it.,” said Mr. Russell. “Derek does a great job anchoring weather on the weekends, and I think he'll be even better as the fifth and newest member of the Razorback Nation team.”

"My dream growing up was always to be a sportscaster," said Mr. Ruscin. "And here's my opportunity."

Mr. Ruscin joined the KNWA Power Doppler Forecast team as the weekend forecaster in March of 2005. He's worked in the broadcast industry since he was 15, calling basketball games for the cable TV station in his hometown of Searcy, Arkansas. His interest shifted from sports to weather on January 21, 1999 when he lived through the largest tornado outbreak in Arkansas history. Now, he's turning his attention back to sports.

Dan Ashley comes to KNWA/KFTA from KOAM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Pittsburg, Kansas. Mr. Ashley graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2003 with a degree in Atmospheric Science. His hometown is Rock Hill, South Carolina, where his family (mom, dad & one sister) still live.

"I'm looking forward to coming to both a growing station and a growing area like Northwest Arkansas," said Mr. Ashley. "There seems to always be something going on here, and the chance to continue to forecast weather as it rolls through tornado alley will be a blast."

“Forecasting weather and covering the Razorbacks are two important services we provide to our viewers,” said Mr. Russell. “It's great to have two people of this caliber complimenting the growth of our television stations.”

New KARK Weekend Met Makes on Air Debut

An e-mailer sent in a tip that Jason Kadah is KARK's new weekend meteorologist and Kadah made his on air debut Thursday. According to info found on the world wide web, Kadah comes to Little Rock from KVIA in El Paso, Texas. HERE's a link to his bio at KVIA.com .

Former KTBS Anchor Running for Shreveport Mayor

Well it looks as though the race for Shreveport mayor will get a little more crowded when former KTBS anchor Liz Swaine announces her intentions July 25. This from an article in the Shreveport Times:

"The executive assistant to Hightower refers to herself as an unannounced candidate, despite a fundraiser held on her behalf that raised $200,000 and a public appearance just last week where she was introduced with the mayoral candidates.She won't officially announce her intentions until July 25.Until then, Swaine's biggest benefit may be her name recognition. A recent poll showed a majority of the 80 percent of likely voters who recognized the former news anchorwoman had a favorable opinion of her."

The race also includes former KSLA GM Ed Bradley and a number of others.

KSLA Anchor Leaving

This from a tipster: "KSLA has posted the job opening for evening news co-anchor, which means Michelle White is likely on her way out to possibly take a position on former KSLA general manager Ed Bradley's mayoral election staff. "

KFSM AM News Anchor on the Move

This from a tipster: "Bobbie Miller leaving KFSM, headed for KFOR , I think. Last week at KFSM.

Former KATV Weatherman Guest Hosts on KARK AM Progam

Yet another familiar face popped up on Arkansas TV screens Monday morning as Ron Sherman filled in for Mike Frances on KARK's morning program. An e-mailer says Sherman pulled a short stint at KARK in 1970 before heading on over to KATV.

Veteran Local Broadcaster Appointed To Station Manager Of New Fox Affiliate For Northwest Arkansas

Source: Mission Broadcasting Press Release Mission Broadcasting, Inc. announced today that long time local broadcaster, Marty Houston, has been appointed to manage their new full-power Fox affiliate in North West Arkansas. Houston will be Station Manager for KFTA, Fox-24, which is scheduled to take over the Fox affiliation in late August.

Houston returns to the Northwest Arkansas market, where he was Station Manager for KPBI and KFDF TV for 16 years, he has been the Director of Sports Programming for Equity Broadcasting over the past year; viewers may know him better for his hosting of his daily sports talk show “ The Huddle “ for the past 11 years. Houston said he is looking forward to his return to the area, “I appreciate the opportunity and confidence that Mission Broadcasting has placed in me, and look forward to the exciting challenge of a start up station.”

Retired Little Rock TV Personality Re-appears

Retired TV personality Beth Ward re-appeared on KTHV Saturday. Ward filled in, in the weather department. Ward retired last year, after a long career on Little Rock TV.

Former Monroe Reporter Succumbs to Cancer

This from a tipster: "Dana Kaye has worked the last ten years at WTVF-Nashville. She is from Monroe (reporter at KNOE in the 80s) and also worked in Baton Rouge and Tyler, TX. Those who knew her would want to know of her passing."

According to a story on the WTVF website, Kaye succumbbed to cancer. Kaye was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004.

KATV Jumps on Digital News Bandwagon

This from a tipster: "KATV has jumped into the digital-TV news game with "7 news now" service on its digital subchannel (7-2). Its simular to THV2 except lacking the PSA's, ads and taped stories. Mainly radar images, forcasts, and weathercams."

Former KATV'er Lands New Gig in Boston

Well it looks like Chris May will not be coming back to Little Rock anytime soon. The former KATV anchor who got canned by WHDH in Boston has landed an anchor position at Boston's CBS 4. According to THIS article in the Boston Herald, May will be anchoring the 4pm newscast for the station and the 9:30p.m. newscast for its sister station TV-38. The article says national networks CNN, NBC and ABC were pursuing him as well.