Former KAIT Met Back at Station

This from a tipster: I'm not sure what's going on but I noticed tonight that Former KAIT meterologist Shane Carter Has returned, He used to be Hospital Administrator at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Before that He was at a Tulsa TV Station as a Meteorologist, Now back at KAIT and we have no idea why.

Former Little Rock TV News Anchor Hits the Airwaves Again

Arkansas Business.com reports former KATV/KTHV news anchor Andy Pearson is joining the news team at KARN. AB.com reports Pearson will become the anchor for the KARN-FM 102.9 morning show, First News with Bob Steel. Pearson will replace Jack Heinritz, KARN's news director, who will provide newscasts for The Dave Elswick Show in the afternoon.

KTHV Sales Manager Leaves

Arkansas Business.com reports Leslie Heizman has left her position of Sales Manager at KTHV and will be joining CJRW of Little Rock on Oct. 6 and will hold the title of senior vice president of sales and marketing.

KNWA Weekend Anchor Gone; Replacement Found

This from a tipster: Mickey Goodwin has been shown the door at KNWA, just a couple weeks before her contract was due to expire. Laine Baker, most recently from KSNT in Topeka, KS has been named as Goodwin's replacement in the weekend anchor position.

Cummins Lands in Louisiana

Arkansas Business.com reports former KARK TV meteorologist Brett Cummins has landed a gig as chief met for several FOX affiliates that produces newscasts for FOX News Louisiana which which covers Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Alexandria.

Luckie Not So Lucky?

This from a tipster: KTAL is threatening to fire their new reporter, Lane Lucky, unless he changes his name, even though they have allowed him to be on the air for three weeks with it. They cited credibility issue.

KATV Wants Viewers to be Entertained or "Informed"?

An e-mailer sent this in: What was up with KATV airing infomericals for Time/Life music on Friday night (September 12) during the 7:00 p.m. hour? That is supposed to be a primetime network show time. Then, I tune in late last night to see they are running some award show from ABC. What's up with that?

Watch Out for the Falling Axe at KATV

Received several tips like this one today: 4 employees have been fired since Wednesday,including 2 with a combined 64 years service.(The Hot Springs Bureau Chief and the Director of Creative Services.) The other employees fired include a producer and a member of the Promotions department.

It is unknown if any additional layoffs/firings will take place.

KAIT Reporter on the Move

This from a tipster: Will Carter of KAIT is leaving to go to KSPR in Springfield.

KAIT Weather Anchor MIA

This from a tipster: KAIT 8 weather anchor chris castleman is no longer part of the weather team, all pictures, info about him have beenremoved from the web site. Any news why???

New Rookie Reporter in Shreveport

KTAL has hired Lane Luckie straight from the classroom at NSU. He will be reporting.

40/29 to Call the Hogs

Source: KHBS/KHOG 40/29 will be carrying the Arkansas-Texas game Saturday, September 13 at 2:30 p.m. The following Saturday, September 20, the Alabama-Arkansas game will air on 40/29 in High Definition. Pre-game coverage begins at 11:00 a.m. with kick-off at 11:30.

To prepare for the battle between old rivals Arkansas and Texas, 40/29 Sports is presenting a 30-minute live special, “Attack on Austin: Hogs vs. Horns”, Thursday, September 11 at 6:30 p.m., live from Austin, TX. Craig Cannon and Mark Lericos will be anchoring coverage from Austin during the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts beginning Wednesday at 10:00pm.

And after Saturday’s game, watch 40/29 for extended coverage post game until the Ohio State-USC game at 7 p.m. Saturday.

New Sportscaster Hired in NWA

This from a tipster: Derek Ruscin's replacement at KNWA, as weekday sports reporter and weekend sports anchor, is Adam Alter, who spent the last 2 years at KSNT in Topeka. Syracuse alum.

No More Hogs on KATV Come 2009

This also about a week old:

From ESPN:

The Southeastern Conference has signed a 15-year deal with ESPN reportedly worth more than $2 billion to televise sporting events, including football and men's and women's basketball.

The agreement announced Monday is the longest ESPN has ever signed and matches the length of the powerhouse league's deal with CBS earlier in August.

"This agreement makes the SEC the most widely distributed conference in the country," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. He declined to disclose financial terms.

"The bottom line here is that fans of SEC football will have more access to games and better distribution than they ever have in the past," Slive added.

The deal begins with the 2009-10 season and ends the league's look into starting a network to carry its sporting events.

ESPN will have rights to every SEC home football game not on the network package and all league matchups will be shown on some outlet, including at least 20 a year on ESPN or ESPN2. That includes two primetime Thursday night matchups and Saturday night games.

"We're thrilled with the historic nature of this deal," ESPN executive vice president John Skipper said, adding that college sports have been "part of our DNA" for nearly 30 years. "It's not hard to figure why we'd want to be involved with it, given the quality of SEC sports, for 15 more years."

Alabama coach Nick Saban said the league's exposure nationally helps in recruiting and image.

"One of the reasons that this league has developed into one of the top leagues in the country is because we have tremendous exposure," Saban said. "I think we had the best exposure from a TV standpoint in our last contract and this one is only going to enhance it more."

The new deal will also add a second and third night of SEC basketball coverage on ESPN and ESPN2 each week. ABC will add two nationally televised regular-season hoops games and broadcast the SEC tournament semifinals and championship game.

ESPN's various outlets will carry more than 5,500 SEC events over the 15-year period, including league championships in women's basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics.

The deal will end the SEC's affiliation with Raycom Sports, which has aired basketball since 1986 and SEC football since 1992.

Arkansas Stations Get Emmy Nods

A tipster sent this in about a week ago:

Emmy nominations are in for Arkansas stations:

KTHV: 6 nominations (News excellence, Newscast-Morning/Daytime Markets 50+, Religion, Documentary-Historical, Photographer/Sports, Arts & Entertainment)

KLRT: 3 nominations (Newscast-Morning/Daytime Markets 50+, Newscast Evening 50+ and Newscast Weekend 50+)

KATV: 2 nominations (Newscast - Evening 50+ & News Excellence)

KARK: 1 nomination (Newscast - Evening 50+)

KAIT: 1 nomination (Newscast – Evening Markets 101+)

KNWA/KFTA: 1 nomination (Commmmercial - Single Spot)

AETN: 1 nomination (Documentary - Cultural)

All nominations at this link: http://www.emmymid-america.org/UserFiles/File/2008_Nomination_Book%20FINAL.pdf

KTAL ND Jumping Ship?

From a tipster: I hear the KTAL news director Paul Bergen is planning to jump ship pretty soon and has only been there since March or April. I hear he's planning to leave Shreveport to get married!! He did all this damage and now he is going to pack his bags and leave.