You're Outta' Here..............

 This from a tipster: Meteorologist Rhonda Lee of KTBS fired after she responded to facebook post when viewer called her the N-word; KTBS Crime Reporter Chris Redford fired for using facebook as well to respond to reported gay-stalker.

Retrans fees... Here We Go Again...

Seems just like last week KTHV was in a squabble with Dish Network over retransmission fees. Well that squabble was worked out...but here KTHV is again NOW with Direct TV.  According to a message on its website, channel 11 is in a position to be pulled from the video service provider come midnight November 30th.  

Attention DirecTV Subscribers

Starting at midnight November 30, KTHV may no longer be available on DirecTV. That means you could lose access to blockbuster college football and basketball, your favorite CBS entertainment programs and NFL football as well as your local news, weather and sports. Tell DirecTV to keep your CBS station KTHV by calling 1-888-777-2454.  

Information about KTHV on DirecTV

In order for KTHV to be delivered to your home, we negotiate agreements for the rights to carry our station with video service providers like DirecTV. KTHV has agreements in place with all of the video providers in our area. In fact, we have never had a service disruption with a major distributor before. Just this past October, we successfully reached a multi-year agreement with DISH Network without any disruption for our viewers.

Unfortunately, so far DirecTV has refused to reach a fair, market-based agreement with us – even though terms being offered are similar to those which allowed us to reach a deal with DISH Network just this past October. If a deal is not reached by midnight on November 30, DirecTV subscribers will lose access to KTHV.

Former KATV Reporter Passes Away

KATV.com Former Channel 7 Reporter Dewayne Graham has passed away.

Graham had been fighting various illnesses and medical problems for several months before passing away early Wednesday morning. He was 63 years old.
 
He was the face of 7 On Your Side from 1989-99, including his weekly feature, "Rip-Off of the Week," shining a light on a person, business or product that had been plaguing consumers in Central Arkansas. For his efforts, then-Attorney General Winston Bryant named him an honorary assistant attorney general.
 
Shortly after leaving KATV, he ran for Congress, losing in a run-off with Mike Ross. He also ran for Pulaski County Sheriff in 2006, losing to Doc Holladay.

Man Arrested for Stalking Shreveport Crime Reporter

As you can see from the headline a man has been accused of stalking KTBS Crime Reporter Chris Redford.

A tipster tells ATN KATV has hired a weekend anchor!  The new weekend anchor is Erin Hawley from First Coast News/WTLV/WJXX/Jacksonville, Florida.  Just kind of ironic First Coast News is where former KATV weekend anchor Heather Crawford is working now. 

Former LR Weather Guesser Joins NWA Station

Source: KHBS/KHOG  KHBS/KHOG-TV 40/29 today announced the addition of Darby Bybee to the station’s weather team.  With Bybee’s addition, 40/29 News will be the only local television station in the market with four meteorologists. 

 

Bybee brings over four years of meteorology experience to KHBS/KHOG-TV, most recently working for KARK-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas. Prior to KARK, Bybee worked as a meteorologist at KLKN-TV in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Bybee, an experienced storm chaser, has logged nearly 45-thousand miles in 23 states while reporting on tornadoes and hail/wind events.  His degree in meteorology was earned from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

 

“Darby’s addition creates the largest team of meteorologists in our viewing area and enhances our commitment to provide the most comprehensive weather coverage around the clock,” said KHBS/KHOG-TV News Director, Greg Shepperd. He adds, “Whether it’s on-air, online or our mobile weather tools, 40/29 Weather has viewers covered 24/7.”

So Many Loose Strings in LR

In watching Little Rock tv news there are so many empty news positions.  At KATV, they have yet to name a permanent weekend anchor after the departure of Heather Crawford.  KATV still is utilizing reporters to  fill in the gap.  One can't help but wonder what the delay is.  

Meanwhile over at THV, News 11 as they are now calling it, they have yet to fill the news director position, a reporter or two position and one wonders if they plan on hiring another anchor following the death of anchor Matt Turner.  Of course I don't think they would consider hiring another anchor until the ND position is filled. 

No Rehearing of Case Concerning Hospital Records of Slain KATV Anchor

Well the soap opera continues in a case against St.Vincent Infirmary Medical Center of Little Rock concerning the medical records of slain KATV anchor Anne Pressly.  Arkansas Business.com reports the Arkansas Supreme Court denied Thursday a request from the hospital for a rehearing of the case.  Meanwhile, Patricia Cannady, Pressly's mother, intends to move forward with the case involving the Little hospital.

Former Little Rock News Director Lands in Missouri

Arkansas Business.com reports former KTHV News Director Chuck Maulden has landed a the news director job at KOLR, Channel 10 in Springfield, MO.