KATV Hires MMJ

KATV/Channel 7/Little Rock has hired a new multi-media journalist.  Matt Mershon twitted the announcement yesterday:

Mershon comes to Little Rock from WTVO/Rockford, IL.  Mershon starts in September.

Met Leaves Northwest Arkansas

KHBS/KHOG/Channel 40/29 Meterologist Brittany Bell has left the station.  Bell has joined WAPT, the ABC affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi.  Bell had been at the Northwest Arkansas stations since 2012. 

Hat tip TV Spy

KARK Names New Co-anchor of Arkansas Today

KARK/Channel 4/Little Rock has named a new co-anchor for Arkansas Today.  Aaron Nolan is returning to KARK as a co-anchor of the noon newscast.  Nolan spent four years at KARK as a sports anchor years ago.  Nolan is married to newly named evening co-anchor Ashley Ketz.

New KARK Anchor Named

This didn't take long.  KARK/Channel 4/Little Rock has already named a replacement for Jessica Dean who is headed to Philadelphia:

Ashley Ketz is returning home to Arkansas as the new evening co-anchor of KARK 4 News in Little Rock. The Batesville native will anchor the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. broadcasts alongside Bob Clausen beginning in September. Ketz is currently an evening anchor at Nexstar Broadcasting’s KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri.

“We couldn’t be more excited about welcoming Ashley home to Arkansas,” said KARK News Director Austin Kellerman. “Ashley has done a standout job since joining Nexstar Broadcasting’s station in Springfield. It’s a natural transition for her to return home and help lead our team in Little Rock.”

Arkansas Native Joins KATV

TV Spy reports Elicia Dover is joining KATV/Channel 7/Little Rock as a reporter.  Dover comes to Little Rock from ABC News where she is a video journalist. Dover grew up in the Bryant area.  Dover comes on board in September. 

KARK Anchor Moving on...Movin' Up

KARK/Channel 4/Little Rock anchor Jessica Dean is leaving.  Dean is leaving Little Rock for Philadelphia's CBS 3 where she will be co-anchoring the evening newscasts with Arkansas native Chris May.  Her final  newscast on KARK will be Sunday, September 8. Philadelphia is the 4th largest news market in the U.S. 

In the news release Dean had this to say:  “It has been a joy to tell the stories of my home state,” said Dean. “During my time here, I've seen how many big-hearted, kind people make up Arkansas. Together we've seen the best and the worst of life. It's been my honor to share these experiences with our viewers.”

Dean joined KARK as evening news anchor in 2011.  Before that she worked for KATV/Channel 7/Little Rock.

THV Anchor Calls it Quits

Long time KTHV/Channel 11/Little Rock anchor/reporter Stefanie Bryant has left.  Her last day at the station was Tuesday, August 13th.  It's not known what her future plans are.  Bryant had been the anchor for the Noon newscast and the 9am newscast. She joined KTHV in April 2003.

Raycom Stations Return to Dish

Broadcasting and Cable reports Raycom and Dish Network have reached a retransmission agreement.  The deal was reached Friday night and Raycoms stations in 36 markets have returned to Dish subscribers. 

KATV Reporter Lands on the West Coast

KATV reporter Matt Johnson has left.  TV Spy reports Johnson has joined KFMB in San Diego, CA as a reporter.

Former KTBS Sports Director Now Doing Print

From the tip jar:

Former KTBS Sports Director Tim Fletcher is now reporting sports for The Shreveport Times.   If you will remember Fletcher left KTBS in March to spend more time with family.  Fletch still produces his radio show. 

Monroe Met Gets the Boot

From the tip jar:

Monroe/El Dorado Meteorologist Tom Pearson, who's worked since the early 90's at both KTVE and KNOE, was let go by Hoak-owned KNOE yesterday. He recently got his real estate license and guess Hoak brass didn't cotton to his new gig.