Climate right for forecaster at KVBC
NBC affiliate KVBC-TV, Las Vegas, has a new weathercaster, Dr. Jim Siebert. He comes from NBC affiliate KOB-TV, Albuquerque, N.M. Mr. Siebert has a Ph.D. in instructional technologies, with an emphasis on science education, and a master’s
degree in meteorology.
“We felt at this point we needed someone [who] really understands the weather patterns affecting southern Nevada,” KVBC General Manager Gene Greenberg said. “We’ve had three days of rain now, which is very unusual, so as the climate changes and we’re experiencing different weather, it’s good to have a meteorologist who can explain it to our viewers.”
KVBC lost weatherman Nate Tannenbaum in December. He went to cross-town rival ABC affiliate KTNV-TV. But a Clark County District Court determined Mr. Tannenbaum violated the noncompete clause he had with KVBC, and the weather forecaster will be off the air for a year.
KGTV’s message: turn off TV, talk to kids
In light of last week’s school shooting in Santee, Calif., McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Co.’s ABC affiliate KGTV, San Diego, pre-empted one hour of prime-time programming and commercials at 8 p.m. Friday and instead showed a stark screen with rotating messages suggesting parents turn off their television and talk to their children. The screen showed a number for a free brochure with youth violence prevention resources and a hotline number. This followed KGTV’s one-hour coverage of a memorial service for the victims.
“A lot of viewers are calling in saying they need some help finding additional resources to help their kids,” KGTV General Manager Darrell Brown said. “We believe the whole issue with youth violence is it starts in the home, and the best work that can be done is through parents and kids in their own home.”
Texas-size news war in Dallas
The Dallas news race has not let up. For the 10 p.m. news in the February sweeps, ABC affiliate WFAA-TV came in No. 1 again with an 11.9 Nielsen Media Research rating and 19 share, and NBC-owned KXAS-TV came in second at 10.5/17 for Monday through Friday.
“We’ve widened the gap between us and KXAS-TV,” WFAA-TV General Manager Kathy Clements-Hill said. “In November there was a six-tenths of a ratings point gap between us. We’re just consistently there for our viewers.”
Ms. Clements-Hill said ABC gave her station a low lead-in average of 9.6/14 from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. “We took a 9.6 lead-in and took it to a 12 rating,” she said, adding that KXAS went from a 12.4/18 lead-in to a 10.5 rating. But KXAS General Manager Steve Doerr sees it differently, saying KXAS won the morning news race and prime time. KXAS has won the morning newscast for the second consecutive sweeps since November, with a 4/19 for the two-hour 5 a.m. show, while WFAA garnered a 3.5/16.
“It’s starting to be a trend-we’ve really focused a lot of our attention on getting people out the door in the morning with traffic, weather and overnight news,” Mr. Doerr said. “We make it a point to do it better than anybody in town.”
Mr. Doerr has some advice for anyone who wants to work in the No. 7 market: “This is a tough market,” he said. “There are three O&Os and a bad-ass Belo flagship station [WFAA-TV]. So whoever comes here better be ready to play in the major leagues.”
NECN takes care of business in Boston
New England Cable News will launch the region’s first nightly business news program March 26. The half-hour “New England Business Day” will air at 6:30 p.m. and repeat at 7:30 p.m. R.D. Sahl, Amanda Rossetter and Shannon Ogden will each anchor a segment. The show will focus on local companies and how each day’s stock market news affects them. Boston Globe business reporters will be featured on the show.
“We’ve been thinking about this program for at least four or five years and had wanted a nightly business program that is locally oriented,” said Phil Balboni, founder and president of NECN. “It fills a niche.”
Karissa S. Wang can be reached by phone at 323-370-2430, via e-mail at kwang@crain.com or by fax at 323-653-4425