Friday, February 29, 2008

News: WKYC #1 Newscast at 11 PM

February sweeps are over...and WKYC retains its #1 position at 11 PM.

WKYC beats both 2nd place WEWS and 3rd place WOIO by more than a ratings point.

February was huge for WKYC and WKYC.COM - thanks in part to better ratings for NBC programming, the Democractic Presidential Debate and several significant snow events that drew viewers to both platforms.

We set an all time high with vistors to our website...with near 16,000 on-line viewers of the Presidential Debate alone and over a 1,000 simultaneous chatters during the debate itself.

Other bright spots for WKYC include a 50% increase in our 6 AM morning news broadcast with anchors Mark Nolan and Abby Ham.

Also, our weekend mornings, weekend nights and 7 pm weeknight broadcasts continue to do well in the ratings.

News: NBC cans "quarterlife" after a single airing

Updated @ 5 PM

After a single airing on NBC, "quarterlife" has been pulled and will likely show up later on this season on co-owned Bravo.

The off-internet series from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick delivered a 1.3/4 for its 10p network debut, placing it third in the time period earlier this week.

The show did not air in Cleveland on Tuesday because we carried the Democratic Presidential Debate. WKYC will now air "Law Order" Saturday Night at 10 pm instead where it was scheduled to air here.

Starting next week, NBC will fill the hour with "Deal or No Deal," and thereafter with repeats of "Law & Order."

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Director's Alert: Weather Plus Moving to New Channel March 4th

Time Warner Cable is rearranging their digital cable line up so that channel line up positions will be consistent across all of their NE Ohio Systems. This is good news for Weather Plus!

ALL Time Warner systems will now carry Weather Plus on Channel 372.

This is effective March 4

News: Channel 3 Airs "State of the City"

VIDEO FEATURES:
To watch Mayor Jackson's State of the City 2/28/08: CLICK HERE
To watch the Q&A session with the Mayor 2/28/08: CLICK HERE

----------------
WKYC will broadcast Mayor Frank Jackson's "State of the City" speech live on Thursday, February 28th.

Coverage will start with Channel 3 News at Noon anchored by Barbara Gauthier.

We will then join the speech at around 12:22 PM live from the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre Hotel where the Mayor will bring us to update on the state of Cleveland as we head into this new year and plenty of issues still facing the region.

WKYC's Senior Political Correspondent Tom Beres will be joined by expert analysts for coverage you won't find anymore else.

That's Thursday, February 28th, beginning at noon on Channel 3 News.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS #2: The Day of "The Debate"

Here is another photogallery of pictures taken on the actual day of the Democratic Presidential Debate at Cleveland State University on 2/26/08.

Click on your browser "refresh" to view pictures if you don't see them playing.


Photos courtesy: WKYC Production Manager, Al Wohl

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Behind the scenes of "The Debate" - 2/25/08

The following are pictures taken the day before the Democratic Presidential Debate from the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.

The photogallery includes setup preparation for both WKYC broadcasts and NBC Nightly News.

Click on your browser "refresh" to view pictures if you don't see them playing.


Photos Courtesy: WKYC Production Manager, Al Wohl

Meet the Bloggers: Coverage of Ch 3's Debate

The WKYC Information Center's Social Media Group hosted "Meet the Bloggers" in the WKYC newsroom last night during the Debate.

You can see their work at http://www.meetthebloggers.net.

Meet the Bloggers (MTB) is one of the most influential political voices for Northeast Ohio in the blogosphere. The group interviews political and community influentials, streams podcasts and blogs prolifically. MTB has interviewed dozens of influentials, ranging from Brad Whitehead of the Cleveland Foundation and The Fund for our Economic Future to Cleveland Councilman and congressional candidate Joe Cimperman.

They covered the debate, wrote about WKYC's strategy in debate coverage, met Dave Lougee who is the President of Gannett Broadcasting and interviewed News Director Rita Andolsen and Producer Jon Adkins.

If you'd like to check out how they handled the Debate from WKYC (and from the Debate's "Spin Room"), please click on the following blogger links:

Writes Like She Talks
George Nemeth
Derek Arnold
Tim Ferris
Joel Libava
Gloria Ferris
Will Kessel
Roger Bundy
Brian Layman
George Nemeth
Laura Kessel (will also have audio interview podcast with Rita)

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Debate Blog: Behind the scenes at WKYC on the big day

As promised, I wanted to share with you some thoughts and timelines of how things are unfolding today - one of the most important days to WKYC and Channel 3 News.

VIDEO FEATURES:
Package #1: Behind the scenes of the debate: CLICK HERE
Package #2: Four minutes with Brian Williams: CLICK HERE
Package #3: Hardball's Chris Matthews at the debate: CLICK HERE

The Democratic Presidential Debate is set...and now the countdown has begun...

2:30 PM: Arrived at WKYC to find a newsroom packed full of anchors, reporters and photographers, news manager and other personnel assemblying with final instructions and a snack to take along for lunch.

2:48 PM: We begin preparing the final rundowns for the 6 & 7 PM news broadcasts.. The producers have been hard at work for the past several hours putting the content of the shows together. Now, the directors do our magic in marking our rundowns with camera shots, getting them to the printer and distributed to the crews both here and at Cleveland State.

3:30 PM: The new WKYC CommuterCast format is done after consultation with AJ Colby as to the content of the 4:30 live show. That goes to the printer.

3:52 PM: We must begin taping our Weather Plus cut-ins that air this evening. Betsy Kling stands in front of the chromakey wall and we roll and record

4:00 PM: Tim & Romona have left for CSU where they will be prepare for the evening broadcast and shake some hands with a few folks, I'm sure.

4:30 PM: The CommuterCast hits the web.. We got about 6 1/2 minutes with the latest live weather and traffic information from around the area.

4:45 PM: A return to the newsroom to begin working on scripts for the show. Tonight, I'll be directing the 7 PM broadcast.. Scripts are already printed and my marking is underway

5:00 PM: Time to update the blog.. take a breather...and look ahead to what else is coming tonight.

5:02 PM: The 7 PM rundown changes dramtically and must be reworked.. Carrie Young is my producer. She tries to calm me by saying, it's just a few changes.. It turns out that I need to reprint the entire show.

5:20 PM: Rundown is reprinted and redistributed.

5:45 PM: Problems arise with some of the cameras for the 6 pm show from CSU... Everyone's heart starts beating fast.. We were hoping we could present everything in 16x9, but we have some issues... so we must regroup a bit.

6:00 PM: Finally, we are on the air...but a little audio "hum" in the mics for Tim & Romona.

6:30 PM: Show is off the air... and all is well

7:00 PM: Show #2 of the day back on the air... Andrea Mitchell gets tied up on Hardball and can't join us.. Some quick reshuffling for the 3rd block...and we head to Betsy and weather. Good show.. thank goodness.. I live for another.

7:35 PM: Pizza, sandwiches and caffeine as we get ready for the next round - the 8 PM live broadcast.

8:02 PM: Our live special hits the air.. Poor Jennifer Murphy... right in the thick of it with a protest from Serbian members outside the Wolstein Center. Camera shot was a little too close for my comfort.

8:41 PM: We head to the WKYC Channel 3 "Blog Room" where Paul Thomas introduces us to our in house bloggers. It's "Meet the Bloggers" night with some of Cleveland's most influential political bloggers.

9:00 PM: The 8 PM show wraps up.. another quick breather for the staff...then we'll turn around and do the Akron Canton News at 10, a debate wrap up at 10:30 and Channel 3 News at 11 PM.

9:25 PM: Got all my scripts marked for the next the 10:30 and 11 PM shows, which I'll be directing.

10:34 PM: NBC wraps their live coverage and we start our Post Debate Coverage

11:31:51 PM: We fade to black and the day comes to an end.. what a day it was!

"quarterlife" debuts tonight on NBC; Saturday night on WKYC

NOTE: Because WKYC is airing the Democratic Presidential Debate, the premiere of "quarterlife" for Cleveland viewers will be Saturday Night at 10 PM.

The creators of the classic 80s TV drama "thirtysomething" are back with another series that's breaking new ground. The fact that the show "quarterlife" focuses on twenty-something's is not unique, but how the show wound up television is.

"quarterlife" started its life last year on its own social networking website.

Eight-minute webisodes about the lives of six twenty-somethings appeared on the site twice each week. Now those webisodes are full blown episodes.

"The show and the social network are really about what it means to take hold of your own life. To be a passionate, creative person who has dreams," explained co-creator Marshall Herskovitz.

"quarterlife"'s biggest dreamer is Dylan, played by Bitsie Tulloch.

The aspiring writer maintains a video blog that shares a little too much information about herself and her friends.

After the debut "quarterlife," it will move to its regular time slot: Sundays at 9.

VIDEO FEATURE:
To watch a sneak peek of the show: CLICK HERE

Monday, February 25, 2008

News: WKYC.COM launches new daily CommuterCast

Join WKYC every weekday at 4:30 for the brand new "WKYC CommuterCast."

It's a five minute look at the very latest traffic and weather conditions around Northeast Ohio before you leave the office.

Plus, you can chat live with us about the current conditions or with others getting ready to travel.

WKYC Weather Plus Meteorologists AJ Colby and Bruce Kalinowski will help you smooth out your ride home with the WKYC CommuterCast.

It begins at weekdays at 4:30 PM exclusively on WKYC.COM.

Click here to watch or chat live

The Day Before: Behind the Scenes

We are now just hours away from the Democratic Presidential Debate as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama get ready to woo undecided Ohio voters for the March 4th primary election.

NBC's Tim Russert sums it up best each election: "It's all about Ohio, Ohio, Ohio."

As we have mentioned in an earlier article, our WKYC Production Manager Al Wohl has been heavily involved in the planning and execution stages of Channel 3's expanded coverage Tuesday Night.

Al shares some thoughts with us on WKYC.com and provides us a photogallery of pictures he took.

To read the article: CLICK HERE

DVR Alert: Programming Changes for WKYC

Because WKYC is airing the "2008 Democratic Presidential Debate" on Tuesday, February 26th, we've been forced to preempt "The Biggest Loser" and the premiere of "quarterlife."

Instead these shows will be shown on Saturday, March 1st:
  • 8-10pm "The Biggest Loser" (from Tuesday)
  • 10-11pm "quarterlife" (premiere from Tuesday)

These programs will preempt 3 repeat episodes of "Law & Order" on Saturday.

We apologize for having to make these adjustments. If you have any questions, you can e-mail our programming department: programming@wkyc.com

Coming Tuesday...The "Debate"

Tuesday Night, we will be blogging about the Democratic Presidential Debate as it unfolds here in Cleveland.

We'll do a timeline of what we observe and what we do behind the scenes in preparation for the debate itself.

Channel 3's expanded coverage will include:

  • Channel 3 News at 6
  • NBC Nightly News at 6:30 (live from Cleveland)
  • Channel 3 News at 7
  • Channel 3 News Debate Special from 8 - 9 PM
  • NBC Debate 9 - 10:30 PM
  • Channel 3 News Debate Special from 10:30 - 11 PM
  • Channel 3 News at 11 PM

It should be a fun night.. especially since we could have a major snowstorm involved as well.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

It's Official - Betsy Kling & Paul Thomas are expecting

WKYC Weather Plus Meteorologist Betsy Kling officially announced on the air Friday that she and her husband, Paul Thomas, are expecting a baby this July.

For Betsy and Paul, this will be their first child and are so excited about their "long range" forecast.

Betsy says, "Those of you who have been watching lately may have seen some changes. The longer range forecast into this summer is calling for warmer weather and a baby. Yup, I am expecting. You are 'officially' hearing it here first. Paul and I are very excited and will be welcoming our next major life change in mid to late July."

Best wishes to the future mom and dad!

To send Betsy & Paul your good wishes, their email addresses are:
betsykling@wkyc.com and paulthomas@wkyc.com

Friday, February 22, 2008

A Channel 3 News First...



Channel 3 News presented its first ever package shot, edited and aired in HD Friday Night at 11 with a story about a local man from Wayne County who is heading to Alaska to participate in the Iditarod in March at age 58.

Because most of our video is shot with standard defintion cameras in a 16:9 mode, this package was remarkable to see in true high definition.

Hopefully you were able to tune in. If not, you can at least watch the package right now below.

Look for more packages all done in true high definition coming soon.

VIDEO FEATURE
To watch Paul Thomas' package: CLICK HERE

NBC bids farewell to "Las Vegas"

Looks like the hot, sexy love party is over for the NBC show "Las Vegas."

TV Guide is reporting today that the network has decided to pull the plug on the series after its 5 season run.

Apparently, last week's episode was the last - and surprisingly the finale - for the show which had not performed well in the ratings for the network on Friday nights.

According to TV Guide editor Michael Ausiello, "NBC had hoped this season's cast shake-up - Thomas Magnum replacing Sonny Corleone - might re-energize the show, but instead, it led to a double-digit ratings decline. Of course, the Friday time slot didn't help."

So no more from Sin City on NBC. Hope you enjoyed the hot ride while it lasted.

WKYC & STO have Tribe Fever already

Spring training is underway for the Cleveland Indians down in Winterhaven, Florida, and WKYC and STO are there.

Most our promotional production team is hanging out with the team and shooting brand new elements you will be seeing through the upcoming season in High Definition - both on WKYC and SportsTime Ohio.

This process starts well before each season. Plenty of hard work goes into the planning stage, the coordination with the team players and the post production that will follow once the footage is shot.

Channel 3 staffers "Mac" Mahafee, Steve Pullen, Greg Golya and several other folks involved are spending tedious hours making sure all the footage looks just right through perfect lighting, the best angles, and capturing the true personality of each player on tape.

As graphic systems become more and more sophisticated, we are able to have our in house production team develop a presentation that will "WOW" you when you see their final work on the air this season.

The whole concept of high definition television gives us a whole new set of tools and ways to shoot & edit video that were only dreams 10 years ago when tape to tape editing was the norm. Now, it's all computer generated.

Indians Director Pat Murray and his crew took their digital camera with them to Spring Training and are posting daily pictures on our new blog called "From the Truck."

Check it out to see a behind the scenes look at our promo shoot going on right now.

To visit the blog: CLICK HERE

Photo Courtesy: Pat Murray, SportsTime Ohio

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Spotlight Article: WKYC's Information Center

by Frank Macek

The last few weeks have been quite busy here at the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center. The whole station is involved in a new project called "The Information Center" we'd like to share with you.

WKYC has become the latest of the Gannett Broadcasting stations to convert to this company wide iniative - a whole new way of bringing news and information to our viewers and readers on-line.

Earlier this year, each staff member at WKYC was asked to consider joining groups that would be responsible for a component of our on-line presence. These duties would be in addition to an employee's regular duties as the tv industry enters a new reality of multi-tasking.

We were not told which groups to join or how many to participate in. That decision was left to the individual who could join those that interested them most.

The response was tremendous and met with enthusiasm by most employees who realize they have a little time in their day to contribute to the station in non-traditional ways.

At each station, groups are formed with specific responsibilities. Part of the fun is naming our groups to reflect their mission. At some Gannett stations, like in Buffalo, groups take clever names likes "Phonies," "Flippers" and "Homies."

At WKYC, we chose more traditional group names including "Story Researcher," "Web Proofreader," "Community Calendar Editor," "Viewer e-Liaison," "Web Picture Editor," "Web Contributing Story Editor," "Social Media Pilot Group" and "Niche Web Site Contributor."

Each team meets regularly to come up with ideas for the execution of their team objectives. The training is all done by leaders of each team, who aren't appointed - but emerge into that role based on their experience. It's equal opportunity for all.

Let's a take a look at each of our Information Center groups:

Story Researcher - team members assist the news department in doing research for various news pieces or station projects.

Web Proofreader - our sleuths surf our own websites and blogs making sure information is accurate and that errors are pointed out and corrected as quickly as possible.

Community Calender Editor - these folks input information into our website that is sent to the station or that we are involved in. This gives larger database of events to offer our local audience.

Viewer e-Liaison - this important position directs the large amount of viewer emails we get to the appropriate department or person in a more timely manner so a reply can be sent as quickly as possible.

Web Picture Editor - these group memembers are responsible for taking the digital photos we get from viewers during severe weather or breaking news events and getting them onto the web as quickly as possible.

Web Contributing Story Editor - everyone is given the opportunity to submit ideas and work on stories that are then reviewed by the news department and published to any of our several websites.

Social Media Pilot Group - team members utilize social media platforms, like Facebook, to help promote station events and news stories and to interact with our audience directly in the community. They post videos, write their own profiles and interact with others online.

Niche Web Site Contributor - Because WKYC is creating new websites for the local community, this group works on developing blogs or websites like wkyc.com/outdoors, The Director's Cut Blog, Fair Weather Fans or North Coast Moms to name a couple.

As television continues to evolve on the internet as a distribution platform, these positions will become even more important as another way to connect with viewers and distribute information in non-traditional ways.

We'll have more on the Information Center in the coming months as it evolves here at WKYC.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

News: Gannett Out To 'Re-Engineer' Its Stations

A Chat with Gannett's Dave Lougee -

The new head of Gannett's 23-station TV group says big changes in the media marketplace are demanding big changes in the ways that stations do business.

At Gannett, that means more AEs and news producers on the street, close cooperation with the newspapers on the Web, mobile broadcasting and an interactive relationship with viewers.

In this interview with TVNEWSDAY Publisher Kathy Haley, Lougee talks about other parts of the Gannett strategy—stations and newspapers working together on the Web to exploit their combined 100-market footprint, a joint venture with Tribune that is creating new community sites, preserving extra digital spectrum for mobile broadcasting and developing a "true" interactive relationship with viewers.

It's a fascinating insight into what the Director's Cut Blog has been telling you for the past year about how we see the future of TV.

To read the interview: CLICK HERE

Courtesy: TVNewsday.com

Monday, February 18, 2008

News: Channel 3 to Air "10th Congressional Debate" Tuesday

WKYC will broadcast the "10th Congressional District Debate" hosted by the City Club of Cleveland on Tuesday, February 19th.

Coverage will start with Channel 3 News at Noon anchored by Barbara Gauthier.

We will then join the debate at around 12:15 PM live from the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre in downtown Cleveland where five candidates will share the stage including incumbent Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman, Barbara Anne Ferris, Mayor Thomas O'Grady and Rosemary Palmer - who are all running for this key position.

WKYC's Senior Political Correspondent Tom Beres will be joined by expert analysts to discuss the first time in 12 years Kucinich faces real competition for the seat since his upset defeat of Republican Martin Hoke in 1996.

That's Tuesday, February 19th, beginning with Channel 3 News at Noon.

Sneak Peek: "My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad" debuts tonight

NBC's newest show will attempt to settle a classic playground argument. "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" will pit teams of kids and fathers against each other in a series of physical and mental challenges.

The show is the latest offering from "Apprentice" and "Survivor" Creator Mark Burnett. "This is for ordinary Joes who just want to be a hero to their kid," he explained.

In addition to the athletic events and quizzes there are also some icky "Fear Factor" elements.

"My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" debuts tonight at 9 pm on WKYC, Channel 3.

VIDEO FEATURE:
To watch a sneak peek of "MY Dad Is Better Than Your Dad" - CLICK HERE

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Web Link: New "From the Truck" Blog

Sportstime Ohio, in partnership with WKYC, has launched a new blog called "From the Truck."

Written by Emmy Award Winning Indians Director Pat Murray (pictured, right) and "Indians On Deck" Producer Jim Murphy, the blog will be a fun, behind the scenes look at their thoughts, stories, and happenings from the Indians TV crew this season.

Some of it will be a little technical, but mostly it will be just fun... A chance for them to tell you how the show is going or how great the steaks are in Kansas City!

This will be called "From the Truck" - from the folks who present to you the telecast of the show.

It should be a great season on the field and we are equally looking forward to many success on your HD screen. So join Pat and Jim for the ride - it should be a great time!

The "Director's Cut Blog" has added a link to our site on the right hand menu under "Favorite Sites" or CLICK HERE and bookmark the site.

Go Tribe!

Spotlight Feature: Behind the scenes of the Democratic Presidential Debate

Special to the "Directors Cut" Blog
by WKYC Production Manager Allen Wohl


With Cleveland's Democratic Presidential Debate less than two weeks away preparations are underway for the night all eyes will be on Cleveland to see Senators Clinton and Obama face off in the nationally televised event. The WKYC-TV and Cleveland State University sponsored event will be broadcast live from 9-10:30 pm on Tuesday, February 26th on NBC and MSNBC and locally on WKYC, Channel 3.

Other Presidential debates around the country had months to plan and prepare, but thanks to a still very tight race for the democrats this one will come together in a matter of weeks. Needless to say, those preparations are in high gear. A meeting was called Monday for the key players in the event including top executives from NBC News, WKYC-TV, Cleveland State University, Mayor Jackson's office, and the Ohio Democratic Party to get the ball rolling.

The group toured the Wolstein Center, the site of the debate to determine how the arena will be transformed into an intimate theater setting for the debate. Several other locations around the campus were also scouted for possible locations for the "Spin Room", the media filing center, dressing rooms and staff work areas for the candidates and more. Additionally NBC surveyed locations for the various other NBC and MSNBC programs that will originate from Cleveland the day of the event including "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," "Hardball with Chris Matthews," and the "Today Show."

On Wednesday, a smaller group with representatives from NBC, WKYC and CSU started nailing down some of the technical details of the event production. Decisions were made on the layout of the arena, including plotting seating and camera location plans. Final decisions were also made on the venues for the various NBC and WKYC programs. Planning for specific equipment and manpower needs will continue as the days and hours tick by leading up to the day of the event.

As a main sponsor and organizer of the event, WKYC will have exclusive access to the debate theater itself for all of the day's newscasts and special programming around the debate broadcast. Channel 3 News will originate from inside the arena beginning with the 6 and 7 pm newscasts - then again for a live special from 8-9 pm leading up to the debate, and will follow the event with a special from 10:30-11:00 and a special edition of Channel 3 News at 11 pm.

On the television side, details for everything from staging and lighting to camera positions and production truck parking are being carefully worked out. But television aside - organizing the event itself is a monumental task. Details related to hosting and credentialing upwards of 500 working media from around the country, security, planning viewing parties, catering, printing programs, ticket distribution, securing supporting sponsors and so much more all must be planned and executed to make the event a success.

This is a great opportunity to show the country what a great urban University Cleveland has in CSU and shows how important Cleveland and the State of Ohio is to this presidential race. WKYC is proud to be one of the driving forces behind bringing this event to Cleveland and we will have it covered like no other Cleveland television station can.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS:
Below you will find pictures taken at the planning meeting held between NBC, WKYC and Cleveland State University on 2/13/08.


Pictures courtesy: Allen Wohl

News: NBC announces return dates for shows

With the Writer's Strike finally ending, NBC has laid out its plans to introduce new episodes of its popular shows back into the mix.

  • April 3: "My Name Is Earl" with one-hour episode

  • April 10: "30 Rock," "The Office," "Scrubs" and "ER"

  • April 15: "Law & Order: SVU"

  • April 23: "Law & Order"


  • "Medium" continues its current run and the network will announce plans for other series soon.

    In addition, NBC picked up two freshman dramas "Chuck" and "Life" as well as "Heroes" for the 2008-2009 season. NBC will re-launch all three series next year.

    Wednesday, February 13, 2008

    News: Digital TV switchover is now one year away

    Special to the "Directors Cut" Blog
    by WKYC Reporter Jeff Maynor


    Older sets will no longer receive television without digital converters. The digital revolution in television transmission is still a year away, but the government is moving now to make sure viewers have no interruption in service.

    Effective February 17, 2009, older analog television sets will no longer receive over-the-air signals. These sets, that now receive television by rooftop antennas or rabbit ears, will need converters to receive digital transmissions.

    The converters are already available at retailers, including Wal-Mart, which has them on sale for $49.87. The federal government is providing $40 vouchers, a maximum of two per household, to defray the cost of the converters.

    Applications for the vouchers are available at retailers and on line. (See a link in our right hand menu). Eighty-six percent of U.S. households have cable TV or dish service and will not need a converter unless they have additional sets not connected to cable or dish.

    Homeowners will need additional cable or dish outlets for those sets.

    "Or they can get one of the vouchers from the government that will enable them to go to any retailer that sells them and get a converter," said Stacie Schafer of Cox Cable.

    The cable company has been fielding questions from its subscribers concerned that their service might be interrupted.

    Newer television sets, bought in the past year, are almost all digital and are equipped for the switchover. To be certain your newer set is digital consult your owner's manual.

    VIDEO FEATURE:
    To watch WKYC reporter Jeff Maynor's package: CLICK HERE

    Get to Know Team 3: Romona Robinson

    The spotlight shines brightly on WKYC weeknight news anchor Romona Robinson in this edition of "Get to Know Team 3." Romona joined WKYC in March 1997 after anchoring the "Ten O'Clock News" on WUAB starting in January 1988. Since your blog jock sits right next to Romona in the newsroom, we thought it would be fun to ask her a few questions about some things we've always wanted to know.

    Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be on TV?

    Romona: I was six years old, sitting next to my Mom watching legendary anchorman, Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News. He was fascinating to watch, I thought. I told Mom that day, I liked his voice and his eyebrows were bushy and scary, but I wanted to read the news just like him. I remember her looking down at me smiling say, "Okay, but you'll have to get good grades and go to college."

    Q: Where else have you worked over the years, besides at the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center?

    Romona: I started my career in Jefferson City, Missouri, then to South Carolina and later in Cleveland (WUAB/TV 43).

    Q: What do you find to be the most rewarding part of your job?

    Romona: It amazes me how the power of the media can change people's lives through the stories we tell. I've seen first hand how viewers respond to certain news and information and use it to help make their lives or the lives of others better. We provide a major service keeping people informed, and sometimes the news isn't always pleasant. But I'm just blessed to have a job that has the ability to affect so many lives in a number of positive ways.

    Q: Tell our readers the inside scoop about what Tim White is really like when you sit next to him on the set each night?

    Romona: It's like "Comedy Central" in between commercial breaks most nights. We have so many laughs about fun or odd stories. However, we also share quiet moments on set when there's a story that touches us both. Sometimes he's like the "older" brother I never had and other days I want to "punch" him for poking fun at someone. Tim and I "get" one another.

    Q: How is married life with your husband, Rodney? Did marriage turn out to be all that you expected?

    Romona: It's been almost 4 years now and I still think I'm a newlywed. I must admit now, I was a little nervous getting married later in life. I always assumed I'd be married at 26 or 28 years old. Because I waited and was so set in my ways, I worried a little about now having to "answer to someone else" so to speak. People have always told me marriage takes a lot of work. I must say, we haven't had to "work" at it yet? We just show respect, communicate how we're feeling and that seems to work.

    Q: What is the best thing about Cleveland in your opinion? And why?

    Romona: It's People! I know it sounds cliche, but the people of Northeast Ohio are unlike any I've seen throughout my travels. I was embraced by this city with open arms when I arrived twenty years ago and I've never felt like an outsider. There isn't any place I've gone when I didn't meet great people. While doing my Romona's Kids segments, I've been in North Olmsted doing the Irish Jig...in Parma learning the Polka to East Cleveland participating in African-Dance and I've learned there maybe cultural differences among people, but deep down we're all the same with a lot of the same wants and needs.

    Q: What is your favorite piece of clothing?

    Romona: My Footies! I have dozens to keep my feet warm walking around the house. I don't like wearing house shoes.

    Q: If you were going to be stranded on a desert island, what three beauty products would you want to have with you?

    Romona: Water, spinach and more water. I've found water and green leafy vegetables keep my skin looking smooth and healthy.

    Q: What traits do you value most in others?

    Romona: Someone who can think for themselves. Some people will believe any and everything someone else tells them, whether it comes from television, print, peer pressure etc. I've always tried to listen to information that's given on a topic from various sources and then make up my mind. Right now we're in an historic Presidential Primary and I can't believe the number of people who've said they'd vote for a candidate based on their race or gender. You have to care about the "Issues!"

    Q: Name a couple of your favorite TV shows - and why you like them?

    Romona: Anything on HGTV! I'm a huge "House Hunters" fan and "Ground Breakers." I think I'm a carpenter and landscaper and interior designer. I usually don't miss the Today show and on weekends basketball or football. Most people know I'm a huge sports fan. I don't get to watch a lot of the popular shows that are on weeknights because I'm at work.

    Q: What's the one thing you want viewers to remember most about you when the Cleveland TV history book about 2008 TV anchors is written?

    Romona: That television was my "Job." Trying to give back, by inspiring and encouraging others was my "Mission" and that I loved this town and its people.

    You can email Romona: CLICK HERE

    Monday, February 11, 2008

    News: Former WKYC reporter working at WUSA in D.C.

    Our good friend, Scott Rubens, at WUSA in Washington D.C. (another Gannett sister station to WKYC) lets us know that one of our former WKYC family members has joined their station.

    Brittany Morehouse worked here and for the Akron Canton News as a reporter.

    She is now at WUSA as a backpack journalist - someone who writes, shoots and edits their own materials. It's becoming a growing trend in the television industry as we wrote about several months ago. (To read the our original article: CLICK HERE)

    To read more about Brittany's new role and what she is doing at WUSA, check out Scott's "Director's Chair" blog: CLICK HERE

    Friday, February 08, 2008

    The Debate: Why Cleveland? Why NBC?

    As we first mentioned last night, Cleveland will become the home for the only Democratic presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as Decision 2008 comes down to the important March 4th Ohio primary.

    But why did both choose the NBC Network and Cleveland as their platform. Simply said, it's because of the importance of getting their important message for change to one of the most economically depressed cities in the country - and the fact that both candidates have great respect for NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams and Meet the Press Moderator Tim Russert, who will moderate the debate.

    Although MSNBC's David Shuster made unhelpful comments on the air today about Mrs. Clinton's daughter, Chelsea - and has subsequently been suspended by NBC - we are confident the candidates will understand their presence at a Cleveland debate will not only help their cause, but our area as well.

    Both Williams and Russert offer fair, but tough questions. Unlike past debates this campaign season, NBC believes the focus should be on the candidates and their messages - and not about the moderator's personal views or ambitions.

    WKYC and the city of Cleveland will proudly welcome both Senators Clinton and Obama to Cleveland State University and thank them for the opportunity to put the failed policies of the Bush administration to bed and give our city renewed hope for the future.

    We welcome your comments and feedback. Please post your comments here.

    VIDEO FEATURE:
    To watch video of what the debate means to Cleveland: CLICK HERE

    Director's Alert: WKYC to help sponsor Presidential debate

    CLEVELAND -- Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have accepted an invitation from NBC and Cleveland State University to debate in Cleveland on Tuesday, February 26th.

    This acceptance from Obama comes after announcing on Wednesday that he would focus his time in Ohio on meeting with voters and not debating.

    Hillary Clinton has been pushing for a debate since she and Obama essentially split the Super Tuesday vote.

    WKYC is helping to sponsor the event. NBC's Tim Russert and Brian Williams will moderate the event. NBC Nightly News will broadcast live from Cleveland the night of the debate.

    Dr. Michael Schwartz, Cleveland State University President, said the University was contacted Thursday. They were asked to accomodate the event and are very, very glad.

    President Schwartz said: "This is very important for Cleveland. It matters for the University a great deal as well. We will do anything we can to promote this region."

    He also believes this is a great opportunity to bring area school kids as well as Cleveland State Students together for this history-making event. He went on to say, "It is a critical issue for us. CSU is an educational institution. It is a wonderful opportunity."

    The Ohio Primary is March 4th.

    Sweeps Month: A Look at Stories We Air This Month



    We take you behind the scenes of Channel 3 News with a look at some of the big stories we are featuring during the month of February. This feature has been added to the menu at the right for easy, daily access.

    Preview of Upcoming Stories:

    • None Currently

    The Stories That Have Already Aired:

    Aired 2/20/08

    • "Beside Bandits" - The Investigator, Tom Meyers, exposes criminals striking in what's supposed to be the safest of places... the hospital. Theft, assault and thousand of other cases are being investigated locally. Tom shows you just how easy it is to access patients and a way to protect yourself against these "Bedside Bandits". To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/18/08

    • "Faceblind" - Health Anchor Monica Robins reveals a rare medical mystery that leaves faces, blank. But others can never remember one. Even faces they've known since birth. The condition is called prosopagnosia, or face blindness. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/14/08

    • "The Hanselman's Challenge" - Health Anchor Monica Robins revisits the amazing Hanselman Sextuplets - Ohio's famous family and discovers they're facing a new challenge...one that an increasing number of families across America are dealing with. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/13/08

    • "Executive Excess" - The Investigator, Tom Meyer, examines questionable spending at a local children's agency. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/12/08

    • "Back home with Wedge" - Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge looks at the big challenge in front of him and smiles as he works with kids in Fort Wayne, Indiana - his hometown. Paul Thomas reports. To watch the package: CLICK HERE or for web extra video: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/11/08

    • "Without Warning" - Without any warning, cars towed in Cleveland are getting crushed. Channel 3's Tom Meyer, "The Investigator" uses hidden cameras to uncover why this is happening and bust people selling the parts for profit. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/8/08

    • "House in a Box" - Consumer beat reporter Barbara Gauthier asks "Would you buy a house in a box, one that is built in a factory that is currently delivering one complete residence every 3 days?" Many people do, but why? To watch the package: CLICK HERE
    • "Romona Does Your Job: Pre-school teaching assistant" - The Early Childhood Enrichment Center of Shaker Heights allowed Romona to spend a day as a teaching assistant, in The Rainbow Room. Poor kids! To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/7/08

    • "Bariatric Bust" - Health Anchor Monica Robins takes a look at why you might to think twice about having bariatic surgery to help your weight loss. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/6/08:

    • "Belly Dance for Baby" - Carole Sullivan shows how new moms are tapping into the ancient dance to help with childbirth. To watch the package: CLICK HERE
    • "Teachers Crossing the Line" - Channel 3 News on Wednesday, February 6th, at 11 PM. Reporter Eric Mansfield asks "Why are so many teachers crossing the line with innapropriate relationships with students?" To watch the package: CLICK HERE
    • "The Investigator: Strip Searched" (Follow Up) - Tom Meyer "The Investigator" gets action as the Ohio Attorney General starts an investigation into the strip search of a local woman. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/4/08 & 2/5/08

    • "Bar None" (Part 1) - Tom Meyer "The Investigator" looks into a billion dollar business that seems to be getting away with breaking the law: caught time and time again operating outside the law with little or no repurcussions. To watch the package: CLICK HERE
    • "Bar None" (Part 2) - Tom Meyer "The Investigator" looks continues his investigation into how bar owners get away with selling boozes to underage kids without penality. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 2/1/08

    • "Romona Does Your Job: Waitressing at Yours Truly" - Yours Truly restaurant in Independence offered to let Romona take over a few tables during the lunch rush. To watch the package: CLICK HERE
    • "The Investigator: Strip Searched" (Part II) - Tom Meyer "The Investigator" tries to answer more questions about the strip search of woman by Sheriff's Deputies that viewers are calling outrageous. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Aired 1/31/08

    • "Cultured Diamonds Save You Money" - Barbara Gauthier discovers there is a new type of colored diamond not found in a mine, but grown in a lab. To watch the package: CLICK HERE
    • "The Investigator: Strip Searched" (Part I) - Tom Meyer "The Investigator" exposes the strip search of woman by Sheriff's Deputies that viewers are calling outrageous. To watch the package: CLICK HERE

    Thursday, February 07, 2008

    News: Finally, "Lipstick Jungle" Hits Air

    "Sex and The City" gave us the stories of four women on the rise in New York City. Now "Lipstick Jungle" brings us the stories of three New York women who've already made it.

    Brooke Shields plays a movie executive mom, Kim Raver's a married but lonely magazine executive, and Lindsay Price is a confidence-impaired fashion designer.

    "These characters are everywhere, but in New York, it's just more intense," said series creator Candace Bushnell.

    Bushnell wrote "Lipstick Jungle" as her follow up to "Sex and The City".

    The show debuts Thursday night at 10 PM on WKYC, Channel 3.

    VIDEO FEATURE:
    To watch a sneak peek of "Lipstick Jungle" - CLICK HERE

    Tuesday, February 05, 2008

    Spotlight Feature: Jonathan Murray

    Channel 3 alumnist, Jonathan Murray, is taking Hollywood by storm and is credited with beginning this whole modern reality television craze that has taken over our television screens in recent years.

    Murray was one of the creative geniuses here at WKYC-TV who worked as a producer in the news department and was instrumental in developing the successful "Cleveland Challenge" series where Cleveland was compared to other cities.

    His work was always excellent according to those who worked with him, including WKYC's Scott Newell, who remembers him well. Scott says it was fairly easy to see he was going to be a production star just by watching his work here at WKYC.

    Scott recalls Murray was impressed by the PBS Series, "An American Family," first broadcast by PBS in 1973. In that series, the Loud family allowed cameras to document their everyday life for seven months, becoming perhaps the first "reality show" ever. From there, Murray would go on to co-create "The Real World" as a real-life soap opera...and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, he is Chairman and President of Bunim-Murray Productions.

    According to his biography, Murray, has created and executive produced more than 50 seasons and close to 2000 hours of the industry's most innovative, unscripted entertainment television, as well as its first unscripted feature film. His local tv stints include spending six years at WLUK-TV, WXIA-TV and WKYC-TV in news, station management and programming at WOKR-TV.

    He then worked with the television rep firm HRP, Inc. where he helped local stations buy and schedule their syndicated programming. In 1991, Murray and Mary Ellis Bunim pitched their idea for an unscripted drama series to MTV executives over breakfast. MTV bought the show before lunch time, and the landmark success of Bunim-Murray Productions was underway. The innovative series merged Bunim's experience in scripted dramas with Murray's documentary and news expertise and it broke all the rules of television production. The Real World quickly became part of the cultural DNA of young people the world over and continues to thrive.

    Throughout the 1990's Murray and Bunim grew their production operation from a two person shop into an industry powerhouse. Over the years, the partners created and executive produced an incredible array of entertainment including The Real World, Road Rules, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Simple Life, The Real Cancun, Starting Over, Making the Band, and Love Cruise.

    Even after the pasing of Mary-Ellis Bunim to cancer in 2004, Murray continues to lead the company they founded together to new heights. Today as Chairman and President of Bunim-Murray Productions, Murray guides the creative process that has distinguished the company's shows since the early 1990s.

    In 2004, the company produced projects for cable, syndication and primetime including the 15th season of The Real World (MTV), the premiere season of The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest For the Best (FOX), the second season of Starting Over (syndicated by NBC Universal), and the second and third installments of The Simple Life (FOX). The company also began production on The Scholar (ABC) and announced a partnership with Baywatch co-creator Gregory Bonann to produce Point Dume, a scripted drama series set in the Southern California beach community of the same name.

    Murray graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

    For more information on Jonathan and his company and the shows he has created, you can visit Bunim/Murray Productions and their website: CLICK HERE

    Video Feature: "Lake Erie: Beyond The Surface" - An HD Special

    In case you missed the show on Saturday, you can watch it online right now, or a historic KYW Special Report on the state of Lake Erie from 1964. Just follow the links provided below.

    As the high definition leader in locally produced programming in Northeast Ohio, WKYC is proud to showcase our region's most important natural resource in a year-long effort.

    Lake Erie: Beyond The Surface is a thirty-minute HD special that aired on Saturday, February 2nd, at 7pm, and was hosted by AM news anchor Mark Nolan. It is the third of four programs dealing with the fate and future of our great lake.

    Two hundred years ago, 9 American ships fought off a foreign invader on the waters of Lake Erie. Today, there's a new invasion, this one below the surface. Though the lake is significantly cleaner than in the late 1960's, there are serious concerns that we're sliding back into trouble. The dead zone is growing yearly, every eight months a new invasive species drops anchor, and water-hungry states vie for our resources. With water levels dropping, and Lake Erie most vulnerable to changes in the eco-system, we are at a very pivotal point.

    VIDEO FEATURE #1: The Show
    *To watch "Lake Erie: Beyond the Surface: Part III" - CLICK HERE

    VIDEO FEATURE #2: KYW Special Report - 1964
    *Double click "play" to watch a segment from the WKYC archives featuring a 1964 package from KYW regarding the state of the lake. If you can't see the video on this page: CLICK HERE

    Sunday, February 03, 2008

    Feature: Channel 3 Airs Bobby Cutts Special

    Monday at 7 pm, Channel 3 News took an in-depth look at the start of the trial of Bobby Cutts Jr. - the man accused of killing his girlfriend, Jessie Marie Davis, and dumping her body and that of an unborn child in a Summit County park last year.

    Davis was last seen shopping at Acme Fresh Market, a local grocery store. Her mother reported her missing on June 13, 2007, when she found her 2-year-old grandson Blake home alone, with bleach spilled on the floor and furniture broken and overturned. In televised reports, Davis' mother reported that the 2-year old kept stating, "Mommy broke the table" and "Mommy's in the rug". At the time of her disappearance, Davis was a resident of Lake Township in Stark County, Ohio.

    A high-school friend of Cutts, Myisha Lynne Ferrell, was also later charged.


    VIDEO FEATURE:
    You can watch the special below from February 4, 2008:

    Friday, February 01, 2008

    From the Mailbag: HDTV Broadcasting

    From: Bob in Canton

    Q: Just looked at your website and saw that several people complained about not getting good reception on your HD TV broadcast channel. I live in Canton, Ohio and just got a new Panasonic TV a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised to find that not only could I get an excellent TV picture in HD, but also got your other news and weather channel.

    As a matter of curiosity, what frequencies are your HDTV stations being broadcasted on? I can't seem to find a good reference to HD frequencies for the Cleveland area. Keep up the good work!

    A: Hi Bob.. thanks for your comments. People have complaints mainly because they are receiving our signals via cable and sometimes the quality is being lost in the process. Others have been upset by our digital signal not getting out far enough to be received over the air. That's why we are working on an upgrade to move to digital channel 17 by February 17, 2009. This will greatly increase our coverage area.

    As to you 2nd question, we are broadcasting our WKYC HD on digital 3.1 and Weather Plus on digital 3.2

    I have a basic guide to Cleveland's local digital channel assignments at the following link: CLICK HERE

    You can email your questions to me: fmacek@wkyc.com