WKYC News & Notes: 11/19/14

By Frank Macek

It's time for another "behind the scenes" look at what's happening inside the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center.

This November has been quite a busy time for all of us at WKYC. In addition to November sweeps, we are right in the middle of our installation of a new production system that will allow us to bring you Channel 3 more efficiently. The system, called Sony ELC (Enhanced Live Production Control System), will go online before Christmas.

Photo Courtesy: David Hrvatin

Last Tuesday was an exciting day at WKYC as the station hosted a company wide video presentation looking forward to our goals and aspirations for 2015. Gannett Broadcasting President Dave Lougee hosted the discussion that was fed via satellite to our 46 Gannett stations.

In a previous posting, we mentioned WKYC will begin airing a brand new television channel called Justice Network starting in January on subchannel 3.2 replacing our current weather programming.

The Justice Network programming will include series such as Body of Evidence, Masterminds, The Investigators, Psychic Detectives, I, Detective, LA Forensics, Missing Persons Unit, Murder by the Book, Parco P.I., Locked Up Abroad, Alaska State Troopers, Extreme Evidence, North Mission Road, Haunting Evidence, Over the Limit and Dominick Dunne’s Power Privilege and Justice.

Mike O'Mara returns to WKYC. Courtesy: Kris Pickel

As many of you know, Kim Wheeler left us back in October to pursue a position with the Cleveland Municipal School District. Kim's love of education made it the perfect fit for her.

Former Channel 3 Reporter Mike O' Mara has returned to the station temporarily while the station searches for Kim's replacement.

Also, Abbie Murphy joins the WKYC family as a Production Assistant. She is a recent graduate of the E.W. Scripts School of Journalism at Ohio University.

New WKYC News App

Our new WKYC News App also launched last month and features an all new re-design to bring you more news, weather, traffic, sports and more.

If you haven't downloaded our app, just text WKYC to 25543 on your smartphone for a link. We'll also be getting a major upgrade to our WKYC Weather App coming soon.

Follow Frank Macek on Twitter @frankmacekwkyc

WKYC To Launch New "Justice Network" on Subchannel 3.2 in January

WKYC announced on Tuesday the station will begin carrying a new digital subchannel on WKYC 3.2 called the "Justice Network" beginning in January.

The new network will launch as a partnership between WKYC's parent company, Gannett Broadcasting, and other television executives. The new network will immediately reach a third of the nation's television audience at launch with the power of Gannett's 46 television stations.

Justice Network will replace our existing weather radar on 3.2 and some children's programming right after the first of the year. WKYC Station Manager Micki Byrnes, says the station is working hard on other options to bring viewers the weather information they depend on that keep you "Weather Ready" at all times.

Here is more information from today's announcement...

Veteran television executives are joining forces to launch Justice Network, a free over-the-air multicast network with carriage on MSO’s, featuring gripping stories of true crime and aiming to make communities safer by empowering viewers to take action. Working in partnership with Crime Stoppers USA, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and other law enforcement agencies, the Justice Network will dedicate 90 seconds to public service every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This includes: 30 seconds to “Bad Person of the Week”, :30 seconds to help locate missing children, and :30 seconds to providing viewers with invaluable safety tips.

The Senior Leadership Team includes founder Lonnie Cooper, a seasoned player in the multicast space and a founder of Bounce TV, one of the most successful multicast networks. Industry leaders from some of cable’s largest networks include CEO Steve Schiffman, former president of National Geographic Channels; Head of Distribution Barry Wallach, former president of NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution; and Head of Programming John Ford, award-winning programmer and former president of Discovery Channel. Wendy Brown, formerly of CSE, will serve as Justice Network COO.

“Recognizing that by 2013, half of the top 50-rated prime shows on television were justice-oriented programming, our management team saw the need to satisfy America’s obsession with justice. We are proud to be a part of this unique multicast network’s efforts to make a difference in people’s lives, fight crime and to keep communities safer,” said Justice Network CEO Steve Schiffman.

The Justice Network will be partnering with Gannett Broadcasting to launch the network in approximately one-third of the country beginning January 2015. Gannett Broadcasting will make Justice Network’s television content available in virtually all of the markets in their U.S. footprint.

"The Justice Network team has a great programming strategy as well as a great lineup,” said Dave Lougee, president of Gannett Broadcasting. “We are pleased to be their launch partner and look forward to introducing the network to a third of America's viewers within months."​

Justice Network programming will include series such as, Body of Evidence, Masterminds, The Investigators, Psychic Detectives, I, Detective, LA Forensics, Missing Persons Unit, Murder by the Book, Parco P.I., Locked Up Abroad, Alaska State Troopers, Extreme Evidence, North Mission Road, Haunting Evidence, Over the Limit and Dominick Dunne’s Power Privilege and Justice.

For more information, please visit www.justicenetworktv.com.