Tuesday, November 22, 2016

NBC To Broadcast Its 90th Year Of Rose Bowl Coverage

Al Roker, the weather anchor for NBC’s “Today,” and Hoda Kotb, co-host of “Today’s” fourth hour, will welcome 2017 co-hosting NBC’s live, high-definition coverage of the “128th Rose Parade” from Pasadena, California, on Monday, January 2 (11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET)

This year marks the milestone 90-year anniversary of NBC broadcasting the parade, beginning on radio in 1927 and then televising the popular annual event beginning in 1954. This will be Roker’s twentieth year as host and the fourth year for Kotb. The event will be held on January 2 this year due to the parade’s ‘Never on a Sunday’ rule.

“Echoes of Success” is the theme of the 2017 Rose Parade, the most popular New Year’s celebration in the world. Three Olympic legends are honored as this year’s Grand Marshals – six-time Olympic gold medalist and track and field star Allyson Felix, five-time Olympic medalist and long distance swimmer Janet Evans and five-time Olympic medalist and diver Greg Louganis.

The fun kicks off with an exciting opening celebration by Honda featuring their ‘Hope Blooms Forever’ entry, the first of 44 lavish and vibrantly colored floats in the parade.

Dole’s tropical paradise float titled ‘Spirit of Hawaii’ will feature the largest waterfall in Rose Parade history, while Cal Poly Universities’ entry titled ‘A New Leaf’ will showcase a floral family of chameleons, and Western Asset Management Company’s ‘Prosperity in the Wild’ float will spotlight rare and endangered species.

Lucy Pet’s entry, which includes an 80-foot long ocean of water featuring a wave machine and surfing dogs, will try to claim two new Guinness World Records as the longest float (at 125 feet) and the heaviest float.

Other notable entries include AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s floral tribute to honor and remember the 49 victims who died and the 53 who were wounded in the Orlando ‘Pulse’ nightclub shooting, Lions Club International’s float celebrating 100 years of service and featuring a majestic lion with a mane of gold, and a ‘Keep the Beat Alive’ entry from Union Bank and the American Heart Association featuring a 55-foot long piano keyboard and highlighting the message that CPR saves lives.

Adding to the fun will be 19 equestrian teams, including the world-famous Budwesier Clydesdales as well as miniature therapy horses, along with 20 incredible marching bands. This year’s Rose Queen and her court will also appear.

The Pasadena police department estimates that over 700,000 spectators will line the five-and-a-half mile parade route. Tens of millions of people worldwide watch the telecast every year.

Arthur Forrest is the executive producer and director, Tom Patino is the line producer, Carol Kahl is the supervising producer and Stephanie Prescott is the coordinating producer for Universal Television.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

WKYC News & Notes: 11/17/16

By Frank Macek

It's time for another "behind the scenes" look at what's happening inside the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center celebrating our 15th year at 13th and Lakeside.

The holidays are almost upon us and so is our first snowfall of the season. What a year it has been for local television!

We have seen the Cavs win the NBA Finals, the Republican National Convention come to Cleveland, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, the Indians get to the World Series and a bizarre presidential election whose outcome not everyone expected. It's doubtful 2017 will be as eventful for Cleveland, but we can hope for a prosperous and joyful new year - and maybe another world championship.

WKYC had two very successful events in October including our 4th annual WKYC Health and Wellness Expo at the Huntington Bank Convention Center. Thousands turned out to get free information and health screenings, got a turn in "The Voice" chair and met many of our on-air and off-air staff members.

Our TEGNA wide "Make a Difference Day" was also a huge success on October 22nd as our staff teamed up with several local projects such as serving meals, painting, cleaning horse stalls and so much more. Look for more opportunities in the fall of 2017 to join us in making a difference in people's lives across northeast Ohio as we always "See the Possible."

The Director's Cut Blog will celebrate our 10th anniversary next month. At the end of 2006, I decided to begin a blog that gave you a behind-the-scenes look at Channel 3. Several million page views later, we are still going strong and are a major voice for the station when news about the station happens. Thanks for giving the Director's Cut a great first 10 years, and here's to at least 10 more years if local television still exists then. We are confident it will, but in what form remains cloudy.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Before we go, we'd like to recognize these employees who have recently retired or plan on retiring from the station:
  • Tom Beres: Senior Political Reporter (December 21st)
Promotions within the station:
  • Roselyn Muniz to Associate Producer of Live on Lakeside
  • David Reynolds to Full-time Director for Channel 3 News
  • Ryan Maloney to Engineering Maintenance Supervisor
  • Lauren Eaton to Audience Engagement Specialist
  • Jonathon Kostoff to 4:30 a.m. Weekday Multi-Platform Producer
Also, congratulations to the following people who have joined the Channel 3 team:
  • Amaka Uwagba: Audience Engagement Specialist
  • Andrew Robinson: Multi-Platform Producer
  • Meghan Goodrich: Discovery Desk
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Follow Frank Macek on Twitter @frankmacekwkyc and on Facebook

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Veteran Reporter Tom Beres To Sign Off In December

WKYC Senior Political Reporter Tom Beres
WKYC Political Reporter Tom Beres is taking off his microphone.

After 37 plus years of covering Northeast Ohio, the last 18 years as the station’s Senior Political Correspondent, Beres is retiring after an historic year covering a challenging and non-traditional election season. 

Tom says “It’s been a privilege to have had such a long career at Channel 3, telling the stories of people, political players, issues and events here in my home town. After reporting on this phenomenal year for the city of Cleveland as well as this incredible election, it seemed a logical time for my walkoff. I’m grateful to all the viewers who’ve watched our broadcasts and online coverage, and hope they found it worthwhile”.

During his tenure at WKYC, Tom covered political issues big and small. For the past eleven years he also hosted a weekly political show – Between the Lines – that aired Sunday mornings prior to Meet the Press. Throughout his career, Tom focused on the impact of political decisions and officeholders on the lives and livelihoods of the people in Northeast Ohio.

According to President and General Manager, Micki Byrnes, “We’ll truly miss Tom’s voice of reason. He’s earned the respect and trust of hundreds of community and political leaders over the decades, and we hope to continue to receive his counsel and advice”.

“Tom is a rare and special journalist,” according to News Director Brennan Donnellan. “It took me a while to understand how much respect he has earned from his peers in the news business and the political leadership in Ohio. We will never be able to replace him. The best we can do is to report the news in a way that might live up to his example.”

During his distinguished career, Tom won 4 Emmy Awards, was an active member of the Cleveland Press Club Hall of Fame, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and won a Best Broadcast Writing Award from the Associated Press.
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Follow Frank Macek on Twitter @frankmacekwkyc and on Facebook