Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

Since it's a Victory Monday for the Browns, let's check out some flashback pictures of our Monday night show that aired on October 8, 2007 called "The Point After" when Channel 3 was the television home of the Cleveland Browns The show aired every Monday night at 7 pm with the radio voices of the Cleveland Browns Jim Donovan and Doug Dieken, plus Tony Grossi of the the Plain Dealer and former Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano. The show was directed by current WKYC Studios Production Manager Allen Wohl and produced by sports director Jeff Yakawiak.  

Time for another installment of "Throwback Thursday" which takes a look back at some of the historical milestones at WKYC Studios. The time machine takes us back to 1986 with a timeline of some of the biggest moments of that year at WKYC. 1986: Channel 3’s “Hickory Hideout” goes into syndication on other NBC owned stations including WNBC-TV/New York, WRC-TV/Washington D.C., WMAQ-TV/Chicago, KCNC-TV/Denver and KNBC-TV/Los Angeles until 1981. 1986: Obie Shelton joins WKYC-TV from WEWS-TV/Cleveland as a weekend sports reporter. 1986: WKYC-TV becomes the first local station to broadcast in stereo. Early 1986: WKYC-TV gets its first satellite truck and brands it “Skycom” that allows the station to broadcast live from any point in the continental U.S. May 2, 1986: WKYC-TV announces Jim Donovan will become play-by-play announcer on the Browns’ exhibition games on WKYC-TV in the fall along with commentary by Reggie Rucker. Donovan will also host “Browns ’86,” Cha...

We are always on the look out for classic WKYC gems. Let's flashback to February 28, 1993, for Channel 3 News at 11 pm with Tony Harris, Liz Habib, Eileen McShea and Chuck Galeti.

Check out some of the pictures of our new WKYC Studios that debuted on Sunday, September 22nd following Sunday Night Football. This is Studio A today.

Really excited and proud to be part of the debut of the new "3 News" tomorrow night after the Browns game that I'll be directing on our premiere show. Please give us a watch Sunday night and let me know what you think. http://bit.ly/newWKYC #newWKYC Our debut will start after Sunday Night Football, then starting Monday September 23 at 4a, we think you’ll notice a big difference in the stories we tell and how we tell them. Yes, we’ll always cover the big and breaking news of the day, but we’re also going to focus on stories that matter to you and those you care about. We’re also more committed than ever to find information that can make a difference in your life. Whether it’s keeping your family safe with must-see consumer reports and investigations, growing your career in Cleveland with learning and job opportunities or finding new ways to have more fun in your life, we want to help you, your friends and your family live your best lives. Our shows will als...

You see the bus on TV. Now you can see it in person at the WKYC Studios in downtown Cleveland as the NBC Sunday Night Football bus has arrived. Here are some pictures thanks to our ace photographer Mark Smilor. Don't forget, the Browns and Rams play this Sunday night only on Channel 3!

WKYC's sister station group expanded greatly on Thursday! From the TEGNA press release: ---------- Tysons, VA – TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of 11 local television stations, including eight Big Four affiliates, from Nexstar Media Group for $740 million in cash. The acquisition adds complementary markets to TEGNA’s existing portfolio of top network affiliates, including four affiliates in election battleground states. TEGNA now owns or operates 62 television stations across 51 markets, reaching more than 38 percent of U.S. television households. The acquired stations include: WTIC/WCCT — FOX/CW affiliates in Hartford-New Haven, CT WPMT — FOX affiliate in Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, PA WATN/WLMT — ABC/CW affiliates in Memphis, TN WNEP — ABC affiliate in Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA WOI/KCWI — ABC/CW affiliates in Des Moines-Ames, IA WZDX — FOX affiliate in Huntsville-Decatur-Florence, AL WQA...

Good news! Over-the-air signal for viewers who have had trouble watching WKYC and our subchannels since an FCC mandated frequency switch back in August, should now be able to receive our signal again. That's right, our new antenna is up and broadcasting our signal. Just in time for the Browns' Monday Night Football game here on Channel 3. NOTE: WKYC will still need to lower our power at times while work remains to be done on the WVIZ antenna which is also on the WKYC tower. But, we are getting there! RELATED | Where and when to watch tonight's NBC programming This project affected not just us, but thousands of TV stations across the country and here in Northeast Ohio. So, when you rescan, you may discover even more great programming you didn’t even know existed! What are you waiting for? Let’s get your TV rescanned right now. Below we rounded up some frequently asked questions regarding a rescan. What is it? If you watch TV with an antenna or use a di...

We are always on the look out for classic WKYC gems. Let's flashback to September 17, 1980, for Action 3 News at 11 pm with the late Doug Adair and Mona Scott. Enjoy!  

WKYC Channel 3 will be off the air Friday afternoon, as of 11:40 a.m. The outage could remain in effect for a few hours. It will impact anyone using an antenna or whose cable/satellite provider receives our signal over-the-air, meaning you will not be able to watch us during this period of time. It comes as we work to complete installation of our brand new antenna, which is a project mandated by the FCC. With storms set to roll into the area this afternoon, we have no choice but to complete work on our tower now to ensure safety. We apologize for any inconvenience this will cause. We have hopes that this will be the last of interruptions as we update our antenna. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have rescanned for us previously and got our signal, you DO NOT need to scan your TV again. You will receive our signal once we power back up. Thousands of stations across the country are affected by this transition, including many here in Ohio. We're very sorry for this disruption ...

Time for another installment of "Throwback Thursday" which takes a look back at some of the historical milestones at Channel 3. The time machine takes us 25 years in the past to 1994 with a timeline of some of the biggest moments of that year at WKYC. January 1994: Jon Loufman joins WKYC-TV from WEWS-TV/Cleveland. March 5, 1994: Connie Dieken departs WKYC-TV after a 10-year run. She became the first female to anchor all three major evening newscasts at WKYC-TV: 5, 6 & 11 p.m. April 1994: Channel 3 covers the opening of the Gateway sports facilities for Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers. In one of the most exciting periods in the city's recent history, the former Central Market site gave way to the new homes of the Tribe and Cavs. On April 4, 1994, Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field) opened as the Indians defeated the Mariners in extra innings. President Bill Clinton threw out the first pitch. Billy Joel officially opened Gund Arena on October 17, 1994. Th...

WKYC Channel 3 President and General Manager Micki Byrnes announced today that Meteorologist Jason Frazer will join the WKYC team. “Northeast Ohio weather always keeps us on our toes, and I am excited to welcome Jason, a multi-talented and versatile meteorologist to the WKYC team,” said Byrnes. Jason joins WKYC from Fox 28 in Savannah, Georgia. When not in the television studio, his passion is visiting grade schools, middle schools and high schools to encourage students to consider meteorology and other STEM-related careers. “Jason’s knowledge of atmospheric science and the environment will be a great addition to Cleveland’s #1 weather team,” said Director of Content Adam Miller. “His reporting will help Northeast Ohioans feel more prepared as we head out to work and school with daily updates and detailed forecasts on TV and digital platforms.” “I am so excited to be returning to the Buckeye state. I’m looking forward to joining an awarding-winning team and help...

WKYC Channel 3 President and General Manager Micki Byrnes announced today that journalist Romney Smith will join the WKYC team. “Romney has a natural ability to bring a story to life, stories that really matter to a community.  And she works to make those communities a better place after the cameras leave,” said Byrnes. “I’m thrilled to welcome her to the WKYC news team.” Romney Smith joins WKYC from WTOC in Savannah, Georgia, where she served as an Anchor/Investigative Reporter. Romney played a pivotal role in launching multi-platform digital newscasts for the station as well as helping to re-launch the investigative unit. Romney is best known for her insightful reports on the growing sex trafficking problem in Georgia. She also helped spark a review of the 911 call center protocol after her story about a woman involved in domestic abuse raised questions and concerns. Romney Smith “Romney will make a difference here in Northeast Ohio,” said Director of Content Ad...

Special to the Director's Cut Blog from wkyc.com Safety concerns during antenna installation mean we will be off-air for a significant amount of time.As we continue installing our brand new antenna, today brings another big moment in this project. One that means we will be off the air for several hours Saturday. Starting around 8 a.m., crews will be adding and/or removing more wiring on our tower. This work will position them near our auxiliary antennas, which emit dangerous levels of radio frequency signals. To protect the workers during this phase of construction, we have to power down our signal. We will have the signal restored in time for our 6 p.m. news. Because the work they will be doing is time-consuming, we will be dark for several hours. This will impact anyone using an antenna or whose cable/satellite provider receives our signal over-the-air (including Dish and DirecTV), meaning you will not be able to watch us during this period of time. IMPORTANT NOTE: ...

Time for another installment of "Throwback Thursday" which takes a look back at some of the historical milestones at Channel 3. The time machine takes us 10 years in the past to 2009 with a timeline of some of the biggest moments of that year at WKYC. February 16, 2009: WKYC-TV enters a video pool sharing agreement with WOIO-TV & WUAB-TV/Cleveland. March 5, 2009: Conan O’Brien visits WKYC-TV after being named new host of the “Tonight Show.” March 17, 2009: Longtime WKYC-TV and WTAM-AM personality Tom Haley dies at age 88 on St. Patrick’s Day at Lakewood Hospital after a brief illness. March 23, 2009: WKYC-TV parent company Gannett announces that because of bad economic conditions, all Gannett employees (include WKYC-TV employees) will be required to take a week of unpaid leave in April, May or June of 2009. April 3, 2009:  Carole Sullivan departs WKYC-TV and follows her husband, Mike Sullivan, to San Diego. She was previously the co-anchor of “Chann...

We are always on the look out for classic WKYC gems. This time, we flashback to October 3, 1982, for Action 3 News at 11 pm Nightside with Leon Bibb, Sheryl Browne, Paul Edmunds on weather and John Henk with sports. Enjoy!  

Time for another installment of "Throwback Thursday" which takes a look back at some of the historical milestones at Channel 3. The time machine takes us 50 years in the past to 1969 with a timeline of some of the biggest moments of that year at WKYC. April 7, 1969: “NBC Newsday 90” debuts from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with anchor Virgil Dominic, Wally Kinnan (weather) and Jim Graner (sports). Ron Becker will aid Dominic with the news. 6 to 6:30 p.m. is the top local news, national headlines, weather and sports. At 6:30 p.m., “The Huntley-Brinkley” airs. At 7 p.m. the local news continues with activities of nearby cities like Akron, Canton, Massillon and the like. June 1969: WKYC-TV General Manager Arthur Watson departs the station to become president of the radio division of NBC in New York. June 1969: Neal Van Ells returns to WKYC-TV and becomes vice president and general manager. He was previously at KNBC-TV/Los Angeles and WKYC-TV station manager from October 1965 until M...

Time for some more classic Channel 3 photos. This batch features some of our various news anchor teams over the year here at WKYC. All pictures are courtesy of Bob Keyes. If you have any pictures you would like to share for the blog, please email me at fmacek@wkyc.com     Weeknight Team: (Back) Al Roker (weather), Mona Scott (weather) (Front) Doug Adair (anchor), Amanda Arnold (anchor), Tom Ryther (sports)     Weekend Team:  (L-R) Leon Bibb (anchor), John Henk (sports), Sheryl Browne (anchor), Paul Edmunds (weather) (L-R) Steve Taylor (sports), Connie Dieken (anchor), Tom Sweeney (anchor), Terry Burhans (weather)

Special to the Director's Cut By Ann Geyser, wkyc.com The final total is in and 399 animals were adopted from 24 shelters and rescues to families across Northeast Ohio. The goal was simple: find forever homes for as many dogs, cats and other animals living in shelters across Northeast Ohio. We hit a home run. This year, final numbers show that 399 animals were adopted from 24 shelters and rescues on last Saturday. Brianna took home a dog from City Dogs in Cleveland. She told our Dorsena Drakeford that when she met the dog she adopted, he licked her face and she knew right there and then, this would be her new forever friend. Clear the Shelters was a nationwide effort, started by NBC and Telemundo stations across the country. This was the fifth year for the event and since it started, over a quarter-million pets were adopted to loving homes. Last year, WKYC and local shelters and rescues were able to get 347 pets adopted and this year, we added dozens more t...

This week is our first installment of "Throwback Thursday" which takes a look back at some of the historical milestones at Channel 3. The time machine takes us 40 years in the past to 1979 with a timeline of some of the biggest moments of that year at WKYC. January 15, 1979: Al Roker joins WKYC-TV from WTTG-TV/Washington D.C. as weeknight 6 & 11 p.m. weather anchor and replaces Bob Zappe. Roker was supposed to debut a week earlier, but he waits until WKYC-TV’s new weather radar system was installed and tested. Al is credited with naming the weather computers “Ethel & Fred” after the characters Ethel & Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy”. January 19, 1979: Leon Bibb joins WKYC-TV from WCMH-TV/Columbus as a general assignment reporter. He is Ohio’s first black anchor. January 27, 1979: Leon Bibb and Sheryl Browne become the new co-anchors of the weekend evening editions of “Action3News” along with weatherman Ron Allen and sportscaster Paul Warfield. May 25, ...

A state-of-the-art media lab that gives students a real world taste of the news business was unveiled Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at the I PROMISE School in Akron -- and the very first person to sit down for an interview was LeBron James. James is back in his hometown to help unveil several new amenities at the I PROMISE School, including the Kaulig Companies Media Lab, an experiential learning center designed in collaboration with WKYC. Inside the media lab, James took part in an exclusive interview with WKYC's Amani Abraham alongside Matt Kaulig, chairman of Kaulig Companies Limited, which sponsored construction of the fully equipped broadcast facility. The lab will provide students hands-on learning opportunities to report news and create content on both broadcast and digital platforms. Check out exclusive video of the new media lab: Watch Amani Abraham's exclusive chat with LeBron and then a quick tour ...

This Saturday, August 17th, bring the whole family and join the Channel 3 Weather team—Betsy Kling, Michael Estime, and Matt Wintz—for a special Weather Education Day at the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland. This exciting event is the perfect opportunity for kids and adults alike to learn more about the science behind the weather in a fun and engaging environment. Throughout the day, our weather team will be on hand to share their expertise, answer questions, and present live demonstrations that explain how weather works—from thunderstorms and tornadoes to snowstorms and sunshine. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how meteorologists forecast the weather and the technology they use every day in the WKYC Weather Center. It's an educational experience that brings science to life, especially for students who may be curious about careers in meteorology or STEM fields. In addition to meeting the Channel 3 Weather Team on Saturday, visitors can also explore all ...

It’s a good news/bad news kind of thing.  The good news is that the reconstruction of our antenna will take a major step forward today as a helicopter lifts the final section to the top of our tower. The new WKYC antenna waiting for a flight to the top of the tower on Tuesday The bad news is that while this takes place, we will have to shut down our transmitter periodically throughout the installation.  This means that folks who receive our signal via an antenna or digital converter box, and some cable and satellite customers, will not be able to watch WKYC or our subchannels during these down times. We do apologize for the signal loss and would like to remind viewers that the frequency switch that necessitated all this tower work was mandated by the FCC. Thousands of stations across the country are affected by this transition, including many here in Northeast Ohio.  We are doing everything we can to get back to full power as soon as possible and ...