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WATERTOWN / ROCHESTER – According to the Syracuse Press Club, Kevin Torres has accepted a job at R-News, Time Warner Cable’s news channel in Rochester.
Kevin is currently working his second stint at WWNY-TV in Watertown as a weekend news anchor. He’s been there since Novemeber. Before that, he was at WSYR-TV in Syracuse for two years as a general assignment reporter. His career started at WWNY.
Over the course of his career he has won over a dozen AP awards for his reporting.
R-News is a sister station to News 10 Now, Time Warner’s Syracuse news station.
SYRACUSE – In a not so shocking announcement today, Granite Broadcasting and Barrington Broadcasting announced that their Syracuse stations will be joining forces.
WTVH has gutted the news department, along with all sorts of other staff. Also announced was WTVH will be moving a block down to the WSTM studios.
Both stations have entered into a SSA (Shared Services Agreement) and a JSA (Joint Sales Agreement). Details of the agreement could need to be filed with the SEC, and if they are we’ll link to them here.
The companies entered into a similar agreement with their stations in Illinois. However, Granite ends up as the running star in that agreement.
Last Updated: 5:30am 3/3/09
Yesterday the House passed a revised digital television delay bill that the senate passed over. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill.
This bill changes the required analog shutoff date from February 17th to June 12th. However, the major difference between this bill and the last is that stations will be able to sign off analog at their will between 2/17 and 6/12.
We are working on a list of when all the stations in Central New York plan on shutting off their analog signals, please check back for that once we hear from more stations.
SYRACUSE – Rumors have started to stir around the region of a possible merger of WSTM and WTVH’s news departments.
Lets start off with the more assured stuff. We’ve heard that WSTM and WTVH are in some sort of agreement, most likely sales. Viewers shouldn’t expect any difference as commercials are pretty much the same on all stations anyways. However, advertisers will end up on the #3 station in town.
Now on to the more of a “rumor” stuff. We’ve heard that way far down the road that there might be a possible merger between the news departments.
SYRACUSE – We’ve gotten an unconfirmed report that yesterday WSTM let go of weekend anchor Kevin Shenk. Kevin worked evenings.
We’ve also heard that there will be a meeting this morning that people are dreading. The thing is, after Shenk, WSTM only has nine news people. They can’t down-cut further.
Rumors have also been circulated (so out of line I’m not sure it’s responsible journalism to be reporting this) that WSTM and WTVH are working on combining resources. Rumors have been going around that an LSA (Local Sales Agreement) has been reached between the two stations. Will it go further? We’ll all find out together.
UPDATE: Apperantly while Shenk was cleaning out his desk, management came back and made an agreement with him. He’s on the staff list for now.
Yesterday, the senate voted “yes” on a measure that would delay the changeover to DTV until June 12th.
Depsite this, people should still continue to get ready for the transfer. Under the law stations will be allowed to cut off analog in February. However, they’re now given the option of conintuing aanalog broadcasting until June for the analog viewers.
The measure now has gone to the house for a vote. It is most lekely ther will vote yes, and President Obama will sign it.
Still, anything can happen, and are you ready for the switch?
CENTRAL NEW YORK – As I’m sure many of you have already heard, there’s a great chance Congress will delay the transistion to digital television.
As it currently stands, the transition is still on the go for February 17th. That means if you’re not ready, you should still be prepared. On top of still getting something, instead of ghosting and static, it’ll be crystal clear.
One thing is certain, the transition if inevitable. It will happen sometime, most likely this year. The government has already auctioned off the old TV spectrum, so they have leagal requirements to get tv switched over.
If you’re on cable or sattelite, no need to worry. The transition will happen seamlessly for you. If you have a paid service but still have a tv (such as in the kitchen) going off an antenna, you’ll either need to get a new tv, hook that up to your paid service, or get a digital converter box.
Please note that the converter box coupon program has run out of money, and it’s now a waiting list, two million deep. Your best bet now is to just pay full price.
WATERTOWN – We’ve got some unfortunate news to report. We’ve heard that yesterday, a number of people were laid off at WWNY.
This has caught a lot of people off-guard as WWNY has generally been viewed as a station immune to broadcasting trends, always doing it’s own little thing.
If you have more information, please send it in on the tipline.
UTICA – WKTV, News Channel 2’s evening meteorologist will be departing the station, and the area, after his final newscast this evening.
We know were were a bit slow with this on, and the news on Lark too, but we’re sorry.
Lanza is heading out to Los Angeles to work for an energy company, leaving media altogether.
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