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Headlines - January 6, 2004

WNYT anchor sues to appear across town
What a day: Thief bites WDSI reporter, steals her news car
Paul Magers signs on in L.A. amid industry chatter

NBC retools 'Early' newscast
WPHL halves newscast, introduces new anchor
News & Notes: Changes abound in Charlotte

WNYT anchor sues to appear across town

MENANDS, N.Y. -- He could be back on the air in a week or two, or Capital Region viewers might not see him again until next New Year's, but one thing's for certain - anchorman John Gray is out at WNYT/Ch. 13.

Gray, whose contract with the NBC affiliate is said to have expired Dec. 31, reportedly quit to move across town to low-rated WXXA/Ch. 23. There he'll serve as lead anchor, a position he was passed up for at Ch. 13.

The lawsuit

But the big question is when Gray will begin in his new role at the Fox affiliate. Gray and Ch. 13 representatives are due back in court next Monday, Gray's lawyer tells the Business Review, in a dispute over a non-compete clause in Gray's contract.

Two weeks ago, Gray reportedly filed suit against Ch. 13 over the clause, which would prevent him from working on area TV for the balance of 2004. A state court judge then issued a temporary restraining order to allow Gray to start work at Ch. 23 this month, but the matter of his appearing on air has yet to be decided, according to local media reports.

Something that could help Gray is another case of non-compete in Albany - the one involving WRGB/Ch. 6 anchor Sue Nigra, who reportedly had that type of clause in her WTEN/Ch. 10 reporter contract when she sued to be released from it. The judge's ruling? "Once the term of an employment agreement has expired, the general public policy favoring robust and uninhibited competition should not give way merely because an employer wishes to insulate itself from competition from a former employee," the Albany Times Union quotes judge Harold J. Hughes as writing.

Road to a switch

John Gray is suing his longtime employer, WNYT/Ch. 13, so he can anchor on WXXA/Ch. 23 as soon as possible. Photo: Hudson Valley Comm. College

Gray joined WNYT as a part-time producer in 1988, according to his Ch. 13 bio, which is no is no longer linked from the WNYT website. He soon worked his way up to reporter, and had been the anchor of the 5 and 5:30 p.m. newscasts for the better part of a decade.

When veteran Ch. 13 anchorman Ed Dague was forced off the anchor desk by an arthritic condition early last year, eventually retiring to part-time status in September, Gray served as a fill-in anchor at 6 and 11 p.m., but station officials finally picked morning anchor Jim Kambrich to succeed Dague permanently.

Gray would not be satisfied as second banana.

"My dream job is to be a main anchor," Gray told the Times Union, which reports he became serious about the Ch. 23 offer after he didn't get the promotion at WNYT.

The latest debacle

It didn't help that Ch. 13, a Hubbard Broadcasting station, allegedly lowballed Gray with new contract offers. According to the Times Union, Gray's court papers say Ch. 13 went from offering Gray a 2-percent raise, to no raise, to a noncontract hourly position.

Gray cites job security for his family as another key reason for the switch.

This comes as a second round of bad press for Ch. 13, which had a contract dispute involving ninety-two unionized station employees go public in October. At one point, the station threatened to lock out employees and circulated ads for temporary replacement workers; an agreement was later reached.

Ch. 13 remains top-rated despite the snafu. Meanwhile, industry gossip says Gray was vocal in that dispute.

According to a union website, Hubbard also threatened a lockout at Rochester's WHEC/Ch. 10 during contract negotations over the summer before an agreement was reached in October.

A new challenge

At Ch. 23, Gray has penned a five-year deal to co-anchor the 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts alongside Ann Hughes, the Troy Record reports. Anchoring the early newscast would put him in direct competition with his former Ch. 13 colleagues.

Gray replaces Greg Floyd, the anchor and managing editor who helped found Ch. 23's news operation in 1996, according to the Times Union. Floyd will be demoted to weekend anchor/weekday back-up anchor and senior correspondent, it was announced.

"I'm hopeful that he and I can work together, because I have tremendous respect for him," Gray told the Times-Union.

Gray moves to Ch. 23 as the station is in a time of flux.

"I think it's part of the challenge," Gray told the Business Journal.

The 5 p.m. newscast reportedly did not register in Nielsen's November book, while the 10 p.m. newscast was down from a 5-percent to a 3-percent share of the overall viewing audience.

Those poor ratings are likely key in the December replacement of news director Dave Brown with Gene Ross, fresh from success at KLAS in Las Vegas. Ch. 23 had reportedly changed its logo in October, adopting the red "Fox box" style of its New York sister.

Ch. 23 began its news operation with a half-hour in primetime, before expanding to an hour at 10 p.m. It also added an early-evening news block, of which only the thirty-minute 5 p.m. news remains.

What a day: Thief bites WDSI reporter, steals her news car

Mai Martinez was reportedly attacked by a man on a crime spree, who allegedly sped off in her company news car. Photo: WDSI TV

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. -- This 'man on the street' had more than a quick opinion for WDSI/Ch. 61 reporter Mai Martinez. There were also the teeth, useful in biting her, and the feet, helpful in pressing the gas and making away with a Ch. 61 news car as Martinez was dragged along for a part of the ride on Jan. 1.

Police reportedly say Chris Gore, 24, of northern Georgia, had already stolen a car in Catoosa County, Ga., crashed that car into the front of a house, and taken another car which he allegeldy roughed up a 71-year-old man to get it.

A tire on the second car was reportedly shredded when Gore drove into a gas station in Chattanooga, where Martinez was said to be conducting interviews for a New Year's-related story. Police reportedly say Gore approached Martinez as if he wanted to start a conversation before he forced his way into the company Jeep Cherokee.

Martinez received cuts and bruises, was dragged by the news car, and bitten on the arm by Gore, Ch. 61 reported. She was reportedly treated and released from a local hospital.

A witness is said to have called police and followed the logo-adorned Cherokee, helping make the arrest when police arrived.

Paul Magers signs on in L.A. amid industry chatter

Paul Magers joins KCBS. Courtesy Gary/The Local News Discussion

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- He led discussion and ratings in Minneapolis, but will his success there translate to big city also-ran KCBS/Ch. 2?

That was the question among many industry insiders as anchorman Paul Magers quietly signed on in Los Angeles yesterday. Magers is assigned to the 5 and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Laura Diaz, the former KABC/Ch. 7 anchor.

In the past, anchor talent embraced on other channels or in other cities has had little success at changing Ch. 2's third-ranked status.

That includes Harold Greene, another onetime Ch. 7 anchor, who had anchored in Magers' new slot, and was expected to take on the 4 and 6 p.m. newscasts with a third former Ch. 7 anchor, Ann Martin.

Nashville anchor Dan Miller was an out-of-town anchor with a Ch. 2 stint in the late 1980's.

The station is encouraging viewers to "Get to Know Paul" with promos available on the station website. Magers, a native of Santa Maria, Calif., anchored at KARE since 1983, according to his Ch. 2 bio. Brother Ron, once a KSTP anchor, is now a lead anchor in Chicago.

Industry gossip says the anchor move is a no-lose situation for CBS/Viacom, Ch. 2's owner, since it's possible Magers could return to Minnesota and lead their station WCCO if he's not a success in L.A.

NBC retools 'Early' newscast

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The peacock network has overhauled its early morning national newscast. A new iteration of "Early Today," originating from MSNBC and fronted by anchor Amy Robach, pictured left, replaces the CNBC version that featured Nanette Hansen.

Amy Robach is the new face of NBC's early morning network newscast. Photo: MSNBC

The new "Early Today" quietly made its debut Monday, and also features weathercaster John Elliott. The program has updated graphics that are more similar to NBC's morning program "Today," along with a different overall format that groups news, weather, business, sports, and entertainment headlines.

There is also a heavier dose of banter between the show's anchors - Robach, an MSNBC anchor formerly of WTTG in Washington, and Elliott, an MSNBC correspondent who formerly served as a weathercaster with XETV in San Diego.

The original version of the program, airing from the business network CNBC, premiered some four years ago and featured the day's top headlines and business news, along with guests discussing financial subjects. Hansen's mikemate was meteorologist Joe Witte before he left for WJLA last year.

"Early Today," which airs its main feed at 4:30 a.m. Eastern, replaced the more straightforward morning news program "NBC News at Sunrise" and was introduced along with "Later Today" and a two-hour morning news block for NBC-owned stations.

Sports on the new program is taped at KNBC/Ch. 4 in Los Angeles, with weekend sports anchor Mario Solis appearing on the Monday debut edition, and sportscaster Fred Roggin this morning.

The overhaul may be news to the folks at NBC.com, where Hansen's picture was still featured today.

WPHL halves newscast, introduces new anchor

PHILADELPHIA, PENN. -- After some two years running an hourlong 10 p.m. news, WPHL/Ch. 17 was expected to revert to a half-hour newscast last week. This comes as anchor Scott Engler joins the Tribune-owned station as the new co-anchor with Toni Yates.

"Our commitment is to provide all of the news in just 30 minutes," news director Chuck Carter said in a release. The station previously used the tagline "news at 10, in bed by 10:30."

The station says all the staff will continue to be used despite the cut in broadcast time, though the on-air staff is somewhat smaller due to positions left open by departures that have not been filled. There had been some rumors that Ch. 17's news department would be nixed altogether.

According to Ch. 17, Kirk Clyatt is meteorologist for the newscast; Steve McLaughlin's contract was reportedly not renewed.

Engler, a former anchor for Tribune-owned KCPQ, joins Ch. 17 from a low-profile New York stint with the business show "Money Talks" and WABC's weekend morning news.

Ch. 17's newscast began as a partnership with The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1994 before the station took over about a year later. It typically draws roughly half the audience of Fox affiliate WTXF/Ch. 29's 10 p.m. newscast, which runs an hour in length.

Changes abound in Charlotte
NEWS & NOTES

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It's a time of flux for Charlotte stations, which are all undergoing important changes. Longtime leader WSOC/Ch. 9 makes a status quo but key move, with The Charlotte Observer reporting morning anchor Kim Brattain to the 5 p.m. slot vacated by Suzanne Stevens, who left the station. WBTV/Ch. 3, meanwhile, is moving anchors into key supporting cast slots on its 5 p.m. and weekend newscasts, while it recently unveiled a downtown window studio for morning newscasts. Fox affiliate WCCB/Ch. 18 is preparing a morning news/talk program, "Fox News Rising," which will reportedly launch on Monday. The show's executive producer left before the program's debut due to eye trouble that would stop him from driving into the station in the dark early morning hours, the Observer reported. But the biggest move has to be at WCNC/Ch. 36, which has axed its latest main co-anchor. Russ Riesinger had been rumored out at the third-rated NBC affiliate by NewsBlues in late 2003, but ended up staying on a for a couple months more after taking time off for surgery. No word yet on a replacement.

Davis leaves WMAR after some 21 years. Photo: WMAR

Maryland newsman retires from WMAR: Longtime reporter Lou Davis is calling it quits at Baltimore's WMAR/Ch. 2. Davis, based in Annapolis, Mary., covered Anne Arundel County and the state house for many years. He'll go to work next in a political reporting capacity at Maryland Public Television. David Folkenflik reports in the Baltimore Sun.

Seattle reporter in court for molesting child: A Seattle reporter reportedly appeared in court Monday on charges of molesting a boy multiple times. Eric Cannavaro, said to be suspended with pay from KIRO/Ch. 7, is accused of committing lewd acts on a friend's son. Cannavaro, a former reporter with KXLY in Spokane and KLEW in Lewiston, Ida., reportedly admitted back in October to fondling the boy at his Latah County, Ida., home, and called to apologize. He was arrested Dec. 31. Cannavaro, whose website bio has been pulled, joined Ch. 7 in January 2003. Both sides are telling different stories about the number of incidents that occurred.

WVIT demotes morning anchor: Stefanie Cruz has been shifted from the wake-up anchor chair at Hartford's NBC-owned WVIT/Ch. 30. She returns to the role of nightside reporter, a job she filled before replacing Natalie Morales as morning anchor when Morales left for MSNBC. The station, which has still not formally replaced former anchor Logan Byrnes, now has no permanent morning news anchors and reportedly had a poor showing in the November sweeps.

WYFF celebrates half-century: After fifty years of broadcasting in Greenville, S.C., there are plenty of memories to share about the history of WYFF/Ch. 4, the NBC affiliate that began broadcasting Dec. 31, 1953, as WFBC. As John C. Stevenson reports in the Greenville News, early children's programming and the station's news programming are among the highlights of five decades of Ch. 4's history.

Sports moves: Len Berman, longtime WNBC/Ch. 4 sportscaster, reportedly inked a new multi-year deal with the station recently. That means WCBS/Ch. 2 will have to keep looking; Berman's name had been floated as a possible replacement for Warner Wolf of WCBS/Ch. 2. Wolf has reportedly agreed to a six-month contract extension and could anchor his last sportscast this summer. ...Kip Lewis, late of WHDH/Ch. 7 in Boston, replaces the late Sean Kimmerling on the weekend sports desk at New York's WPIX/Ch. 11. ...Andrew Catalon, former lead sportscaster at now defunct WVNY/Ch. 22 in Burlington, Vt., signs on weekends in Albany to replace Lars Lifrak, who is leaving WNYT/Ch. 13 to move out of town.

Last words: J. Philip Lane has reportedly been named general manager of WSPA/Ch. 7, WYFF's competitor in upstate South Carolina. Lane, who will also manage the UPN affiliate and WNEG in Georgia, moves up the Media General chain from WJBF in Augusta, Ga. He replaces John Cottingham, also said to have been promoted. ..."The Rick Sanchez Show" is set to move to mornings on WTVJ/Ch. 6 in Miami. The talk hour featuring the ex-MSNBC anchor who gained a high profile and some notoriety as an anchor at crosstown WSVN, has reportedly fizzled in the ratings, and will be replaced by "Ellen" as a lead-in to NBC-owned Ch. 6's afternoon newscast. ...WESH/Ch. 2 courts and crime reporter Bob Kealing has also been covering a different 'beat.' A story in the late-90's led to a book, due out next month, on novelist Jack Kerouac and his time in Orlando. The Orlando Sentinel's Joy Wallace Dickinson reports (registration required.) ...As the Iowa caucuses approach, the Des Moines Register reports WHO/Ch. 13 has pulled a controversial campaign ad that says foreign workers are taking jobs away from Iowans. KCCI/Ch. 8 is considering pulling the ad, as Jeanne Abbott reports in the Register. ...NBC is reportedly talking to Maria Shriver about taking an extended leave from "Dateline." David Bauder of the Associated Press reports she's only anchored twice since leaving to work on her husband's political campaign, with network brass said to be worried about a conflict of interest. ...There were threatening words for a New York reporter from a woman who is among six suspects in the bebe gun shootings of store windows in the suburb of Westport, Conn. "You will lose your job, your home, and your life," said the woman in a soundbite aired Tuesday after threatening to sue WNBC/Ch. 4 if the camera kept rolling. "Are you threatening my life?" responded reporter Ti-Hua Chang. ...New York's Inner Circle lampoon will spoof Mayor Michael Bloomberg's need for an image makeover this year, according to Michael Starr of the New York Post. Starr reports WCBS/Ch. 2 reporter John Slattery coined a title for this year's show: "Queer Eye for the Rich Guy."

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