Popular meteorologist AJ Burnett and Fox25 have ended their relationship. Thursday night’s broadcast was the last one for Burnett, who posted on his blog, “I leave with my head held high and with so many great friends and memories from my stay.”
The venerable weekender is now left without a job, also remarking “I’m not quite sure what is next for me, which is both scary and a little exciting at the same time.” No word yet on whether this was a move by Fox or on Burnett’s behalf.
btvn turned ten years old in 2011. From its humble beginnings as the website pictured above to our present state as a news blog, btvn has been proud to bring you, the audience, the very latest in the Boston TV News world. To help celebrate this milestone, former managing editors Shawn Tempesta and Max Preston joined me for a discussion of our favorite stories, some reflection, as well as a preview to the future. It has been separated into three parts, which can be found directly below this text.
WHDH has finally reached a new contract with their union. AFTRA, which represents about thirty on-air personalities for the station, ratified a new three-year contract with the station last Wednesday.
According to TVSpy, the three-year deal eliminates fees paid to talent for each on-air appearance. This ends the long-serving practice of staffers keeping meticulous notes on their appearances. In exchange, staffers will receive a two percent increase in their base pay.
Tom Higgins, president of the Boston chapter of AFTRA, remarked that it was a “very difficult and protracted negotiation, particularly over the issue of fees.”
The issue of age discrimination was not settled with this new contract, however. The hot-button issue will continue to be a thorn in Sunbeam’s side, after multiple lawsuits from former staffers in both Boston and Miami
It was neither cutting-edge nor particularly exciting to watch, but on the night of December 18, 2006, the Massachusetts television scene lost an important local voice. The Ten O’Clock News on Boston’s WB (always emphasis on ‘the’) was more than a local newscast, it was a story of perseverance and the ability to put together a collection of stories that fit the landscape, without the excessive corporate influence or sensationalism that characterized nearly every other outlet in Boston.
Every newscast began the same way, with a short public-service announcement that reminded viewers, “It’s ten o’clock, do you know where your children are?” It tied together the Boston’s WB FamilyFirst initiative that included the occasional ratings-draw piece and various sponsorships. The newscast itself, however, harkened upon an era before helicopter parenting. While the cold open with a rundown of topics covered that evening was nothing out of the ordinary, the talent intros done in the actual intro sequence were unique. It really emphasized the faces that bring the news home, something that has become a bit of a lost art now that the faceless, team coverage strategy has replaced it.
To see more images, click here.
Continue reading ‘WLVI Week Part Three: “This is THE Ten O’Clock News on Boston’s WB”’
NECN has brought in a fresh face to anchor the weekend news. Jackie Bruno, formerly of Springfield’s NBC affiliate WWLP, starts tomorrow on the regional news network.
Prior to her four years at WWLP, the Miss Massachusetts 2008 pageant winner interned at NECN. She eventually moved on to the Miss USA pageant, where she placed in the top ten.
The re-energized regional net is thrilled to make the addition. Executive Vice President Bill Bridgen remarks, “Jackie Bruno is a new face for many viewers in Boston and New England, but she has significant experience covering the region’s news.” In addition, he added in the press release, “Her reporting and anchoring skills will provide additional versatility to the NECN team and we are happy to welcome her to NECN.”
December 19, 2006, marked the beginning of a new newscast on channel 56. 7 News at 10 on CW 56 debuted as a flashier, even more over-the-top version of 7’s style-over-substance broadcast.
Taking music and graphics from their Miami sister station, WSVN, 7 News took the tame and mature model of The Ten O’Clock News and threw it out, opting instead for stories and anchors that better fit the intended demographic for the then-new CW network. In addition, nearly all references to the station’s new branding of CW56 were stripped, leaving the 7 News name as the only one present in nearly all circumstances.
7 News at 10 was supposed to be the market’s most contemporary newscast with high ratings from the coveted 18-34 demographic, but the way that things turned out went quite differently. Hit the jump for the whole story.
To see more images, click here.
Continue reading ‘WLVI Week Part Two: “Live from the News Station, This is 7 News.. at Ten”’
A truck plowed into the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, bureau of WMUR last week. The driver and passenger were taken to the hospital, neither of them were wearing seatbelts.
According to wmur.com, the crash happened at 12:30 p.m. on December 16th after the car swerved off the road and into the building that houses condominiums, parking, and their Portsmouth bureau.
The cause of the crash is unknown, but witnesses report that a group of pedestrians may have startled the driver. The vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, sustained significant front-end damage as a result of the collision with the building.
7News has hired a new face for the sports department. Darren Haynes, a sports anchor at KABB (Fox/29) in San Antonio, has been hired by the station as a sports reporter.
Haynes, who has been with Fox San Antonio since 2010, has won awards for his sports work at KGBT, WBKB, and WLAJ. No word on when he will make the move to Bulfinch Place.
Here’s a nice video from YouTube user cottagewalk, showing off the scene that unfolded after the cameras stopped rolling at 11p.m. exactly five years ago tonight.
This video kicks off btvn’s week of coverage dedicated to the old WLVI channel 56. All this week, btvn will feature videos, insight, and history from the old channel 56. Each day will have a new feature. Please stay tuned throughout the week for more.
WBZ has finally replaced their “WBZ 4 News”-era set. Starting tonight at 5 p.m., a brand new, state-of-the-art news studio will debut.
News Director John Verilli, in an interview with the Herald, remarks “The new set is so much bigger and we have a lot more options.” The previous set was much smaller and was further divided when the Movie Loft set was constructed in the same area.
The highlights of the new set include high-efficiency LED lights, high-definition TV monitors, and a myriad of places to do stand-ups, sit-downs, and all of the hallmarks of a Channel 4 newscast.
The new set will also mark the debut of graphics and news music more in line with the other CBS owned-and-operated stations. This time, however, the WBZ brand name will continue to be used.
Photo from CBSBoston.com
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