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Randy on the DL: Price to Miss Work After Bad Leg Break

Published by Max on April 2, 2012. 1 Comment

WCVB has announced that morning anchor and Boston news stalwart Randy Price will be taking an as-yet unspecified period of medical leave, having broken his leg in three places after stumbling on rocks at a beach near his Maine home. Unfortunately, with the location being quite remote, it took 45 minutes before anyone was able to come to his aid.

Dozens of get-well messages have already been left on Channel 5′s Facebook page, and Randy has assured viewers that he’ll be back on-the-air as soon as possible.

As a point of personal privilege, it bears mentioning that Randy has been a good friend to this site for nearly a decade, so if you’d like to leave a message of support, please feel free to do so in the comments area of this post, and we’ll make sure he sees all of them.

Posted in Boston, Breaking News and WCVB (Channel 5).
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btvn Exclusive: Ridley Done at 7

Published by admin on January 25, 2012. 4 Comments

btvn sources have been telling us that 7 Sports anchor and reporter Larry Ridley has reportedly severed his relationship with WHDH.  According to sources inside the station, the popular sports guy left the station after nearly six years.  It’s a story you’ll see on just one station website.

After joining the station in 2006, Ridley became anchor of the weekend edition of 7 Sports and BMW Honda Acura SportsXtra.  Prior to his time at 7 Bulfinch Place, however, Ridley was a sports reporter at sister-station WSVN.  Throughout his tenure in Boston, Ridley became a popular figure due to his personable nature and quick wit.

Shortly after his quiet departure from the station, Ridley changed his Twitter handle and launched a new sports blog.

Posted in Boston, Breaking News, btvn Exclusives, WHDH (7NBC) and WLVI (CW56). Tags: .
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First on btvn: AJ Burnett Out at 25

Published by admin on December 30, 2011. 11 Comments

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.

Posted in Boston, Breaking News, btvn Exclusives and WFXT (Fox25). Tags: .

BREAKING: Lamberty Named Rivera Replacement

Published by admin on September 7, 2011. 2 Comments

Reid Lamberty has been named anchor of 7 News at 5, 6, and 11 p.m.  Lamberty comes to 7 from WSVN in Miami, where he has been since May 2010.  Prior to that, he had been a morning anchor at WNYW in New York City.

Lamberty had been spotted auditioning for the main gig a few weeks ago, but Sunbeam brass made it official this evening.  He will begin anchoring on Monday afternoon.  However, still no word on who will anchor in Matt Lorch’s place.

Hit the jump for a press release from WHDH

Hat tip to astute reader Edward R. Murrow, who broke the news nearly two hours before the Globe.

Continue reading ‘BREAKING: Lamberty Named Rivera Replacement’

Posted in Boston, Breaking News, WHDH (7NBC) and WLVI (CW56). Tags: .

First on btvn: Michelle Relerford to the Windy City

Published by admin on July 31, 2011. 4 Comments

Michelle Relerford, reporter and fill-in anchor at 7 News since late 2007, has decided to leave Boston for her hometown in Chicago. She reported on her Twitter on Friday:

I love you Boston but its time to go home. I’m headed to CHICAGO!

No word yet on her destination, but her last night on the anchor desk was last night with Ryan Schulteis.  Her departure marks the latest in a series from Bulfinch Place as well as the Boston market in general, with Matt Lorch, Steve Lacy, Peg Rusconi, Sara Underwood, and Frances Rivera all calling it quits within the last month.

Prior to her four-year stint at channel 7, Relerford had previously been a freelance reporter at WFLD (Fox/32) in Chicago.  No word yet from 7 brass as to who will be replacing her.

Photo credit to @RSchulteison7

Posted in Boston, Breaking News, Talent Shuffles, WHDH (7NBC) and WLVI (CW56). Tags: .

Frances Rivera to Leave 7, Join Fmr. 56 Sister Station

Published by admin on July 13, 2011. 11 Comments

Update: Frances Rivera will be leaving WHDH to join WPIX, New York’s affiliate of The CW. She will be anchoring the PIX 11 Morning News.  ‘PIX tells TVSpy, “Frances’ experience and talent will be great assets to our award-winning morning newscast, we’re looking forward to having her join the team later this summer.”  Incidentally, WPIX is owned by Tribune Corp, who formerly owned 7 sister-station WLVI.

Frances Rivera, lead anchor at WHDH, announced today that she will leave the station next month.  She tells the Boston Globe that the decision to leave 7 and 56 was “bittersweet.”

“For me, this isn’t a professional move. This is a personal move,” she tells the Globe, “It was great to be in Boston in the position I was in. I get to check that off in my career bucket list.”

Rivera has been the lead anchor at channel 7 since 2006, and has been with the station for ten years.

Posted in Boston, Breaking News, Talent Shuffles, WHDH (7NBC) and WLVI (CW56). Tags: .

First on btvn: New Schedule, GM Ousted at 6

Published by admin on April 6, 2011. 1 Comment

The first batch of details have been released from Citadel Communications regarding their plans for WLNE.  Providence’s struggling ABC affiliate will be host to a number of changes, most taking effect by the time May 1st rolls around.

An insider at ABC 6 tells btvn that the daytime programming lineup will be shuffled, moving Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to 4pm.  This means that ABC 6 News First at 4 will be canceled.

In its place, a new newscast at 5pm will debut.  Furthermore, The Insider and Entertainment Tonight will fill the 7pm hour, replacing channel 6′s on-again-off-again newscast during that timeslot.  Hit the jump for the entire new schedule.

Also mentioned by our insider is word that GM Steve Doerr will be leaving his post on May 1st.  This comes after lengthy discussions with Citadel management.  Doerr will continue to serve as a consultant and will help continue the transition from receivership to new ownership.
Continue reading ‘First on btvn: New Schedule, GM Ousted at 6′

Posted in Breaking News, btvn Exclusives, Providence and WLNE (ABC6).

BREAKING: Citadel Bid Chosen for 6; HD on the way

Published by admin on March 22, 2011. 1 Comment

Citadel Communications has been chosen to be the next owner of Providence ABC-affil WLNE.  The New York-based company submitted a bid of $4 million last month, which was also selected as the stalking horse bid for the auction.  Citadel will assume control of the station on May 1st, and could be approved by the FCC by June 1st.

ABC has expressed approval of the sale and has specified that they will renew the contract when it expires at the end of the month.  As you may have heard, ABC had considered a non-renewal if the bidder did not meet their standards.  That would have meant that ABC6 would have to pull ABC branding from their station and website, abc6.com.

In an interview with the CEO of Citadel Communications, the intent to make a speedy and orderly transition to high-definition newscasts was revealed.  All of Citadel’s other properties are broadcasting in HD currently, so the move makes sense from a standardization point of view.

A station insider at channel 6 has told btvn that employees reacted positively to the news and that the new ownership will benefit the station.

Posted in Breaking News, Providence and WLNE (ABC6). Tags: .

Breaking News: Citadel Communications is the Stalking Horse

Published by admin on February 10, 2011. 1 Comment

Citadel Communications has been revealed as the stalking horse bidder at WLNE.  The company has submitted a bid of $4 million for the station.  Court-appointed receiver Matthew McGowan released the name of the company at a meeting today with station employees.  He stated that Citadel was chosen as the lead bidder because they are “established, successful and financially secure.”

Citadel Communications currently owns four television stations in the mid west and has offices in New York and Las Vegas.  If their bid is successful, WLNE will be in the largest market that the company owns a station in.  Their other stations, three ABC affiliates and a CBS affil, are solid performers in their respective markets.  Other bidders have until March 18th to submit a bid, and the station will be auctioned off on March 22nd.

This is not to be confused with Citadel Broadcasting, the radio station operator.  btvn has learned of the difference and will specify the two companies in the future.

Posted in Breaking News, Providence and WLNE (ABC6). Tags: , , .

btvn Exclusive: New Details in WLNE Sale Emerge

Published by admin on February 9, 2011. 1 Comment

More details have emerged regarding Providence’s WLNE/ABC 6.  As we reported earlier, there have been reports of six interested bidders for the struggling station.  However, the names of three possible parties have emerged, bringing an entirely new realm of possibilities for Rhode Island’s Fastest Growing Station.

WLNE is definitely bringing out the big guns for its planned sale in March.  A station insider spotted executives from three large companies, Belo, Nexstar, and Citadel, touring the station over the past few weeks.

Belo Corp. has been on a hot streak as of recently.  The Dallas-based company posted a huge jump in earnings per share, going from $0.22 per share in 4th quarter 2009 to $0.39 in Q4 2010.  In addition, the company’s website features a category for “Mid-Atlantic and Providence, RI” despite not owning a station in that market.  This, however, may not be an indicator of things to come, as a quick check of the Wayback Machine showed that this category had been in existence since at least 2009.

Nexstar Broadcasting is another strong contender.  Owner of mostly small market television stations, Nexstar’s stations are mostly underfunded mouthpieces of their respective networks.  However, their fifty station portfolio holds their own in their respective markets.  As a sidenote, many of Nexstar’s properties are owned by shell-corporation Mission Broadcasting and operated under JSAs with Nexstar. The company currently operates WLWC, so a “virtual duopoly” may be in the cards.

The third group, Citadel Broadcasting, is the owner of a diverse group of radio stations, mostly affiliated with ABC.  This could be a natural extension of the brand for Citadel.  However, they have not been immune from the slowdown in advertising revenue and listeners.

The real Citadel is Citadel Communications, a New York-based company with four television stations in smaller markets in the mid west.  Citadel has been selected as the leading bidder for the station.

btvn has contacted these outlets for comment, but responses have yet to be issued.

In a memo obtained by btvn, WLNE general manager Steve Doerr stated that once the initial “stalking horse” bid was submitted, the subsequent offers should be made and the deal closed by March.  WLNE was sold to Global Broadcasting in 2007 for $14 million.  The station entered receivership last year and has been for sale for a short time.

Posted in Breaking News, btvn Exclusives, Providence, WLNE (ABC6) and WLWC (CW28). Tags: , , , , , .