For TV Station Groups, National Collaborations Increase And Improve

Station groups including Gray, E.W. Scripps and Nexstar are increasingly drawing on their stations to contribute stories for their national reporting projects. The ensuing collaborations are having a transformative effect on news production. Pictured: Susan Campbell reporting a story for one of Gray Television’s “consumer franchises” — Did You Know? — from KOLD Tucson.

An in-depth podcast series from Meredith’s KTVK-KPHO offers some clues worth following.
Meredith Corp. on Monday announced new station manager roles and responsibilities at its television stations in Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; and Las Vegas. They are: Blanca Esparza Pap is promoted to […]
Meredith Ups Kevin James To Phoenix Duopoly GM

The sales director of KPHO-KTVK is tapped to succeed Ed Munson who retired last month.
KPHO-KTVK GM Ed Munson To Retire

After 40 years in broadcast TV, he will step down as head of Meredith’s Phoenix duopoly on Sept. 7. A search is underway for his successor.
Anticipating FCC authorization of the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard on Thursday, the consortium of leading station groups is planning to set up experimental 3.0 station next spring to explore service enhancement and business opportunities. The project will also include creatng a “lighthouse” station to continue regular digital service to existing sets. Joining Pearl (Cox Media, E.W. Scripps, Graham, Hearst, Meredith, Nexstar, Raycom and Tegna) in the effort will be Fox, NBCUniversal and Univision.
NewsON Expands With 3 Meredith Stations
With the inclusion of Meredith’s KPHO and KTVK in Phoenix and KMOV in St. Louis, the national service providing local news via app has grown to 141 stations in 99 markets covering 48 of the top 50 markets and 80% of the U.S. population. Meredith says more of its stations could come on board in the coming months.
Why KTVK’s Morning News Is No. 1 In Phoenix
KPHO-KTVK Names Dan Wilson News Director
Dan Wilson, current ND of Scripps’ WPTV West Palm, Fla., has been tapped by Meredith’s Phoenix duopoly of KPHO (CBS)-KTVK (ind.) to head news operations.
Earthshaking Promo From KTVK Phoenix
It was expected to happen the minute Meredith merged KPHO and KTVK together in Phoenix. Sources report that firings are happening now at independent KTVK.
Meredith-owned independent KTVK Phoenix (DMA 11) on Tuesday announced the return of anchor Olivia Fierro. After a six-year absence, Fierro is returning to anchor Good Morning! Arizona (GMAZ) alongside Scott […]
The former KTVK Phoenix news director takes the reins March 9 at the Scripps ABC-Azteca duopoly in Denver. He previously worked at KMGH as managing editor from 1989 to 1996.
The sale of KTVK and KASW to Meredith Corp. was part of a deal announced last December that also included KMOV St. Louis.
KTVK Adds Brandon Lee As 4:30 P.M. Anchor
Independent KTVK Phoenix (DMA 12) announced Tuesday the hiring of Brandon Lee as the 4:30 p.m. anchor of Good Evening Arizona. He begins Jan. 29. He will also contribute to […]
Meredith Buying Three Stations From Gannett
For $407.5 million, Meredith is getting KMOV St. Louis and KTVK-KASW Phoenix that Gannett is acquiring in its purchase of Belo Corp.
KTVK Anchor Stella Inger Moving To KGUN
KTVK Adds Jaime Cerreta As Reporter-Anchor
Belo-owned independent KTVK Phoenix (DMA 13) announced today the hiring of Jaime Cerreta as a weekend anchor and weekday reporter. Cerreta, a Phoenix native and Arizona State University alum, will […]
KTVK Lands Cameryn Beck As News Director
The ND at KOVR-KMAX Sacramento, Calif., is joining Belo’s Phoenix indie., succeeding Brad Remington who’s moving to Denver.
KTVK’s Yetta Gibson Joins Evening News Team
Belo Corp’s independent KTVK Phoenix (DMA 13) has added anchor/reporter Yetta Gibson to the station’s evening news team. Gibson, who currently is a reporter and field anchor for the station’s […]
KTVK Hires Political Reporter Dennis Welch
Belo Corp.’s independent KTVK Phoenix (DMA 13) has hired veteran political reporter Dennis Welch as the station’s political editor. He begins on June 1. In this role, Welch will report […]
KPSP Anchor Stella Inger Headed To KTVK
KTVK’s Ring Named AZ Sportscaster Of The Year
Tim Ring of Belo independent KTVK Phoenix (DMA 13) was named the 2011 Arizona Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association [NSSA]. It’s the first time […]
Belo’s Phoenix independent KTVK and its azfamily.com will air the Arizona Republican Presidential Debate live on Nov. 30. The debate, featuring the candidates seeking the Republican nomination for president in […]
How Social Should A Newscast Be?
KOMU Columbia, Mo., in DMA138, has taken the plunge into social media news, last week launching a 4 p.m. newscast that makes viewers an integral part of the show. And there’s a social media desk that includes two reporters tracking bloggers, Tweets and online conversations about topics making the news. Industry watchers applaud KOMU for pushing the envelope in its use of social media at a time when many stations are still trying to figure them out. But some question their heavy use in what has always been a sit-back, passive medium.
The 30-minute newscast will be anchored by Carey Pena and Fields Moseley and will debut on Aug. 22.
Belo’s KTVK and AZFamily.com in Phoenix have launched a Facebook initiative to donate bottles of water to the Salvation Army as the summer months heat up. It’s a different twist on increasingly-popular Facebook contests designed to drum up more fans.