
If there’s a sign of the times in TV these days, it’s the “+” sign. “Plus” generally denotes a new program service for on-demand streaming platforms. And local TV newsrooms are joining the trend.
Manship family-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La., will launch an early-evening newscast, giving viewers an hour heads up on the next day’s changing weather pattern, investigative reports, breaking news and sports features about area athletes. WBRZ News 2 at Nine launched Friday, Sept. 3, on subchannel WBRZ Plus, which the station calls the region’s […]
WBRZ Sees A Sure Thing In Sports Betting Programming

As Louisiana moves closer to legalizing online sports betting, WBRZ, the Manship Media-owned ABC affiliate in Baton Rouge, is betting heavily that programs dedicated to those who gamble on sports is the next step for the online sports betting industry to transition from advertising on local TV to programming there.
VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, and Manship Media’s ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La., today announced a content distribution agreement. As Louisiana moves closer to legal sports betting, this agreement will deliver credible sports betting information to the Baton Rouge market. This deal with family-owned WBRZ continues the expansion of VSiN’s broadcast footprint and marks the first time the network’s unique […]

The Baton Rouge ABC affiliate elevates Trey Schmaltz to succeed the retiring Lee Polowczuk as news director and names Ben Lemoine to succeed Schmaltz as assistant news director.
Covering the weather that included more than 500 storms and related weather events, Pat Shingleton, “The Weatherman,” Manship’s ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La., is “closing his umbrella” on Friday, Jan. 28. “My forecasting approach incorporated the protection of life and property and when it wasn’t serious, let’s have some fun….” For 45 years he […]
Marketing, Social & News Management Openings

New jobs posted to TVNewsCheck’s Media Job Center include openings for a topical producer, a social video producer, and an assistant news director.
Dish Loses KRGV, WRBZ Over Retrans Fees

The Manship-owned ABC affiliates in Harlingen, Texas, and Baton Rouge, La., went dark on the satellite provider on Friday. Manship said it had granted Dish multiple contract extensions in the hopes of coming up with a new deal.
DirecTV Loses 2 ABC Affils In Retrans Dispute
Manship’s two ABC affiliates — WBRZ Baton Rouge, La., and KRGV Weslaco, Texas,– went dark on DirecTV last Friday night. “After months of attempting to come to an agreement, DirecTV has failed to realize the importance of local news and entertainment and pulled programming from its lineup,” said Manship in a statement.
Manship Family’s KRGV Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas, and WBRZ Baton Rouge, La., have posted notices on their websites that their signals could be pulled from the satellite service at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday.
WBRZ Photographer Rescues Crash Victim
WBRZ Raises $185,000 For First Responders
Judge Dismisses Priest’s Suit Against WBRZ
WBRZ Names Investigative Executive Producer
Manship Family-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93), has named Mark Phillips as its investigative executive producer, overseeing the station’s team of reporters to uncover and report on political corruption. For the last 19 years, Phillips has been the deputy managing editor at the KPNX Phoenix. In addition to working with the investigative […]
WBRZ Reporter Lead Out Of City Hall In Cuffs
WBRZ Reporter Sues Police For Humiliation
WBRZ Names Dana McLin Sales Manager
Manship Family-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93), has named Dana McLin as sales manager. She has more than 15 years of broadcast sales experience in Baton Rouge as an account executive. “With the New Year, I am delighted to bring Dana’s experience and energy to the next level as a manager,” said […]
WBRZ Names Assistant Director Of News
Manship Family-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93) has appointed Trey Schmaltz as its assistant director of news. Schmaltz will oversee broadcast news production and news content on WBRZ.com. “This is another step toward building WBRZ as the primary place for news and information on TV, Internet and social media,” said WBRZ News […]
Priest Sues WBRZ Claiming Defamation
WBRZ Announces New Anchor Pairings
Manship-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93), announces the return of Michael Shingleton and new anchor parings in 2016. Michael Shingleton and Chris Nakamoto will join co-anchors Sylvia Weatherspoon, Michael Cauble and Pat Shingleton on WBRZ News 2 at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. effective Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Nakamoto will join Sylvia […]
WBRZ Ups Lee Polowzcuk To News Director
He succeeds the retiring Chuck Bark as head of news operations at the Baton Rouge, La., ABC affiliate.
WBRZ Continues ‘Feed-A-Family’ Food Drive Tradition
WBRZ Pulls Political Ad Imitating Newscast
Viewer complaints have prompted Baton Rouge, La., ABC affiliate WBRZ to pull a political ad that looked like a station newscast.
Dish To Lose WBRZ If No Deal By Friday
The Baton Rouge, La., ABC affiliate says the satellite provider has received extensions of the contract that expired at the end of June and if a new agreement isn’t reached by Aug. 21, it will pull its signal.
WBRZ To Televise $500K Home Giveaway
WBRZ Reporter Arrested For Interfering With Police
WBRZ Baton Rouge Goes Live With New Set
WBRZ Launches New Local Sports Segment
ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93), is introducing Cauble’s Rising Stars, a weekly sports segment that highlights the athletic youth of the community. Cauble’s Rising Stars will be featured every Thursday during the 6 p.m. newscast, beginning Oct. 9. Viewers will be able to submit their child’s sports photo on WBRZ.com beginning Thursday, […]
H.S. Football Contest Drives Visits To WBRZ Site
ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93), has added Kylie Dixon to the 2une In team of John Pastorek, Josh Eachus and Rebecca Buchanan. Dixon will make her first appearance on-air Aug. 27, and will begin co-anchoring the morning newscast alongside John Pastorek starting Aug. 29. Dixon will take over the reins from Whitney […]
WBRZ’s Whitney Vann Leaving Morning Show
WBRZ Declares Yard Makeover Contest A Success
A Writer/Producer’s First Day In TV At WBRZ
Adrian Pittman Out At WBRZ Following Arrest
WBRZ Celebrates Its 29th Annual Food Drive
In response to the increasing need to feed the hungry in its viewing area, Manship Family-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93), will conduct its 29th annual Feed-A-Family food drive. With the aid of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, and the Baton Rouge Clinic, WBRZ will place food collection barrels with the […]
WBRZ Raises Over $90,000 For Local Children
ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 94), once again teamed up with several area business and other organizations on a school supply drive to benefit needy children in the community. “WBRZ’s Stuff the Bus” campaign on July 17 filled more than eight school busses with supplies and collected $92,196 in donations. WBRZ’s Stuff the […]