WFLA Tampa

Jerry Penacoli former correspondent for syndicated entertainment magazine Extra, has been named co-host of WFLA Tampa, Fla.’s nationally syndicated show Daytime, airing in more than 130 markets across the U.S. […]

On Wednesday, the TV and digital media company’s WFLA Tampa, Fla., launched its new website using the WorldNow system and will roll out the new content management system at its 17 other TV sites during the first quarter.

WFLA, WFTS, WTSP and WTVT began planning a year ago to make sure they would be ready when the Republican National Convention gets underway from Aug. 27 to 30. The preparation includes figuring out how to deal with the heavy security that encases political conventions and devising contingencies plans in case that security is breached or if other emergencies arise. Nobody is saying exactly what the extra effort is costing, although one station said its budget is running “north of six figures.”

The Media General NBC affiliate will add a new 7 p.m. news program to its weekday evening lineup, competing against stalwarts like Wheel of Fortune and Seinfeld reruns. The new show should begin July 30, partly to coincide with the London Olympics on NBC, according to station officials. “We are looking at plenty of people who are not able to see the news before, because they were driving home,” station News Director Don North said.

With the July 27 start of the London games getting closer, news crews from NBC O&Os and affiliates across the country are hard at work producing stories, profiles and packages to give them a local ratings boost. And some are prepping to make the trip overseas to be on hand for the 17 days, generating more material for themselves and, in some cases, their group-owned siblings.

Media General moves the GM of its WNCN Raleigh, N.C., to head its Tampa NBC affiliate.

The Media General  NBC affiliate will debut an hourlong newscast at 11 a.m. beginning Monday, re-establishing a program that was discontinued in 2009.

For several weeks, staffers at NBC affiliate WFLA and the Tampa Tribune have been buzzing about rumors of impending new layoffs at the local outlets owned by Richmond, Va.-based Media General. Last week, emails and buzz indicated layoffs might come Monday. Now, some staffers fear job reductions could come early next week, possibly next Monday.

Media General has replaced three top executives in charge of its Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA, Tampa Tribune and TBO.com as part of a restructuring that will also eventually include layoffs. John Cottingham has been named WFLA  interim general manager.

Tampa, Fla., CBS affiliate WTSP will air three Tampa Bay Buccaneers pre-season games this year, moving the broadcasts from NBC affil WFLA. The move also may signal the end of big deals for local broadcast of pre-season football games, in an era of widespread blackouts of home games and sinking media ad revenues.

It’s been the talk of the local media scene for weeks: News that management has told employees that layoffs are coming, possibly next week, at Media General’s Florida news platforms, including NBC affiliate WFLA, the Tampa Tribune and TBO.com.

In a market with fierce competition from a myriad of newspaper and television sites vying to be No. 1, Gannett chooses the sunny Tampa-St. Petersburg market as the online proving ground for its bold experiment in hyperlocal news sites.