Thursday, November 30, 2006

Pappas Resolves DISH Dispute

Pappas logoThe dispute between Pappas Telecasting Companies and EchoStar Communications which threatened to remove FOX affiliate KPTM and WB affiliate KXVO from DISH Network subscribers in Omaha and several other markets has been resolved.

Pappas warned viewers earlier this week that as of Friday, DISH customers in Omaha would no longer have access to programming on KPTM and KXVO because EchoStar failed to negotiate a renewal of DISH's local carriage agreement.

But today, Pappas announced it had reached a long-term agreement with DISH Network to continue the carriage of Pappas stations in Omaha and 10 other markets. The agreement, which is for a period of five years, means nearly two million DISH subscribers who currently receive the signals of Pappas stations via DISH's Direct Broadcast Satellite service will continue to receive the stations.

As part of the agreement, Pappas said The CW network affiliate KCWL/Lincoln, operated together with the Omaha World-Herald, and Pappas' Azteca America affiliate KAZR/Reno, will be added to DISH’s local channel package beginning Feb. 1.

Additionally, KUNO-TV, a sister station to KTNC/San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, will be added to DISH's Local Channel lineup in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose and the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto Designated Market Areas when separate programming is initiated on KUNO-TV.

"We appreciate the fact that DISH has recognized the value of our stations to their subscribers," said Harry J. Pappas, Chairman and CEO of Pappas Telecasting. "We have reached an agreement that contains all of the economic terms that we had been seeking. We are extremely happy for the sake of our viewers that this matter has been resolved amicably and in a timely fashion. The support of our viewers made the difference in the last twenty-four hours; we thank them one and all."

Cox Announces Broadcast Schedule
For High School Basketball, Wrestling

Cox Communications will televise more than a dozen nights of high school basketball games featuring teams from the Omaha metropolitan area.

All contests will be taped for rebroadcast Sunday nights on Cox Channel 2 at 6 p.m. The broadcasts will also be archived and available through Cox's "On Demand" service (Cox Channel 998).

On Jan. 15, Cox will air the finals of the Metro Conference wrestling tournament at 6 p.m. (also on Cox Channel 2).

This year's broadcast team consists of Nick Handley (play-by-play, color, sideline reporter), Jimmy Motz (color commentator, sideline reporter), Mark Kraynak (play-by-play, color, sideline reporter) and Damon Benning (color commentator, sideline reporter).

Handley has served as a sideline reporter and color analyst for Cox's high school sports productions the past two seasons. He is the play-by-play announcer for the Omaha Beef and also serves as the public address announcer for the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and the Creighton women's basketball team.

Motz is a former Creighton basketball player (2001-2006) who starred at Lincoln Northeast.

Kraynak has previously served as the announcer for Cox's high school football coverage the past two seasons while Benning is a former Nebraska football player (1991-1996) who begins his second year as part of Cox's high school sports announcing team.

Cox's complete broadcast schedule:
Dec. 3, 6 p.m. - Benson at Millard South (girls and boys)
Dec. 10, 6 p.m. - Central at North (girls and boys)
Dec. 17, 6 p.m. - Elkhorn at Gretna (girls and boys)
Jan. 7, 6 p.m. - Westside Invitational (teams TBA, girls and boys)
Jan. 14, 6 p.m. - Bellevue East at Papillion-La Vista (girls and boys)
Jan. 15, 6 p.m. - Wrestling: Finals, Metro Conference Tournament
Jan. 21, 6 p.m. - Central at Bellevue West (girls and boys)
Jan. 28, 6 p.m. - Northwest at South (girls and boys)
Feb. 4, 6 p.m. - Burke at Millard North (girls and boys)
Feb. 11, 6 p.m. - Bellevue West at Bryan (girls and boys)
Feb. 18, 6 p.m. - Marian/Creighton Prep at Millard West (girls and boys)
Feb. 25, 6 p.m. - Girls District Final (single game)
March 1, 6 p.m. - Boys District Final (single game)

Big 12 Championship Game Forecast

KETV (Cox Channel 9) meterologist John Campbell writes on his blog on KETV.com that snowfall amounts in Kansas City prior to Saturday's Big 12 Championship game could range between one and 26 inches.

In an entry written Tuesday morning, Campbell forecast freezing rain and ice prior to a "major snowstorm Thursday and Thursday night." On Wednesday, sleet and snow fell throughout the Kansas City area, creating slick road conditions and up to a half-inch of ice in some parts of the metropolitan area.

A blog entry posted by Campbell Wednesday night warns Nebraska fans that they could encounter problems driving Friday night or Saturday morning:

Computer models are going crazy... giving southeast portions of the city 26" of snow... 10" in downtown KC.... and just to the north (i.e., the airport) maybe an inch? Needless to say it will be a very tight gradient of impressive snow to just a piddly nuisance. (Is piddly a word?)

Campbell writes that no precipitation is forecast for Saturday night's 7:13 p.m. kickoff. However, he said game time temperatures will make it "brutal to be out(side) for three hours."

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

KPTM/KXVO News Director Announcement Coming

An announcement on the hiring of a news director for KPTM/KXVO will likely take place before the end of the week, according to station Vice President and General Manager Randy Oswald.

The Pappas Telecasting Company stations have been without a permanent news director since Nov. 15, when Allen Beckner left after 15 months to take a position with a Christian broadcasting company.

In the interim, Pappas brought in Roger Gadley to act as news director. Earlier this week, Gadley returned to his position as an adviser to news programming for all Pappas stations.

Journal Star Posts Search Warrant Affidavit

Fraternity Fire, courtesy of Journalstar.comThe Lincoln Journal Star newspaper used its website to post the search warrant affidavit for a fraternity house fire that killed a Nebraska Wesleyan University student.

A PDF of the affidavit accompanies the story by reporter Melissa Lee. Investigators used the search warrant to seize bottle rockets, firecrackers and other combustible materials from the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house.

The fire on Nov. 17 killed Ryan Stewart and critically injured three other fraternity brothers. The investigation into its cause is ongoing.

DISH Network Losing Pappas Stations Friday

DISH NetworkA federal court ruling means DISH Network subscribers in Omaha will no longer be able to view Pappas Telecasting-owned KPTM (DISH Network Channel 9143) and KXVO (Channel 9144) after midnight Thursday.

The court ruled in August that DISH violated copyright laws by retransmitting network signals. All "distant" network signals must removed from the DISH Network, effective this Friday, Dec. 1.

For more than eight years, Englewood, Colo.-based DISH Network parent company EchoStar Communications has been battling broadcast networks that claimed the satellite provider illegally encroached on their markets. Frequently, EchoStar settled with local stations to maintain its presence in rural markets.

However, in a press release, Pappas Telecasting Companies CEO Harry Pappas said DISH is unwilling to pay a "modest price" to local stations for permission to rebroadcast its programmining.

"It may surprise our DISH viewers to know that while DISH is charging them $5.99 per month just for their free local broadcast stations like the ones owned or operated by our company, DISH is unwilling to pay less than 19 cents out of the $6 per month they charge their customers," Pappas said.

Pappas is encouraging DISH Network subscribers to contact EchoStar Communications and express their displeasure with the situation.

"Our stations' ratings demonstrate that our programming is of high value to our loyal viewers," Pappas said. "We encourage viewers to contact EchoStar in order to make sure that their opinions are heard loud and clear."

At least one million subscribers who currently receive Pappas stations around the country through DISH Network will be affected. Pappas has successfully reached retransmission consent agreements with EchoStar's competitor, DirecTV, and most major cable system operators in its markets.

The stations and markets affected besides Omaha are KAZA/Los Angeles; KTNC/San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose; KAZH/Houston; WCWG/Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem; KMPH and KFRE/Fresno-Visalia California; KCWI/Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; KDBC/El Paso; KHGI and KTVG/Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney, Nebraska; and KREN/Reno, Nevada.

Affected DISH Network viewers can still watch the stations over the air using an antenna or through a cable or satellite TV provider. In the Los Angeles and Houston markets, viewers can watch Pappas stations via broadband Internet providers (Verizon and AT&T), which offer television services.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Omaha World-Herald's Goodfellows Program
Dates Back to Newspaper's Earliest Years

Omaha World-Herald Goodfellows LogoThis year's Omaha World-Herald Goodfellows program looks to top the record amount of $347,760.74 raised last year.

The Goodfellows holiday food program dates back to the late 1800s, when the newspaper and its readers extended a "towline" to the needy of the community. The emergency assistance program started in 1994 and has grown to be the largest portion of Goodfellows spending. According to the World-Herald, the charity also offers grocery certificates for holiday meals, clothes for needy schoolchildren and eye care and eyeglasses for the homeless.

The previous record total for a Goodfellows campaign was $338,625.30 in 2000.

The World-Herald pays all the administrative costs of the charity, so 100 percent of each donation goes directly to those in need.

This year, the newspaper is accepting donations online. Click here to contribute.

Husker Game In 45 Seconds Or Less

Huskers vs. Buffaloes, courtesy of theindependent.comOmaha World-Herald photographer Matt Miller produced a time lapse movie of Memorial Stadium during Friday's Nebraska-Colorado football game.

You can view the movie here (requires QuickTime).

If Nebraska loses the Big 12 title game Saturday, the Huskers will likely end up in the Cotton Bowl. Play-by-play legend Pat Summerall announced over the weekend that he will return to the broadcast booth to call that Jan. 1 game for FOX Sports. It will be the 78-year-old's first call of a college football game since undergoing liver transplant surgery in April 2004.

Friday, November 24, 2006

NTV Master Control Operator Arrested

Don Mortimore, courtesy of NTV.comDon Mortimore, a former master control operator at Kearney TV station KHGI, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing and distributing child pornography.

Police say they found sexually explicit pictures of a child at the home of the 45-year-old. He is accused of taking the pictures and then distributing them on the Internet.

The station's website reports that Mortimore resigned from NTV Tuesday.

KKAR Updates Website

KKAR, courtesy of KKAR.comKKAR (1290 AM) recently revamped the look of its website.

The new look (right) features an enhanced weekly broadcast schedule page and places the site menu toolbar across the top of the page, rather than on the side (see former look, below).
Old KKAR webpage
The revised page design also puts the "listen live" button in a more accessible place.

KKAR's last major site makeover occurred in 2001.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

KGOR Goes All-Christmas, All-The-Time

KGOR logo, courtesy of KGOR.comOmaha's KGOR (99.9 FM) made the switch to an all-Christmas music format this week.

The Clear Channel-owned station has relied on its oldies format to rank near the top of the Omaha metropolitan radio ratings in the 12+ listener demographic.

Another Clear Channel station, KLMY (106.3 FM) in Lincoln, began playing Christmas music around the clock Monday.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

KETV vs. Cox Dispute Gets More Attention

The Omaha World-Herald has published two letters in the past three days in its "Public Pulse" section from readers frustrated by the dispute between KETV and Cox Communications over the retransmission rights of KETV's high definition signal over Cox's digital cable tier:

Get dispute resolved
Prior to the Husker football season, I purchased a 73-inch high-definition television so my five sons and I could watch the Huskers in style.

Much to our disappointment, there has been a dispute between Cox Communications and Hearst-Argyle Television, the parent company of KETV. A call to KETV left me with no clear picture as to what is causing the problem with the lack of an HD signal. Meanwhile, four consecutive NU games have been aired on ABC.

With the Colorado game and the Big 12 championship game coming up (also set to be televised on ABC), please, someone, do something.

- Richard Webber, Papillion

Customers ill-served
I am in complete agreement with Richard Webber (Nov. 20 Pulse) with regard to the high-definition signal dispute between Cox Communications and Hearst-Argyle Television, the parent company of KETV. Continuous calls to both companies seem to fall on deaf ears.

Like Mr. Webber, I own a large HD-capable television and must suffer through an analog signal for Husker games and other ABC programs. Now I know via the KETV Web site that you can simply purchase the proper antenna and receive the HD signal free of charge. This, however, is impossible in my neighborhood because of its elevation anda number of large trees.

It is too bad that the customers of KETV and Cox Communications are made to suffer while these two companise attempt to work out their differences. I am certain I speak for a large number of people when I say to Hearst-Argyle and Cox Communications, "Make something happen, and think about your customers before you start to lose them."

- Paul Jantzen, Omaha

Pausing to Give Thanks

Omaha's artists and community leaders express their gratitude in this week's edition of The Reader.

Among the media personalities sharing what they are thankful for: Tom Becka (KFAB), Taylor Wilson (KPTM) and Matt Perrault (KXSP).

Since KXVO News Host Matt Geiler did not get his entry in by press time (and it definitely does not meet the issue's space requirements), it is shared here:

I thought I'd send you a copy of a Thanksgiving essay I wrote in the third grade, which I really think sums up the whole issue.

What I Am Thankful For
by Matthew Geiler, Grade 3

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the personal comfort of knowing the world is at peace. It is calming on my nervous face when I go to bed to know that America is making a substantial side-income from the sale of its values to less fortunate countries like Poland.

I am thankful for girls, even though Michele Weaver will not go with me. I know that one day the girl of dreams will meet me at the pencil sharpener, compliment me on my courderoy jeans and OP t-shirt and then go with me forever. We will have a child and we will never fight becuase we will both like Star Wars.

I am thankful for enough food to eat, and for the new government program that makes us share what we don't use with Ethiopia and the Sudan. America is a great land that really helps out the poor countries by giving ... I don't know what the number is, but it's bigger than a tenth of a percent, so you know it's big.

Most of all, I'm thankful for my Mom. She smells like an angel and bakes me a cherry pie any time I want one.



Geiler added that the "grown-man" version of him is thankful for (in this order):

"My wife and son, my iPod, my 11 pairs of trendy jeans, conveniently-located churches, the schools attached to some of those churches, books, my tooth-whitening system, and lastly, Fred Astaire. The man gave so much to so many while he was alive and is THE reason my wife and I can't watch television at the same time."

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Thursday's Kansas City-Denver Game Not On CBS

NFL Network LogoThe traditional National Football League games on Thanksgiving Day get a new wrinkle this year. For the first time, the NFL is offering three games on Thursday: Miami at Detroit, Tampa Bay at Dallas and Denver at Kansas City.

The Denver-Kansas City game marks the NFL Network's first live broadcast of a game. It will also be one of the few times an AFC game is not shown on CBS Sports. Bryant Gumbel (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) will call the action and pre- and post-game shows will be hosted by Rich Eisen.

Thursday's "Turkey Tussle" on the NFL Network kicks off an eight-game package of live broadcasts on the network. The NFL Network can be seen by Cox digital cable subscribers on Channel 223.

Monday, November 20, 2006

FOX Cancels Simpson Special

OJFacing a barrage of criticism, News Corp. announced Monday that the O.J. Simpson book and TV special "If I Did It" would not be broadcast.

"I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project," said Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. chairman. "We are sorry for any pain that this has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson."

A dozen FOX affiliates, including Pappas Telecasting-owned KPTM (Cox Channel 10) had already said they would not air the two-part special next week. It would have been seen on two of the final three nights of the November "sweeps" period.

Click here to watch Harry Pappas' interview Monday with Fox News Channel anchor John Gibson. (For flash users, click here to download the new Pappas video player.)

KPTM Interim News Director
No Stranger To Fox Affiliates

KPTM (Cox Channel 10) has named Roger Gadley as its interim news director following the departure of Allen Beckner last week.

Since March, Gadley has been working as an adviser to news programming for all Pappas Telecasting Inc.-owned television stations Previously, he served as news director for KMPH (FOX) in Fresno, Calif. (DMA No. 55) for 14 years. Gadley has 34 years of experience in the broadcast industry.

KPTM (Cox Channel 10) Vice President and General Manager Randy Oswald said the station will move quickly to find a permanent replacement for Beckner, who left Omaha after 15 months to become Director of Programming for the National Religious Broadcasters network.

"We're hopeful to be able to announce a news director in the next 30 days or so," Oswald said.

Under Gadley's direction, KMPH launched a daily, web-only, "Around the Clock Webcast" featuring five minutes of the top news stories of the day, presented by KMPH News anchors.

KPTM has followed suit with a daily "netcast" that recaps the top local stories of the day on www.kptm.com leading up to the station's 9 p.m. newscast.

High School Football Ratings: A Look Back

So how did Omaha World-Herald high school sports rater Stu Pospisil fare with his preseason football picks? Pospisil came close in forecasting some of the better teams in the state, but did not correctly predict any of the six state champions.

In Class A, he had eventual state champion Kearney rated second, but omitted state runner-up Omaha Westside, which was undefeated heading into the state title game. Preseason No. 1, Millard North, went 8-4 and was knocked out of the playoffs by Kearney.

Pospisil's preseason Class A Top 10, published Aug. 20:
1. Millard North
2. Kearney
3. Lincoln Southwest
4. Millard South
5. Papillion-La Vista
6. Millard West
7. Lincoln Southeast
8. Omaha Central
9. Omaha Creighton Prep
10. Omaha North

His final ratings, published in Monday's editions:
1. Kearney, 12-1
2. Millard South, 11-1
3. Omaha Westside, 12-1
4. Millard North, 8-4
5. Lincoln Southwest, 10-1
6. Omaha North, 9-2
7. Lincoln Northeast, 8-3
8. Lincoln East, 8-3
9. Bellevue West, 7-3
10. Omaha Creighton Prep, 5-5

In Class B, Pospisil had eventual state champion Crete sixth in his preseason ratings. Class C-1 state champion Auburn was 10th in the preseason ratings, Class C-2 champion Wakefield was not rated, Eight Man-1 champion Overton was ranked fifth and Eight Man-2 champ Dodge was second in the preseason.

Todd and Tyler on 'YouTube'

With a week of syndication under their belts in both Wichita, Kan., and Springfield, Mo., KEZO (92.3 FM) morning radio hosts "Todd and Tyler" (Todd Brandt and Mike Tyler) are now featured in several South Park-style videos on YouTube.

The cartoons also feature appearances by TnT producer Jeremy Campbell and show regular "Black Tony."

"Dick.Payne" of the Todd & Tyler Unauthorized discussion board takes credit for producing the videos.

Friday, November 17, 2006

KPTM Will Not Air OJ Simpson Special

KPTM (Cox Channel 10) viewers in the Omaha metropolitan area will not see what is being billed as one of the most anticipated TV interviews in America.

"KPTM and the entire group of Pappas' FOX stations will not be airing the OJ Simpson special," said KPTM Director of Promotion Sam Lawson Friday afternoon.

Simpson will appear in a two-part special on FOX on Nov. 27 to talk about his new book, "If I did it, This is How." The book is being marketed as a confession by the former football hero for the 1994 slayings of his wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

Simpson was charged for the murders of his wife and her friend but was acquitted. He was later ordered to pay costs about $33 million for the crimes in a civil trial.

The Simpson special will be broadcast on the third and second-to-last nights of Nielsen Media Research's November "sweeps" period.

The other FOX stations in the Pappas Telecasting group are: KMPH, Fresno, Calif.; KPTH, Dakota Dunes, S.D. and KSNB/KTVG, Lincoln.

Columnist: World-Herald Has Conflict of Interest

Today's edition of Nebraska StatePaper.com includes a column by Kyle Michaelis questioning whether the Omaha World-Herald should divest its interest in ES&S, the world's largest provider of election management systems.

Michaelis does not assert any wrong-doing by either company. However, he blames the World-Herald for blurring the line between reporting the news and making it, as well as shaping elections and deciding their outcome.

"No suggestion of impropriety or corruption is necessary to say that it does not serve the public good for a newspaper that already plays so great a part in Nebraska politics to step beyond reporting on elections to play a role - any role at all - in actually counting the ballots by which they are decided," Michaelis writes.

The Reader's Media Notes has previously pointed out that the World-Herald chose not to publish a story earlier this year that cast ES&S in an unfavorable light.

KLMY, KLTQ Broadcasting Christmas Music

Christmas Music GraphicWaitt Radio Networks-owned KLTQ (101.9 FM) is the first Omaha radio station to begin broadcasting Christmas music around the clock.

Earlier this week, Clear Channel-owned KLMY (106.3 FM) became the first radio station in Lincoln this fall to broadcast Christmas songs.

Last year, KEFM (96.1 FM) attracted attention for playing Christmas music for two days in late September before switching to its current contemporary rock format of "The Brew" (KQBW). KLMY was also the first station last year to switch to a Christmas music format (in early November).

KLMY and three other stations in Lincoln (KIBZ, 104.1 FM; KZKX, 96.9 FM; KTGL, 92.9 FM) are among hundreds of Clear Channel stations up for sale following Thursday's announcement that the media conglomerate is being acquired by a private investment group for $18.7 billion.

Cox Will Broadcast Holiday Lights Festival

Holiday Lights FestivalCox Communications will broadcast the Holiday Lights Festival ceremony next Thursday, Nov. 23 live on Cox Channel 2.

The Thanksgiving night program will originate from the Gene Leahy Mall in downtown Omaha. Coverage begins at 5:30 p.m.

Cox will not use any commentators to host the telecast, according to Cox Public Affairs Specialist Wendy Townley. KLTQ (101.9 FM) personalities Shari Stone and Billy Shears will emcee the event.

Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, with assistance from a group of children from Omaha-area schools, will lead a countdown at 6:15 p.m. that will illuminate more than one million lights at 6:15 p.m. The lights will be on through Jan. 7 from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The pre-lighting entertainment will include live performances by Heidi Joy, the Jazzwholes and the Nebraska Choral Arts Society's Cantori Choir.

In year's past, local stations have broadcast portions of the event during their 6 p.m. newscasts. This year will mark the first time the event is broadcast live in its entirety.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

World-Herald Contacted Man Hours Before Suicide

A reporter from the Omaha World-Herald may have been one of the last persons to speak with Thomas Tomich hours before he committed suicide.

Reporter Kevin Cole visited Tomich's home in West Omaha Wednesday. A story published on Omaha.com describes in detail Cole's encounter with Tomich, who was publicly revealed Thursday to be the prime suspect in his ex-wife's disappearance and murder in 1983.

Lois Tomich's body was found in a barrel in May, but her identity was not made known until Wednesday.

A story in Thursday morning's edition of the World-Herald said Thomas Tomich, when contacted Wednesday night, declined comment.

During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Pottawattamie County investigators said they, too, contacted Thomas Tomich at his West Omaha home Wednesday afternoon. They said he acted nervous, was reluctant to answer questions and asked for an attorney. Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said investigators were in the process of obtaining a first-degree murder warrant for Thomas Tomich's arrest.

Clear Channel Going Private

Clear Channel Communications, Inc. announced plans today to sell its entire 43 station television group and 448 of its 1,150 radio stations as part of its plan to accept a $26.7 billion offer from private equity players Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital Partners.

Clear Channel LogoClear Channel says the radio stations for sale are outside of the top 100 Arbitron metros (The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area is No. 72.) The TV stations are located in 24 small and mid-sized markets throughout the country. Overall, these properties generated less than 10 percent of Clear Channel's revenue last year.

Clear Channel's merger with the two private equity groups is a transaction valued at $26.7 billion, including the assumption or repayment of approximately $8 billion of net debt.

The deal would rank as one of the largest media buyouts ever, surpassing the recent takeover of Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications.

New KETV Reporter Is Missouri Grad

Lisa Stites, courtesy of WIBWThe newest reporter at KETV (Cox Channel 9) is a past Broadcast Pacemaker Award winner.

Lisa Stites won the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker - considered the Pulitzer Prize of high school journalism - in 2001 for "Olga's Story." Her report focused on a Ukranian orphan, abandoned because of birth defects caused by the Cherynobyl disaster, but adopted by a Kansas family.

Stites makes a jump up 61 markets from WIBW (CBS) in Topeka, Kan., where she went by her maiden name of Boschert. The May 2005 graduate of the University of Missouri also worked as a reporter and web producer at KOMU, the university's own commercial station which operates as an NBC affiliate.

Stites said she likes reporting because she learns something new everyday.

"Whether it's something about the world, the community, an individual or a reflection on myself, I feel like reporting makes me a more well-rounded person,' Stites said. "For me, life is not about what I accomplish monetarily or in recognition. It's about learning, experiencing new things and making others know they count."

Stites was born in St. Louis but grew up in Brookside/Kansas City, Mo., and Leawood, Kan. Her move to Omaha puts her closer to her fiance, Erik, a first year medical student at Creighton University. The two met when they were in school in Columbia, she said.

Stites' experience includes an internship at NBC's London Bureau and reports for WIBW from areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Cox Adding ESPNU Nov. 30;
ESPN2-HD Takes Place of KETV-HD

ESPNUCox Communications is adding three new channels to its lineup at the end of November, including the much-anticipated ESPNU.

ESPNU is ESPN's 24-hour college sports network. It will be seen on Cox Channel 220. Additionally, ESPN2 in high definition will be seen on Cox Channel 809. That is the same channel that previously broadcast KETV's high definition signal to Cox subscribers.

Earlier this week, Cox spokeswoman Kristin Peck told The Reader's Media Notes that negotiations between Cox and Hearst-Argyle (owner of KETV) have stalled. KETV pulled its signal from Cox Oct. 1 in a dispute over compensation for retransmission of KETV's HD signal.

"We are so far apart right now that I do not foresee a conclusion to this negotiation anytime soon," Peck said.

A&EThe other addition to Cox's digital lineup will be A&E in high definition, broadcasting on Cox Channel 807.

In all, Cox offers 13 HD channels to its Omaha metropolitan area customers, including KMTV, WOWT, KPTM, NET and HBO.

In This Week's Issue

TNT Radio Empire LogoIn this week's issue of The Reader, listeners react to the first week of syndication for the "Todd & Tyler" show on KEZO (92.3 FM).

Also, find out which Omaha TV news personalities earned Reader's Choice "Best of the Big O" awards for 2006.

Available on newsstands Thursday.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Rating Coverage of the Big Red

The Reader's Media Notes reviewed late-evening newscast sports coverage of the Nebraska-Texas A&M football game Saturday.

KPTM
MarlonThe Game Plan: "The N Zone"

Quotable: "Woah baby! That's all I gotta say." - Sports Director JJ Davis.

The Big Play: Highlights off the top of the newscast were cut from video shot at the game and not pulled from the ABC Sports broadcast.

Extra Point: The highlights package revealed that it was KPTM photojournalist Jason Pressler who was knocked over on the sidelines by Texas A&M running back Mike Goodson.

Turnover: Though it was teased three times, complete Husker coverage did not air until 39 minutes into the newscast - seemingly an odd time slot for a sports segment compared to weeknights.

Overtime: Though not part of its Husker coverage, a KPTM camera got a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse at UNO Coach Pat Behrns' pre-game lockerroom speech.

Time of Possession: 64 seconds of highlights off the top of the newscast. 2:50 of highlights in main sports. Total coverage: 8 minutes.


KETV
SteveThe Game Plan: "The Big Red Zone"

Quotable: "Tackling is disallowed on the play." - Weekend sports anchor Matt Schick.

The Big Play: Schick's clever quips during the highlights included an emphasis on Barry Turner's block of a Texas A&M field goal, a pivotal play that cleared the way for Nebraska's comeback.

Extra Point: Sports Director Jon Schuetz reported live outside Kyle Field, allowing Schick the opportunity to question him about how well the Huskers handled the Aggies' rowdy crowd.

Hustle Award: Schuetz's analysis piece included sound from Zac Taylor, Bill Callahan, Jay Moore, Tierre Green and Maurice Purify.

Turnover: A video montage to open the newscast, set to Rob Thomas' "This is how a Heart Breaks" seemed out of place after Nebraska came back to win in the final seconds.

Overtime: Schick plugged his blog, which featured more than a half-dozen entries related to Saturday's game.

Time of Possession: Ten minutes of coverage off the top of the newscast, including 2:20 of highlights and a 2:00 analysis piece by Schuetz.


KMTV
ZacThe Game Plan: "Big Red Now" Report

Quotable: "The sun goes down, the lights go on and Zac Taylor heats up." - Weekend sports anchor Matt Seigel.

The Big Plays: No footage from ABC Sports was used for any highlights. "Big Red Now Notes" were well-researched and included more information than just key statistics.

Extra Point: Photojournalist Pete McIntyre's field-level shot of Jovorskie Lane's 44-yard halfback bomb to Chad Schroeder, which showed just how marvelous a pass it was.

Hustle Award: KMTV was the only station to air post-game comments from Texas A&M Coach Dennis Franchione.

Turnover: The screen went to black between highlights and post-game reaction.

Armchair Quarterback: Why open the sports segment with a full screen graphic of the final score, rather than video?

Crowd Noise: Music playing beneath the highlights was almost too soft to be heard.

Time of Possession: 45 seconds of highlights four minutes into the newscast, 2:25 of highlights in the main sports cast, as well as a 1:45 analysis piece by Sports Director Travis Justice. Total coverage: 9 minutes.


WOWT
BillThe Game Plan: "Big Red Extra"

Quotable: "Nebraska had their (sic) hands full." - News anchor Jaime McCutcheon.

The Big Play: Sports Director Dave Webber did his standup in the same part of the end zone at Kyle Field where Maurice Purify made the game-winning catch.

Extra Point: A continuous scroll of game statistics during the opening highlights segment.

Armchair Quarterback: If the No. 1 station only delivers six minutes of Husker coverage, is that all Nebraska fans want?

Crowd Noise: Music adds a nice touch to weekend sports anchor John Chapman's otherwise monotone delivery.

Time of Possession: 1:57 of pre-voiced over highlights off the top of the newscast, as well as a 3:25 analysis piece by Sports Director Dave Webber. Total coverage: 6 minutes.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Notes from the Laptop

University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey broadcasters Greg Harrington and Terry Leahy are drawing sharp criticism by some Maverick fans for being too gracious to the opposing team. On the discussion board mavpuck.com, one fan wrote, "I'm not saying they should have been gloom-and-dooming it, but to sound downright gleeful about the loss was hard to understand."

After being dark for several weeks, the most popular discussion board for the Omaha metropolitan area is back online. eomahaforums.com is a new URL, replacing the former eomaha.com.

The Omaha World-Herald did disclose its minority interest in Election Systems & Software in a story in Sunday's editions of the newspaper. The World-Herald had previously chosen not to publish nationally-distributed stories about ES&S that were critical of the company.

Clear Channel Communications has first right of refusal to match the winning bid on several buildings (including its own) at 50th & Underwood. If Clear Channel does not act within 15 days, the sale of the buildings to two developers from Denver will stay intact and the lease for the KFAB building (which goes to 2011) will simply transfer to the new owner, said Clear Channel Omaha General Manager Mitch Baker.

World-Herald columnist Michael Kelly pointed out in his column Thursday that some Omaha newscasters "pronounced the name of State Treasurer-elect Shane Osborn as Oz-burn, the way congressman and former Husker coach Tom Osborne says his name." Kelly is credited for being the first journalist to reveal the correct pronounciation of Osborne's name.

Friday, November 10, 2006

KMTV Will Broadcast Eight Jays' Games

Dana Altman, courtesy of goCreighton.comKMTV (Cox Channel 5) is scheduled to broadcast eight games of the Creighton men's basketball team this season.

KMTV News Director Ken Dudzik said Action 3 News Sports Director Travis Justice will call the action, assisted by Scott Schumacher (analyst). Telepro Video will continue to serve as the production team for the broadcasts.

The Jays own a 19-13 record in games televised by the CBS affiliate (4-2 in 2002-03, 6-3 in 2003-04, 4-5 in 2004-05 and 5-3 in 2005-06).

Creighton is 22-15 in games that air regionally or nationally in that same time period, including a 14-10 mark on MVC-TV.

A minimum of 20, and possibly as many as 24 games are slated for television this season.

KMTV will televise the following games:
(Home games listed in bold. All times Central Daylight.):

Nov. 25: George Mason, 1:05 p.m.
Dec. 9: Xavier, 7:05 p.m.

Dec. 16: Fresno State, 9 p.m.
Jan. 6: Evansville, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 9: Drake, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 15: Wichita State, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 24: Missouri State, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 27: Indiana State, 1:05 p.m.

Additionally, NET1 is schedule to broadcast the Jays' game against Evansville from the Qwest Center Omaha arena on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7:05 p.m. No television plans have been finalized regarding Creighton's game against the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Lincoln.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Ed Bradley Dead at 65

Ed Bradley, courtesy of The Rocky Mountain NewsEd Bradley of CBS News died of leukemia Thursday. He was 65.

In March of 2000, Bradley landed the only TV interview with condemned Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who revealed that the form he filled out to rent the Ryder truck indicated he planned to use it for a four-day trip to Omaha. The story for "60 Minutes" earned Bradley one of his 19 Emmys.

The 2005-06 season of 60 Minutes marked Bradley's 26th year with the program. He joined CBS News as a stringer in its Paris bureau in September of 1971.

Mistaken Arrest Cautions North Platte Media

Media outlets in North Platte are likely to be more cautious after last week's revelation that a 17-year-old girl had been mistakenly arrested and held in jail for a week.

Amanda Sylvester might still be in jail, facing criminal charges that included aiding and abetting a robbery, were it not for an anonymous tip to a Crimestoppers hotline, according to a story in the North Platte Bulletin.

Her arrest and arraignment stemmed from mistaken identity, according to Lieutenant Rick Ryan of the North Platte Police Department. One of the men involved in the robbery of a Kwik Shop identified Sylvester through a photo, but said he didn't know her name.

A week later, the Crimestopper tip led to the arrest of Kayce Schildhauer, 19, of North Platte.

Ryan said the women have very similar looks, and that the mistake was easily understood because of it.

"They have the same color hair, they're about the same size and they wear the same earrings," Ryan said. "But they are two different people."

Her guardian said she was concerned about the way Sylvester had been treated by the system -- especially the fact that she was arraigned as an adult.

Investigators brought Schildhauer in for questioning, which resulted in her arrest, Ryan said.

Sylvester's photograph and name had previously been used by local media, informing the community that she was a suspect. According to The Bulletin, the pictures (above) of Schildhauer and Sylvester were taken from photos on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles that were provided by North Platte police.

"There have been some really nasty, ugly, things said about Amanda that never should have been allowed," Ryan said.

Police Chief Martin Gutschenritter apologized for the error, adding, "There is a lesson to be learned here, that everything isn't always what it appears."

The Brew's Elmo TMX Auction Twice As Nice

Elmo TMXKQBW (96.1 FM) morning show hosts Mookie and Michelle raised more than $500 for the US Marine Corps' "Toys For Tots" drive by auctioning off a Tickle Me Elmo TMX doll - twice.

The "TMX" sells for about $40 but demand has pushed the average price on eBay into the hundreds of dollars. This new version of Elmo rolls around on the floor laughing and smashing his fist on the ground, begging for ticklers to stop.

The TMX, which was donated by the Toys R Us store in Council Bluffs, originally went for $300 to "Greg" last week.

"He showed up Friday, gave us a check, and told us to re-auction the doll so we could raise more money for the kids," said Michelle Matthews, KQBW program director.

So this week, the TMX went back up on the block. "Chris," who unsuccessfully lost out on the doll in last week's bidding, came out on top with a winning bid of $230.

"One Elmo, $530, some happy Marines, and hopefully many smiling kids that otherwise might not have had presents under the tree this year," Matthews said.

The Brew will be collecting toys for the "Toys for Tots" campaign at locations throughout the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Click here for a complete list of places to drop off new, unwrapped toys.

How Did The Associated Press
Call Nebraska Races So Early?

Barely 20 minutes after the polls closed in Nebraska Tuesday, a bulletin moved on The Associated Press wire that surprised even the most veteran of journalists at media outlets across the state.

The startling news is now old news: Ben Nelson and Dave Heineman had won their respective races for U.S. Senate and Nebraska governor.

The question on some people's minds Wednesday was whether The Associated Press acted responsibly in calling the races with only six percent of precincts reporting at that point.

It harkened back to the controversial presidential election of 2000, when television networks prematurely called the race for President Bush even though it wasn't decided for several weeks.

What Goes Into Declaring An Early Winner
exitIn order to examine how the decision was made, it is necessary to review the behind-the-scenes monitoring that goes into declaring a winner.

The Associated Press is a member of The National Election Pool, a consortium of ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NBC News and the AP. The group selected survey research company Edison Media Research (partnered with Mitofsky International) to conduct exit polls which project and analyze election results.

Exit polls are interviews with voters after they have cast their votes at their polling places. According to information provided by Edison/Mitofsky, an interviewer gives random voters exiting the polling place a questionnaire to complete. There are questions about demographic such as gender, age, race, and issues related to the person' s vote and questions about the person's vote choice in the different contests. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Interviewing begins when the polls open and continues throughout the day until about an hour before they close at night.

Exit Polling Performed at 39 Nebraska Precincts
In Nebraska, the exit poll conducted for The Associated Press was performed by Edison among 1,005 voters as they left 39 randomly selected precincts around Nebraska on Tuesday. The margin of sampling error was published as "plus or minus five percentage points" for the overall sample and larger for subgroups.

The only races in Nebraska that were "exit polled" were for governor and US Senate.

So, while Republican military hero Shane Osborn was well on his way to victory over John Gathings in the state treasurer's race (Osborn had 70 percent of the vote with six percent of the precincts reporting), the AP did not declare a winner in the race in its early bulletin.

What was the advantage of calling the races so early? Staffers in the Omaha bureau of the AP did not respond to The Reader's interview requests. However, a spokesperson in the AP's New York City office said The AP will call a race if its experts and analysts are satisfied that a candidate has a significant winning margin.

In Nebraska, by declaring a winner so early in the US Senate race, national media outlets could "check off" the Cornhusker State as one whose election results were no longer hanging in the balance - an attempt to expeditiously determine which party would control Capitol Hill.

The early declaration also allowed the Omaha bureau to distribute a flurry of pre-written stories over the wire - not one of them featuring a single quote from any of the candidates. However, the stories did provide filler for newspaper's early editions.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

KMTV Most Impressive In Omaha Stations'
Coverage of Election Night 2006

The station that perennially finishes behind its competition in the Nielsen Media Research TV ratings put on a performance Tuesday night that was top rate.

KMTV (Cox Channel 5) provided impressive coverage, better analysis and broadcast a nearly flawless 10 p.m. newscast on Election Night.

Not far behind was KETV (Cox Channel 9) which delivered on its "more complete coverage" promise by sharing the most election results, to go along with comprehensive reporting that included streaming live coverage on its website, KETV.com.

WOWT (Cox Channel 8), while much improved from its debacle in the May primary, was clearly third-rate. Technical snafus, ill-timed tosses to reporters in the field and shallow analysis plagued the performance of the NBC affiliate that traditionally owns the 10 o'clock time slot in the Nielsen ratings.

For the purposes of this review, The Reader closely monitored KETV, KMTV and WOWT from 9:56 p.m. (when KMTV and KETV) began their coverage, until approximately 10:30 p.m.

Editor's Note: Although many of the races were not decided until long after that, it is The Reader's belief that a majority of viewers did not stay tuned in for additional coverage.

KMTV, Grade: A

The "Breaking News" philosophy the CBS affiliate has adopted carried over nicely to an Election Night newscast format that rewards hard work and hustle.

KMTV offered live coverage from five locations and had candidate reaction (on tape) from four others.

With veteran reporter Joe Jordan leading off, KMTV hit a home run with Jordan's clear overview of what promised to be a changing political landscape of races across the state.

"Democrats are making gains no one ever expected," Jordan said.

KMTV anchors Deborah Ward and Greg Peterson often provided viewers with "big picture" background on issues and races of importance, providing perspective and insight into how some of the results had changed from the early returns.

The lone knock against KMTV you will find here was Michelle Bandur's awkward start to her interview with Lee Terry: A "Hey, how are you doing? We're live now!" introduction that fell short of the usual high standards of her live reports from the field.

KETV, Grade: B+

First, quantity is not always quality.

Secondly, when you have a ticker scrolling results, do not spend time reading them to the viewers when the time is better spent hearing from the candidates.

Those two factors -- as well as a few technical glitches -- are what kept KETV from matching its top-notch performance on Election Night during the May Primary.

So what did KETV do right? It thoughtfully provided viewers tuning in at 10 p.m. with a "reopen" of its newscast, after starting its coverage at the conclusion of the network's broadcast (9:56 p.m.). Graphics for its full screen boards were top-rate, with most of them featuring the candidates' photos.

And in a throwback to the days when in-studio political analysis was in vogue, Allen Beerman, director of the Nebraska Press Association and former Nebraska Secretary of State, offered commentary on several of the major races.

But there were glaring mistakes that cannot be overlooked.

Anchors Rob McCartney and Julie Cornell mispronounced Shane Osborn's last name, confusing it with former Nebraska football Coach Tom Osborne, who says "Oz-BURN." Reporter Farrah Fazal never explained why she was holding a cell phone up to her ear during a live report and later called the Nebraska State Education Association's Brian Mikkelsen "Brian Mikkels." Reporter Todd Andrews told viewers Ben Nelson was about to speak, only to have McCartney ask him a question (that led to a rushed response) as Nelson began his remarks.

More proof of the subpar performance: Reporter Owen Lei said to Lee Terry "Tell me how you feel right now" and minutes later, reporter Carol Kloss asked Jim Esch virtually the same question ("How does it feel?").

Compare that to KMTV's Jordan, who asked Nelson if he thought there was a message to the White House that Americans want a different handling of the war in Iraq.

WOWT, Grade: B-

From the get-go, WOWT seemed a step slow. Network election coverage provided for several local updates between 8 and 10 p.m., but WOWT sorely missed Ricketts' initial podium appearance around 9 p.m. and his remarks just before 10 that both KETV and KMTV did carry.

"Tonight, Nebraskans have spoken," WOWT viewers did not hear Nelson tell supporters at the start of his "victory" speech.

The live reports WOWT did broadcast were well below market standards. Reporter Rebecca Kleeman was downright giddy during her interview with Terry. She also spent a great deal of time prefacing her own remarks with an apology for "trying not to scream" over the din of the crowd.

From a technical standpoint, a sound bite from Jim Esch was poorly edited (cutting him off in mid-sentence), and Gary Johnson's taped interview with Heineman was overmodulated.

Anchors John Knicely (who also mispronounced "Osborn") and Tracy Madden fell back on generic transitions between segments ("There are many more races to tell you about" and "All politics are local") and spent too much time reading information that was already scrolling at the bottom of the screen. Knicely also incorrectly referred to Esch as a "29-year-old" (he's 30).

From the Laptop: KMTV was first to hit the air (by nearly 15 minutes) with a projection of victories by Nelson and Heineman ... It was KFAB radio, not a TV station, that had the first interview with Senator-Elect Ben Nelson ... A KETV graphic during one of its cut-ins had Pete Ricketts as "Sen. Pete Ricketts" ... Due to technical limitations, The Reader was unable to adequately track coverage for KPTM (Cox Channel 10) at 9 p.m. and KXVO (Cox Channel 11) at 10 p.m. ... Though not related to its election coverage, WOWT showed a full-screen graphic of the Nebraska "N" the entire time sports anchor Merlyn Klaus was reading a story about a University of Miami football player who was shot and killed.

For those of you "media-types" keeping track:

Live Reports:
KMTV (5): Dave Roberts (Pete Ricketts), Joe Jordan (Ben Nelson), Michelle Bandur (Lee Terry), Corey Rangel (Jim Esch), static live (Dave Heineman).
WOWT (4): Brian Mastre (Nelson), Sheila Brummer (Ricketts), Rebecca Kleeman (Terry), Gary Johnson (Heineman).
KETV (9): Brandi Petersen (Ricketts), Todd Andrews (Nelson), Owen Lei (Terry), Carol Kloss (Esch), Mike DiGiacomo (Heineman), Farrah Fazal (Opponents of Initiative 423), Mike Sigmond (Stu Dornan), John Campbell (Don Kleine), Lisa Stites (Proponent of Initiative 423).

Sound on Tape:
KMTV (6):
Terry, Dornan, Kleine, Pat Loontjer (Gambling with the Good Life), Dave Nabity (For Amendment 423), Karen Kilgarin (Against Amendment 423).
WOWT (3): Esch, Kleine, Dornan.
KETV (1): Kleine.

"Look Lives":
KMTV (0).
WOWT (0).
KETV (1):
Kailyn Reid (David Hahn).

Number of Full Screen Graphics (unofficially):
1. KETV
2. WOWT
3. KMTV

In-Studio Live Reports/Guests:
KMTV:
Molli Graham (reporter).
KETV: Allen Beerman (guest analyst).
WOWT: None.

KFAB Wins One-Horse Radio Race

Boasting 50,000 watts of broadcast power, Omaha radio station KFAB (1110 AM) often refers to itself as "The Blowtorch of the Midwest."

The phrase was appropriate Tuesday as KFAB smoked what little competition there was on Election Night. The news/talk station pulled out all the stops, delivering results, expert analysis and live interviews from several campaign headquarters.

KFAB's "get" of the night was the first interview broadcast with newly-elected Senator Ben Nelson. Though Nelson was quick to acknowledge the race was not officially over, his comments to host Tom Becka amounted to a victory speech.

In addition to Becka, KFAB also had three political experts in the studio: UNO political science professor Randy Adkins, Omaha City Councilman and former Republican state chairman Chuck Sigerson and political consultant and former KETV news reporter Doug Parrott.

KFAB's live coverage from the field included reports from News Director Tom Stanton and reporters Karla James, Deanne Bright, Dave Ogden and Roger Olson, as well as some audio provided by KETV.

The station's continuous coverage finally signed off at 12:23 a.m. Wednesday.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

KETV Wins Website Coverage

If TV viewers relied upon Omaha-area news media websites to get their Election Night results, KETV.com was the clear winner in delivering timely results and live interviews that supplemented what KETV (Cox Channel 9) broadcast before its 10 p.m. newscast.

When it was not airing live coverage from several campaign headquarters, KETV.com streamed live coverage of election returns on full screen graphics. Additionally, its "breaking news" alert (at 8:29 p.m.) was first to notify web users that The Associated Press had called Nebraska's races for Senate and governor.

WOWT.com provided updated stories on the latest results, a well-formatted page for its "major race results" and direct links to the Nebraska Secretary of State, Iowa Secretary of State and Douglas County Election Commission websites.

Action3news.com, the website for KMTV, reflected the station's emphasis on its on-air product rather than online content. Site visitors clicking on an election coverage link were directed to click on the "Red, White and Blue" section of the website. From there, they were provided with links to several sites which contained election results for Nebraska and Iowa.

KPTM.com featured several updates from anchors Tracy Jacim and Tyler Wilson, including one taped just minutes before the start of the station's 9 p.m. newscast. The site's "You Decide" page provided a colorful interface to several election results. However, several of those links did not always feature results.

Election Night Website Grades:

KETV - A
WOWT - B
KPTM - C+
KMTV - C
KXVO - Not graded

KMTV's Election Ticker Is The Early Winner

"It's the kind of coverage you have come to expect here on Channel Six," said WOWT (Cox Channel 8) anchor Tracy Madden during the station's 6 p.m. newscast.

If early indications hold true, that will certainly not be the case.

On an Election Day that KMTV (Cox Channel 5) finally decided to include raw vote totals as well as percentages, WOWT dropped its percentages and switched to a graphic with a font size so small, race categories were nearly unreadable.

The first returns appeared shortly after 8 p.m. as lower-screen graphics and reflected only six percent of the total number of ballots.

KMTV's graphics not only included raw numbers and percentages, but they also reflected the number of ballots that had been counted - something WOWT and KETV (Cox Channel 9) did not. What KMTV did lack, however, was information for several of the "minor" races (Papio NRD, MUD Board, etc.), though it added more results of other races as the night wore on.

KMTV, KETV and WOWT all wisely listed summary phrases (i.e. "to remind voters of the issues on special issues ticket items, initiatives and referendums.

Because of technical limitations, KPTM (Cox Channel 10) could not utilize its election results ticker on a continuous basis.

The Associated Press -- using information gathered in exit polls and early returns -- declared Ben Nelson and Dave Heineman winners in the U.S. Senate and Nebraska governor races, respectively, before 8:30 p.m.

Election Night "Ticker" Grades:

KMTV - A
KETV - B
WOWT - C
KPTM - C
KXVO - No ticker

KETV.com Will Stream Live Election Reports

KETV Election Coverage banner, courtesy of KETV.comKETV (Cox Channel 9) will stream live reports from 14 locations on its website, KETV.com, beginning tonight at 8.

KETV is also assuring viewers that the ABC hit show "Dancing With the Stars" will air in its entirety tonight, despite election coverage. The network is allowing affiliates to have the first two minutes of the show at 8 p.m. to update poll closings and deliver early returns.

Time For Another Scooter's Story

Scooter's CoffeeWhat kind of dirt does Scooter's Coffee owner Don Eckles have on the Omaha World-Herald?

How else do you explain five front-of-the-World-Herald-Business section feature stories on the local coffee company in the past four years? (And that does not count the other half-dozen stories about coffee in the Living and Business sections since 2002 which prominently mention Scooter's.) Even one of Omaha's most successful, home-grown businesses, the Nebraska Furniture Mart, hasn't been afforded the same privilege.

The most recent of the Scooter's stories appears in today's edition of the World-Herald. For those of you keeping track:

Nov. 7, 2006 (432 words):
"Serving up a hot cup of success"

Aug. 24, 2005 (536 words):
"Scooter's gets new look with newest store"

Oct. 2, 2004 (569 words):
"Scooter's has found recipe for success"

March 11, 2004 (698 words):
"72nd & Dodge: joe to go, go, go, go, go"

Nov. 27, 2002 (1,013 words):
"Omaha company isn't afraid of the giant; Scooter's brews regional java"

Take consolation in the fact that the articles are getting smaller...

UNO Students Will Offer Live Election Coverage

The Omaha News screen shot, courtesy of avalon.unomaha.edu/wwwcomm/news/newscast.htmlThe professional journalists in Omaha covering today's election will have some company.

The Omaha News, a group of broadcasting students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, will be reporting from select campaign headquarters, deliver results, broadcast live interviews and speeches from candidates, as well as provide analysis of some races.

(Click here to view the election recap program, which aired the following afternoon.)

Dr. Jeremy Lipschultz, director of the UNO School of Communication, said Omaha News staffers have been covering the key races in the weeks leading up to the election.

"For the first time, tonight we will have a live shot from out in the field as part of the two hour broadcast." Lipschultz said.

Dr. Chris Allen will serve as the program's executive producer and students in Dr. Michael Hilt's broadcast journalism class will provide news packages for the show.

Lipschultz said the newscast was developed as the capstone experience for Broadcast News majors in the School of Communication at UNO.

The program also has a website for New Media majors, which puts students' work on display.

"In 2004, our journalism majors operated a news blog that offered area high school students the opportunity to work with UNO students covering the election," Lipschultz said. "We plan to do this again in 2008."

Advertising Industry Icons Will Be Inducted
Into Omaha Federation of Advertising Hall of Fame

The founders of the Bozell & Jacobs advertising and public relations agency, along with the founders of the Omaha Ad Club and the first woman Ad Club member and president are the inaugural honorees in the Legends of Advertising Hall of Fame.

Leo Bozell, Morris Jacobs, Charles Black, Bob Manly, Jack Weaver and Helen Moeller will be inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously at the organization's Centennial GALA celebration Nov. 18 at the Hilton Hotel. The Hall honors men and women who have best served the cause of advertising in Omaha.

The Story Behind Bozell & Jacobs
Former newspapermen Leo Bozell, an editor of the Omaha Daily News and Morris Jacobs, a police reporter for the Omaha Bee-News, first moonlighted to create advertising for the Nebraska Power Co. before leaving their newspaper careers to found of one of the country's most successful advertising agencies, Bozell & Jacobs. Their storied careers include the creation of advertising and public relations campaigns for Boys Town, Mutual of Omaha and the Union Pacific Railroad.

Manley, Weaver and Black were chosen for their role in the famous "rainstorm brainstorm" of 1906 that signaled the unofficial beginning of the Omaha Ad Club, today known as the Omaha Federation of Advertising.

According to Omaha advertising history, Bob Manley of J.L. Brandeis & Sons, Jack Weaver from the Bee Publishing Company and Charles Black, owner of Black the Hatter, had the idea to start an ad club during a thunderstorm that stranded them under an awning of the old Boston (Brandeis) Store.

Each man served as president of the Ad Club and in various capacities on the boards and executive committees. Black was the first president of the Ad Club and served two terms from 1906-1908. He was active in the community and served on the Ak-Sar-Ben Board of Governors and was the 19th King of Ak-Sar-Ben. Manley was president in 1909. Weaver began his newspaper career in Peoria and Quincy, Illinois, until 1887 when he came to Omaha and worked with the Herald (now the Omaha World-Herald). He worked for the Omaha Bee until he resigned that position in 1911 to become secretary of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben.

Moeller Created 'Meet the Pros' Event
Moeller was the first woman to join the Omaha Ad Club in 1948 and the first female president of the club in 1962. She was vice president and account executive for Allen & Reynolds, the early agency predecessor to SKAR. She retired from the firm in 1981 after 36 years in the industry. The Omaha Federation of Advertising's "Meet the Pros" event was her brainchild. She also served as co-chairperson for the Ninth District Ad Federation Convention in Omaha. At the time of her presidency there were only six other women in the Ad Club. She received national attention and recognition from her peers when she appeared before the FCC to provide testimony for the network trials of the mid 60's.

The Legends of Advertising Hall of Fame inductees were announced by former advertising executive Ron Kaplan, who chaired the committee that selected the inductees from nominations made by members of the advertising and public relations industry and general public.

"The history of professional advertising in the greater Omaha area certainly deserves recognition," Kaplan said. "We set the bar high with this first class of LEGENDS because we want to recognize and honor those in our ad community who have contributed so much to our profession. These inductees and those we will add each year have proven time and time again that great advertising doesn't have to originate in New York or Los Angeles."

Gala Event is Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.The Nov. 18 event will also feature a video tribute to "100 Years. 100 Moments," and announce the Top 10 Advertising moments in the city's history, as selected by an industry vote. The gala will be hosted by Clear Channel's Jim Kalal, with music by Pam & the Pearls. It is open to the public. Tickets are $100 per person, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the OFA's Scholarship Program and Public Service Campaign. For ticket information call Teri Hamburger at 402-56-6625 or visit www.ofa100.com.

Location, Location, Location

Omaha.com screenshotThe attention to detail normally shown by the Omaha World-Herald wasn't as evident in a story published in Monday's afternoon edition of the newspaper.

The story written by Tom Shaw detailed new details in the fatal shooting of a couple in Carter Lake. But the headline of the story (above) reads, "Documents offer some details in fatal Council Bluffs shooting"

Monday, November 06, 2006

Don't Confuse This Jeff With That One

JeffThe clever Leavenworth Street blog recently featured WOWT (Cox Channel 8) meteorologist Jeff Jensen in one of its "separated at birth" comparisons.

Jensen (far right) was compared with First Congressional district incumbent Jeff Fortenberry, who is running against Maxine Moul of Lincoln.

'This is Nebraska' Debuts This Weekend

This is Nebraska"This Is Nebraska," a locally-produced program that takes viewers on a tour of the state of Nebraska every week, debuts this weekend in four markets.

The driving force behind the new show is Barry Kriha, a former television reporter and producer who has worked at KHGI (Kearney), KOLN/KGIN (Lincoln) and KMTV, WOWT and KETV (Omaha). He has spent more than a year planning and creating the program which promises "to show the people, places and events that make this a great state."

"Each show will have three to five stories which will be in longer format than you see on local TV newscasts," Kriha said. "Each episode will have stories from throughout the state, not just one area."

The show will be broadcast every weekend, with a new version each month. In Omaha, TiN will be seen on Sundays at 5:30 a.m. on KETV. It will air on KLKN in Lincoln at 6:30 a.m. on Sundays. In addition to Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux City and Kearney, Kriha said he hopes to add a broadcast schedule in Scottsbluff as well.

Balloon StoryAmong the stories scheduled to air as part of the first episode are features on Chimney Rock, the McCook Balloon Fest and the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, whose roster includes several Nebraskans.

If the program's website is any indication, the show promises to be a top notch production. Its website includes a variety of information related to the show and the state of Nebraska, including a page listing the top golf courses, trails, "corn counties" and enrollment of in-state schools. It also invites visitors to cast their vote for what they think is Nebraska's top attraction.

"For each story you see in the show, there will also be a text version with a shorter video version on the website," Kriha said. "There will also be some web-only stories as time goes on."

Kriha said ideas for future stories can be mailed to him at barry(at)thisisnebraska.com.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Catholic Voice Gets New Website

Catholic
The Catholic Voice newspaper has a new website with an updated look that includes advertising.

The new site is located at catholicvoiceomaha.com, replacing tcvomaha.com.

Executive Editor Charlie Weiser said new features of the site include a direct newsfeed from Catholic News Service, the capability of local news updates and the addition of an obituary page.

"With the continually updated funeral notice information, Catholic Voice Online can be another source for information about Catholic funerals and burials," Weiser said.

Weiser said the new online "Local Briefs" section will include items that were not able to be included in the print edition because of space limitations or print deadlines.

A reader poll will also be offered on a regular basis, he said.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Another Point of View: Nebraska vs. Missouri

Photo by Eric FrancisSince the Omaha World-Herald ditched its commentary on televised Nebraska football games after just one week, here are some observations on the broadcast coverage of Saturday's 34-20 win over Missouri.

KETV 4, Cox 0: Saturday's game was the fourth time this season that a Nebraska football game televised by ABC Sports has not been available in high definition to subscribers of Cox digital cable.

Do Your Homework Next Time: ABC play-by-play man Gary Thorne mispronounced the names of both Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne during an Aflac insurance trivia question.

Dreaded Glitch Award: ABC was still in a commercial during a second quarter kickoff return by Missouri. Viewers were returned in time to see the tackle being made.

Which No. 89 was it?:Thorne confused Hunter Teafatiller for the other No. 89 on the Nebraska football team (Kevin Luhrs), during Teafatiller's second-quarter touchdown catch. Luhrs, who is a defensive lineman out of Creighton Prep, was one of 27 players wearing duplicate numbers for the Huskers Saturday.

Best Behind the Scenes Moment: ABC's cameras caught Maurice Purify playing rock-paper-scissors on the sidelines with freshman wide receiver Menelik Holt.

Strongest Comments: ABC analyst Andre Ware disagreed with Bill Callahan's decision to call a pass on second-and-nine pass with seven minutes remaining in the game. The pass to Maurice Purify fell incomplete and on the next play, running back Brandon Jackson was hit for a loss, forcing the Huskers to punt. "If you're going to run the clock down, run the football," Ware said. "If Nebraska loses, that drive is on the shoulders of Bill Callahan."

(Radio) Comment of the Game from Jim Rose: "My biology class was louder than this," Rose said of the crowd noise in Memorial Stadium during the first quarter.

Shameless Plug Award: Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers made an appearance in the broadcast booth to plug his new book (the title of which will not be mentioned here).

Friday, November 03, 2006

Don't Count on KMTV When It Comes
To Delivering Breaking Sports News

No one should mistake KMTV's promise of delivering "Breaking News" for reality when it comes to sports.

Case in point: Friday's 10 p.m. newscast on "Action 3 News."

With Millard North and Lincoln Southwest deadlocked at 45-45 heading into a state playoff record fifth overtime, sports reporter Matt Siegel reported live from the site of the game, Buell Stadium. The outcome was still hanging in the balance when Seigel joked that he was glad he got paid by the hour, then tossed back to Sports Director Travis Justice for more highlights and scores.

Following a commercial break and a brief weather update, KMTV news anchor Greg Peterson used the final seconds of the broadcast to report that Millard North had won the game in a sixth overtime, 51-45.

Meanwhile, competitors WOWT (Cox Channel 8) and KETV (Cox Channel 9) provided viewers with live reports of the stirring finish.

On WOWT, veteran sports reporter Ross Jernstrom turned into a play-by-play announcer, calling the action as the game's final two plays transpired.

KETV returned from its commercial break with live coverage in time to show Millard North's racous celebration, followed by sports reporter Matt Schick's update of the final score.

Brew Bloggin' With Mookie

Mookie, courtesy of 961thebrew.com"Mookie" of "The Morning Brew" on KQBW (96.1 FM) is the latest radio personality to take up blogging.

His entries on the "Mookie and Michelle" section of The Morning Brew website range from the somewhat outrageous ("Halloween Costume Ideas") to the outlandishly outrageous ("Ooooh, That Smell!").

A particularly good read is his running diary for the Def Leppard and Journey concert. A sample:

7:30: SHOWTIME! Journey emerges from the darkness, as Neal Schon begins to wail away on his axe. Damn, he still looks young! He's gotta be drinkin' that Dick Clark Kool-Aid. He hasn't aged since the "Separate Ways" video in '83. He kinda looks like Springsteen, before the divorce took its toll on him. His solo morphs into the Star-Spangled Banner, much to our delight. Oh yeah - he knows he's in a red-state. We likes that there patriotic stuff...ya, you betcha.

7:39: Here comes Steve Perry 3.0...Hey, isn't he Justin Guarini from American Idol Season One? Nice to see that kid has found some work. He opens his mouth to sing...and...DAMN! He DOES sound just like Perry 1.0! Awesomeness! What's that gotta be like, by the way? You wake up one morning, you're singing in the shower, and suddenly you realize, "HEY! I SOUND JUST LIKE STEVE PERRY! I sure hope Steve and the band fight and break up, so I can become the new lead singer of Journey!" Do ya start scanning Rolling Stone magazine and the various music industry trades every day, looking for that very headline?

8:37: Here's the moment we've been waiting for..."Faithfully," EASILY the greatest love song of all time. The fact that keyboardist Jonathan Cain wrote the song for his wife only adds to how special this song is. The fact that he divorced said wife a few years later is irrelevant. Really. It doesn't matter. Drop it.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

November Nielsen Ratings Period Begins Today

Nielsen Media Research logoThe November Nielsen Media Research ratings period, generally regarded as the second-most important "sweeps" month (after May), begins today and runs through Nov. 29.

Here is a snapshot look at Omaha's four TV news operations and the challenges they face heading into the book:

KXVO (Cox Channel 11): In an interview published in The Reader last week, "KXVO 15 10:00 News" host Matt Geier hoped "buzz" about the program would translate into ratings. An improved network affiliate relationship (The CW instead of the now-defunct WB) should help.

KPTM (Cox Channel 10): The departure of News Director Allen Beckner in the middle of sweeps will make it all the more difficult for the "Nine O'Clock News" to improve on its respectable performance in the Nov. 2005 book.

KMTV (Cox Channel 5): The challenge for "Action 3 News" will be to pull closer to its competitors at 6 p.m. (when "Insider" was broadcast a year ago) and the all-important 10 p.m. time slot. The underlying issue is how much patience Journal Broadcast Group has to stick with its current line-up of front-line talent, which has been on the desk together since January of 2002 (as ratings have remained well behind WOWT and KETV).

KETV (Cox Channel 9): The ABC affiliate rides a wave of momentum into this book, with network prime-time programming finished first among viewers ages 18 to 49 for the fifth time in six weeks. KETV has also received plenty of (not-all-of-it-positive) publicity regarding its tangle with Cox Communications over re-transmission of its HD signal. We know viewers tune in for Nebraska football games. But will they stay tuned in for the news?

WOWT (Cox Channel 8): The station continues to advertise itself as "The Heartland's Most Watched Newscast" with no clarification of whether that pertains to household or demographic (adults 18-49) ratings. The fact is, in November of 2005, WOWT and KETV were in a dead heat in both categories at 5 and 6 p.m. Is this the book that the NBC affiliate finally gains ground on KETV in the early-evening news time slots?

eDiary Might Increase Ratings Response Rate

Arbitron ratings logoArbitron, which provides radio ratings for markets around the country, will introduce an electronic version of its paper diary, called the eDiary, beginning with its Winter 2007 survey.

Participants will have the option to record their listening using the Internet-based electronic diary, which could help Arbitron increase its response rates among younger, harder-to-recruit consumers.

In previous tests, Arbitron found that one out of 20 survey participants will choose the electronic diary and that those participants are more likely to be younger, between the age of 25 and 34. Comparably, the largest demographic group of paper diary keepers is between the age of 45 and 54.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

KEZO Syndication Adds Stations
In Wichita, Kan., and Springfield, Mo.

How will Omaha's most popular morning radio duo get its new listening audience up to speed when KEZO (92.3 FM) begins syndicating the "Todd & Tyler" show?

"When we first came on the air 13 years ago, we asked our listeners what they wanted to know about us," said co-host Mike Tyler. "As we re-establish this to a new audience, hopefully our Omaha audience will play a big role in that. They'll help the new listeners figure out that Todd (Brandt) is this type of guy, that Craig (Evans) is like this and that Jeremy (Campbell) is gay."

That response was typical of the free-wheeling, we-don't-give-a-damn attitude the show takes on each morning from 5 to 10 a.m. It's a formula that has made "T-n-T" No. 1 among adults in the Omaha-Council Bluffs Arbitron ratings since the summer of 1996.

The program has flourished while evolving from a format that initially relied on scripted bits to a cast of running "characters" (regulars who phoned the show) to an unscripted, roundtable discussion that sounds more like lockerroom or water cooler talk than a morning radio show.

Show's Content Will Change Slightly
T-95Tom Land, Director of Radio Programming for the Journal Broadcast Group, said syndication will not change the core content of the show. However, some minor tweaking will be needed to accommodate new listeners on Journal-owned stations KRZQ (106.7 FM) in Springfield, Mo., beginning Monday, and KICT (95.1 FM) in Wichita, Kan., beginning Nov. 13.

Gone will be the duo's regular bashing of the Nebraska football program - to be replaced by talk of Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference sports, as well as the NFL.

"We're going to cut back on hammering them (Husker fans) because people in other cities don't care," Tyler said.

KRZQThe switch to more generic, national topics was already evident last week when the pair discussed Rush Limbaugh's controversial remarks regarding Michael J. Fox, the topic of gay marriage and stem cell research and Mark Foley's rehabilitation.

Several people posting to the "Todd & Tyler Unauthorized" message board www.tntu.net speculate the change will water down the show, making it "sound like every other syndicated morning show."

Land disagrees.

"These guys are news and pop culture junkies," he said. "From politics, to sports to entertainment, men's health with Doctor Ed (Dominguez) and relationships, listeners in Omaha have learned to tune to Todd and Tyler for a unique, amusing and entertaining take on what is going on locally, nationally and even on the world level."

Syndication Was In The Works For Some Time
Land said Evans, who reads news on the program, and sports director Travis Justice will remain integral parts of the show. New to the "Todd and Tyler Radio Empire" (as the syndication is being dubbed) will be interviews with more "A-List" celebrities, who Land said typically reserve their time for radio stations in the top 20 or 30 markets. Omaha is the 72nd largest radio market in the country, Wichita is No. 95 and Springfield is listed as 145th.

"The syndication gives us the ability to go to some agents with stars on the pop culture side or television or movie industries who would not normally do an interview on Omaha radio," he said.

Land would not disclose how much a station pays to carry T-n-T. However, he said the decision to syndicate the show was not "done overnight" and he did not rule out adding even more stations to the "Empire."

"We've been discussing syndication for a couple years and some other markets and even non-Journal stations had expressed interest," he said. "But we weren't ready from an infrastructure standpoint. What we don't want to lose is the local impact of the show. For the past 13 years, they've gathered this tremendous fan base. We've been looking for the right markets and right stations to expand to."

About the Affiliates in the 'Empire'
In Springfield, T-n-T will replace Mancow Muller, a Chicago-based syndicated program, in KRZQ's 5 to 10 a.m. slot. In Wichita, listeners on "T-95: Wichita's Pure Rock" will no longer hear the locally-produced "Phil and Hank Show."

Known as "The Ozarks' Pure Rock" station, KRZQ ranked in the bottom half of the last Arbitron ratings survey among all listeners ages 12 and older, while KICT was rated in the top half of all stations in Wichita.

KRZQ can be heard as far south as Branson, Mo. and as far west as Joplin, Mo. KICT's signal stretches about 90 miles: north to Salina, Kan. and south to Arkansas City, Kan.

In conjunction with the syndication, Journal installed four additional phone lines to handle greater call volume and launched a new website www.tntradioempire.com as this story went to press.

While syndication might take T-n-T to a higher level of visibility in the Midwest, it will not come without hard work, Brandt said. Todd and Tyler, whose compensation is rumored to be in the six figures, will not be getting a bigger paycheck, either.

"It's going to be a lot more work," Brandt said. "But that's not a negative. We're stressed, but the audience will benefit from this."