David Gustafson New Play-by-Play VoiceFor UNO Football Broadcasts

David Gustafson will be the new radio play-by-play voice for University of Nebraska at Omaha football broadcasts.

Gustafson replaces Kevin Kugler, who recently landed the main play-by-play duties for Westwood One's college football network broadcasts. Kugler will continue in his co-host role on KOZN's "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" weekday sports talk show.

Gustafson is currently the mid-day host at KZEN (100.3 FM) in Columbus and has previously called Maverick football games in Kugler's absence, as well as handling radio play-by-play duties for UNO basketball games the past two seasons. He knows Omaha well, having worked as a news anchor at KKAR (1290 AM).

"It's a great opportunity and I am looking forward to another successful year of UNO football," Gustafson said.

Who Was First?

Both KMTV (Cox Channel 5) and WOWT (Cox Channel 8) claim to have been first on the scene of the pursuit and shots fired that stemmed from the robbery of a check-cashing business.

Action 3 News reporters were first to have pictures live of where the chase ended, as well as being first to report live from the scene of the robbery. WOWT reportedly did not have its live truck on the scene until after Dave Roberts had completed his first on-air report.

WOWT's "First Reponse" team consisted of reporters Brian Mastre (who suffered from a microphone glitch on the 4 p.m. newscast) and Jaime McCutcheon.

Is Tom Bevacqua Headed Back to Omaha?

Would Tom Bevacqua consider a return to television forecasting in Omaha?

"If the circumstances were right," the former KMTV chief meteorologist said earlier this week from his home near Springfield, Mass. "I am going to be sending out some tapes to other stations pretty soon.

"My wife loves Omaha and I have a stepson who works in Omaha as a conductor for Union Pacific," he added.

Bevacqua will be available Sept. 1. He is leaving WGGB in Springfield, Mass., where he has been the chief meteorlogist for the past 11 years. It's the job he left Omaha for in September of 1993.

While at KMTV, Bevacqua was the first Omaha TV meteorologist to utilize Doppler radar. Before it was installed, Bevacqua said he visited other stations around the country to learn how it worked.

"I spent several days in Oklahoma City with KWTV chief meteorologist Gary England, whom you might remember as the weather announcer in the movie 'Twister,'" he said. "At KMTV, we used to issue a "Doppler Alert" when we thought tornadic activity was possible. I can say with all honesty, we were always on the air first when it came to severe weather."

Bevacqua said it wasn't out of the question for him to be at the studio for 24 hours during periods of bad weather. Oftentimes, he said he would buy pizza for the crew and they would "settle in."

Could Bevacqua's return trigger a ratings increase if he were to return to his former station? At the time of his departure, KMTV was a strong second to KETV at 5 and 10 p.m. and current WOWT Chief Meteorologist Jim Flowers was the chief at KETV (until 1992) and Dale Munson was the chief meteorologist at WOWT. Flowers later left for WOWT and was replaced by Bill Randby, while Bevacqua was replaced by Carey Coleman, who came from KMGH in Denver. (Coleman is not related to former "Good Morning America" meteorologist John Coleman.)

Tampa Station Airs Interviewof Alleged Assault in Omaha Hotel

Dustin Diamond, better known as the character Samuel "Screech" Powers from the 1990s TV show, "Saved by the Bell," broke the news to Tampa radio station 93.3W FLZ that he was attacked in his hotel during a recent trip to Omaha.

According to Diamond's account, a woman armed with mace broke into his hotel room. She was trying to steal some of his video games, he said, when he was able to pin her against the hotel door, prompting her to cry out "rape."

Click here to listen to audio of the interview.

Blog Offers Insight Into Busy Sports Day

KETV (Cox Channel 9) sportscaster Matt Schick writes in his on-line blog that Monday was one of his busiest days at KETV. His rundown of activities shows it's not all fun and games all the time in the sports department:

1 p.m. - Show up at work, throw together a semblance of a sportscast.
2 p.m. - Leave Omaha for Lincoln with photographer in tow.
3 p.m. - Arrive at Husker practice. Two photograhers and I (3 cameras) get video of the allotted first 20 minutes of practice... otherwise known as captivating "stretching" video.
3:20 p.m. - Leave Husker practice after getting the boot.
3:40 p.m. - Arrive at KETV capital bureau... start writing the sportscast.
3:45 p.m. - Have trouble logging onto computer... call for tech support.
3:49 p.m. - See above.
4:10 p.m. - Get a call from El Paso ABC station, wondering if we have video of Doc Sadler's arrival in Lincoln.
4:11 p.m. - Tell El Paso ABC station that I just looked outside through the capital bureau window, and could not locate Sadler. Tell El Paso ABC station that we're in football season.
4:12 p.m. - El Paso station tells me "it's only August 7th".
4:12:30 p.m. - I respond, "I recognize that. You don't understand. Nobody does."
4:12:45 p.m. - Hang up phone.
5 p.m. - Finish typing scripts and cutting some video... head back to football practice.
5:09 p.m. - Possible sighting of Doc Sadler and Steve Pederson on 10th street in Lincoln as we drive by.
5:10 p.m. - I realize it was just some guy and some other guy.
5:15 p.m. - Arrive at Husker practice, wait outside to be allowed into facility.
5:20 p.m. - Continue to wait with fellow media members.
5:25 p.m. - Tell a joke to Steve Sipple to pass the time.
5:30 p.m. - Sipple finally gets the joke.
5:50 p.m. - Finally let into Husker practice.
5:56 p.m. - Bill Callahan address the media.
6:02 p.m. - Make a mad-dash with photographer Mike to KETV satellite truck.
6:04 p.m. - Take a puff on my inhaler.
6:05 p.m. - Edit material for 6PM newscast with Mike.
6:10 p.m. - Go outside of satellite truck to get in front of camera.
6:13 p.m. - Do a microphone check.
6:18 p.m. - Do live report from outside North Stadium. Stumble over 7 words pouring out of my mouth.
6:21 p.m. - Complete live-shot.
6:35 p.m. - Get in truck and head to Cracker Barrel.
6:45 p.m. - Arrive at Cracker Barrel.
6:50 p.m. - Order food at Cracker Barrel.
7:10 p.m. - Eat food.
7:25 p.m. - Feel bloated.
7:30 p.m. - Get in truck and head back to KETV homebase.
8:15 p.m. - Arrive at KETV, start writing 10PM newscast.
8:30 p.m. - Call ABC headquarters and ask for video of Doc Sadler.
8:31 p.m. - Explain to ABC headquarters who Doc Sadler is.
9:20 p.m. - Start editting Harrison Beck story.
9:45 p.m. - Finish editting story, put on make-up.
10:02 p.m. - Do live report from sports office about Doc Sadler and Harrison Beck. Promise more later.
10:20 p.m. - Deliver on promise.
10:45 p.m. - Get off the set, and cry.
11:15 p.m. - Head home.
11:40 p.m. - Go jogging in my neighborhood in West O.
12:20 a.m. - Start blogging about my day.

Journal-Star Reporter Defends Quotes in Story

Some posters to Nebraska football-related message boards are partially blaming quarterback Harrison Beck's departure from the Huskers on comments made by Beck's mother that were published by Lincoln Journal-Star reporter Steve Sipple.

Sipple responded with a posting of his own on the Journal-Star's Nebraska-football related blog, Life in the Red:

1. Harrison's mother, in our Saturday interview for Sunday's story, never once indicated she wanted to go "off the record" and never once said she didn't want anything printed.

2. It also should be made clear that I didn't print everything she said -- not even close -- nor did I have to coax her to talk.

What we tried to do with the article was use the quotes that best summed up why Harrison wasn't at practice and ones that showed the degree of the mom's (and perhaps Harrison's) frustration.

His stepfather didn't wish to be quoted and wasn't.

Of course, I understand if not everyone agrees on this matter.

From the Hiring Line: Positions at KOLN/KGIN

KOLN/KGIN (Lincoln) is looking to fill two key positions in its newsroom. The CBS-affiliate is advertising for a news producer and an assignment editor.

From the station's job description for the producer, he/she will be charged with producing newscasts/specials as assigned either at the station or in the field, working with anchors and supervisors in determining content, coverage strategies and presentation strategies, supervising the news staff associated with the gathering and presentation of the news product, editing videotape, updating the station's website and performing news duties as assigned for UPN Nebraska and other media outlets

The assignment editor is responsibile for determining and assigning stories for daily coverage, maintaining a comprehensive and organized filing system for news stories, monitoring police scanners, assigning stories, equipment and work partnerships, directing personnel in approaches and techniques for coverage, assisting with updates to the website and assisting the news director in various tasks.

For more information, including qualifications and experience requirements, visit KOLN/KGIN's available jobs website, or contact KOLN/KGIN Newsroom Manager Brad Penner at (402) 467-9215.

Kugler Lands National Play-By-Play Job

KOZN (1620 AM) afternoon sports talk show host Kevin Kugler will soon be heard as the voice of NCAA college football broadcasts on the Westwood One Radio Network.

Kugler begins the season with the Virginia-Pittsburgh game Sept 2. He will be paired with Westwood One color commentator Terry Bowden.

Westwood One's broadcast schedule includes 14 regular season games, the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Dec. 30, and the Hula Bowl in Honolulu on Jan. 28. The Kugler-Bowden team will also do the national broadcast of the Texas-Nebraska game in Lincoln on Oct. 21.

A press release issued by KOZN says Kugler will continue to co-host the daily "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" afternoon show on 1620 The Zone, with Mike'l Severe. Kugler has been on the program since its inception in 2000. He has been named the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year for three consecutive years by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Brew Fest Looks To Make Major Splash

KEZO's "Z Bash" may be on hiatus this summer, but the station's main competitor isn't backing down from promoting a similar concert event of its own.

KQBW'S "Brew Fest" is Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Westfair Amphitheater in Council Bluffs. The line-up includes:

- Dennis DeYoung, The Music of Styx
- Lou Gramm, Lead singer of Foreigner
- Warrant
- Blue Oyster Cult
- Starship, featuring Mickey Thomas
- Brian Howe, former Bad Company lead singer
- Firehouse

KQBW (96.1 FM) program director Michelle Matthews said Brew Fest plugs a hole created by the Qwest Center's inability to host shows during its seat addition renovation.

"So the idea that we could bring seven bands in, at a $28 ticket price in the middle of this, has been really thrilling," Matthews said. "The lineup is a great reflection of the variety on the station, and from several genres - from classic rock to hair."

Matthews also said it has been refreshingly easy to preview each act on the morning show she co-hosts with "Mookie" from 5:30 to 10 a.m.

"We've been interviewing all of the artists, and we're thinking Dennis DeYoung and Brian Howe could do a half concert/half stand-up routine," she said. "We're pretty excited, because in an age of new music acts that have posses and entourages, this is a group of really down to earth, really cool musicians that truly see this as an opportunity to spend time with their fans. It's going to be a special day."

Tickets are $28 in advance (includes parking) or $38 the day of the show. Children 10 and under are free. For more information, visit the Brew website.

Spotted at the 19th Hole

Adam Froemming (far right) of KMTV's "Fame and Fortune" was one of a number of TV personalities spotted Wednesday night at the Michelob Ultra 19th Hole at Champions Run.

The Michelob Ultra 19th Hole, held in conjunction with the Omaha Cox Classic golf tournament, is reknown as one of Omaha's most popular and anticipated four-day party.

Seen on opening night (no cover charge) in the tent at the Champions Club were KMTV (Cox Channel 5) evening news anchor Greg Peterson and KPTM (Cox Channel 10) reporter Calvert Collins (both KPTM and KXVO did live shots for their newscasts), as well as Mayor Mike Fahey.

Peterson played the mouth harp with the Fishheads on a couple of numbers and introduced himiself as Ron Burgundy (of "Anchorman" fame).

Nelson Campaign Cries Foul Over TV Ads

The news media is not doing enough to police the accuracy of television advertisements produced by the Pete Ricketts campaign for U.S. Senate.

So says Marcia Cady, communications manager for Ben Nelson, the state's Democratic and incumbent challenger.

"Our opponent, Pete Ricketts, has produced at least three television political ads that contain fabricated headlines and quotes - sometimes attributed to legitimate news sources or government agencies and sometimes just formatted to look like newspaper copy - to deliberately mislead voters about Senator Nelson," Cady said.

The ads in question are:

A commercial titled: "6/29/06": In it, Ricketts makes the claim that Ben Nelson told "straight out lies." The words in quotes are attributed to "news reports," possibly leading viewers to believe that they originated in legitimate news analysis or editorials about Nelson, Cady said. However, the actual quote is from a 1996 statement by then-GOP candidate Chuck Hagel.

In a commercial regarding Nelson's record on property taxes as governor, the voiceover uses the phrase, "Ben Nelson broke his promise" and attributes it to the Nebraska Department of Revenue. However, according to Cady, this phrase has never appeared in any documents by that agency.

In a commercial titled, "New Low," Ricketts uses the words "Ben Nelson's Attacking Pete Ricketts" and "Ben Nelson is Still Attacking Pete Ricketts," attributing these phrases to the Lincoln Journal-Star and Omaha World-Herald newspapers, respectively. However, neither paper used those phrases either as headlines or in an article.

"They are complete fabrications," Cady said of the headlines.

In at least one case, complaints by the World-Herald to the Ricketts campaign resulted in a commercial being pulled.

Ricketts' Campaign Manager, Jessica Moenning, said the Nelson camp's call of attention to the advertisements is just "more politics as usual" and is intended to be a diversionary tactic.

"(It is) turning attention away from the fact that he attacked Pete Ricketts on challenging his property valuation and didn't bother to come clean that he had done the same thing four times," Moenning said.

"Ben Nelson has spent the first two months of this campaign misrepresenting Pete Ricketts' positions and benefiting from ads paid for the National Democrat Party he pretends not to be a part of," Moenning said.

"Now he has to answer for his record on increasing property valuations as governor, costing Nebraska taxpayers $145 million because of his 'bad faith,' and hiding the fact that he had challenged his own property valuations four times. This is just a desperate attempt to change the focus from his own deception and dishonesty."

Cady, who has extensive journalistic experience - including a stint as assistant news director at WOWT - said it is the media's duty to act as a watchdog and point out inaccuracies when they occur.

"We believe the media must be vigilant in its public duty so the level of political discourse in this state remains balanced," she said.

Senate Debate Highlights NAB Convention

The featured event of this year's Nebraska Broadcasters Association Annual Convention is expected to be a debate between Nebraska U.S. Senate candidates Ben Nelson (D) and Pete Ricketts (R).

The two-day convention begins Aug. 10 at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. According to the schedule of events, the debate will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on Aug. 11. Moderating the debate will be Rick Alloway, Assistant Professor in the UNL School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and general manager of KRNU, the UNL campus radio station.

Panelists who will pose questions to the candidates include Brian Barks (KKAR-Omaha), Randy Lube (KOLN/KGIN-Lincoln), Dennis Kellogg (KHAS-Hastings) and Frank Snyder (KRVN-Lexington).

NET television will provide live coverage to radio and television stations across Nebraska. NET 2 and NET radio will also broadcast live coverage. A taped version will air Saturday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. on NET1, and will also be webcast live on NET's Website (www.netNEbraska.org.)

Eight additional NBA member television stations and 28 member radio stations have also committed to air the debate live or on a tape-delayed basis, including KETV, KPTM and WOWT, Omaha; KLKN, Lincoln: KOLN-KGIN, Lincoln-Grand Island; KHAS TV, Hastings; KHGI, Kearney; and KNOP, North Platte.

Kailyn Reid Retuns to Fill In At KETV

Omaha native Kailyn Reid is back working at KETV (Cox Channel 9), filling in as a reporter while the station searches for a replacement for Tom Elser.

Reid is a May 2005 graduate of Drake University who worked at KHBS/KHOG in Fort Smith, Ark., before returning to Omaha this summer to get married. She previously interned and worked part-time at KETV during breaks in her school schedule at Drake.

The Millard West High School graduate is also a past Radio Television News Directors Foundation scholar and winner of two William Randolph Hearst Foundation scholarships.

Meuret Lands Job At Borsheim's

Former KETV (Cox Channel 9) reporter Trisha Meuret is now working as Public Relations and Communications Specialist at Borsheim's Fine Jewelry.

Meuret most recently served as Communications Director for Omaha businessman Pete Ricketts' campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

At Borsheim's, she will be designing and executing internal and external communications plans. The position at the company's Omaha headquarters is newly-created, she said.

"It is pretty similiar to the work I was doing on the campaign, only on much a different timeline," she said.

Meuret said she is grateful for the oppportunity she had to work in politics, albeit for only a short time.

"I learned so much there," she said. "I don't have any regrets about it."

Meuret worked at KETV from January of 2001 until last November. She previously worked at Lincoln TV stations KOLN/KGIN and KLKN.

Borsheim's is the largest independent jewelry store in America, offering items from $20 to $2 million. The company employs more than 350 people and serves customers in 50 states and five continents.

Trev Alberts Hired by CSTV

Former University of Nebraska-Lincoln All-American linebacker Trev Alberts has been hired by CSTV as a college football analyst.

Albert will team with play-by-play man Tom Hart. Another former collegiate star, Florida State quarterback Chris Rix, will serve as analyst in games called by play-by-play man Jonathan Coachman.

Alberts spent three years at ESPN as a part of its College Football Scoreboard and College Football Gameday shows. He was terminated for not showing up to work last September, according to The Associated Press.

In addition to his role as analyst, Alberts will also be a regular contributor to CSTV's weekly studio program, "Crystal Ball."