Jay Dow is about make a major career change. As we reported Monday, Dow is headed for WPIX, where the two-time Emmy Award winner will handle an array of hard news stories for the Tribune owned station, starting Monday.

His arrival at Channel 11 follows more than nine years as a WCBS/Channel 2 reporter.

“I grew up in the CBS family,” Dow tells FishbowlNY. “It was a great experience.”

Beyond that, it was a connection to his late uncle, Harold Dow, a longtime CBS News correspondent. Dow died in 2010.

“The Dow name has put in five decades of hard work at CBS,” Dow reflects.

Dow says he got where he is today, in part, from the elder Dow’s mentoring and the “trail that he blazed for myself and an entire of generation of journalists of color.”

Furthermore, Dow credits veteran WCBS reporters Pablo Guzman and John Slattery, and Byron Pitts and Randall Pinkston on the network side as influences.

“Because of all of these people, and the time that I’ve spent with them, I’m a better journalist for it,” Dow admits.  

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One of the last remnants of the pre-Bill Carey regime, veteran newsman Peter Thorne is leaving Channel 11.

The station released a terse two-sentence statement saying in part that Thorne is leaving effective December 31, to “pursue emerging opportunities in broadcast journalism, new media, and charitable works.”

Thorne spent ten years with WPIX as an anchor and reporter. When Jodi Applegate took over the weeknight 10 p.m. newscasts in October 2010, the WPIX shuffle was on. Carey, who joined the Tribune-owned station in November 2009 as news director, shifted weekend anchors Thorne and Jackie Hyland to weeknight reporting duties. Hyland left Channel 11 in March 2011.

Jim Watkins, the station’s former main co-anchor with Kaity Tong, was relegated to weekends upon Applegate’s arrival. Carey officially severed ties with Watkins in October.

Since Watkins’ departure, Tong has assumed the role of weekend anchor.

As f0r Thorne, he won multiple awards, including a 2005 Emmy Award. He joined WPIX in September 2001, just days before the 9/11 attacks. His bio on the WPIX website says Thorne reported from Ground Zero as his first assignment with the station.

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It’s that time of the year—time for buying Christmas trees, and subsequently decorating them with all the trimmings. Our Jewish friends are digging out the menorahs, and making sure they have enough candles.

But it’s also the season for countless awards. FishbowlNY is no exception, as we present our 2^nd annual Barmash Awards, honoring the local TV news scene here in New York.

As the title indicates, there is no committee making these decisions—just one co-editor.

While our intention isn’t to specifically balance the award winners, it does show the enormous talent we have to choose from across the dial.

Best Newscast (morning)

The chemistry works perfectly between WABC/Channel 7 veterans Lori Stokes and Ken Rosato. Stokes, though, brings that special connection to morning viewers. Stokes has a warm and friendly demeanor as she virtually “wakes” up people each day. Bill Evans is one of the best TV meteorogists, only falling short in the overall category to a colleague.

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It was a powerful November sweeps period for WNYW/Channel 5. The Fox outlet, which battles Tribune-owned WPIX at 10 p.m., was the clear victor for the month, and year-to-year.

Delving into the numbers, obtained by WNYW, Ernie Anastos and Dari Alexander outdistanced Jodi Applegate‘s late newscast on Channel 11.

For November, Channel 5 had a 74-percent win in the Households (3.3 for WNYW, 1.9 for WPIX), a 78-percent advantage among total viewers (1.6, 0.9), a 73-percent lead in total Adults 18+ (1.9, 1.1), and a 78-percent bulge among Adults 25 to 54 (1.6, 0.9).

Comparing this sweeps period to November 2010, Channel 5 once again flexed its muscle.

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The Jets will be playing their second straight national TV game when they visit the Broncos in Denver on the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football.

For the dwindling viewers without cable or satellite, WPIX/Channel 11 is the over-the-air option for Jets fans.

The 8 p.m. game features NFL Network announcers Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock.

Ahead of the broadcast, WPIX offers unique programming–a 60-minute pre-game show, PIX11: Countdown to Kick-Off.

WPIX, short on a sports staff, has reporter Mario Diaz joining former Jets linebacker Chad Cascadden from the Channel 11 studios. Dyrol Joyner will be live from Denver. The pre-game show also includes Monica Morales with Fireman Ed and Jet faithful at Bowlmore Lanes in Times Square.

Additionally, the audience is invited to live tweet during the special using #PIX11Pregame for a chance to have the tweet posted on air.

Post-game reaction will take place during a late edition of PIX News at Ten with Jodi Applegate.

Anderson Cooper is leaving his New York syndication home. Cooper, the popular CNN prime time host by night, who started his much anticipated talk show by day this fall, will say goodbye to WPIX/Channel 11, and hello to WNYW/Channel 5 in September.

WPIX, which debuted a 5 p.m. newscast anchored by Jodi Applegate on the same day Anderson launched, clearly was banking on inheriting the audience from his lead-in.

“We’re big fans of Anderson, but unfortunately the show is not a good fit for the station,” a WPIX spokeperson tells FishbowlNY.

Expounding on not being the right fit for Channel 11, the spokesperson added that with the various “conflict talk shows” in the morning, it wasn’t a “good fit” for their “daytime structure.”

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WNBC anchors Tom Llamas and Shiba Russell, with NBC News legal analyst Rikki Klieman

The verdict came yesterday in the trial of Michael Jackson’s physician. Dr.Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of the King of Pop in June 2009. Murray will be sentenced November 29 and could face a sentence ranging from probation to four years behind bars.

WNBC/Channel 4 was the only local station with special coverage following the announcement. Just past 4:15 p.m., Harry Smith broke in for NBC News as the verdict was read. Within ten minutes, though, Shiba Russell and Tom Llamas picked up the torch, anchoring the station’s additional coverage, in advance of their regular five o’clock broadcast.

The tandem, helped by NBC News legal analyst Rikki Klieman, provided the running commentary of the live video outside the L.A. County Courthouse.

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The worst kept secret has finally been made official today. Veteran WPIX anchor Jim Watkins has left Channel 11 as FishbowlNY reported exclusively on September 30.

The station, in a statement, announced a parting of company with its longtime anchor, without explaining why.

“Jim Watkins and WPIX-TV have decided to end their relationship after 13 years and three Best Newscast Emmy Awards. PIX11 salutes Watkins’ years of service to the station and to the community during his time as a valued newscaster at the station.  Jim bids a fond farewell to his many PIX co-workers over the years, especially Kaity Tong.”

It’s a different tone than we reported last month, when multiple sources said Watkins was fired earlier, and he was not permitted back in the building.

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As we reported first this morning, anchor Jim Watkins has done his final broadcast on WPIX/Channel 11. Several sources with knowledge of the matter tell FishbowlNY that the longtime WPIX anchorman was fired.

WPIX management had very little to say about the situation except that Watkins “remains employed by WPIX.”

However, sources say Watkins, who became weekend anchor in 2010, is not permitted back in the building, let alone the studios.   

In addition, sources say Watkins’ former weeknight colleague Kaity Tong is handling the weekend anchor duties on a temporary basis beginning tomorrow night.

Tong has been reporting from the outer boroughs each night. She also has been a frequent fill-in for Jodi Applegate.

Veteran WPIX/Channel 11 anchor Jim Watkins has been fired from the station, FishbowlNY has learned exclusively.

Sources with knowledge of the situation say Watkins, the station’s solo weekend anchor, was abruptly terminated Tuesday by news director Bill Carey.

We’re told that Watkins is no longer permitted in the WPIX building on 42nd Street.

Watkins, who joined WPIX in 1998, was part of the long-running evening anchor tandem with Kaity Tong. However, with the arrival of Jodi Applegate in October 2010, Watkins was relegated to weekend anchor.

Before arriving at WPIX, Watkins anchored various newscasts for WNBC/Channel 4. 

There’s no word of who will replace Watkins on weekends.

Update: WPIX news director Bill Carey says Watkins “remains employed by WPIX.”