All the channels broke in this morning for extended coverage of Pope Benedict’s farewell. However, the stations were all taking network special reports. Not so at WPIX/Channel 11.

WPIX, which could have provided the “counterprogramming” by keeping Jerry Springer on the air, made a good choice. Channel 11, recognizing the historic nature of the pope’s resignation (first time is almost 600 years), had its own coverage.

Morning anchors Sukanya Krishnan and Frances Rivera led the special programming. They were joined on the couch by reporters Mary Murphy and Dan Mannarino, both of whom are headed to Rome for the Conclave of Cardinals next week to select the next pope.

• Related: FishbowlNY, Reporters Converge on Vatican City for Election of New Pope

Krishnan did make a faux pas as they came on the air just before 11 a.m. She said the pope was set to leave the Vatican at 5 p.m. Italian time and “11 p.m. our time.”  Seconds later, the graphic on the screen made the correction.

Rivera also had hands in the blooper jar by saying, “Certainly, a monumentous day here. Historical day, unprecendented.”

Adding insight to the proceedings was Monsignor Kieran Harrington of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Looking to add to their totals: WCBS colleagues Lonnie Quinn and Chris Wragge show off Emmy gold at 2012 event

Award season is in full swing! It culminates with the Oscars later this month. But not so fast. The New York Emmy Awards announced its nominations today.

MSG Network leads the pack with 67 nominations. WNBC has the most among over-the-air outlets with 58 nominations.

There are dozens of award categories and here’s a brief rundown…

WCBS’ Chris Wragge, a multiple winner, has been nominated for Best Evening Newscast (under 35 minutes). He was tapped for anchoring the East River helicopter crash in October, 2011. He also received three other nominations, including coverage of a sportscast/series for the Giants Road to Super Bowl 46. He is also a nominee for the prestigious Best Anchor.

Among those joining Wragge in that category are WABC weekend morning anchor Phil Lipof, Tom Llamas of WNBC, and Sukanya Krishnan from WPIX.

Veteran WNBC anchor Chuck Scarborough is in the running for the News Special category, hosting a 9/11 10th anniversary broadcast.

• Related: FishbowlNY, Scarborough, Ritter, and Anastos Relive Memories of 9/11

Scarborough’s new nighttime partner, Shiba Russell got a couple of nominations for her 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. anchoring.

Read more

The chestnuts are roasting, the yule log is burning, and it’s another shot at those weighty new year’s resolutions. It’s also the season for the Barmash Awards. The third annual examination of the best TV news personalities in New York.

We begin with the Best Morning Newscast.

Everyone is chasing WABC. The veteran team of Lori Stokes and Ken Rosato, the epitome of morning anchors, along with senior meteorologist Bill Evans are a great combination of talent and chemistry.

Best Sports Anchor—The local Emmy Awards can’t be wrong year after year. Bruce Beck is the most popular sports anchor in New York. Although entertaining, like his predecessor Len Berman, Beck is more nuts and bolts. And it works effortlessly.

Best Weather Anchor–Although Evans and Lee Goldberg at WABC hold their own, this is Lonnie Quinn‘s year. The weatherman shined with his, seemingly, non-stop Sandy coverage. Quinn finds a way to entertain and inform, and especially with severe storms, He understands his role perfectly, never causing a panic.

Special Superstorm Sandy Achievement: WPIX

Everyone worked hard to provide Sandy coverage. But Channel 11 took it further. The PIX Morning News did three remotes from areas devastated by the storm. Sukanya Krishnan, Frances Rivera, and Tamsen Fadel took viewers to parts of the Jersey Shore, Staten Island, and Nassau County.

Read more

The ghouls, goblins and world famous costumes will be on display as WPIX/Channel 11 is the home of the Village Halloween Parade October 31.

PIX Morning News anchors Sukanya Krishnan and Tamsen Fadal host the event, which runs along 6th Avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street. Greg Mocker and Dan Mannarino work the parade from street level.

Ricki Lake, who returned to daytime TV with a new syndicated show airing on WPIX, guest hosts.

The Village Halloween Parade, now its 39th year, first aired on Channel 11 in 2010.  The city’s only night time parade features an audience of over 2 million spectators with 60,000 costumed marchers, hundreds Halloween characters, including giant masks and puppets. In addition, dozens of marching bands playing music from around the world, stilt walkers, jugglers, and break dancers will participate.

The Halloween night “treat” runs from 7:30 to 10.

WPIX news director Bill Carey, who is responsible for sweeping changes to the look and staff since joining the station in November 2009, is giving up his post. A well-placed source tells FishbowlNY that Carey is leaving Channel 11 before the November sweeps period. It is believed that Carey is fielding several offers, including from a startup company. Carey had no comment to FishbowlNY about a change to his job status.

In three years on the job, Carey made his imprint. Within a year, lead anchors Jim Watkins and Kaity Tong were displaced and Jodi Applegate was hired. Carey created a brand new newsroom set for Applegate.

Carey also made morning changes. Last summer, he brought Frances Rivera from Boston to co-anchor the PIX Morning News with veteran Sukanya Krishnan. Earlier this year, commentator Lionel was given hosting duties for the two-hour early edition of the morning news.

Read more

Let the good times roll at WPIX!

Thanks to a combination of its hard work and a competitor’s questionable moves, WPIX staked a claim of the July Nielsen ratings.

Channel 11 is a winner in the morning. In particular, the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m portion of the PIX Morning News with Sukanya Krishnan and Frances Rivera. The program has eclipsed morning powerhouse WNYW and its Good Day New York. In the all-important Adults 25 to 54, WPIX edged WPIX, .8 to .7.

“We feel great about that because we haven’t done that in the morning,” WPIX news director Bill Carey says.

It’s the least publicized “Sweeps” period, because of the much-reduced summertime viewership.

Regardless, it’s a “two-fold” victory for Channel 11. The Tribune station in the same demo last July managed only a .4 during the two-hour block.

Read more

WPIX is flexing its muscle in morning. The Nielsen overnight ratings for yesterday’s show is some great news for Channel 11. The PIX Morning News claims a huge victory in the advertiser-friendly Adults 25 to 54 demographic.

Not only did WPIX defeat its main competition in the 7 a.m. hour, WNYW with Good Day New York, the broadcast anchored by Sukanya Krishnan and Frances Rivera, eclipsed NBC’s Today show.

PIX averaged an impressive 1.5 with a share just under 10. Today with Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie fell just short of WPIX’s performance with a 1.4 and a 9.2 share of the audience. Ratings for WLNY’s new morning venture, The Couch, are not tabulated at this time.

Earlier this month, Dave Price teamed with Rosanna Scotto at WNYW.  WPIX made its own pre-dawn splash, giving Lionel a large role during the 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. news block.

You have to give WPIX/Channel 11 and news director Bill Carey credit for constantly changing viewers minds for what a traditional newscast should look like.

The station, seeking a piece of the competitive morning race, is reinventing the wheel again. By making night time commentator Lionel as host of the 4 a.m. to 6 a.m., WPIX wants to lift itself out of the early hours abyss. In turn, the station would use that lead-in on the PIX Morning News with Sukanya Krishnan and Frances Rivera.

If you’ve watched PIX News at 10, then you’ve seen Lionel pontificate about a wide range of pressing matters. He’s given more than two minutes each night to weave a story with good writing, some humor and a dose of histrionics.

In the morning, right from the opening title, this is Lionel’s show. There are several shots of Lionel at Grand Central Terminal with his one name on the screen, before showing PIX Morning News. All that’s missing is the late Ed McMahon‘s…”Here’s Lionel!” Incidentally, later in the morning, there is no talent displayed in the open.

Read more

After two days of reporting the anchor shake-up at WNYW, we can now tell you that a competitor is also making some alterations.

WPIX/Channel 11 is unveiling a new schedule to take effect Monday before dawn.

Lionel will host a revamped two-hour block from 4-6 a.m. FishbowlNY has obtained a memo that news director Bill Carey sent to staffers. In it, Carey points out that the broadcast will be used as a springboard to build viewership, especially with the revenue-generating 7-9 a.m. broadcast, anchored by Sukanya Krishnan and Frances Rivera. FishbowlNY has learned the Lionel-led program will be a conversational, two hours with his unique perspective.

Viewers already see Lionel’s insight in much smaller doses at 5 and 10 p.m. with Jodi Applegate. A WPIX spokesperson says Lionel will continue to provide commentary on the 10 p.m. broadcast.

This time may be the perfect to strike.

Starting Monday, Dave Price joins Rosanna Scotto as co-host on Good Day New York. Greg Kelly takes over on the nightside. Independent station and newly WCBS-owned, WLNY makes its long-awaited attempt in morning news.

The act of bullying has grown exponentially thanks to social media. For one week, WPIX/Channel 11 is making it a top priority.

The PIX Morning News, with anchors Sukanya Krishnan and Frances Rivera, will air a week-long initiative to raise awareness and empower families.

The station’s Anti-Bully Week will be broadcast in the 8 a.m. hour next week.

Highlights include:

Read more