The Scripps owned Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV has announced it will begin producing a weekend morning newscast.

“We are excited for the opportunity to add to our team of journalists,” WRTV news director Terri Cope-Walton said in a statement. “This is a major investment in talent and resources for RTV6. Users on all our platforms will benefit.”

WRTV will add eight employees to produce the new shows that begin airing September 7. The station hasn’t said who will anchor the weekend shows. Read more

A news van for Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS caught fire “for no apparent reason.”

Photojournalist Tony Jacobson and reporter Ryan Raiche escaped the Dodge Sprinter van without injury. Raiche posted a photo of the burned out van (pictured) on his facebook page with the caption, “Is it bad luck if your the last guy to go live from a sat truck before it burns to a crisp? RIP Sprinter.”

Reporter Ashley Glass also posted a photo of the van, this time in what appears to be mid-burn, on her company facebook page. “One of our big boy live trucks caught fire (for no apparent reason) in Lakeland, FL. ” Glass added, “RIP to the Sprinter, the only truck with enough counter space for my entire “get ready” spread. Survived by Tony Jacobson and Ryan Raiche.” You can see the photo Glass posted after the jump.

TVSpy reached out to WFTS for more info.  We’ll update if we hear back.

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WXYZ has named Fred Corbus as its director of sales.

Corbus comes to the Scripps owned Detroit ABC affiliate from WOOD-WOTV-WXSP in Grand Rapids, MI. He also previously worked for Grand Rapids CBS affiliate WWMT.

His first day will be next Monday, May 6.

[TVNewsCheck]

The mystery has been solved! After a few rumors started popping up online and in TVSpy’s mailbox about the recent disappearance of KABC meteorologist Dallas Raines, we went straight to the source for answers.

Cheryl Fair, news director for the Los Angeles ABC owned station, told TVSpy Raines has been “off on a long-planned well-deserved special vacation.”  Fair added that Raines would be back on the air tonight.

On Raines’ company facebook page, viewers began posting comments like, “Where are you Dallas ?” and “Where have you been? You’re the best dresser on t.v. You’re an impeccable dresser! You’ve got the best personality of any weatherperson. I miss seeing you. Are you o.k.? I hope all is well with you.”

Newsblues reported Raines last checked in on air at 5:09 p.m. on April 12 and last tweeted on April 8, the subscription news site also said it was “unusual” KABC made no mention of his absence, especially since it happened during the beginning part of May sweeps. (The newsblues link leads to paid subscription site)

Sarah Landau has been named digital sales manager for Hearst’s Fort Smith-Fayetteville, AR, ABC and CW affiliates KHBS-KHOG.

“Sarah Landau is a leader.  Her knowledge of broadcast and online advertising, and her ability to translate those opportunities to our team and our clients, makes her the perfect fit for this position,” said KHBS-KHOG president and general manager, Brian Sather. “Sarah embodies our commitment to innovation and excellence and I have every faith this will translate into results for both the station and our clients.”

Landau has been a marketing consultant for KHBS-KHOG since 2009. In her new role, she will oversee all local digital sales for the stations’ website, mobile platforms and all associated digital properties.

“Sarah has already proven herself as a leader on our sales staff,” said Chad Happersett, general sales manager for KHBS-KHOG. “Her customer engagement is excellent, and I’m confident as our new DSM she will lead our digital sales effort to new heights.”

Washington, D.C. ABC station WJLA and local news radio station WTOP have already teamed up to deliver news and weather reports to local viewers and listeners.  Soon, the two media outlets will share traffic reporting as well.

Starting tomorrow, WJLA reporter Amanda Meadows will deliver traffic updates from the WTOP “Glass enclosed nerve center” six times an hour between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. weekdays. Between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., Meadows will report twice an hour.

“Viewers can plan their commute by watching [Good Morning Washington] and then continue with WTOP’s radio reports when they are in the car or on the Metro,” WJLA news director Doug Culver told TVSpy. Read more

Corpus Christi ABC affiliate KIII has expanded its morning newscast into the 7 a.m. hour on a digital subchannel.

“We are pleased to add another hour of 3News First Edition for our viewers who want more local information during that important hour,” VP-GM Dan Robbins said in a statement. “The format will provide more time for special issues and a variety of topics for our viewers.”

The additional hour will be helmed by morning anchors John Thomas and Jane Monreal and meteorologist Kristin Diaz. “Good Morning America” will continue to be seen at 7 a.m. on KIII’s main channel.

After five years at KOMO, Ray Lane is leaving the Seattle ABC affiliate to become the spokesperson for Puget Sound Energy.

“It’s a very good move for me, but I’ve got to tell you, it is very tough to leave today,” Lane said on the morning newscast Friday (video above). “I work with some great people, especially on the morning shift, from the people up here, to the people I work with out in the field, the photographers, and there are so many people behind the scenes that work in the newsroom.”

Tim Melton, a veteran sportscaster at KTRK who has been off the air recovering from a stroke, told the Houston Chronicle that his contract with the ABC O&O has expired.

Houston media blogger Mike McGuff first spotted the absence of Melton’s bio on the KTRK website Thursday. Melton joined KTRK in 1981 and suffered a stroke in 2011.

“I can do a lot of things, but not everything the job requires,” Melton said. “I still hope to get back on the air. That’s always been my plan. The problem is that you never know how things are going to play out, and while the recovery process has been good, it has taken longer than I would have imagined.”

Marv Bossart, former anchor for Fargo, ND, ABC affiliate WDAY, has died after battling Parkinson’s disease for several years.

“He had a great heart and he really empathized with people who were affected by our news,” WDAY reporter Kevin Wallevand told The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead “And that’s rare.”

Bossart started at WDAY in 1958. He began anchoring the 6:00 p.m. and then 10:15 p.m. newscasts in 1963 and anchored for the station until his retirement in 2000. You can watch the station’s tribute to Bossart by clicking here. Read more