Albany - TVSpy

Meterologist Jason Caterina Out at WXXA

Merrill Knox — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:43:05 +0000

Jason Caterina was laid off this morning at WXXA-WTEN in Albany, making him the latest victim of job cuts that resulted from the stations merging last year.

Caterina posted the news on his Facebook page, according to the Albany Times Union:

I guess it’s not official until it’s made Facebook official. I’ve really enjoyed bringing you the weather and more every weekday morning for the past few years, but this morning I became the latest victim of the shrinking staff due to the joint services agreement between FOX and WTEN and my job has been cut. So this morning’s show was, sadly, my last.

Anchor Ann Hughes and sports anchor Kristian Read were among the layoffs last month.

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WTEN-WXXA News Director Charged with DWI

Kevin Eck — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 21:24:33 +0000

The Albany Times Union is reporting David Ciliberti, news director for Albany’s FOX affiliate WXXA and ABC affiliate WTEN, has been charged with DWI after a policeman pulled him over for drifting out of his lane and running a red light. He was driving a station vehicle.

According to the Times Union, court records show Ciliberti refused a formal breath-alcohol test at the police station after police said he smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech and failed several field sobriety tests. Refusal to submit to a breath-alcohol test resulted in the automatic temporary suspension of his license and can result in having his license suspended for a year.

Ciliberti was charged with misdemeanor DWI and two traffic infractions. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court March 21. He will also face a hearing with the DMV for refusing the breath-alcohol test.

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WXXA Eliminates 5 p.m., 11 p.m. Newscasts

Merrill Knox — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:53:50 +0000

Albany Fox affiliate WXXA has cut its 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. The station made the announcement on Facebook Thursday afternoon:

FOX23 NEWS at 5PM and 11PM have been discontinued to focus resources and efforts toward FOX23 NEWS at 10PM and FOX23 NEWS in the morning. For all of your news and weather coverage at 5PM and 11PM please go to NEWS10 ABC. You can continue to watch FOX23 NEWS at 10PM and FOX23 NEWS in the morning from 7am-9am.

WXXA is operated by WTEN, Albany’s ABC affiliate, through a shared services agreement. John Gray anchors the 5 p.m. newscast solo, and the 11 p.m. newscast with Ann Hughes.

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When the Sports Guy Covers a Hurricane

Chris Ariens — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:56:53 +0000

Drew Brill is the main sports anchor at WTEN (ABC) in Albany. But as Hurricane Sandy approached, Brill, who splits time between New York City and Albany, put on his news reporter hat and headed to lower Manhattan. On his Facebook page he writes, “Our day started at 3am and this (image right) was the scene at 7pm.”

After that 7pm report, Brill and his photographer began to head out of what was then waist-high water, but their car began to take on water while they were in it. “After climbing out the windows and grabbing as much gear as we could we headed uptown. With no way out we were escorted through the World Trade Center Construction site and finally made it out safely,” Brill says, adding “Now I know why I do sports!”

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Josh Sims Joins WTEN as Weekend Sports Anchor

Merrill Knox — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:08:52 +0000

Josh Sims is joining Albany ABC-affiliate WTEN as a reporter and weekend sports anchor, the Albany Times Union reports.

Sims joins the station from WMGM, the NBC-affiliate in southern New Jersey, where he was a multimedia journalist. Drew Brill, WTEN’s other sports anchor-reporter, told the Times Union Sims will report on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and anchor sports on Saturdays and Sundays.

“When I was at my old station, I was basically the backup sports guy,” Sims said. “I did a good deal of sports with them, but my ultimate goal was always to get into sports reporting.”

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Anchor Teresa Priolo Leaving WRGB for WNYW

Merrill Knox — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:40:47 +0000

After four years at WRGB, Teresa Priolo is leaving the anchor desk at the Albany CBS-affiliate.

Priolo wrote on Facebook she will “begin anew” in New York City this week. She will be a freelance reporter at Fox O&O WNYW, a station source tells TVSpy.

“I’ve enjoyed my time immensely and will miss you all dearly,” Priolo wrote. “Thanks for making me feel right at home … even at 4:30 am!”

Priolo was a morning anchor and weeknight reporter at WRGB. She was also a segment producer the station’s “Crime Tracker” series.

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Newport Strikes New Retrans Deal with Verizon, Ending Blackout

Andrew Gauthier — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Newport Television and Verizon reached a new retrans agreement over the weekend, just in time for FiOS subscribers in Albany to watch the Giants-Packers game on Sunday afternoon.

Unable to reach a new deal with Verizon last week, Newport pulled three of its stations from the fiber optic cable system: WSYR in Syracuse, WXXA in Albany, and WHP in Harrisburg.

“We appreciate our viewers’ patience and understanding during this situation,” Newport said in a statement posted on the stations’ websites on Sunday, announcing the new deal.

Terms of the deal have not been released.

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Newport Television Stations Blacked Out on Verizon as Carriage Deal Expires

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:53:19 +0000

The Newport Television-owned stations in Syracuse, Harrisburg, and Albany have been pulled from Verizon FiOS as the company was unable to reach a new retrans agreement with the cable provider before yesterday’s midnight deadline.

According to Newport executive Michael DiPasquale, the company has been “working diligently to reach a resolution in this matter.”

Newport’s previous retrans agreement with Verizon expired at 11:59 p.m. last night, leaving FiOS customers without WSYR in Syracuse, WXXA in Albany, and WHP in Harrisburg. continued…

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Newport-Owned Stations May Go Dark on Verizon

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:52:56 +0000

Three stations owned by Newport Television–WSYR in Syracuse, WXXA in Albany, and WHP in Harrisburg–may be dropped from Verizon FiOS tonight as the station group stares down a deadline for retrans negotiations with the cable provider.

Newport’s current retrans contract with Verizon FiOS expires at midnight, tonight.

“We are currently working to reach a new agreement with Verizon FiOS TV,” reads a statement posted on the websites of Newport-owned stations affected by the negotiations. “However based on the current status of those discussions, we do not believe Verizon FiOS TV will be carrying [Newport stations after January 12th.”

Newport, which was founded in 2007, owns dozens of stations across the country but only three of its stations are carried on Verizon’s fiber optic cable service.

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Albany’s WTEN Debuts New Set, HD Newscasts

Merrill Knox — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:23:07 +0000

WTEN, the ABC-affiliate in Albany, will debut a new set and high definition broadcasts beginning with the 4 p.m. newscast this afternoon.

As part of the transition, the newscasts will also feature a revamped graphics package (more pictures after the jump). The station will be the second in Albany to broadcast newscasts in HD, after Fox-affiliate WXXA. continued…

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WTEN Anchor Can’t Stop Laughing During Newscast

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 13 May 2011 16:49:49 +0000

Veteran WTEN anchor Elisa Streeter could not contain her laughter during a newscast Wednesday after reporting on a grounds crew worker who had gotten himself stuck under a tarp at Tuesday night’s rain-delayed Mets-Rockies game (video above).

[Via SportsNewser]

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