For the fourth month in a row, WNYW morning newscast “Good Day New York” has beaten NBC’s “Today” among A25-54 viewers.

“Good Day” averaged 116,000 A25-54 viewers for the May sweeps period, compared to 114,800 viewers for “Today.” Compared to the year-ago sweep, “Good Day” is up +38% in the demo and “Today” is down -30%. This is the fourth straight month WNYW has topped NBC in younger viewers. “Good Day New York” was also on top during the February sweeps period.

“Today” remains on top in Total Viewers, averaging 284,000 viewers to WNYW’s 180,700 viewers.

Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman played a real life version of Highlights magazine’s “Goofus and Gallant” during a live interview with Seattle FOX affiliate KCPQ.

Caine played “Gallant” to Freeman’s “Goofus” during the junket for their latest film “Now You See Me,” addressing anchors Bill Wixey and Kaci Aitchison by name and telling them about the magic tricks seen in the film. Freeman played counterpoint by nodding off. Though Caine asked, “Is this the last one?” after the two thought their mics were off, giving the impression they were at the end of a long day of answering the same question again and again. Watch the video after the jump. Read more

Denver Fox affiliate KDVR has admitted that a report broadcast Saturday about an Italian gun executive who was detained by local law enforcement was incorrect.

The station says Karina Aguirre, who claimed to be the man’s U.S. attorney, “concocted an elaborate but false story” about a man who was detained after a taxi driver mistook him for “a terrorist.” KDVR says they were referred to Aguirre by David Kopel, an attorney for the Independence Institute in Denver, and Steve Schreiner, a Colorado board member of the National Rifle Association.

“More steps should have been taken to corroborate Aguirre’s story and verify information provided by Kopel and Schreiner,” news director Ed Kosowski said in a statement. “KDVR is committed to fair, accurate and balanced reporting and we are reviewing policies and procedures to ensure our content meets those standards.”

Neither Kosowski’s statement or the post on KDVR’s website address the fact that the station failed to reach out to law enforcement or the gun company to corroborate Aguirre’s story before the report aired. In a strongly-worded statement Wednesday, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office said KDVR “dropped the ball.”

“The Sheriff’s Office feels that it is unfortunate for Fox 31 Denver to have released a report that claimed the Adams County Sheriff’s Office involvement in an event without verifying it first. It is also unfortunate and disturbing for Fox 31 Denver to have released such a bold report before doing their due diligence by thoroughly investigating the tips prior to broadcasting,” the statement reads.

The Sheriff’s office also praised KUSA, the NBC affiliate in Denver, for uncovering the hoax.

Council Bradshaw has been named vice president of creative services for WJZY-WMYT, Fox’s anticipated duopoly in Charlotte. His appointment is effective May 28.

Bradshaw has been principal partner and chief director of photography for DejaView Media in Greensboro, N.C. since 2006. Before that, he was vice president of creative services for WGHP in Greensboro. The move reunites him with WJZY-WMYT general manager Karen Adams, who worked at WGHP until joining Fox earlier this year.

“His creativity, vision and drive will help build the platform for news and marketing innovations for the market we serve,” Adams said of Bradshaw in announcing the hire.

Denver Fox affiliate KDVR has taken down a report about an Italian man who was detained for questioning after rival KUSA uncovered details that indicate the story was a hoax.

“We believe we were intentionally misled by someone who misrepresented herself not only to the news media but to two of our sources on the story, an NRA board member from Colorado and a nationally-recognized Second Amendment attorney, both of whom as recently as yesterday were standing by the story,” KDVR news director Ed Kosowski told TVSpy in a statement. “These sources now tell us they believe they were misled by the woman. We are working on a follow-up story that will thoroughly explain what happened.”

The KDVR report, which aired Saturday, claims Daniele Perazzi, the grandson of a “prominent Italian gunmaker,” was questioned by law enforcement after “a taxi driver mistook him for a terrorist.” Hendrik Sybrandy sources the man’s U.S. attorney, who was not identified by name. KDVR reported the attorney said “that her client was scared during the incident because he’s not familiar with U.S. gun laws.”

KUSA said they received “numerous emails inquiring as to why the story wasn’t being broadly covered.” During the NBC affiliate’s investigation of the story, the gun company, the Adams County Sheriff’s office and the taxi company denied the incident happened, KUSA reported Tuesday night.

“The company says there’s no grandson named Daniele and they didn’t have a representative in Denver last week, either,” Kyle Clark said in the KUSA report.

KUSA also identified KDVR’s source as a Colorado woman named Korrine Aguirre. “There was a comment that I had made the other day that I probably shouldn’t have made,” Aguirre told KUSA. “Apparently that blew up a lot bigger than it was supposed to.”

The original story was removed from KDVR’s website Wednesday afternoon. TVSpy hears that KDVR staffers met Wednesday morning to review the report.

Watch both the KDVR report and the KUSA report after the jump.  Read more

After just four months at KRIV in Houston, Nancy Zambrano is leaving the Fox O&O, according to media blogger Mike McGuff.

Zambrano joined KRIV in January from KTBC, the Fox O&O in Austin. McGuff reports that her departure was “amicable” and Zambrano plans to leave the television business. Her last day at KRIV is May 24.

Zambrano has previously worked at KMID in Midland-Odessa, Texas, and WUFT in Gansville, Fla.

WXIN, the Tribune owned FOX affiliate for Indianapolis, IN, has named Kerri Cavanaugh as news director.

“Kerri brings a wealth of news experience and leadership from several markets and I am thrilled to have her now take the helm of the FOX59 News franchise,” said WXIN-WTTV vice president and general manager Larry Delia. “Her proven ability to launch newscasts, grow ratings, and mentor talent will be extremely valuable as FOX59 continues to build on its ratings success.”

Cavanaugh starts June 17. She comes to WXIN from Tribune’s WXMI in Grand Rapids, MI, where she has been the news director since 2010. Before WXMI, she was news director at WSFL in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and has also worked at WFTS in Tampa, WPEC in West Palm Beach and WDBB in Tuscaloosa, AL.

“I’m honored to join the staff at FOX59,” said Cavanaugh. “The station has seen tremendous growth in recent years, producing by far the most local news in the market.  It is quickly becoming the go-to place for breaking news and weather coverage.  I’m eager to work with such a dedicated team and continue to build on its success.”

Pablo Pereira has been named meteorologist for the evening newscasts at KTTV-KCOP, Fox’s duopoly in Los Angeles. In his new role, he will appear on “Studio 11 L.A.,” “FOX 11 News at 10 PM,” “KCOP My13 News at 7PM” and “KCOP My13 News at 11PM.”

Pereira joined the stations on a per diem basis in 2011. He has previously worked at KABC and KNBC, both in Los Angeles.

“This is my dream job. Getting the opportunity to work alongside such a talented team is truly a great honor and thrill,” Pereira said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to provide accurate and informative weather forecasts to KTTV/KCOP viewers.”

WTIC anchor Alison Morris (center) accidentally pulled doubled duty while anchoring the 11:00 p.m. news for the FOX affiliate in Hartford-New Haven,CT.

Morris popped up in the monitor behind rival ABC affiliate WTNH anchors Darren Kramer and Sonia Baghdady while the pair were tossing to break.

A sharp-eyed viewer caught the gaffe and sent it out on his twitter feed saying, “See the screen behind the anchors on @WTNH‘s 11 PM newscast tonight? Yeah, that’s @FOXCT‘s newscast. Whoops! #tvnews pic.twitter.com/AfI0JNsXwc.”

Araksya Karapetyan has been named early morning anchor at Los Angeles Fox O&O KTTV, our sister site FishbowlLA scoops. Karapetyan has been filling in as anchor of the 4:30 to 7 a.m. newscast since October.

“Araksya’s smart and in-depth reporting is matched by her exceptional commitment to the community,” news director Kingsley Smith said in a statement. “She has an extraordinary work ethic and has quickly made a name for herself in this area as a reporter who tells compelling stories about everyday people.”

Karapetyan joined KTTV in 2012 as a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor. In her new role, she will also anchor the 10 a.m. newscast.