When “major technical problems” derailed WSPA‘s ability to show video during Todd Summers‘ sports report, the sports anchor for the Greenville, SC, CBS affiliate used his imagination, a souvenir football and a mini baseball bat to bring the games to life…well sort of.

One highlight: While describing the Atlanta Braves win against the Florida Marlins, Summers showed off his ability to hit the curve. “In the bottom of the first,” said Summers. “It went something like this. Justin Upton at the plate…and…WHAM!” Summers said while swinging a mini bat at what may have been a whiffle ball tossed from off camera.

[FTVLive]

Pamela Wright is joining WYFF, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate in Greenville, S.C., as the weekend morning meteorologist.

“Pamela rounds out a weather team that is second to none in our area,” news director Bruce Barkley said in a statement. “As a meteorologist, she brings experience covering hurricanes and severe weather. Pamela is also someone who knows the social media community in our region and she is anxious to interact with that audience, as well.”

Wright began her career at WCSC in Charleston, S.C. and has worked at WLUK in Green Bay, WFOR and WSVN in Miami and KCBS in Los Angeles. She was most recently vice president of media relations at Sensible City in Asheville, N.C.

Traffic reporter Allyson Powell is joining WYFF, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate in Greenville, S.C.

“Allyson brings a host of news reporting and anchoring experience to the traffic reporting position,” news director Bruce Barkley said in a statement. “We’re happy to have someone joining the WYFF 4 News team who knows our area and who is so familiar with our community.”

Powell has previously worked as a traffic reporter at KOSA in Midland, Texas and as a sports reporter at Comcast Sports in San Francisco. She will appear on both the morning and evening newscasts at WYFF.

Russ Bowen has announced he is joining Seattle ABC affiliate KOMO as weekend co-anchor.

Bowen announced the news on his facebook page saying,

I’m so excited to finally be able to share some exciting news! I’m heading to Seattle. I’ll be the new weekend co-anchor for KOMO-TV. My last day at WLOS is Feb 8th and I leave for Seattle Feb 10th! I can’t thank you all enough for being such wonderful friends and viewers. Western North Carolina and everyone who lives here will always have a special place in my heart….

Bowen co-anchors the 10 pm. news for MyNetworkTV affiliate WMYA and reports daily for WLOS, the ABC affiliate for Asheville, NC.  He started working at the station in 2000 as bureau chief of the Western Carolina News Center. Before coming to WLOS, Bowen worked for WCTI in New Bern, NC.

[ashvegas.com]

WHNS reporter Joe Gagnon and his wife, station photographer Summer Gagnon, found out live on the Fox affiliate’s morning newscast Thursday that they’re having a girl (video after the jump).

The couple found out by cutting into a pink-tinged cake baked by WHNS anchor Lauren Elise, who found out the sex from Summer’s mother earlier this week. The Gagnons also revealed that they have chosen a name, Sydney Snow Gagnon, for the baby, who is due in the Spring.

Watch the video after the jump… Read more

After 10 years as managing editor at WSPA-WYCW, Karen Kelly is stepping into the news director role at Media General’s duopoly in Spartanburg, S.C.

“Karen played an integral part in developing and implementing the ‘On Your Side’ brand and her promotion to News Director will allow her to continue to expand that brand,” WSPA vice president and general manager Bob Romine said in a statement.

Kelly began her television career at KOLR in Springfield, Mo., where she was the producer of the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. She was hired at WSPA in 1998 and was promoted to executive producer later that year. Read more

WAPT news director Bruce Barkley (pictured) is moving from Jackson, Miss. to Greenville, S.C., where he will take over as news director of WYFF.

It is a move within Hearst for Barkley, who has served as WAPT’s news director since 2000. He will step into the role vacated by Justin Antoniotti, who is leaving WYFF to serve as news director for another Hearst station, WATE in Pittsburgh.

“We feel very fortunate to welcome someone of Bruce’s experience and knowledge,” WYFF general manager John Soapes said in a statement. “He has a proven track record of creating outstanding local television news programming, all while providing superior leadership and building great teams.”

Ben Hart, who has been assistant news director of WAPT since 2010, will step into the news director role at the Jackson ABC affiliate. Hart is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Read more

Gordon Dill has been promoted to evening weekday anchor and 7 On Your Side watchdog reporter for Greenville, SC CBS affiliate, WSPA.

He told TVSpy, “The station put a lot of trust in me and I’m grateful. I’ll work every day to prove myself worthy.”

Dill, who came to WSPA in 2011 was a weekday anchor at crosstown rival WYFF when he found himself on the outs after an anchor shake up at the station.

In a press release announcing the move, vice president and general manager Bob Romine said, “Gordon’s experience in the market and his commitment to viewers and the community make him the obvious choice for this position.”

Dill will anchor the 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m newscasts replacing Chris Cato who is moving to WCAU in Philadelphia.

Dianne Derby is joining the main anchor team at KKTV, the CBS-affiliate in Colorado Springs.

Derby joins KKTV from WSPA, the CBS-affiliate in Greenville, SC, where she has been a weekend anchor five years. She was also the station’s “Problem Solver” reporter.

“Dianne’s experience as a consumer investigator and evening anchor will bring tremendous value to our content and on-air presentation,” news director Liz Haltiwanger said in a statement. Read more

The January 1 deadline is getting closer for Time Warner Cable and Bonten Media to negotiate a carriage agreement in Greenville, NC.

Several stations in the market are at risk: ABC-affiliate WCTI and Fox-affiliates WFXI-WYDO. Bonten owns WCTI and operates WFXI-WYDO under a joint service agreement.

“We are continuing to negotiate, and working hard to resolve this issue in a fair and timely manner,” Bonten CEO Randall Bongarten said in a statement today.

Verizon FiOs and Media General are also facing a January 1 deadline in retransmission negotiations.