Syracuse’s WSYR introduced a new on-air talent lineup on Monday morning as part of a major image overhaul that includes a revamped logo and a brand-new, HD-optimized studio.

Earlier this month, WSYR announced that it would begin broadcasting its newscasts in HD and on Monday it became the first station in central New York to do so.

Tanja Babich, who has been with WSYR since 2007, began her new role as weekday morning anchor alongside Dan Cummings (above, right). Most recently, Babich was co-hosting the station’s daytime lifestyle show “Bridge Street.”

Christie Casciano moved from mornings to nights, where she joins Ron Wood for WSYR’s 11 p.m. newscast. She has also taken over anchoring duties for the station’s 10 p.m. newscast, which is broadcast on WSYR’s digital sub-channel.

“The changes solidify the anchor teams from sun up to sundown,” said Theresa Underwood, WSYR’s vice president and general manager. Read more

Green Bay news crews are descending on Dallas this week to cover the hometown Packers in the Super Bowl.

“It’s an adventure. This is what you get in the business for,” WLUK sports director Drew Smith told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “Going to Dallas means seeing history, being part of history, and of course, documenting history.”

WLUK, a Fox-affiliate (Fox is the network home of this year’s Super Bowl), has sent a crew of 13 to Dallas and will air a nightly half-hour “Super Bowl Report” at 9:30 p.m. Read more

“Where’s Allison Payne?”

That’s what viewers in the Chicago area have been wondering this month after the veteran anchor went missing from WGN‘s 11 a.m. weekday newscast.

It turns out that Payne has been experiencing problems with her vocal cords.

“She was diagnosed a few months ago and tried to tough it out. But her doctor eventually ordered her to cut back using her voice,” WGN news director Greg Caputo told Chicago media reporter Robert Feder.

In Payne’s absence, Dina Bair has been appearing alongside Steve Sanders for WGN’s midday newscast. Read more

Robert Townsend joins Fox-affiliate WDAF in Kansas City as a General Assignment Reporter. Robert most recently worked at the CBS-affiliate in St. Louis and the Fox O&O in Atlanta. Robert, who has won numerous awards for his work including an Emmy in 2007, is a graduate of the University Of Missouri.
Robert is represented by Mort Meisner Associates.

Jamie Holmes succeeds Liz Artz as morning anchor at Orlando’s WFTV. Artz is leaving the ABC-affiliate to be with her husband, who works in Atlanta. Holmes, who has recently been appearing alongside Artz on WFTV’s weekend newscasts, used to work for West Palm Beach’s WPTV.

John Cardenas has received a more significant title at Indianapolis NBC-affiliate WTHR. Cardenas was promoted to president and general manager after serving as vice president and general manager since June of 2010.

Jere Crosby joins CBS-owned San Francisco duopoly KPIX/KBCW as Account Executive Business Development from KGO Radio.

If you would like to report a new move, send an email to tvspy@mediabistro.com with the subject line “On the Move.”

WCVB reporter Sean Kelly has traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he will be reporting this week on the work of a Massachusetts National Guard unit.

On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Kelly will report live every 30 minutes  during the ABC-affiliate’s morning newscast and also appear on the station’s 11 p.m. newscasts.  In addition to his live TV reports, Kelly will be posting photos and stories on WCVB’s website and Facebook page.

Kelly will be embedded with Massachusetts’ 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment and is traveling as a guest of NATO.  This trip is a continuation of WCVB’s ongoing “Assignment: Afghanistan” news series.  In September, Kelly traveled to Camp Atterbury in Indiana to follow the regiment as they prepared for deployment.

Kelly joined Boston’s WCVB in 2005 and won a New England Emmy last year for his investigative reporting.

Strange details have emerged from Mike Adamle‘s DUI arrest earlier this month.

According to a police report obtained by TribLocal, the Chicago sportscaster danced in the streets after being pulled over by Evanston police and at one point even did a head stand.

Adamle, who “vigorously disputes” that he was under the influence when police pulled him over a couple of hours after he appeared on WMAQ‘s “Sports Sunday Live” show, is due in court on February 14.

Adamle’s blood alcohol level was under the legal limit that night even though he failed the field sobriety test. Police also suspected Adamle of being under the influence of something other than alcohol.  According to TribLocal:

The report states that Adamle exhibited “erratic behavior” while in lock up, grinding his teeth, rubbing his nose, and acting “extremely jittery,” according to the report. Read more

Following anchor Brien Blakely‘s newsroom tussle and eventual firing, Charlotte’s WCCB has announced a major on-air shake-up.

The Fox-affiliate’s 10 p.m. newscast, previously the domain of Blakely and Rebecca Clark, will now be anchored by Morgan Fogarty and Israel Balderas.

Fogarty has been with WCCB since 2005, where she has most recently co-hosted “Fox News Edge,” a fast-paced news and entertainment show that follows the station’s 10 p.m. newscast.

Balderas has been anchoring WCCB’s morning newscast.  Before joining the station, Balderas worked as an investigative reporter for El Paso Fox-affiliate KFOX.

WCCB also announced that Matt Harris and Ramona Holloway will take over as hosts of “Fox News Edge,” where they teamed from 2004 to 2006.

WCCB fired Blakely on January 21, three days after he was involved in a fight with Edward Boyce Jr., a news producer. Read more

Rob Jordan is returning to Ken Lindner & Associates, where he began his talent management career in 1992.

“I know Rob well and tremendously respect his character,  intellect, and agenting acumen,” Ken Lindner told TVSpy. “He adds veteran experience, wisdom, and access to KLA and its clients. I am thrilled that Rob is joining us and coming back home.”

Jordan got his start with Los Angeles’ KCAL and was the first KLA agent to have day-to-day newsroom experience when he joined the agency in ’92.  He eventually left KLA and relocated to Charlotte, where he launched Rob Jordan Talent Management ten years ago.

Jordan rejoins KLA as an agent and executive, bringing with him 18+ years of agenting experience as well as a sizable roster of talent. Read more

A KGO news crew was robbed by gunpoint last week while covering a story in East Oakland.

Cameraman Stan Wong and reporter Tomas Roman were approached by two armed men around 7 p.m. on Thursday evening as they were working on a story about pit bull abuse in the neighborhood.

According to the Oakland Tribune, one of the men forced Roman to the ground and threatened his life while the other man beat Wong with his gun.  The men then made off with Wong’s Panasonic P2 camera.

“We’re very grateful they were not seriously injured,” said Kevin Keeshan, KGO’s news director. “They’re doing fine.”

The attack was the second to befall a local news crew last week.  In Memphis, a WHBQ crew was assaulted by a group of teenagers, landing cameraman Mike Moore in the hospital.

Gannett Co. announced this morning that its fourth quarter TV revenue was up 26% over the same period in 2009.

Like Media General and Meredith Corp., Gannett saw a big boost in advertising revenue in the last quarter of 2010 due to hotly contested local elections.

Overall, Gannett’s TV revenues were $220.2 million with $52.4 of that coming from political advertising.  Non-political advertising, however, increased a respectable 1.2% in the quarter.

“Broadcasting had an outstanding year in terms of ratings, revenue, and profitability,” said Craig Dubow, chairman and CEO of Gannett, which owns stations in top markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix, Cleveland, and D.C.

“Without a doubt, Gannett today is a stronger company than it was at the beginning of 2010,” Dubow added.