KENS executive news director Kurt Davis is joining CBS News as vice president of news services.

Davis has worked at the San Antonio CBS affiliate for 10 years. In his new role, he will oversee CBS News’ satellite newsgathering organization, which provides news and information to the network’s 200 affiliates.

Davis has also worked as manager of coverage and content at WSB in Atlanta and as news director at WDSU in New Orleans. He has also worked at KDFW in Dallas, WSET in Lynchburg, Va., KATV in Little Rock and WBRZ in Baton Rouge, La.

Brandon Spinner has been promoted to chief meteorologist at KDLT, the NBC affiliate in Sioux Falls.

Spinner joined KDLT in March as the morning meteorologist. He replaces Cody Matz, who is leaving KDLT to join KMSP in Minneapolis.

“I am confident Brandon will do a great job moving to our evening newscasts. He is an extremely hard worker, and he will bring a lot of enthusiasm to KDLT News at 5, 6 and 10,” KDLT news director Paul Heinert said in a statement.

Before joining KDLT, Spinner worked at KQDS in Duluth, Minn.

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.

For viewers, hearing the two words “Retrans fees” can conjure up nights spent not being able to watch their favorite network shows or local news because their cable provider/satellite provider/network/sports network/local channel can’t agree on how much showing the program is worth.

Now, DirectTV is looking to avoid paying millions in retrans fees by adding an integrated antenna into its set top boxes to grab over-the-air signals for free. According to an article in Multichannel news, “retrans fees could top $6 billion annually by 2018, with satellite TV service providers paying an estimated $2 billion of that bill.”

In an e-mail message, DirecTV spokesman Darris Gringeri said no dates for testing are scheduled at this point and that the satellite giant has always had integrated tuners in some of its set-top boxes. He added that the company is “just exploring any options that could help get programming costs under control.”

Multichannel News has more details on DirectTV’s plan. Click here to view the article.

Authorities in Union County, NJ, have issued an arrest warrant for Caleb Lawrence McGillvary. If that name doesn’t register, it may be because TVSpy readers better know the 34-year-old McGillvary as Kai ‘the hatchet wielding hitchhiker.’

McGillvary gained national attention after an interview he gave to Fresno FOX affiliate KMPH about saving a woman’s life went viral. You can watch the interview after the jump.

The victim, Joseph Galfy of Clark, NJ, was discovered after police were asked to check on his well being. An autopsy found Galfy died of blunt force trauma. Read more

When a big blizzard hit the East Coast in February, Hartford, CT, FOX affiliate WTIC let a local production crew follow meteorologist Dan Amarante and his photographer around as they slogged through snowdrifts in the station’s hi-tech weather chaser called the “Storm Tracker.”

The Union Productions director Dustin Schultz told TVSpy the team initially set out to shoot promo footage for WTIC. After the storm, they found enough footage to make a short doc, so they did.

All-in-all it’s a bite-sized look behind the scenes during a major weather event. Plus, there’s a short montage featuring Macklemore’s catchy tune “Thrift Shop.” And what video piece can’t use a montage?

Elizabeth Tumulty has been named executive vice president of Affiliate Relations for the CBS Television Network.

She will report to CBS president of affiliate relations Diana Wilkin and will work with Wilkin on negotiating new affiliation contracts and all affiliate related initiatives.

“I’m thrilled to have someone of Elizabeth’s professional caliber joining our team,” said Wilkin. “Her business acumen and vast knowledge of the inner workings of the affiliate-network relationship make her well-suited to keep CBS and its affiliates at the forefront of an always-evolving industry.” Read more

Alan DeFlorio is joining KSTP-KSTC in Minneapolis-St. Paul as local sales manager. His first day will be May 20.

DeFlorio comes from WJCL-WTGS in Savannah. He has also worked at WMBF in Myrtle Beach, WHNS in Greenville and WMTV in Madison.

“We are excited to bring Alan to the team. His experience speaks for itself and I’m confident the stations will benefit from all he has to offer,” KSTP-KSTC director of sales Ray Mirabella said in a statement.

After 18 years as a sportscaster for WCPO, Dennis Janson is taking on a new role at the Cincinnati ABC affiliate. Starting this summer, Janson will be a columnist on the air and on the station’s website.

“A chance to be part of the cutting edge efforts being exerted on our digital platforms is particularly intriguing,” Janson said in a statement. “And there will be a role for me on-air with an edge of its own.”

“Dennis has tremendous knowledge of the area, is well connected and can get people thinking,” WCPO VP-GM Jeff Brogan said. “The days of local media having columnists are nearly extinct and we feel Dennis is positioned to fill that void by bringing insight and context to our users and viewers.”

News of a new role for Janson was first reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer‘s John Kiesewetter.

Sportscaster Drew Shirley is moving behind the camera. Houston media blogger Mike McGuff reports Shirley will join CBS affiliate KHOU as a sports producer.

Shirley, a Houston native, has been commuting to Lake Charles, La. since he was hired as sports director for KPLC last year.

“I’ll be on air occasionally, but mainly working behind the scenes with Bob Allen to put together the daily sportscasts,” Shirley told McGuff. “I love being the sports guy here at KPLC, but after 11 months of commuting to Lake Charles, I am ecstatic about this new gig.”