Chris Wayland - TVSpy

Sunbeam Ends DirecTV Blackout, Saves Super Bowl

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:56:51 +0000

Sunbeam Television, which owns WSVN in Miami and WHDH in Boston, reached a new retrans agreement with DirecTV on Thursday.

The deal ends a weeks-long blackout and guarantees that DirecTV subscribers in Boston will be able to watch the Patriots play in the Super Bowl.

“We are pleased that we reached an agreement with DirecTV, and we appreciate our viewers’ patience during this tough negotiation,” WHDH general manager Chris Wayland said in a statement.

WSVN and WHDH, as well as Boston CW-affiliate WLVI, were pulled off the satellite TV service when the previous carriage agreement between the companies expired on January 13th. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WHDH Photographer Hits Man on Highway While Driving Station SUV

Andrew Gauthier — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:55:54 +0000

A WHDH photographer hit a 25-year-old man while driving a station SUV early Tuesday morning. The man, who was trying to run across the highway when he was hit, is now in serious condition.

The accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday as the WHDH photographer was on duty. The man apparently exited his disabled vehicle, which was parked in the breakdown lane, and attempted to cross the highway when he was struck by the WHDH SUV.

“Obviously the station is very saddened by this event,” WHDH general manager Chris Wayland said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of everybody involved. And we will fully cooperate with the state police in order for the investigation to be done as thorough as possible.” continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WHDH Taps Reid Lamberty to Replace Frances Rivera

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:29:01 +0000

Boston’s WHDH has hired Reid Lamberty to replace Frances Rivera, who recently left the station to join WPIX in New York. Lamberty will co-anchor WHDH’s 5, 6, 10, and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Kim Khazei.

“Reid is the consummate pro. He’s an experienced journalist and a perfect complement to Kim on the anchor desk,” WHDH general manager Chris Wayland said, in making the announcement.

Lamberty comes to WHDH from Miami’s WSVN (both stations are owned by Sunbeam Television). During his career, Lamberty has worked as an anchor at WNYW and WCBS in New York, and WFXT in Boston.

“I can’t wait to return to Boston and join 7 News,” Lamberty said. “I look forward to making New England my home once again.” His first day on-air will be Monday, September 12th.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WHDH Adds an Hour of Morning News at 9 a.m.

Merrill Knox — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:04:05 +0000

WHDH, the NBC affiliate in Boston, has announced the introduction of a 9 a.m. newscast to their daily programming lineup. The new broadcast will replace “Regis & Kelly,” which will move to ABC affiliate WCVB next month.

The Sunbeam-owned WHDH follows the lead of Miami’s WSVN — also owned by Sunbeam — in replacing “Regis & Kelly” with an additional hour of morning news.“The extra hour in the morning further establishes our dedication to providing more local news and information to our viewers,” said WHDH vice president and general manager Chris Wayland.

WHDH currently airs “Today in New England,” from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., followed by NBC’s “Today” show from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. The new show will be anchored by Anne Allred and Adam Williams, with weather forecasts contributed by meteorologist Dylan Dreyer.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WHDH Auditions Current Anchors For Seats Vacated by Frances Rivera and Matt Lorch

Merrill Knox — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:51:20 +0000

An extensive search is underway to fill the open anchor seats at Boston’s WHDH, according to The Boston Globe. The station is testing out in-house talent to fill anchor positions vacated by Frances Rivera, who was the late evening anchor, and Matt Lorch, who was the early evening anchor at the Sunbeam-owned NBC affiliate.

The station has been heavily rotating its normal anchor lineup, switching Anne Allred (left), Amanda Grace, Adam Williams and Sorboni Banerjee between weekday and weekend mornings and evenings to test the talent in a variety of different positions.

“We feel like we have a lot of good options both internally and externally,” WHDH VP-GM Chris Wayland told The Globe. He said the station is looking at a variety of factors, including viewer feedback, focus group data and on-air chemistry with Kim Khazei, who currently anchors the evening broadcast.

Rivera and Lorch both announced their departure this month — Rivera on July 14 and Lorch on July 21. Rivera will join New York City’s WPIX, while Lorch will head west to join KCPQ in Seattle.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

In Ongoing Union Battle, WHDH Talent Takes to the Picket Line at Station Event

Merrill Knox — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:28:14 +0000

The battle between WHDH and AFTRA — the union that represents the NBC affiliate’s on-air talent — is heating up in Boston.

WHDH talent — including those pictured at left, Victoria Warren, Frances Rivera and Adam Williams (all wearing black)– protested outside the station’s annual Health and Wellness Expo over the weekend, waving signs that said, “AFTRA Contract Now!”

Much of the station’s talent has been working without a contract since last year as the union and the station attempt an agreement over salary and age discrimination concerns. The Boston Herald‘s Jessica Heslam reports that according to AFTRA, the Sunbeam Television-owned station has ceased negotiations in the fight.

In addition to the signs, WHDH anchors and reporters also handed out fliers outside the Expo, urging attendees to call station general manager Chris Wayland and “tell him you support a fair workplace for broadcasters.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.