Meteorologist Monica Tassoni is joining WSFA, the NBC affiliate in Montgomery, Ala., next month.

Tassoni joins the station from KTAB in Abilene, where she is the meteorologist for the morning and noon newscasts. She replaces Jeff Jumper, who left the station to be with his family in Pennsylvania.

“I must say Monica is a quality meteorologist who really knows her science and is a true weather forecaster,” WSFA news director Scott Duff said in a statement. “She is very talented and I am sure our viewers will enjoy her fun personality and am certain she will be a great addition to our weather team.” Read more

Nexstar has renewed affiliation agreements with CBS for eight of its stations, the company announced today.

The long-term extensions are at KLBK in Lubbock, TX, KLST in San Angelo, TX, KTAB in Abilene, TX, WCIA in Decatur, IL, WFRV in Green Bay, WJMN in Marquette, WMBD in Peoria and WROC in Rochester. Mission Broadcasting has also renewed an affiliation agreement with CBS for KOLR in Springfield, MO, which Nexstar operates under a local marketing agreement.

“Our affiliation with CBS combined with our stations’ market-leading local news and unique community-focused programming allows us to deliver great entertainment and information to viewers as well as superior marketing solutions for advertisers,” Nexstar president and CEO Perry Sook said in a statement.

Abilene CBS-affiliate KTAB is asking viewers for donations to fund its annual “On the Road” tour, a week-long event where station talent and executives visit five different towns in Texas.

“We are asking if you could help by making a donation to help cover our cost,” vice president and general manager Eric Thomas writes on the station website. “From Talent fees, Satellite fees, Travel cost, Food expense, and Equipment rental the bills pile up.”

The tour takes place this week and is scheduled to stop in Colorado City, Ballinger, Clyde, Cross Plains and Haskell. There is a minimum goal to reach for each town, and donors will not be charged until the minimum is reached.

Austin Kellerman has been named news director at KARK, the Little Rock NBC-affiliate announced this week.

Kellerman comes to KARK after serving as news director at KTAB-KRBC in Abilene, TX.  Before Abilene, Kellerman worked as the morning show executive producer at CBS O&O KTVT in Dallas and, before that, as an executive producer at KTAL in Shreveport.

The move represents a promotion within Nexstar Broadcasting.  KARK and KTAB-KRBC, as well as KTAL, are owned by Nexstar.

“Austin has done a tremendous job in the company and has proven himself as both a leader and an innovator,” KARK vice president and general manager Mike Vaughn said in a statement.  “Austin’s enthusiasm and passion are a great fit for the KARK team.” Read more

Conan O’Brien poked fun at content-sharing in local news this week, showing a clip on his show of several anchors repeating the same phrase — “push the envelope” — while reporting on the late night host’s plans to officiate a same-sex wedding on his show.

The original source of the copy was CBS Newspath, according to staffers at two stations featured in the clip. Although “Conan” only showed 18 stations, a search of TVEyes.com reveals that 27 stations reported the story using identical wording (a full list, including markets and affiliations, is after the jump.)

The script was tease copy for Monday’s “Eye on Entertainment” package, filed by CBS Newspath correspondent Sandra Hughes. The full version reads: “Conan O’Brien may be about to push the envelope on late night television. And British songstress Adele seems to have pushed her voice too far. CBS’ Sandra Hughes has those stories and more, in your Monday morning ‘Eye on Entertainment.’”

South Bend’s WSBT, which was featured in the Conan clip, addressed the situation on the 6 a.m. newscast this morning, calling it the “dark secret” of the news business. Read more