Michelle White Lafitte is leaving the Shreveport, LA, NBC affiliate KTAL.

“Michelle White Lafitte has resigned her position at KTAL-TV,” KTAL vice president and general manager Mark McKay told TVSpy. “We appreciate the fine work she has done for us the past three years as well as her respected career in the Shreveport-Bossier-Texarkana television market. We wish her and her family all the best in the future.”

Rumors of the popular anchor being forced out at the station first came up in October after KTAL hired Jacque Jovic to replace her on the 10 pm. news.  The station then added to the confusion when Jovic debuted the same week White Lafitte started her vacation.  The station took to facebook to calm viewers who noticed the anchor was missing. Read more

A vacation, a new anchor, and a reshuffling of the existing anchor lineup caused a bit of confusion for viewers of KTAL in Shreveport, LA.

When the NBC affiliate recently welcomed Jacque Jovic from Cleveland’s WJW to its lineup, her arrival prompted a few anchor changes.  Longtime fan favorite Michelle White Lafitte, who anchored the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts was moved off the 10 p.m. and replaced by Jovic, leaving White Lafitte at 5 and 6 p.m. with co-anchor Nick LaFave.

The problem arose when Jovic started her anchor duties the same week White Lafitte took the week off .  Viewers noticed.  So the station took to its facebook page to let them know that Michelle White Lafitte was still an anchor at the station.

“Many of you have noticed our new anchor Jacque Jovic, who debuted on NBC 6 News this week,” the facebook post said.  “The feedback on her contribution to the newsroom has been great (which doesn’t surprise us) but it has brought up the question of ‘where’s Michelle?’”  The full posting, which you can view after the jump, goes on to explain the situation.

Read more

Viewers of KTAL in Shreveport, LA will be seeing some new faces on the air in the coming weeks.

The NBC affiliate’s morning news team will add husband and wife anchors Dan and Jacque Jovic from WJW in Cleveland.  Jacque will also join veteran anchor Michelle White at 10 p.m.  You can get a glimpse of Dan in his WJW farewell video after the jump.

“In seven months we have gone from a two person morning show to what will be a five person show,” KTAL vice president and general manager Mark McKay told TVSpy.  “Additionally we will add a seasoned anchor to the desk while retaining Michele White at the station”

Read more

Using staffers and technical resources from four of its local stations in Arkansas, Nexstar Broadcasting is launching a statewide daily newscast called “Arkansas Today.”

Beginning today, the half-hour show will air on all four stations — KARK in Little Rock, KNWA in Fayetteville, KTVE in El Dorado and KTAL in Texarkana — on weekdays at noon. Although each station will have live broadcast capabilities for “Arkansas Today,” the newscast’s home base will be at KARK.

The show will be anchored by KARK anchor Mallory Hardin and meteorologist Greg Dee. Reporters from all four stations will contribute on a daily basis. Read more

Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced today that Brandy Sanchez has been named vice president and general manager of KAMR, the company’s NBC-affiliate in Amarillo, TX.

Sanchez will also oversee KCIT and KCPN, the market’s Mission Broadcasting stations, under Nexstar’s joint operating agreement with Mission.

Sanchez has spent the past 18 years working in Amarillo TV. She joined KCIT in 1994 as a traffic assistant, eventually climbing the ranks to become director of sales for KAMR, KCIT, and KCPN.

“I am proud to have the opportunity to work with the outstanding teams here at KAMR, KCIT, and KCPN,” Sanchez said in a statement. Read more

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

Mark McKay has been appointed vice president and general manager at KTAL, the NBC-affiliate in Shreveport, LA, Nexstar Broadcasting announced today.

McKay’s appointment is a move within Nexstar — he joins KTAL from KAMR-KCIT-KCPN in Amarillo, TX, where he has been vice president and general manager since 2004. The new position is a return to KTAL for McKay, who began his broadcasting career as an anchor at the station in 1980.

Nexstar COO Brian Jones called McKay “the ideal person” to lead KTAL.

“He has an impressive background in all aspects of our business, and a proven track-record of leading teams that delivered compelling and effective marketing solutions for local and national advertisers,” Jones said in a statement.

KQDS evening anchor Nick LaFave will leave the Duluth station on August 2 to become a lead co-anchor at KTAL in Shreveport.

LaFave has been the main anchor at the Fox affiliate since the station launched in 2007.  His move to Shreveport is a jump of 57 markets. “He’s definitely moving on to bigger and better things, and I couldn’t be more happy for him,” KQDS news director Jason Vincent told The Duluth News Tribune.

LaFave is the last of the original anchors to remain at KQDS, but the station will continue to grow despite the turnover, LaFave wrote on his Facebook page.”FOX 21 has done nothing but increase in ratings and quality every single ratings period,” he wrote. “That’s because it’s a TEAM product, not dependent on any one person.”

LaFave will anchor the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. broadcasts at KTAL, which is the NBC affiliate in Shreveport, beginning August 10.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced today that Chris Huston had been chosen to lead the newsroom at KTAL, the company’s NBC-affiliate in Shreveport, LA.

“Chris brings proven news management experience and a wealth of knowledge to KTAL,” said Mark Cummings, KTAL’s vice president and general manager. “I  am very excited he is joining our team.”

Huston is set to become KTAL’s news director next month. He comes to KTAL, which serves Shreveport in addition to the Texarkana region along the Texas-Arkansas border, from KIDK in Idaho Falls, where he also served as news director.

“I think everyone in the ArkLaTex recognizes that NBC 6 has made tremendous strides in the last few years,” said Huston. “I’m honored that the management team here felt that I could play a role in moving the station to even greater success.  I’m excited to hit the ground running.”