Sinclair Broadcast Group has announced it will begin broadcasting mobile capable signals from ten of its stations in nine markets.

“The pace of technology makes it imperative for broadcasters to continue to lead in serving our communities,” said Mark Aitken, vice president of Advanced Technology for Sinclair and chairman of the ATSC A/153 MobileDTV standardization activity. “Broad adoption of MobileDTV, as a part of our local broadcast television offering, is the next step. We are confident our Network partners will see the value mobile simulcasting brings in building station and Network brands, audience share, and local television relevancy.”

Mobile DTV, as the service is called, allows viewers to watch their favorite local broadcast stations, for free, on portable devices like smart phones and tablets by adding a plug-in adapter. Read more

The layout of a graphic used on Salt Lake City’s CBS affiliate KUTV appeared to make Utah Governor Gary Herbert (pictured in graphic on the right) and Attorney General John Swallow (on the left) a gay couple.

The graphic was used for a story about three gay couples who filed a federal lawsuit claiming Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Governor Herbert and Attorney General Swallow are both named in the lawsuit.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General told Jim Romenesko, “I don’t think anyone in Utah will mistake the Governor and the Attorney General as one of the ‘gay couples’ filing the lawsuit.” Read more

The end of the most recent sweeps period has revealed a disturbing trend for NBC affiliate KSL in the battle for Salt Lake City’s news viewers.

The Salt Lake Tribune has taken a look at why KSL, which was once a dominant number one, is quickly losing viewers to cross-town rival CBS affiliate KUTV.

Outside observers might think KSL, owned by Bonneville International, which is owned by Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, would dominate in the city that is the geographic heart of the Mormon Church. Read more

Brian Mullahy, reporter for Salt Lake City CBS affiliate KUTV, dodged one man’s attempt to plant a kiss on his cheek while he was doing a live shot for the station’s 10:00 p.m. news

When the man leaned in for the smooch, Mullahy bobbed right a little, said, “Hello. Nice to see ya.” and went on with his report. When Mullahy tossed back to the studio, co-anchor Mark Koelbel said admiringly, “You are a professional.”

KUTV is expanding its morning news coverage by adding a weekend news show and by extending the weekday show by a half-hour, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

The Salt Lake City CBS affiliate’s weekend show begins next weekend and will air from 7 to 8 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday while the weekday show will begin at 4:30 a m.

There’s no indication from KUTV who will anchor the weekend morning news.  We have reached out to the station and will update with any new information.

Read more

Mary Nickles, morning News Anchor for KUTV the CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City, revealed the next step in her recovery from breast cancer Monday morning by going on-air without her wig.

Diagnosed last December, Nickles stayed at the anchor desk throughout her treatment. She wore the wig to hide the hair loss from the chemotherapy treatments that ended in early July.

“I’m hoping it looks like a super-short haircut,” Nickles tells the Salt Lake Tribune. “And not hair growing back after chemo.”

Far from keeping it a secret, Nickles tweeted her intentions to show off her real hair the night before the show. “Going wigless for the newscasts Monday morning! Debut of the new short do at 5am!”

Salt Lake City CBS-affiliate KUTV took a moment during the morning newscast today to celebrate anchor Mary Nickles (center), who just completed seven months of breast cancer treatment (video above).

Nickles had chemotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation over her seven months of treatment — and only missed five days of work along the way. Her co-anchor Ron Bird (right) and meteorologist Lindsay Storrs (left) presented her with cookies from a local bakery.

“You’ve been such an inspiration for this whole thing,” Storrs told Nickles. “Your attitude has been so great.”

Roland Steadham is out as chief meteorologist at KTVX, after two years with the Salt Lake City ABC-affiliate.

KTVX news director Larry Perret confirmed Steadham’s exit to TVSpy today, but did not go into detail about what led to the move.

According to NewsBlues, which first reported the veteran meteorologist’s departure, KTVX is set to pay out the final three months of Steadham’s contract.  Steadham joined KTVX in 2009 after serving as chief meteorologist at KUTV, Salt Lake City’s CBS-affiliate.

Perret is planning to introduce KTVX’s new weather chief later today. Read more

KUTV anchor-reporter Mary Nickles took cameras along as she went in for a recent mammogram to show viewers how quick and easy it is to get screened. While she stressed the importance of regular mammograms in her story, she didn’t realize at the time how important this one would be for her.

Nickles’s mammogram displayed a dense spot of tissue that doctors eventually diagnosed as a malignant tumor.

Nickles announced the diagnosis on her Facebook wall today, telling people that she recently had a successful lumpectomy and will soon undergo chemotherapy and radiation.

“I’m sharing to encourage more of you to get your screenings!” Nickles wrote. Read more

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced today that it has finalized the acquisition of Four Points Media’s stations for $200 million.

Sinclair announced the deal, which includes KUTV in Salt Lake City and KEYE in Austin, back in September and has been operating Four Points Media’s stations since October 1st.

The Baltimore-based company now officially owns KUTV (CBS) and KMYU (MNT) in Salt Lake City; KEYE (CBS) in Austin; WTVX (CW), WTCN-CA (MNT), and WWHB-CA (Azteca) in West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce; and WLWC (CW) in Providence.