WEHT - TVSpy

Anchor Changes Announced at WTVW-WEHT

Kevin Eck — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:58:52 +0000

WTVW-WEHT in Evansville, IN, has announced a few anchor changes taking place this week.

Kara Kirtley has joined the station as the morning co-anchor. She anchors the 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. news for ABC affiliate WEHT and the 7:00 a.m. news for WTVW.

“I am thrilled and honored to become a part of the Eyewitness News Daybreak team,” said Kirtley. “Having grown up in Central City, Kentucky, returning to the Tri-State now feels like coming home. Covering the news in our community means so much to me and I consider it a real blessing.”

Kirtley comes to WTVW-WEHT from Great Falls, MT, where she was the evening news manager and anchor for KFBB.

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Drew Gardner Leaves WTVW for Knoxville’s WATE

Kevin Eck — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:05:12 +0000

Drew Gardner is headed to Knoxville to report for ABC affiliate WATE, according to Jake’s DTV Blog. Gardner comes from WTVW in Evansville, IN.

Gardner joined WTVW in 2010. He survived a merge between two Evansville stations last year when Nexstar, which already owned WTVW, bought cross town ABC station WEHT.

He posted this farewell to his facebook page Friday:

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Bob Walters Joins KNOE as News Director

Merrill Knox — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:04:10 +0000

There’s a new news director at KNOE, according to Jake’s DTV Blog: Bob Walters began at the CBS affiliate in Monroe, La. this week.

Walters joined the station, which is Hoak Media operates as part of a duopoly with KAQY, Parker Broadcasting’s ABC affiliate, on Monday. He spent more than 10 years as news director of WTVW in Evansville, becoming news director of WEHT when the stations merged last year. He was cut from the stations in June.

As Jake’s DTV Blog notes, he will be competing with his former employer, Nexstar Broadcasting, in his new role. Nexstar owns Fox-affiliated KARD and operates NBC-affiliated KTVE.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Anchor Julie Dolan Joins WLEX From WEHT

Merrill Knox — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:57:05 +0000

Julie Dolan is the new morning co-anchor Lexington NBC affiliate WLEX, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

Dolan joins WLEX from WEHT in Evansville, where she has worked since 2007, most recently as the morning anchor. At WLEX, she will anchor from 4:30 to 7 a.m. alongside Chris Goodman.

“When we put Julie on the set for her newscast audition, it was as if Chris and Julie had worked together forever,” WLEX news director Bruce Carter told the Herald-Leader. “They had great chemistry, and it was just the perfect match.” continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Nexstar Cuts WEHT-WTVW News Director

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:02:59 +0000

Bob Walters is out as news director of WEHT-WTVW in Evansville.

Walters, who had been with WTVW since 2000, was promoted to news director of both stations last year after Nexstar Broadcasting acquired WEHT and merged its operations with WTVW. His departure was first reported this week by Jake’s DTV Blog.

WEHT-WTVW production manager John Payne was also let go by Nexstar, and he has since been replaced by Jeremy Moore from WTWO, the company’s NBC-affiliate in Terre Haute. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Reporter Courtney Gousman Returns to Chicago

Merrill Knox — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:42:46 +0000

Courtney Gousman has joined Chicago CBS O&O WBBM on a freelance basis, Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder reports.

Gousman, a Chicago native, made her debut on last weekend’s evening newscasts. She comes to WBBM from KSDK, the NBC-affiliate in St. Louis, where she was a reporter and fill-in anchor.

Gousman has been working in television since 2006. She has previously worked at WEHT in Evansville, IN and KRGC in Jefferson City, MO.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Whitney Ray Returns to WEHT as Main Anchor

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:54:55 +0000

Whitney Ray, who spent three years as a morning anchor and reporter at WEHT before being cut loose last year, has been tapped as the Evansville ABC-affiliate’s new evening anchor.

A native of Southern Indiana, Ray will co-anchor WEHT’s 4, 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts alongside Brad Byrd, and she’ll also helm the 6:30 p.m. newscast produced for WTVW.

“We are delighted to welcome Whitney Ray back to WEHT as she brings the right skill set, community knowledge and commitment to serve as a successful co-anchor in the market,” WEHT vice president and general manager Arika Zink said, announcing the appointment. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Anchor Shelley Kirk Leaving WEHT After 23 Years

Merrill Knox — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:06:50 +0000

Longtime anchor Shelley Kirk announced yesterday that she is leaving Evansville’s WEHT at the end of this week.

Kirk, the station’s evening anchor, joined the ABC-affiliate in 1989. Her final appearance at the anchor desk will be the 6 p.m. newscast on Friday.

“I’ve known Shelley for 22 years, 18 of those years I’ve been honored to share the anchor desk with her,” co-anchor Brad Byrd said in a statement. “Shelley’s contribution not only to this station but to the Evansville TV market has been phenomenal.”

WEHT merged operations with WTVW in December. A number of on-air staffers at WEHT were eliminated as a result of the merger, but Kirk and Byrd were retained.

Kirk will join Fifth Third Bank in Evansville as marketing director.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Arika Zink Tapped as VP-GM of WEHT-WTVW

Merrill Knox — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:19:50 +0000

Nexstar Broadcasting has named Arika Zink vice president and general manager of WEHT, the ABC-affiliate in Evansville. She replaces Mike Smith, who is retiring.

Zink will also oversee operations at WTVW, which is operated by Nexstar under a shared services agreement. Since 2009, she has been vice president and general manager of Four Points Media’s West Palm Beach television operations, which include WTVX, WTCN and WWHB.

“She brings multi-station management experience and an impressive track record of programming and operational achievements to her new role,” Nexstar COO Tim Busch said in a statement.

Zink’s appointment is effective today.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WEHT Staffers Relocate After Evansville Merger Leaves Them Unemployed

Merrill Knox — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:47:27 +0000

In the aftermath of Evansville’s WEHT merger with WTVW last week, some prominent staffers at the station who were casualties of the joint operation have secured new jobs, the Evansville Courier-Press reports.

Among them are reporters Danielle Lama (pictured) and Daniela Perallon, who both joined WEHT in September, and producers Jason Pumo and Rachel Powers.

Lama will join WKOW, the ABC-affiliate in Madison, and Perallon will join WHNT, the CBS-affiliate in Huntsville, AL.

On the production side, Pumo, who produced the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts for WEHT, has been hired as an executive producer at WJTV in Jackson, MS. Powers joins Waterman Broadcasting in Fort Myers, FL.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Anchor Brad Byrd Says WEHT-WTVW Merger Has Been ‘Painful For Some’

Merrill Knox — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:07:08 +0000

Beginning today, WEHT and WTVW officially operate as a duopoly under a shared services agreement in Evansville, as Nexstar Broadcasting completes its acquisition of WEHT from Gilmore Broadcasting.

Longtime WEHT anchor Brad Byrd, who will remain with the station under the new management, took a moment on last night’s evening newscast to address the changes that will take place starting today.

“This process has been painful for some,” Byrd said, referring to the layoffs resulting from the merger. “But I can say to those leaving this building on Merrywood Drive, you’re going to be alright, because you’re dedicated and you’re good people.”

Watch video of Byrd’s sign-off commentary — which includes dramatic use of studio lighting — inside. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Changes Afoot in Evansville, As WEHT and WTVW Merge Operations

Merrill Knox — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:09:48 +0000

In the aftermath of Nexstar’s acquisition of WEHT, big changes are coming to the Evansville ABC-affiliate.

Earlier this month came the announcement that a significant number of staffers — from production staff to on-air talent to station management — would be let go. As the station merges operations with independent WTVW, the newscasts will get a new look, and new talent, when the revamped programming debuts next Thursday.

The Evansville Courier-Press reports that WTVW evening anchors Randy Moore and Julie Dolan (pictured) will move to mornings on WEHT, and the pair will be joined by meteorologist Ron Rhodes. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Nexstar Announces Record Third Quarter

Andrew Gauthier — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:44:33 +0000

Nexstar reported a 2.3% increase in third quarter revenue today, boasting a record $74.8 million for the period.

“Nexstar’s record third quarter revenue reflects our eighth consecutive quarter of core television advertising revenue growth,” Nexstar president and CEO Perry Sook said. “The 5.3% rise in core ad revenue growth, 17.5% increases in e-Media revenue, 30.5% in retransmission fee revenue and 21.0% improvement in management agreement revenue more than offset the impact of a 74.3% year-over-year reduction in political revenue.”

In announcing its third quarter financial results, Nexstar emphasized its expanding media footprint, which now includes WFRV and WJMN in Wisconsin and Michigan as well as WEHT in Evansville, IN. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Nexstar Cuts Several Jobs At Evansville’s WEHT

Merrill Knox — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:19:06 +0000

Nexstar Broadcasting has fired several people from WEHT, the ABC-affiliate in Evansville, according to the Evansville Courier & Press.

Nexstar agreed to acquire WEHT in August. The employees have been notified that their positions will be terminated when Nexstar officially takes the reins from Gilmore Broadcasting, which is expected at the end of the month.

The Courier & Press reports general manager Doug Padgett, general sales manager Mike Riley and news director Mark Glover are among those who will no longer be employed at WEHT. Reporter and weekend sports anchor Sean Clark-Weiss, morning co-anchor Whitney Ray, reporter Nick LaGrange and sports director Mark McVicar have also been informed they will be let go, as well as “several” producers, directors and editors.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WEHT Meteorologist Scott Dimmich Joins WKRC

Merrill Knox — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:58:37 +0000

Cincinnati native Scott Dimmich, who is the morning meteorologist at WEHT in Evansville, is headed home. He will join WKRC next month as the weekend meteorologist.

Dimmich, who joined WEHT in 2009, said his last day will be November 4. “It’s tough to leave my colleagues and friends in the Tri-State, but I’m looking forward to taking what I’ve learned back to my hometown,” he told Ohio media blogger Jake Newkirk.

Dimmich joins WKRC a month after the departure of Jeff Creighton, who left the Cincinnati CBS-affiliate last month after inking a deal with rival station WXIX.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.