Nick Roberts has been named vice president of marketing for Cox Media Group Ohio. In his new role, Roberts will “oversee the strategic marketing activities of CMG Ohio’s integrated brands, drive product development and accelerate media platform convergence,” according to a CMG Ohio press release.

Roberts joined the company in 1997 and most recently served as the regional director of programming for CMG’s Ohio and Louisville radio stations. He replaces former vice president of marketing Donna Hall, who was recently promoted to group vice president at Cox Media Atlanta.

Cox Media Group Ohio oversees several newspapers and radio stations, as well as Dayton CBS affiliate WHIO.

Mark Bruce, reporter and Saturday morning anchor for Dayton,OH, CBS affiliate WHIO, has announced he’s leaving local TV.

“The word got out, next Saturday will be my last day at NewsCenter 7,” Bruce said on his facebook page. “I am taking a job in Columbus that will allow a move to be closer to my family. The decision is bittersweet because my time at WHIO has been wonderful. Thanks for your support!”

He told TVSpy his job in Columbus” will be Public Information Officer for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Bruce said his last day at the station will be Saturday March 16. He started at WHIO in 2008 and previously worked at WRCB in Chattanooga, TN.

McCall Vrydaghs begins this month as the weekend meteorologist at WHIO, the CBS affiliate in Dayton.

Vrydaghs moves to Ohio from New York City, where she has been a meteorologist at Verizon’s Fios1 news channel since 2011 She has also worked at CNN Headline News Radio. She will be WHIO’s second weekend meteorologist, working alongside Erica Collura.

“Dayton and Storm Center 7 have a lot to offer,” Vrydaghs said in a statement. “I’m excited to be joining such an excellent weather team, and look forward to meeting our viewers.”

Letitia Perry, 11 p.m. anchor for Dayton, Ohio CBS affiliate WHIO, moves to the mornings.  The Dayton native will co-anchor News Center 7′s Daybreak edition with fellow anchors John Paul and Gabrielle Enright along with meteorologist Rick Wirdzek.

“This is an exciting new chapter in my broadcast career,” said Perry.  “I grew up watching Channel7 and to this day I’m still thrilled, excited and proud to be a member of the News Center 7 team.”

The station said it made the move to continue to build on this summer’s ratings surge for their morning news.

Perry has been at WHIO for 12 years, six of those have been at the 11 p.m. anchor desk.  She will start her new duties Monday.

Natasha Williams has parted ways with WHIO after 19 years at the Dayton CBS-affiliate.

Williams has not appeared at the WHIO morning anchor desk since late last month. The station has been responding to comments on its Facebook page with a statement that reads, “Natasha no longer works at WHIO-TV. We wish her well in her future endeavors!”

Williams co-anchored the morning newscast with John Paul. Before joining WHIO in 1993 as a reporter, she worked at WBBJ in Jackson, WTVO in Rockford and WKEF in Dayton.

Cox Media Group announced today that Rob Rohr has been appointed general manager of the company’s Ohio group, which includes Dayton CBS-affiliate WHIO.

Rohr previously served as senior vice president of sales for Cox Media Group Ohio, which includes print, web, and radio properties across the state in addition to WHIO.  He assumes the responsibilities previously held by Brian Cooper, who served as senior vice president of CMG Ohio before recently transferring to CMG-owned Atlanta Journal Constitution.

“I’m delighted to be able to appoint Rob to this role,” said Julia Wallace, market vice president for Cox Media Group Ohio.  “He has molded a highly successful sales team that understands our various markets.  His smart strategic thinking will be an asset now to even more of the organization.” Read more

WDTN, the NBC-affiliate in Dayton, will launch an expanded newscast with a 4:30 a.m. start time on Monday.

“The weather is changing and there’s no better time to give our viewers an even-earlier look at how they should plan their day,” WDTN general manager Lisa Barhorst said in a statement. “We all live busy lives and people are starting their days even earlier.”

WDTN will keep the same anchor team — Dan Edwards and Pam Elliot, with meteorologist Jamie Jarosik — in place for the extra half-hour.

The station will be the third in the market, after CBS-affiliate WHIO and ABC-affiliate WKEF, to start the morning newscast at 4:30 a.m.

Thirty TV stations across Ohio have reportedly pulled a political ad off the air over its controversial use of footage featuring a great-grandmother from Cincinnati.

78-year-old Marlene Quinn recently signed on to appear in an ad opposing an upcoming ballot initiative.  The ad (embedded above)–in which Quinn recounts how a group of brave firefighters saved her granddaughter’s life–was apparently so effective at swaying voter opinion that a group supporting the ballot initiative used footage of Quinn in its own ad (video inside). Read more

Dayton’s WHIO announced today that it will expand its morning news to the 4:30 a.m. timeslot beginning next Monday.

The station will move Gabrielle Enright, who has been with the CBS affiliate since 1997, from weekend anchor to helm the new broadcast. Enright will be joined by meteorologist Rich Wirdzek and will contribute to the regular 5 a.m. program, which is anchored by John Paul and Natasha Williams, as the morning goes on.

“We’ve had a great response to our expanded newscasts at 4:30 a.m. when we’ve had major breaking news and severe weather,” said news director Dave Bannallack. “Now Gabrielle and Rich will be there for our viewers every day.”

The expanded news will make the cumulative time for WHIO’s morning show three and a half hours, including the 7 a.m. hour, which is broadcast on the station’s digital channel.