After eight years at WTVF, Scott Arnold is leaving the Nashville CBS affiliate to launch his own video production company.

Arnold, who anchors the weekend evening newscasts, showed viewers some of his funniest on-air moments during his last newscast (video above). “In my last few seconds on the air, I want to say thank you. Thank you for watching over the years,” Arnold said.

Journal Communications announced revenue from its 15 television stations increased +39.5% in the third quarter of 2012.

Political and issue revenue in the third quarter was $8.6 million and Olympic advertising was $2.7 million, the company said. Core local advertising revenue decreased -3% due to declines in restaurant and home advertising, as well as the displacement impact of political and issue advertising in certain markets. Core national advertising revenue increased +18.2% due to automotive and media advertising.

Journal also completed an agreement this quarter to purchase WTVF in Nashville, which chairman and CEO Steven J. Smith said in a statement “advanced our strategy of adding broadcast assets to the business.”

Kim Chappell begins next month at WBND, the ABC affiliate in South Bend. She will anchor the station’s evening newscasts alongside Brian Dorman.

Chappell comes to WBND from WTVF in Nashville, where she used her maiden name, Kim Gebbia. She has previously worked for WXII in Winston-Salem and WECT in Wilmington, N.C.

“Kim has spent her career digging up stories that impact the communities where people live,” news director Aaron Ramey said in a statement. “She has a passion for one-on-one interaction with the folks who are affected by the news. I think that shows in her compassionate approach to story-telling.”

Chappell replaces Krista Fogelsong, who left WBND for WBBH in May.

Journal Communications, Inc. announced today that its Journal Broadcast Group has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Nashville’s CBS affiliate, WTVF, from Landmark Media Enterprises, LLC.

“We are especially pleased to reach an agreement to purchase NewsChannel 5 in Nashville,” said Steven J. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Journal Communications. “This station will be a cornerstone asset within Journal Communications. WTVF TV is an exceptional local news station with an extraordinary staff that demonstrates its commitment to Nashville every single day. We are delighted to welcome NewsChannel 5′s outstanding team to Journal.”

In October 2008, WTVF looked like it was being sold to Bonten Media Group.  But Landmark terminated the deal when Bonten notified Landmark it wouldn’t be able to close the deal on time.

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Former “Saturday Night Live” star, and current conservative activist, Victoria Jackson is accusing WTVF of brainwashing its viewers after the station edited down an interview with her for a report that aired this week.

A WTVF videographer recently spent time with Jackson as she investigated the construction of a new Islamic center just outside of Nashville. In an open letter posted on patriotupdate.com, Jackson voices her disapproval with the report that WTVF eventually aired. Read more

Houston NBC-affiliate KHOU is adding reporter Tim Wetzel to its news team. His first day will be Monday, according to Houston media blogger Mike McGuff.

Wetzel was most recently a reporter at WTVF in Nashville. He replaces Lisa Chavarria, who is headed to WFLD in Chicago. Chavarria also joined KHOU from WTVF in 2010.

“I’m very excited to join the KHOU team and look forward to working at such a great station,” Wetzel told McGuff.

Lisa Chavarria is joining WFLD, the Fox O&O in Chicago, as a general assignment reporter for the 9 p.m. newscast. Her first day will be April 30.

Chavarria has been a reporter at KHOU in Houston since 2010. She has also worked at WTVF in Nashville and WTOM in Traverse City, MI. A Chicago native, she began her career with internships at NBC News’ Chicago bureau and WGN, the CW-affiliate.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to my hometown, doing something I truly love, and that is telling stories about topics that are relevant to the people of Chicago,” Chavarria said in a statement. “I look forward to covering news in this great city, a place that has shaped who I am as a person and a journalist.”

In a “Saturday Night Live” skit this weekend about a local news team shooting a promo (video above), a traffic reporter played by Fred Armisen is named “Hope Hines” — which was quite the surprise to the real Hope Hines, a former WTVF sports anchor who retired in July and happened to be watching “SNL” with his wife.

“When they said my name, I looked at her and said, ‘what in the heck is going on here?’” Hines said in an interview with WTVF. “Wow. It just blew me away.”

Hines, who found the skit “really, really funny,” did a little digging and was able to uncover how “SNL” settled on his name. Read more

Doug Kufner, who has worked as a sports anchor at WTVW for the past six years, is leaving Evansville, IN to join WCNC in Charlotte.

Kufner has accepted a “jack of all trades” position with the NBC-affiliate’s sports department.  He’ll work as a producer, reporter, photographer, and anchor.

“I’m extremely grateful to WTVW for giving me the opportunity to live and work in Evansville over the last six years,” Kufner told TVSpy via email.  “My wife and I are thrilled to be moving to such a wonderful city in Charlotte.  I’m very excited to be joining the talented group of journalists at WCNC!” Read more

Earlier this week, WTVF aired a dramatic report on a man who crashed his truck through the window of a gas station convenience store in Nashville (video of the report is after the jump). The segment, complete with exclusive surveillance video of the crash, was reported on by WTVF’s Nick Beres, who talked to Poynter about the challenge of writing copy for dramatic video. Read more