WTVF - TVSpy

Anchor Scott Arnold Says Goodbye to WTVF

Merrill Knox — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:39:25 +0000

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.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Q3 Earnings: Journal Communications TV Revenue Up 40%

Merrill Knox — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:14:49 +0000

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.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Kim Chappell Joins WBND as Evening Co-Anchor

Merrill Knox — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:13:01 +0000

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.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Journal Communications to Buy WTVF for $215M

Kevin Eck — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:21:28 +0000

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.

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Former ‘SNL’ Star Accuses WTVF of ‘Brainwashing Viewers’

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:10:05 +0000

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. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Reporter Tim Wetzel Joining KHOU in Houston

Merrill Knox — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:07:06 +0000

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.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Reporter Lisa Chavarria Joins WFLD From KHOU

Merrill Knox — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:20:40 +0000

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.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

‘SNL’ Uses Former WTVF Anchor’s Name in Skit Spoofing Newscasters

Merrill Knox — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:59:53 +0000

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. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Doug Kufner to Join WCNC Sports Department

Andrew Gauthier — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:29:17 +0000

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!” continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WTVF’s Nick Beres On Writing To Dramatic Video: ‘Keep It Simple. The Video Tells The Story’

Merrill Knox — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:43:41 +0000

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. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

President Obama Tells WESH’s Jim Payne: America Has Gotten ‘a Little Soft’

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:20:14 +0000

President Obama sat down with anchors from WTVF, WXII, and WESH on Thursday, trying to sell his new jobs bill.

WTVF’s Vicki Yates, WXII’s Cameron Kent, and WESH’s Jim Payne all got seven minutes with the President and, even though each interview had a local focus, Obama’s message appeared to be the same throughout all of them: things are bad but will get better, as long as my jobs bill is passed.

One notable exchange, though, came when Payne wondered whether his children would have the same opportunities as generations past. Obama responded by saying he feels that America has gotten “a little soft.” continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Obama Invites WTVF, WXII, WESH to White House

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:15:33 +0000

President Obama invited contingents from three local stations to the White House today for interviews focusing on his new jobs bill.

This morning the President sat down with Vicki Yates of WTVF in Nashville; Cameron Kent of WXII in Greensboro-Winston-Salem, NC; and Jim Payne of WESH in Orlando.

According to the White House, Obama wants to communicate “the need for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act now to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of working Americans.”

WTVF, WXII, and WESH will begin airing portions of their interviews, which were limited to seven minutes, this evening. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Change of Venue Likely in WTVF Libel Suit

Merrill Knox — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:30:38 +0000

Judge Daniel Eisenstein‘s libel lawsuit against WTVF will likely be relocated to another area to avoid conflicting interests on both sides — Eisenstein’s professional circle and the station’s viewership.

The Tennessean reports today that the trial will be moved outside Davidson County, and possibly even outside of the middle Tennessee region entirely. One judge — Hamilton Gayden — has already stepped down from the case, citing personal ties to Eisenstein. Court officials believe similar issues will stop any Nashville judge from hearing the case.

Eisenstein (pictured above) is accusing the CBS affiliate in Nashville of making libelous statements about him over the past year in reports on Eisenstein’s involvement with a man who was performing psychological treatments on the mentally ill. WTVF filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit last week.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WTVF Files Motion to Dismiss Judge’s Libel Lawsuit

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:29:40 +0000

Nashville’s WTVF and its star investigative reporter Phil Williams have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them by a local judge, who is accusing the station of making libelous statements about him in stories that ran over the past year.

The motion, filed this week in a Tennessee circuit court (the memorandum in support of the motion is embedded after the jump), states that the stories at issue “do not contain any false and defamatory statements” concerning Judge Dan Eisenstein (above, left) and therefore the lawsuit should be dismissed.

The stories at issue concern a possible ethics investigation involving the judge last summer, and his involvement with a man who was performing psychological treatment services for mentally ill defendants despite the fact that he was not a licensed psychologist. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

After 40 Years in Local TV, Hope Hines Signs Off

Merrill Knox — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:17:46 +0000

Nashville sports legend Hope Hines retired this week after 28 years as WTVF‘s sports director. The broadcast veteran is using his new free time to write a book about his career, which will be released this spring.

Hines both started and ended his career at WTVF, the CBS affiliate in Nashville. He was sports director from 1971 to 1975 before leaving the station to join KFMB, in San Diego. His lengthy broadcast career also took him to WWL in New Orleans, WCNC in Charlotte and WMAR in Baltimore before returning to WTVF in 1983.

Hines worked on his final script for the 6 p.m. broadcast for three hours. “It’s like a painting,” Hines said. “You’re never really through with it, you just stop.” Watch the tribute to Hines, after the jump. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.