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October 27th, 2008
CHANNEL 13 NEWS WINS EMMY FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 27, 2008
CHANNEL 13 NEWS WINS EMMY FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
Emmy earned for 2007 investigation entitled “What Lies Beneath”
Coveted honor marks only Iowa Emmy in Investigation category
DES MOINES, IA – WHO-TV announced today it has earned a coveted Emmy award for its Channel 13 News Investigation entitled “What Lies Beneath” from The Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Television Academy. Presented Saturday night in Minneapolis, it was the only Iowa Emmy in the “Investigation” category.
“The Emmy is affirmation of this station’s dedication to provide central Iowans with what they expect and deserve: the very best in local television news coverage,” said WHO-TV News Director Rod Peterson. “Quality news programming is something every department and every staff member take very seriously at Channel 13 News.”
The 2007 Channel 13 News Investigation “What Lies Beneath” involved a Marion county resident that bought an acreage that turned out to be on Knoxville’s old city landfill. Channel 13 News anchor/reporter Dan Winters wrote the story that was photographed and edited by photojournlists Randy Schumacher and Jeff Felton.
For more information contact:
Tim Gardner, Director of Creative Services
515-242-3611
About the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Television Academy
The Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Television Academy is a membership organization dedicated to excellence in television by honoring exceptional work, past and present; providing professional development and outreach; and nurturing the next generation of television professionals.
They are the only professional association representing television professionals from all disciplines of the industry, serving as the common meeting ground for individuals dedicated to advancing the art and science of television.
About WHO-TV Channel 13
WHO-TV Channel 13, owned by Local TV LLC, is celebrating 54 years of broadcast service to central Iowa. Channel 13 News prides itself on bringing viewers rich, local content that other stations won’t commit to. From exclusive investigations to ground-breaking, creative coverage of the big daily story, Channel 13 News lives up to its word of “See the Difference.”
Channel 13 News has won the most prestigious awards in the broadcast industry. In 2008, Channel 13 News earned a coveted Emmy award for “Investigative Series” plus 11 Eric Sevareid Journalism Awards from the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the most of any Iowa station, including 4 First Place awards for “Best Newscast”, “Series”, ”Hard Feature”, and “Sportscast.”. In 2007, WHO-TV earned an Emmy and regional Edward R. Murrow awards for “Best Newscast” and six Eric Sevareid journalism awards for “Investigative” and “Spot News” reporting and eight “First Place” awards from the Iowa Associated Press. In 2006, the station earned the coveted national Edward R. Murrow for “Best Newscast and veteran anchor John Bachman was inducted into the National Television Academy’s “Silver Circle” for an accomplished career in broadcasting.
The technological leader, WHO-TV Channel 13 was the first commercial television station in Iowa to: use videotape, broadcast live from news events, employ live Doppler radar, broadcast in high-definition, produce high-definition local news segments, and first high definition syndicated programming. Today, WHO-TV operates central Iowa’s first and only news helicopter, Chopper 13, the most powerful and sophisticated live Doppler radar in Iowa with MEGA Doppler and continues to be the only station in Iowa to broadcast special news stories and syndicated programming in high definition.
Local TV LLC is a broadcast holding company created in 2007 to acquire nine heritage television stations in eight midsized markets. In 2008, the company acquired eight Fox Affiliates previously owned by News Corporation. Local TV is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, management and a consortium of bankers and high yield lenders who drank the Kool-Aid and are as enthusiastic about our future as we are. Stay tuned.
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October 24th, 2008
WHO-TV TO NOW OFFER POPULAR WEEKDAY PROGRAMS IN HIGH DEFINITION
WHO-TV TO NOW OFFER POPULAR WEEKDAY PROGRAMS IN HIGH DEFINITION
Iowa’s first commercial station to invest in new technology
Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and Ellen can now be viewed in crystal clear high definition
Channel 13 News remains first commercial station in state to broadcast special stories in high definition
DES MOINES, IA – WHO-TV announced today that it has become the first commercial television station in Iowa to broadcast viewers’ favorite weekday programs in crystal-clear high definition digital television. Now viewers can see Channel 13’s top-rated weekday programs Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Ellen in a way that no other station is delivering.
“We’re very excited about being the first station in Iowa to take the next technological leap,” says WHO-TV Regional Vice President and General Manager Dale R. Woods. “We realize our viewers are being asked to step up and make the investment to digital and high definition television. So, we’re making an investment to broadcast everything we can in high definition.”
This latest technological endeavor is in addition to the regular high definition news stories that Channel 13 News as been producing since last February…making WHO-TV Iowa’s first and only station with high definition news segments.
Wheel of Fortune can be seen Monday through Friday at 6:30 PM, Jeopardy airs weekdays at 4:30 PM and Ellen Weekdays at 3:00 PM.
“And wait until viewers see these programs in the clarity of high definition,” continues Woods. “It really is amazing!”
Viewers with HDTV’s will need to be sure they’re tuned to WHO-DT Channel 13.1 to see these programs. Mediacom customers with digital cable can see these broadcasts if they have an HDTV television and tune to Channel 813. Viewers without a high definition television will continue to see these programs just as they do now.
For more information contact:
Dale R. Woods, Regional VP and General Manager
515-242-3701
About the Digital Television Conversion
By law, full-power television stations nationwide must stop using the old method of transmitting TV signals known as analog and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format on February 17, 2009. Digital television (DTV) is an innovative type of broadcasting technology that will give you crystal-clear pictures and sound, and more programming choices than ever before. DTV makes it possible for stations to broadcast multiple channels of free programming all at once (called multicasting), instead of broadcasting one channel at a time. DTV technology can also be used to deliver future interactive video and data services that analog technology can’t provide.
While the benefits of DTV are remarkable, thousands of central Iowa households risk losing television reception unless they take the easy steps to receive a digital signal. The best resource for answers through the transition is www.dtvanswers.com.
About WHO-TV Channel 13
WHO-TV Channel 13, owned by Local TV LLC, is celebrating 54 years of broadcast service to central Iowa. Channel 13 News prides itself on bringing viewers rich, local content that other stations won’t commit to. From exclusive investigations to ground-breaking, creative coverage of the big daily story, Channel 13 News lives up to its word of “See the Difference.”
Channel 13 News has won the most prestigious awards in the broadcast industry. In 2008, Channel 13 News earned 11 Eric Sevareid Journalism Awards, the most of any Iowa station, including 4 First Place awards for “Best Newscast”, “Series”, ”Hard Feature”, and “Sportscast.”. In 2007, WHO-TV earned a coveted Emmy and regional Edward R. Murrow awards for “Best Newscast” plus two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for “Best Newscast” and “Sports Reporting”, six Eric Sevareid journalism awards from the Northwest Broadcast News Association for “Investigative” and “Spot News” reporting and eight “First Place” awards from the Iowa Associated Press. In 2006, the station earned the coveted national Edward R. Murrow for “Best Newscast and veteran anchor John Bachman was inducted into the National Television Academy’s “Silver Circle” for an accomplished career in broadcasting.
The technological leader, WHO-TV Channel 13 was the first to use videotape, the first to broadcast from news events live, the first live Doppler radar, first commercial high-definition television broadcast, and first high-definition local news segment. Now, WHO-TV operates central Iowa’s first and only news helicopter, Chopper 13, and the most powerful and sophisticated live Doppler radar in Iowa with MEGA Doppler.
Local TV LLC is a broadcast holding company created in 2007 to acquire nine heritage television stations in eight midsized markets. In 2008, the company acquired eight Fox Affiliates previously owned by News Corporation. Local TV is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, management and a consortium of bankers and high yield lenders who drank the Kool-Aid and are as enthusiastic about our future as we are. Stay tuned.
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September 18th, 2008
Lou Kirchen Heads to WBRC-TV
LOCAL TV’s LOU KIRCHEN
HEADS TO BIRMINGHAM’S FOX WBRC-TV
Departs #1 WNEP-TV to Take the Helm of Nation’s #1 Fox Affiliate
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2008 … Winning is something Local TV President & General Manager and Regional VP Lou Kirchen knows how to do. For the last seven years she has stood at the top of Scranton’s WNEP-TV, the number one ranked ABC morning news affiliate in the country, and in the top five overall. When the GM spot at sister station WBRC-TV came open in Birmingham recently, Kirchen threw her hat into the ring immediately.
WBRC is the number one FOX affiliate in the country in local news and prime ratings. The station is home to American Idol, House, Bones and the all new Fringe, among other hit shows. FOX6 produces 8 hours of local news daily, and is the market’s hands down news leader in ratings and share. It’s a powerhouse station in a tremendously attractive and growing market.
Local TV CEO Bobby Lawrence says that the Birmingham opportunity brought people out of the woodwork. “We heard from a lot of highly qualified people about this job at WBRC,” says Lawrence, “but nobody knows how strategically challenging it is to run a #1 station like Lou does. That was a critical component for us.”
Stepping into a heritage station like WBRC is nothing new to Kirchen. When she landed in Scranton seven years ago WNEP-TV was a long standing #1 market leader. And she hasn’t missed a beat in growing the magic. Kirchen says, “It may seem odd, but in many ways keeping a station #1 is tougher than growing it to #1. When you’re at the top all the arrows are pointed at you. Of course, number one ratings and revenue share are required. But it takes more – strong community involvement, agency relationships, local business development, and a commitment to protecting the position 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That’s been my mantra for the last seven years, and I’m not about to change it in Birmingham. WBRC is full of high energy, highly talented people who fight the fight every day. I’m looking forward to joining the troops.”
Kirchen started her career in broadcasting on air as “Cora Mabel Mouthy Lou” at then-Country format WTRI in western Maryland. She moved from behind the mic to radio sales both at WTRI and what became WXTR. Television, however, was her real calling. She spent nearly five years at WBTW in Myrtle Beach, SC as GM before moving to NBC affiliate WOWT in Omaha as General Manager. From there Kirchen headed to Northeast Pennsylvania and WNEP-TV. The rest, as they say, is history.
She’s packed her bags and is on the ground in Birmingham effective today. She will also continue to serve as Regional VP for selected Local TV markets.
Chuck Morgan, WNEP-TV General Sales Manager, is interim General Manager for WNEP.
For further information, contact:
Pam Taylor
859-448-2700
Lou Kirchen
205-322-6666
www.localtvllc.com
About Local TV
Local TV Holdings LLC is a broadcast holding company created in 2007 to acquire nine heritage television stations in eight mid-sized markets. In 2008 Local TV Holdings added eight FOX stations in eight top 50 markets to its mix. Local TV is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, management and a consortium of bankers and high yield lenders who are as enthusiastic about our future as we are. Stay tuned.
September 17th, 2008
TRIBUNE AND LOCAL TV TO PARTNER IN ST. LOUIS AND DENVER
TRIBUNE AND LOCAL TV TO PARTNER IN ST. LOUIS AND DENVER
Local Marketing and Shared Services Agreements Create More News and
Programming Choices
CHICAGO and CINCINATI, Sept. 16, 2008—In a move that refocuses programming and news on the needs of the local community, Tribune Company and Local TV Holdings, LLC today announced that they have reached an agreement in principle to enter into a local
marketing agreement for their television stations in Denver and a shared services agreement for their television stations in St. Louis. These agreements will enable the stations to stagger news, programming and community affairs programs so that viewers have more options to fit their increasingly hectic lifestyles. In Denver, the agreements will involve KDVR (Local
TV/FOX) and KWGN (Tribune/CW). In St. Louis, KPLR (Tribune/CW) and KTVI (Local TV/FOX) will enter a shared services arrangement.
The agreements will allow the stations to locate in the same facility, use combined news
operations and share certain programming. In St. Louis the stations will co-locate in the
offices of KPLR and use one news room to produce nine hours of news every day, with
no overlap.
“People today need local news programs throughout the day, not just in the morning, the
early evening and at 9 or 10 pm.,” said Spencer Koch, Market Manager for St. Louis and
long time general manager of KTVI. “The June and Ward Cleaver world of working 9
to 5, with dinner at 5:30 while tuning in the local news is long gone. By joining with
KPLR, we can combine the best of both stations in news gathering and production. If the
people of St. Louis want to watch news, they will find it on Channel 2 (KTVI) or
Channel 11 (KPLR). We are working to our audience’s schedule, not ours.”
KPLR recently launched an hour-long local newscast at 7 p.m. News at 7 is one of the only prime time newscasts in the country, and the only one in St. Louis.
In Denver, both stations will operate out of the KDVR studios.
“Both KDVR (FOX Channel 31) and KWGN (CW Channel 2) have a strong local presence
in the morning,” said Dennis Leonard, Denver Market Manager, “We will continue to go
head to head on our morning newscasts and focus on delivering more options for news
viewing in the noon, 5:30 and late news slots. Both of the stations have strong, loyal
viewers. We will take the best of both newscasts and repackage it for each station.”
Ed Wilson, President of Tribune Broadcast, added, “These arrangements enable us to create efficiencies between the FOX and CW affiliates in each market to serve the local community like never before. In each case, we can leverage the strengths of two great stations to serve viewers with more news and the most popular entertainment
programming. On top of that, we can provide advertisers the ease and efficiency of onestop shopping, delivering even greater reach.”
Local TV CEO Bobby Lawrence commented, “The television industry is on the cusp of
change. The internet, mobile, TiVo and alternative distribution channels are growing forms
of content distribution. As our audience finds new ways to get content we need to
streamline our delivery costs and provide more local programming, news and community
information. With Tribune as our partner, we can streamline the back office and news
gathering costs, while still giving viewers access to two great and very different stations
and content. It is the way of the future, and we are excited to be a part of TV’s evolution.”
Working together, the stations will command the largest television news gathering
operations in both Denver and St. Louis. Viewers and advertisers will also benefit from an unprecedented primetime programming line-up, including such shows as “American Idol,” “The Simpsons,” “America’s Next Top Model,” and the recently launched
“90210.” It is anticipated that the agreements will be effective October 1.
“We offer something for everyone while we cross-promote programming and news on each
station,” adds Wilson. “In addition we’ll reduce our overall operating costs and use the
savings to enhance the technology at each of these stations, build out our HD capabilities,
and claim the #1 position as the most locally-focused broadcasters in each market.”
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Media Contacts:
Gary Weitman Pam Taylor
Tribune Company Local TV LLC
312/222-3394 (office) 859/448-2700 (Office)
gweitman@tribune.com ptaylor@localtvllc.com
Local TV LLC is a broadcast holding company created in 2007 to acquire nine heritage television stations in eight midsized markets. In 2008, the company acquired eight Fox affiliates previously owned by News Corp. Local TV is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, management, and a consortium of bankers and high yield lenders who are as enthusiastic about our future as we are. Stay tuned.
TRIBUNE is America’s largest employee-owned media company, operating businesses
in publishing, interactive and broadcasting. In publishing, Tribune’s leading daily
newspapers include the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Sun
Sentinel (South Florida), Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, Morning Call and Daily
Press. The company’s broadcasting group operates 23 television stations, WGN America on national cable, Chicago’s WGN-AM and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Popular
news and information websites complement Tribune’s print and broadcast properties and extend the company’s nationwide audience. At Tribune we take what we do seriously and with a great deal of pride. We also value the creative spirit and are nurturing a corporate
culture that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
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