New Partnership Unites FOX O&Os and AccuWeather

Eleven markets (four in South TV News’ coverage area) with FOX owned-and-operated affiliates will soon have another tool in their arsenal in terms of weather coverage: AccuWeather.

May Sweeps: WREG Edges Out WMC In Almost Every Time Slot

WREG snagged first in nearly every time slot for the May ratings period. Photo Courtesy: The Telegraph

Okay, so it wasn’t as much of a photo finish as this representation would have you believe.

But Memphis, Tenn., CBS affiliate WREG can easily claim ratings supremacy for the May ratings period.

Tennessee, Mississippi Stations Get New News Directors

WBBJ-TV Logo

Jackson, Tenn., ABC affiliate WBBJ-TV has tapped Keith Baker to be the news director there.

Industry firm Rick Gevers reports Baker has roots in the area and comes from WCTI-TV in New Bern, N.C., where he served as assistant news director. Baker also has major market experience in Tampa and Pittsburgh.

Fox Photog Attacked During Interview

Photographer Mike Moore (Courtesy FOX13)

A photographer for WHBQ, Memphis, Tenn.’s FOX affiliate has been released from the hospital after being jumped by several students at a gas station in the city.

From FOX13’s website:

Mike Moore, a multiple Emmy Award Winning Photographer and Special Projects Producer, was attacked while he and FOX13 reporter Lauren Johnson were doing an interview about boys and teen pregnancy.

Two teenagers have been charged with simple assault and vandalism. The kids were enrolled at an alternative school in downtown Memphis, one that specializes in “behavioral issues,” according to the news story.

Moore kept rolling, though, and captured some of the altercation on tape. Video after the jump…

Everything You Wanted To Know About Tennessee’s Broadcast Television Markets

We’re more than halfway through our journey of states featured on South TV News, and Tennessee has a lot to offer within its borders.

• At the top of the list, Tennessee’s capital of Nashville sits comfortably at market No. 29, according to Nielsen 2014-15 statistics. Stations here include: WKRN (ABC), WSMV (NBC), WTVF (CBS), WZTV (FOX), WUXP (MyTV) and WNAB (CW). WSMV and WTVF usually go neck-and-neck for first place in the ratings wars. All stations in the market broadcast newscasts in high-definition.
• Memphis follows as the state’s most populous city, situated near the borders of two other states, Mississippi and Arkansas. It also is designated as market No. 50. Stations include: WREG (CBS), WMC (NBC), WHBQ (FOX), WATN (ABC) and WLMT (CW, MyTV). WMC dominated the Memphis market in ratings for years, but now WREG has been winning the battle consistently for months. All station broadcast their newscasts in high definition.
• Not far behind Memphis in market size yet on the other end of the state is Knoxville, at #61. Stations include: WATE (ABC), WVLT (CBS), WBIR (NBC), WBXX (CW) and WTNZ (FOX). All stations air their newscasts in HD.
• Next in line is Chattanooga, No. 88. Stations include: WRCB (NBC), WTVC (ABC), WDEF (CBS), WFLI (CW) and WDSI (FOX). WTVC leads the ratings war there, according to figures from the last Nielsen ratings period. Only WRCB and WDEF broadcast newscasts in high definition.
• A little farther down is Tri-Cities, TN-VA, a market that extends into Virginia as well. It rates at #97. Stations include: WCYB (NBC), WJHL (CBS), WKPT (ABC), WEMT (FOX) and WAPK (MyTV). WCYB is the market leader for most newscasts in the ratings war. WJHL, WCYB and WEMT broadcast their newscasts in HD.
• Last is Jackson, at market No. 176. Stations include WBBJ (ABC) and WJKT (FOX). WBBJ is the only station with a locally-produced newscast in this market, but competes in certain counties with stations from the Memphis DMA. WJKT airs a simulcast provided by Memphis station WPTY. Only WBBJ’s newscasts are in high definition.

(Above updated February 1, 2015)

That covers another one of several states we’ll be covering. If you work for one of these affiliates and have news about new hires, on-air graphic updates, HD overhauls, or anything that would be of interest to this local news blog, please let us know.. I’m not necessarily talking about station gossip, but that works, too. If someone uttered a profane word on-air, for example, that’d be something. Station sales, downsizing, things like that are also newsworthy. You can do so anonymously, of course, but have to prove you work for the station in question for credibility purposes by sending us an email to southtvnewser@gmail.com.