Media Buzz: Ch 10’s Traffic, WPRO-AM Try Out?, Former Ch12 Anchor Done Deal
Friday, February 24, 2012
Channel 10 has new member of the Sunrise and Evening newscasts. Molly O’Brien is now handling on-camera traffic duties for morning and evening commutes live in the WJAR studios. O’Brien is a nice addition to the shows and gives a fresh new look to the broadcasts. Some would argue that traffic in RI is the same every day but there are days when even things beyond the Pawtucket S curves give people problems. While this isn’t Boston or New York traffic info is vital for a lot of folks. We’ll see how the station decides to “package” O’Brien. Many stations across the country have traffic reporters who are heavily promoted. Will O’Brien do more than just traffic hits? “Molly is a specialized traffic reporter and thus won't be doing news or feature reporting in other time periods.” said Channel 10 News Director Chris Lanni. O’Brien has worked in TV previously –most recently from Beaumont, Texas. Channel 6 also has an on-camera-in studio traffic reporter as well. Veteran news man John Carpilio – a long time fixture here reporting radio news is in charge of the stop and go patrol for ABC-6.
Channel 6 Morning Anchor Mark Curtis deserves some real credit for going public with his weight loss battle. The anchorman has started a new exercise and eating program and is taking viewers along as he fights the belly battle. Curtis has lost some significant weight and is also trying to educate people about eating better and exercising. On recent segment, he admitted that he fell off the food wagon and gulped down some Death By Chocolate cake and spiked the scale up a bit.
Is WPRO-AM giving one time candidate for Congress John Loughlin an on-air try out? Loughlin did some fill in work this week at night. As reported here, GoLocal had learned that Loughlin was approached by upper management at WPRO about possibly taking over the morning drive slot and joining Tara Granahan. Sources tell us he said thanks but no thanks so this week on air work could be nothing more than a fill-in job.
A Channel 12 alum has recently signed a new two-year deal to anchor the news in the Big Apple. Former Anchor and Reporter –Kristine Johnson who joined WCBS-TV in 2006 anchors the weekday 5 and 11pm newscasts. According to the station’s website, she is the recipient of three Emmy Awards for her part in breaking news coverage of “The Miracle on the Hudson” (where the pilot landed his jet on the Hudson River safely) and the Brooklyn Tornadoes.
Cox Communications and Channel 12 are in the middle of a transmission agreement battle. Channel 12 airing spots saying they are trying to work it out but if they don’t viewers on Cox will lose their access to CBS programming and also all local content that is broadcast by Channel 12 and Fox Providence. Channel 10 recently went through the same thing but all is well. It is more than likely that Cox and Channel 12 will kiss and make up and settle on a new deal.
Here Comes Huckabee to Cumulus Media who by the way just happens to own the cluster of stations in Providence including WPRO-AM. Huckabee, the former Arkansas Governor, will be doing a live radio show from Noon until 3pm for Cumulus Media Networks. April 2nd is the start date and no formal word if WPRO-AM will be giving Huckabee air time but don’t be surprised. It’s programming that is cheaper to produce than a local talk show host and Cumulus is all about streamlining its operation.
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