Florida News Center

Viewers on the First Coast now have one more source for early local news. WTEV/WAWS have started broadcasting their newscasts at the ridiculous time of 4:30am. The Jacksonville duopoly is following in the foot steps of rival WJXT, who started broadcasting a 4:30am newscast back in April this year.

The new time slot also brings other changes. The morning newscasts have a more fresh and more brightly colored graphics package. Reporter Kristen Cosby will get a little desk time. She is anchoring the new 4:30am show, followed by Mike Barz and Dawn Lopez, who take over from 5-7+.

7/29/10 – UPDATE: Here is a little more information on the name change (and a shout-out to Florida News Center) from the St. Petersburg Times’ Eric Deggins. CLICK HERE

Tampa’s WTSP officially introduced their new logo, name and slogan on Monday’s 5am newscast. The station is dropping the short-lived “10 Connects” and is resurrecting “10 News.” The station is also using the slogan “Tampa Bay’s News Leader.” Watch video below of the new changes c/o FNC on YouTube

————————————————–

(Originally published 7/24/10) – Sources tell Florida News Center that Tampa’s WTSP will under go a name/logo change coming soon. “10 Connects” is changing to “10 News.” The “PacMan” 10 (the cut-out area for the “C” in Connects, made the old logo look like PacMan) is out, while previous ocean wave logo is back.

WTSP is already teasing the new logo (maybe not intentionally) on their website. We grabbed a copy of the new logo, below. Stay tuned…

(from News-Press.com) - WZVN ABC7 is scheduled to launch an interesting experiment next Monday as well. Station managers are tweaking the way they present their morning news, known as ABC7 Gulfshore News.

The show runs from 5:30 to 7 a.m. and is anchored by the jovial Chad Oliver and meteorologist John Patrick. However, starting next Monday, the duo may play second fiddle to the graphics that appear on the screen.

Taking a cue from cable outlets such as CNBC, ABC7 is going to present a constant stream of information though the use of an “L-bar.” While the regular newscast will continue, it will be squeezed smaller on the screen so information such as breaking news, local headlines, county-by-county weather forecasts, traffic reports and national news can also appear….Cont….

(from NorthEscambia.com) – There’s a new viewing choice in the local television market. WFGX MyTV 35 is now broadcasting from WEAR TV 3’s tower in Baldwin County, providing a strong over-the-air signal in the North Escambia area.

WFGX offers MyNetworkTV programming from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. with such popular programs as “WWE: Smackdown”, “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “The Unit”.

The station also airs movies from ThisTV throughout the day and  with the programs “Jerry Springer”, “Maury Povich”, “Inside Edition” and “Extra” on weekdays. During the weekend, WFGX airs “Desperate Housewives”, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bones”.

The station is available over-the-air as channel 35.1 (physically on channel 50) in standard definition.

“Sometime in early August we will be changing to a High-Definition signal only,” said Joe Smith, WEAR/WFGX operations manager.  In the near future, the station will add “TheCoolTV”,  a music station, on a second digital channel….Cont….