Florida News Center

(from NaplesNews.com) – It’s NBC-2’s loss, but not Southwest Florida’s. Jennifer Trammell has already spent her last weekend behind the anchor desk (6 and 11 p.m.). But she’s not going anywhere. She’s committed to Naples.

“In TV it’s all about bumping up to the next market,” says Trammell. “I want to be settled for a while.”

During our phone conversation, Trammell took several opportunities to voice her love for this community.

“It was a hard decision,” says Trammell, of leaving broadcasting, one, she says, that she didn’t take lightly or make overnight. But ultimately, she was ready for this new challenge….Cont….

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(from MediaLifeMagazine.com) – A hot season by the defending NBA champion Miami Heat has helped drive a healthy media economy in the squad’s home city, and the market will remain strong leading to a mayoral election in the fall.

TV spending and pricing are up slightly versus a year ago, and advertisers must book early in most cases to avoid paying a premium.

Early and late news, primetime and late fringe are among the hot dayparts.

“Pricing is up compared to last year,” says Caitlin Zellmann, broadcast buyer at Haworth Marketing + Media. “Live sports are seeing an increase in demand for TV, pushing rates up.”….Cont….

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UPDATE: Check out the video below…

(from OrlandoSentinel.com) – Traffic reporter Jessica Sanchez, who is battling cancer, will share shaving her head on WKMG-Channel 6′s morning news this Monday.

On March 16, the station announced that Sanchez has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“She’s in good spirits and she’s staying positive,” WKMG news director Steve Hyvonen said Friday. “She’s going through an ordeal that anyone who has been through chemotherapy knows. Her hair is falling out.”

So she plans to shave her head Saturday, and WKMG will share the update on the morning news, which usually features Sanchez….Cont….

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(from GossipExtra.com) – Anchorman Juan Carlos Fanjul, who once was pegged to take over prime-time news at WPEC-CBS 12 is leaving the station, Gossip Extra has learned.

In a terse statement to employees, the West Palm Beach/Treasure Coast station’s management hinted the departure was Fanjul’s choice.

He wants, according to the memo to the newsroom, “to seek other opportunities.” Those are unclear.

Neither News Director Cathy Younkin nor Fanjul replied to requests for comment. His last broadcast was last night….Cont….

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(from WTXL.tv) – WTXL-ABC27 is proud to announce a new partnership with Tallahassee Helicopters to bring our viewers news coverage in a way that’s never been done before in the Tallahassee-Thomasville-Valdosta market.

The 2005 Robinson R44, Raven 2 helicopter has a glass cockpit and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment possessed by only three helicopter schools in the nation, and we have one….Cont….

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(from EastLake.Patch.com) – Dylan Roundtree (left #1),18, faces three counts of felony dealing in stolen property and other charges, according to an arrest affidavit. He was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting $45,000 bond.

Palm Harbor resident Dylan Roundtree, who is the 18-year-old son of WTSP-TV news anchor Reginald Roundtree (right #2), was arrested by Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies over the weekend on multiple charges of felony dealing in stolen property.

Deputies say Dylan Roundtree admitted to selling a pair of stolen Bose 4.2 series woodgrain speakers to the Pawn Max on Tampa Road in Oldsmar on March 7.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Patch, a 17-year-old associate of Dylan Roundtree stole the speakers from the home the associate shares with his father….Cont….

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Our friends at NewsBlues.com report that a ratings war has been ignited in Fort Myers between WINK and WBBH. Earlier this month, WINK started proclaiming themselves as number one (video below) in the market for every news time slow. However, competitor WBBH says HOLD on.

The problem…WINK uses Rentrack to mesaure its ratings system, while everyone else in the market uses the traditonal ratings system from Nielsen Media. Both systems score station ratings differently and survery different sizes of household samples. So, while Rentrack may show that WINK is indeed number one in every news time slow, Nielsen numbers demonstrate that this is not true. In fact, Nielsen numbers have demonstrated that WINK and WBBH have been neck to neck for the past several years, with both stations taking the top spots at different times.

The promo that WINK ran below, did not sit well with WBBH. News Director Darrel Adams tweeted a response to the WINK ad stating:

Despite what their ads say, @winknews is not #1 in every daypart. If they can’t even read a ratings book, how can they bring you the news?

According to NewsBlues.com, WINK management called the tweet “classless and low.” The tweet has been removed, but the promo still continues to run (video below).

Read the rest of this entry →

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(from TVSpy.com) – Amanda Zitzman is leaving WTLV-WJXX in Jacksonville, Fla. for KVAL in Eugene, Oregon.

Zitzman joined WTLV-WJXX in 2010 as the morning traffic anchor. She currently anchors the news cut-ins during “Today” and “Good Morning America” as well as solo anchoring the Saturday morning newscast. She is also the anchor of “On the Town,” a Friday evening segment about weekend activities in Jacksonville….Cont….

//hattip to NewsBlues.com

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(edited from OrlandoSentinel.com) – Traffic reporter Jessica Sanchez has non-Hodgkin lymphoma, WKMG-Channel 6 announced Saturday night.

“In the nine years I’ve been in Central Florida, the community and the people have become my home, my family, and I’m feeling that more than ever,” Sanchez said. “The thoughts, prayers and support I have received so far have been amazing!  While this is tough news to take, I plan to turn it into an experience from which I can learn, grow and share.”

“WKMG’s  thoughts and prayers are focused on Jessica’s health and recovery,” said Skip Valet, the station’s general manager….Cont….

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(from FTVLive.com) - Sources tell FTVLive that one SoFlo Anchor is soon going to be looking for a job.?

Word is that WFOR in Miami is not going to renew the contract of their ?main Anchor Shannon Hori.

Hori anchors the 5, 5:30 and 11PM newscasts ?at this CBS O&O. Sources tell FTVLive that the station is not renewing her contract….Cont….

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