Florida News Center

(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….

(from TVSpy.com) – Matt Lincoln has joined WPEC, the CBS affiliate for West Palm Beach as sports anchor and reporter.

Lincoln honored the retiring Pat Murphy in a tweet on his first day saying, “My first day was the last day of a legend – Pat Murphy has spent 30 years covering West Palm Beach sports.”

Lincoln came to WPEC from WWBT in Richmond, VA….Cont….

//hattip to SFLTV.com

(from GossipExtra.com) - A WPEC-Channel 12 reporter and his photographer were mistaken for peeping Toms in a darkened western Palm Beach County neighborhood — and chased by a gun-wielding homeowner!

Veteran CBS 12 general assignment reporter Al Pefley and cameraman Dana Szpunar complained about the incident to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputies who responded to the scene.

Their report was referred to State Attorney Dave Aronberg‘s office for review although charges are unlikely….Cont…

(from TVNewsCheck.com) – Sinclair-owned CBS affiliate WPEC West Palm Beach, Fla. (DMA 38), and the Sun Sentinel have teamed up in an exclusive content partnership. The TV station and newspaper will share photos, videos and other forms of content, and staffers will make appearances across media platforms.

“This is an exciting opportunity to leverage the strengths of our talented teams across broadcast, digital and print, and elevate the news experience for our audiences,” said Sun Sentinel Editor Howard Saltz. “The partnership allows us to increase our organizational agility while delivering quality, relevant content to our audiences. It’s a win-win.”….Cont….

(from CBS12.com) – A WPEC CBS12 News crew was attacked by hundreds of furious residents upset by the otherwise much-anticipated demolition of the Palm Beach Mall Thursday morning.

Our crew is nursing their wounds, still “stung” by the angry reaction.

It all started when CBS12 News operations manager Carl Pugliese launched a drone camera to get an aerial shot of a backhoe taking the old Sears apart. The drone is a large dinner-plate sized device with four helicopter-like rotors and two cameras, all operated by remote control via iPhone or iPad….Cont….

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE BEE ATTACK VIDEO…

(edited from TVSpy.com) – John Discepolo begins next week as the primary anchor at WPEC, the CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach.

Discepolo comes from KOMO, the ABC affiliate in Seattle, where he has been a weekend anchor and weekday reporter since 2010.

At WPEC, Discepolo will anchor the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Liz Quirantes. His first broadcast will be September 24….Cont….

(from SFLTV.com) – A bit of excitement in Palm Beach as GossipExtra reports their spies observed former WPEC anchor Curt Fonger having a “long lunch” with WPBF general manager Caroline Taplett at TooJays recently. GossipExtra also says Fonger was seen visiting the WPBF studios in Palm Beach Gardens. WPBF are looking to fill the main co-anchor chair next to Tiffany Kenney after Victor Blackwell left to anchor weekends at CNN HQ in Atlanta.

Curt Fonger left WPEC in August 2011 after 22 years at the station. SFLTV sources at the time claimed he was offered a new contract but for “significantly less” money….Cont….

(from MediaPost.com) – Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest group of independent TV stations (including Florida’s WPEC, WEAR, WTWC, WTVX, WTTA), is giving some fair warning about upcoming carriage negotiations with TV satellite provider Dish Network: Things are not going so well.

Sinclair’s retrans deal with Dish is due to expire on August 15.

In a release, Sinclair says: “Although Sinclair is continuing to negotiate with Dish over the terms of a new agreement, Sinclair believes significant doubt exists as to whether or not a new agreement will be reached with Dish.”

In response, Dish issued a press release saying Sinclair is seeking unfair price hikes:….Cont….

(edited from SFLTV.com) - SFLTV.com has learned that long-time WPEC sports director Pat Murphy is retiring and leaving the TV biz this summer. From what we hear he and his wife are moving out of state in August so she can pursue a career opportunity in Texas.

Pat Murphy joined WPEC 17 years ago in 1995 from WPTV where he spent 12 years as that stations sports director….Cont from SFLTV.com….

Florida News Center has been on vacation for the past ten days….here is some of what we missed…

Entravision Revenue up 8% in 1Q – (including Tampa’s WVEA and Orlando’s WVEN)

LIN 1Q Revenue Climbs 15% – (including Mobile/Pesacola’s WALA)

Scripps 1Q Same-Station TV Revenue up 12% – (including West Palm Beach’s WPTV and Tampa’s WFTS)

Post-Newsweek Stations 1Q Revenue up 13% – (including Orlando’s WKMG, Miami’s WPLG, Jacksonville’s WJXT)

CBS TV Stations Post 2% 1Q Revenue Gain – (including Miami’s WFOR)

Sinclair Revenue Rises 23% in 1Q – (including West Palm Beach’s WPEC/WTVX/WWHB/MyTV 15, Tampa’s WTTA, Tallahassee’s WTWC and Pensacola’s WEAR/WFGX)

Comcast’s NBC Broadcast TV Revenue Up 37% – (including Miami’s WTVJ)

Gray Reports 16% Boost In 1Q Revenue – (including Panama City’s WJHG and Tallahassee’s WCTV)