Omaha City Weekly Media Watch

Baker Pisses Off Magic Johnson

2008-10-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Former Omaha radio personality Chris Baker (the Edge and KKAR 1290 AM) is in hot water after comments he made about former NBA star Magic Johnson on his talk-show on KTLK-FM in Minneapolis.

See the story at OmahaCityWeekly.com's Media Watch blog.

Dudzik Out at KMTV

2008-09-19T10:27:00.001-07:00

KMTV-3 – Omaha's CBS affiliate – has apparently fired News Director Ken Dudzik. The receptionist at KMTV today (Sept. 19) said, "He no longer works here." We have calls in and hope to have more details by the end of the day. Look to OmahaCityWeekly.com and its Media Watch blog later for the complete story.

RSS and No Registering

2008-09-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

You no longer need to register at the City Weekly Web site (OmahaCityWeekly.com) to post comments on their blogs. And they have added an RSS feed.

So post away!

Two New Posts at OmahaCityWeekly.com

2008-09-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

Two new ones have been posted on the Media Watch blog!

Change Your Bookmarks ... We Are On The Move

2008-08-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

This portal to the Omaha City Weekly's Media Watch column will soon be closing.

Point your browser here to stay in touch with the latest news from the local print, broadcast and internet communications channels.

And yes, there is still the ability to comment on all posts.

World-Herald Buys More Papers

2008-08-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

The Omaha World-Herald reported today that it has gobbled up two more Nebraska daily newspapers, the Grand Island Independent and the York News-Times. The papers were owned by Gatehouse Media Inc. of Fairport, N.Y.

According to the World-Herald report, the Independent has a daily circulation of 20,500, and a Sunday circulation of 22,300. The News-Times' circulation is 4,700 Monday through Saturday.

The World-Herald distributes 220,000 copies on Sundays and 178,500 on the other days, according to the paper..

Brew Gets Exclusive AC/DC Song

2008-08-28T09:04:00.001-07:00

The Brew (96.1 FM) has an exclusive AC/DC cut that the station began playing on the air and its Web site today. "Rock N Roll Train," is a song from the Australian band's forthcoming album and can be heard exclusively on the Web at 961theBrew.

Michelle Matthews, morning show host and program director at the Clear Channel-owned Brew, said that Clear Channel stations made the deal with the band to offer the song exclusively.

Rock'n'Roll Train" will be used in the promo ads for the CBS show "Criminal Minds" beginning Sept. 1. It will also appear in the Oct. 22 installment of the series.

Verizon has the exclusive on the "Rock'n'Roll Train" ringtone via its online media store. AC/DC's music remains unavailable at Apple's iTunes Music Store.

On Oct. 20, AC/DC will release of "Black Ice," which will be sold exclusively via Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, as well as ACDC.com.

KQKQ Hires 'Jenny' For Midday Jock Slot

2008-08-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Just announced by the folks at NRG Media ... (press release is printed verbatim)

Omaha, NE – August 4, 2008 – Modern Hit Music powerhouse Q98.5FM has a new midday talent. KQKQ Program Director Nevin Dane announced today that “Jenny” takes to the airwaves as the new host of the coveted 10am-3pm timeslot.

“Jenny” comes to Q98.5 from WXAJ 99.7 KISS FM in Springfield, IL where she was the Morning Show Co-Host and held the posts as Midday Talent and Assistant Promotions Director during her tenure. Dane stated the midday timeslot would remain targeted to active listeners. “Our listeners are intertwined with the station and our music and promotions during midday will continue to reflect the lifestyle of our audience with Jenny behind the mic.”

“Jenny” has seven years of broadcast experience in a variety of formats including Modern Rock, Alternative and Adult Contemporary. Prior to joining KQKQ, she worked as Assistant Program Director and Assistant Music Director at WYVR, “The River” in Springfield, IL and as Morning Show Co-Host at Mix 96.5 WKIB-FM in Cape Girardeau, MO.

“Joining the Q98.5 team is so exciting. This is one of the best radio stations in the Midwest and I can’t wait to get to know our fabulous listeners and our advertisers,” stated Jenny.

Features listeners should expect during the new midday show include “Jenny’s Juice” providing a look inside the world of showbiz and entertainment news, along with various local happenings on the music scene. Dane said listeners should look forward to a hip, fun and engaging new program designed to engage the audience and continue to promote at-work listening.

“Jenny” graduated from the Broadcast Center in St. Louis, MO with a Certificate of Professional Arts. She also attended Meramec Community College in St. Louis, MO from 1998-2000.

The KQKQ weekday lineup features “Pat and JT in the Morning” 5:30am-10:00am, “Polychronopolis” in PMD Drive 3:00pm-7:00pm and Heather Lee at night from 7:00pm-12:00am.

Terry Blasts Esch Over Comments in City Weekly

2008-08-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

KETV-7 ran a story last night regarding a battle between congressional candidates Democratic challenger Jim Esch, on left, and Republican incumbent Lee Terry. Terry is upset over a comment on abortion that Esch made during an interview in last week's issue of the City Weekly.

Below is the KETV article. Here is a link to the video.

The KETV article in its entirety:

"Abortion Comment Heats Up Esch-Terry Race
Terry Demands Apology After Magazine Interview

OMAHA, Neb. -- The congressional race between Rep. Lee Terry and challenger Jim Esch is heating up after a statement Esch made about abortion opponents

Both candidates consider themselves opposed to abortion, but the Terry campaign is calling out Esch after he told the local magazine City Weekly that used the word extremist to refer to some abortion opponents.

“He said that pro-lifers are extremists. I don’t agree with that,” Terry said. “I think it shows his true colors on that issue.”

The Aug. 5 edition of the magazine posed a question to Esch about whether he would introduce or vote for legislation to restrict or outlaw abortions. In response, Esch spoke about the challenges of weighing the abortion issue philosophically.

“The other thing that frustrates me with that issue is you have two sides and really both, I think the right-to-life side is a little more extremist, but they think it says something fundamental about that person because they look at it as a strictly moral issue,” the magazine quoted Esch as saying.

“He owes all of the pro-lifers in the metro area and apology,” Terry said.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on things,” said Dennis Esch, of the Jim Esch for Congress campaign.

Terry acknowledges that Esch may have misspoken during the interview, but also said it is evidence that Esch is not actually pro-life.

The Terry campaign’s accusations come through what is called its Truth Squad, a watchdog arm led by Richard Carter, who opposed Esch in the May primary."

More From the Press Release Pile ...

2008-08-07T09:44:00.001-07:00

Have you noticed that Elictia Hammond is gone from KETV-7?

The former morning co-anchor, who joined KETV in 2004, left the station June 30 to spend more time with her family.

“We appreciate the work Elictia has done over the past three-and-a-half years to help build First News into the morning news leader,” said KETV President and General Manager Sarah Smith.

“Elictia is leaving First News on a high ratings note. In the most recent Nielsen survey, May 2008, the program gained viewers (adults 25-54) over May 2007 and it has consistently been the No. 1 local news program among adult 25-54 viewers.”

Kugler Broadcasting From China for Olympics

2008-08-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

Kevin Kugler, co-host of “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” on Omaha’s the Zone (KOZN 1620 AM), is in Beijing, China to broadcast the play-by-play coverage of Team USA Men’s Basketball Medal Round games, as well as the Gold Medal game regardless of the participants, for Westwood One Radio.

Kugler, who also provides play-by-play for Westwood One’s coverage of college football, baseball and other college sports, is writing a blog from Beijing at KevinKugler.blogspot.com. A snippet from a recent entry:

“We ventured out today to the largest electronics store I have ever seen,” said Kugler, shown at right at the Great Wall. “14 floors packed with everything from laptops to wireless Internet cards. You want it? They probably have it in this 14-story market. Strangely, laptops in China are pricier than in the states. Most of the consumer goods, it seems, are cheaper here, but laptops that normally cost 1500 in the states can run upwards of 3000 USD here.

“Consider this blog, though, a plea. If there's one thing we NEED in the Omaha/Lincoln area, it's a 14 story electronics superstore. Who will be the brave Nebraskan to step up and provide our state with a necessity like that?”

Cecchetto Out, Nigrelli In at KMTV

2008-08-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

KMTV-3 co-anchor Carlo Cecchetto has left the station for “personal family reasons,” according to Ken Dudzik, news director at KMTV.

Cecchetto, at left, joined KMTV in Jan. 2007, debuting with another new co-anchor Carol Wang, middle. Wang will remain with the station.

Wang will be joined by Craig Nigrelli, who will co-anchor the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

Nigrelli, at right, has more than a decade of anchoring and reporting experience, most recently with KCTV5 in Kansas City, Mo. His first day on-air at KMTV will be today, August 4.

“Craig’s strong background, and experience with late-breaking and investigative news, will serve our viewers well,” Rob Burton, vice president and general manager of Journal Broadcast Group’s Omaha operations, said in a press relese. “We’re excited to be adding him to our Action 3 News team.”

Nigrelli’s career began in 1993 as a general assignment reporter for WIVB-TV in Buffalo, N.Y. He later anchored the station’s weekend morning show. In 2000 he moved to Albuquerque, N.M., to work as an enterprise reporter and morning show anchor at KOAT-TV, before moving to KSTP-TV in Minneapolis in 2004. A year later he was hired at KCTV5.

Nigrelli is a graduate of Rutgers University with a B.A. in communication and economics.

Price On Afternoon Drive on Big O

2008-08-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

Matt Price has taken over the afternoon slot on the Big O (101.9 FM). Price will handle the 3-7 p.m. shift on the adult contemporary/rock station.

“Matt has a great delivery on the air with his wit, sense of humor and maturity. He really encompasses what we are trying to accomplish with this radio station in attracting adults 25-54 and appealing to the female listeners,” said Nevin Dane, Big O’s program director.

Price began his radio career a part-time talent for KFOR, KLMS and KRKR in Lincoln from 2001-2003. He co-produced Husker football programming including the “Husker Tailgate Show” and “Average Joe Sports Show.”

Julie Cornell Steps Down As Anchor At KETV

2008-07-14T09:20:00.001-07:00

KETV-7 co-anchor Julie Cornell announced live on the air this morning that she is leaving the anchor desk at KETV. Brandi Petersen will replace Cornell when she leaves at the end of the month. Petersen will join co-anchor Rob McCartney.

Cornell, whose husband Bill Randby will remain as KETV’s chief meteorologist, began at KETV in 1992. She has been one of the station’s main co-anchors for the past 11 years after replacing longtime KETV anchor Carol Schrader.

Cornell published a story on KETV.com explaining that she wants to become a fulltime mom.

“This year, our twin girls, Madeline and Jocelyn, will start kindergarten,” Cornell wrote. “Our son, Will, begins second grade. I've worked the night shift for most of my 21 years in broadcasting, and it doesn't mesh with the school schedule.

“So at the end of July, after 11 years as a main anchor at KETV, I'll step away from the anchor desk, because I want to be with my children at night. I'll continue to work a very flexible part-time schedule here at channel 7, write weekly stories for Julie's Diary on the KETV Web site and write feature stories for the news, as I have for 16 years here in Omaha.

“Brandi Petersen will take over the anchor desk next to my buddy, Rob. She's my friend. She's smart, level-headed and hard-working. Brandi is one of the finest live reporters I've seen on air. She loves this community and she's a tremendous asset to our station.”

KETV wins 10 o’clock in May

2008-06-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

In the May 2007 local TV ratings period, KETV-7 and WOWT-6 were neck and neck with viewers ages 25-54 for their 10 p.m. weekday newscasts. A year later, KETV has taken the No. 1 spot in that advertiser-coveted demographic of adult TV viewers.

In the May 2008 report from Nielsen Media Research, KETV had a 33 percent share of TV viewers for its 10 p.m. newscast, which was up from 26 percent last year. WOWT had a 23 percent share this May at 10 p.m., which was down from 28 percent in May 2007.

Meanwhile, KMTV-3’s 10 p.m. newscast dropped from a 10 percent share of viewers ages 25 to 54 at 10 p.m. in May 2007, to 9 percent this year.

Meteorologist Rusty Lord joins WOWT

2008-06-18T12:16:00.001-07:00

Rusty Lord, a graduate of Iowa State University, joined the morning newscast on WOWT-6 on Monday. He will be the meteorologist on the NBC affiliate’s weekday morning newscast.

Lord joins WOWT after working at KDLT-TV in Sioux Falls, S.D. While there, he was awarded “Best Weathercast” by the South Dakota Associated Press (2007).

A native of western Iowa, Lord is an avid sports fan and enjoys playing and watching a wide variety of sports, according to his WOWT bio. Lord, it says, also is a huge fan of Husker football and loves watching the Iowa State Cyclones play college hoops.

Omaha Storm Coverage

2008-06-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

Were you watching KETV meteorologist ~~Bill Randby~~ Chuck McWilliams (Editor's correction) overnight when the storm struck the Omaha area? Or did you tune in to coverage on the radio by KFAB (1110 AM) or another station?

Reader Editor Leaves For Grad School

2008-06-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Andy Norman, formerly the managing editor of the Reader newspaper, will begin graduate school at Michigan State this fall. His last day at the Reader was May 30.

Norman went to the Reader in 2005 after a stint as the managing editor of the City Weekly newspaper. Norman is a native of Imperial, Neb., and a graduate of the journalism department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In other Reader news, assistant editor Tessa Jeffers left the newspaper in May.

Thompson Lands With Nelson

2008-05-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Former Omaha World-Herald Washington, D.C. bureau writer Jake Thompson will take over as the communications director for Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson beginning June 9.

Thompson was laid off from the Herald last month, along with photo assignment editor Craig Chandler, business reporter Mike Avok and graphic designer Sid Jablonski.

“Jake brings an extensive knowledge of Nebraska media, Washington, and Senator Nelson’s record and agenda to the position. Jake will have the same contact information currently assigned to me when he joins the staff,” David Di Martino, the current communications director, said in a press release issued on Friday.

“As for me, today (Friday, May 30) is my last day in this office,” Martino said. “I will be moving to a position in the private sector next month after taking some time off. I’ve truly enjoyed working for Senator Nelson and on behalf of the great state of Nebraska. Senator Nelson is a great person and a good friend and a wonderful public servant who has always done what he thinks is right for Nebraska. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work with him over these past years. I will miss it. You all have been great to work with and I hope we have the opportunity to work together in the future. It will be hard to resist getting involved in Nebraska politics in some way after the last seven years with Senator Nelson.”

Michael Scott Out (Again)

2008-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Former Omaha TV anchor Michael Scott is looking for a job for the third time in less than three years after being let go from Huntsville, Ala., station WAAY.

According to Newsblues.com, a subscription-only service, Scott reportedly called an African American producer the “N” word.

Scott was the ABC affiliate's evening anchor and managing editor who had been at the station since July of 2007.

WAAY newsroom insiders say Scott had been issued several written and verbal warnings by management for his outlandish behavior over the past eight months. According to one station co-worker, Scott "told a female employee she needed to douche, berated a male reporter in the newsroom in front of other staff, and physically hit his co-anchor (Karen Adams) on and off air. Scott was relentless in his attack on her."

Richard Prince's "Journal-isms" column reports that the incident is but the latest censure of the N-word's use in a professional setting.

Scott is a 30-year veteran of the broadcast industry whose well-traveled career includes stops at KETV and KMTV in Omaha, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Charlotte (for three months) and Kansas City.

Harry Pappas Forced Into Personal Bankruptcy

2008-05-16T05:46:00.000-07:00

According to an Associated Press story, creditors have forced Harry Pappas into a personal bankruptcy filing -- an unusual move that threatens his efforts to save Pappas Telecasting Companies from financial disaster.

Pappas Telecasting owns Omaha TV stations KPTM and KXVO.

The court filings earlier this week could lead a judge to order the sale of personal property to pay off debt. In their Chapter 7 filing, creditors say Pappas and his wife, Stella, personally guaranteed $30 million of a $284 million loan that Pappas Telecasting secured in March 2006.

Creditors said the $284 million loan was based on an agreement that Pappas would sell enough of his television stations to repay $100 million of the debt. The rest would be paid on what the filing calls "a reasonable schedule."

Pappas Telecasting owes more than $5.8 million to its top 20 creditors. The biggest sum owed, $1.4 million, is to Fox Broadcasting.

Apparently, budget cuts have forced the public relations arm of Pappas Telecasting to shut down as well. The company's website press room has not had a press release posted since December of 2007.

Here's That Number Again

2008-05-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

Strangely, Ernie Chambers didn't field many phone calls on his public access TV show on Cox Channel 22.

Former KMTV Anchor Gets Ready To Host 'The Mole'

2008-05-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

The buzz is growing over Jon Kelley's new job hosting "The Mole."

Kelley is a former sports anchor at KMTV and running back at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who also co-authored a book (with former KPTM sports anchor Tom Zenner) "Breaking Into Broadcasting," a guide to landing one's first (or next) on-air job in television.

The Mole premiers Monday, June 2 at 9 p.m. CST.

According to ABC press materials, Kelley co-hosted "Extra's" one-hour weekend edition and was the show's primary correspondent for the daily show from 2001 through 2007. In December, he co-hosted ABC's "Holiday with the Stars" and just recently co-hosted ABC's "All-star Tribute to Movies" on Oscar Sunday. Kelley's diverse broadcast career has spanned over 15 years in news, sports and entertainment.

Before joining "Extra," Kelley served as the main anchor for the Fox Sports Network's "The National Sports Report," and the lead anchor for the weekly series, "Baseball Today." Prior to Fox, Kelley was the lead sports anchor on the NBC owned-and-operated station WMAQ-TV in Chicago.

During his eight years in Chicago, Kelley was widely regarded as one of the region's top sports anchors and directors, covering the World Championship Bulls in all six of the team's title seasons. In addition to his nightly sportscasts, Kelley hosted the number one rated "Sports Sunday," WMAQ-TV's half-hour, expanded sports highlights program. There he shared the anchor desk with some of the city's most dynamic sports and entertainment personalities, including NBA rebounding star Dennis Rodman and "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno. Kelley joined WMAQ-TV as a sports reporter and weekend anchor in April 1991.

While at WMAQ-TV, Kelley was part of a sports team that earned such prestigious awards the Chicago/Midwest Emmy award for producing and anchoring his hour-long special highlighting the Chicago Bulls' quest for a fifth championship. Kelley also received the Peter Lisagor Award for Sports Journalism and an Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Award for Best Sportscast.

Pappas Telecasting Files For Bankruptcy

2008-05-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

From The Weekend Wires:

The largest privately-held commercial broadcast operator in the U.S., Pappas Telecasting Inc., filed for Chapter 11 Saturday with plans to sell its 30 TV stations under bankruptcy court protection.

Pappas cited "the extremely difficult business climate for television stations across the country" in papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del. The Fresno, Calif.-based company reported in court filings it has more than $536 million in debt and assets of $460 million.

Pappas-owned TV stations in the bankruptcy filing include KPTM-Fox 42 and KXVO-CW 11 in Omaha but not KHGI-NTV in Kearney.

Pappas blamed the "poor ratings of the CW Network" for some of the financial trouble that forced it into bankruptcy. CW Network targets people in the 18- to 34-year-old age bracket with shows like America's Next Top Model and Smallville. It is a property of Time Warner Inc. and CBS Corp. .

A spokeswoman for News Corp. (AU:NWS: news, chart, profile) , which owns Fox, declined to comment. News Corp. is the owner of Dow Jones & Co., publisher of Dow Jones Newswires. Spokesmen for Time Warner and CBS did not respond immediately to requests to comment on the bankruptcy filing.

News of Pappas' financial woes and the credit crisis made it tough for Pappas to find a buyer outside of bankruptcy, court documents say. In the weeks leading up to Saturday's filing, Pappas failed to come to terms with top lenders who are owed $303 million.

Banks led by Fortress Capital Corp. refused to finance an effort to continue to try to sell the company in bankruptcy court. Pappas decided to file for Chapter 11 protection "in an effort to accomplish an orderly sale of the stations as a going concern," court documents say.

Founder and Chief Executive Harry Pappas said he is offering $2 million in bankruptcy financing to fund operations while the company is in Chapter 11.

Analysts have said media and retail companies are among the most vulnerable businesses in the economic downturn, which was triggered by the U.S. housing market decline.

Advertising budgets in furniture, appliance, real estate and related sectors bore the immediate brunt of the housing market downturn, denting revenues at Pappas over the past year, court documents say.

Pappas also said the cost of converting from analog to digital TV broadcasting has weighed on its operating costs, which were already strained by higher energy prices. To gear up for new digital TV requirements, Pappas stations have had to operate duplicate transmission facilities, the company said.

According to a Pappas press release, KPTM, achieved revenue increases for the first quarter of 2008 of 27.9 percent over the same period in 2007, exclusive of any political advertising.

Catching Up With the Duff Man

2008-05-06T16:14:00.001-07:00

Most Omahans will remember Dan Duffy for his run as an evening and late-night jock on Z-92 (KEZO 92.3 FM) back in the 1990s. But the radio veteran has been heard on several other stations, including Lincoln’s KFOR-AM and KTGL-FM, where he most recently was on the air.

Duffy, whose first on-air gig was in 1980, was recently a victim of budget cuts and is now working outside of the radio business for the first time since 1986.

We recently caught up with the Duff man, who is now working at First Data, last week for a “where are they now” update.

Can you give me a little history of your radio career? Where did you start?

“My first on air gig was in 1980 at KFOR/Lincoln at the age of 16. Never took radio seriously until my early 20s after working a series of dead end jobs and playing drums in numerous cover bands after high school. I hustled my tail off to gain experience,” Duffy said in an e-mail note.

“KOTD/Plattsmouth 1989-92. KYNN ’92-’95. Z-92 (nights) /KGOR/KTGL (part time). KMGN Flagstaff, Ariz. /KDKB in Phoenix/ WRQC/Minneapolis KILO in Colorado Springs/ KSRX San Antonio and most recently KTGL 92.9 the Eagle in Lincoln.

What’s the worst blooper you’ve had on the radio?

“A few curse words from listeners (before the Janet Jackson FCC situation) – never brought attention to it. It’s live radio, it happens. I left the phone pot up while talking with a buddy one time, it was a 6-7 minute conversation and all of Omaha was listening. Unbelievably, not one F-bomb was dropped. You would think two guys on the phone would eventually drop a swear word (but) it never happened. That was three in the morning.

Who is your favorite Nebraska broadcaster of all time? Who is your favorite broadcaster nationally of all time?

“I don’t really have a favorite but I sure enjoyed listening to Z-92/ KOIL/WOW when I was a long-haired kid in the late ’70s – Rod Meyer, Jimmy O’Neil, Chuck Yates, Joe Blood, Rick Setchell. I had a chance to work with Chuck, Joe and Rick many years later at Z along with Todd and Tyler. What an honor. As a kid growing up in the late ’70s, Yates, Blood, Setchell represented ‘FM rock radio’ in Omaha and had a big influence on me. I apologize if I'm leaving anyone out.

“On a national level, in the field of rock radio: Jim Ladd/KLOS is No. 1. Jim has been a fixture of L.A. radio for nearly 40 years at KMET/ KLOS. The perfect rock-jock. Jim still works nights at KLOS. Jim has a great ear for music ... passionate about rock. I had a chance to interview Jim while working nights in Minneapolis. At the time, circa 1997, a PD buddy of mine worked across town at KLSX and had access to the KLOS hotline. I grew some balls and called the hotline and immediately got a hold of Jim. The interview was great!”

What’s in your CD player right now?

“What’s a CD player? Lol! Gotta copy of the movie ‘Heat’ in my PC. Seriously, Steely Dan’s “AJA” album is never far away ..Black Crowes’ “Amorica” is in my car CD player.”

Geiler Back on the Air

2008-04-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

Omaha-based Comedian Matt Geiler (pictured) is hosting a new show on the CW (KXVO-15). Titled “Mix Tape,” the show captures Geiler’s rib-tickling style in a variety of comedy sketches.

“The concept for the show, it’s not a live show, it’s basically some fake music videos from artists that don’t exist, character sketches with music in them, and then there is some crossover into the local music scene,” said Geiler, who is an alum of the prestigious improvisational comedy troupe Second City in Chicago.

“Occasionally, we’ll do a sketch where like Matt Whipkey shows up from Anonymous American, but he’s an ice cream man and he rocks out from behind the ice cream.”

“Mix Tape” airs from 11-11:30 p.m. on Sundays on KXVO.

Becka’s Book Ready For Pre-Order

2008-04-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

KFAB talk show host Tom Becka’s first book aims at helping sales people make the big deals by using the skills of an entertainer.

Becka, who was a nationally touring standup comedian before getting into radio, is currently taking pre-orders for “There’s No Business Without the Show: Using Showbiz Skills to Get Blockbuster Sales!” at his Web site, TomBecka.com.

The book, published by Orpheum Brothers Press, is selling for $21.95 and is available for delivery by June 1.

Says David Cottrell, best-selling author of “Monday Morning Leadership” and “Monday Morning Choices”: “Becka gives a stunning performance in this book! It is unique, entertaining and effective as it provides you the trade secrets to give the sales performance of your life. Bravo!”

Becka, host of a weekday show on KFAB (1110 AM) from 4 to 7 p.m., says: “The same techniques that big name performers use to create a following can be used by successful salespeople for blockbuster results.”

KETV Tops Omaha TV News Viewership

2008-04-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

There’s no debating it this time.

Whether you measure demographics (be it 25-54 or 18-49), shares or households, KETV-7 is the clear-cut winner in the Omaha TV news race according to the latest Nielsen Media Research ratings.

The ABC affiliate is the most-watched newscast at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

WOWT-6 is a close second in many of those timeslots, while KMTV-3 saw its viewership slip – much like the performance of its parent network, CBS.

KPTM-42 can also consider itself a winner in the ratings period, which was conducted between Jan. 31 and Feb. 27. The FOX affiliate garnered more than 21,000 viewers for its 9 p.m. newscast – roughly 3,000 more than third-place KMTV drew for its 10 p.m. newscast.

Nielsen’s ratings reflect the viewing habits of more than 407,000 TV households in the Omaha metropolitan area, which includes Douglas, Washington, Cass and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Nielsen surveys viewers in by asking them to write down the station they watched for news in a diary that is returned by mail.

The standard ratings months include February, May, July, and November – with May considered the most important.

KETV’s rise to the top completes a climb that saw it nearly as dominant in the November 2007 ratings period when it was the clear leader at 5 a.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and a close second to WOWT at 6 a.m.

At 10 p.m., KETV attracts an audience of more than 59,000 viewers, compared to 54,000 for WOWT and 18,000 for KMTV. At 5 p.m., KETV garners approximately 4,000 viewers more than WOWT and 28,000 more than KMTV. At 6 p.m., the margin between KETV and WOWT is roughly the same, with KMTV lagging about 37,000 viewers behind the front-runner.

KMTV’s troubles at 10 o’clock can be traced to a serious slump for CBS in prime time. The network began the fall season with a 10 percent decline in its total audience from a year ago and a 15 percent drop among viewers ages 18-to 49-year-old. Those numbers led to CBS’ decision to recently cut more than 160 positions at stations it owns and operates around the country (which does not include KMTV).

In the battle of local sports shows broadcast Sunday night at 10:35 p.m., WOWT’s long-running “Sunday Sports Extra” and KMTV’s “Sports Sound Off” are in a virtual dead heat in terms of overall viewers. Each draws about 16,000 viewers.

In the early morning news race, WOWT remains on the heels of KETV – particularly in the 6 a.m. time slot. KETV’s lead is only about 5,000 in overall viewership and close to 4,000 in the key 25-54 demographic.

KMTV’s switch in talent in the mornings – from veteran Mary Williams to Kerri Stowell – hasn’t resulted in better ratings. The station lags far about 18,000 viewers behind KETV at 6 a.m. and 13,000 behind WOWT.

It is a different story for KMTV’s midday news. With a strong lead-in from “The Young and the Restless” and Williams anchoring, KMTV’s noon newscast draws a hefty 21,000-plus viewers. That audience is larger than any of its other newscasts, save for Sunday nights at 10.

KPTM’s 4 p.m. newscast – which only debuted last fall – has been slow to attract viewers, though it is registering in the ratings. WOWT, the only other station to broadcast a newscast in that time slot, is No. 1 in sheer audience size, followed by “Oprah” on KMTV and “Judge Judy.” In demos, “Judge Judy” on KETV is tops, with “Oprah” and WOWT’s 4 p.m. newscast in a virtual tie for second.

Nielsen’s all-important ratings period for May begins April 24 and ends May 21.

--By Sean Weide

KOOO Revamps Morning Show

2008-04-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

Press Release From NRG Media:

Omaha’s new pop rock station, “The Big O”, KOOO-FM is launching its new morning show featuring long-time Omaha broadcaster Allison Steele and radio producer and Nebraska native Tommy O. The talented duo will officially launch April 21st according to Program Director Billy Shears who stated, “Allison and Tommy O will make a dynamic team and bring an enthusiastic voice to morning drive.”

Allison Steele is a Nebraska Radio Hall of Fame broadcaster having spent 14 years on Omaha Radio at a variety of stations including the former KLTQ-FM. A Minnesota native, Steele was raised on a dairy farm, but dreamed of travel and a career in radio broadcasting. Her successful on-air journey has led her to on-air roles across the Midwest and to the island state as a disc jockey for great radio stations in Colorado, Maine, Ohio and Hawaii. Currently, Steele is the midday host at Mix 101.9FM in Chicago, IL, but she is eager to return home. “I am so thrilled to be returning to Omaha and can’t wait to work with Tommy O. “The Big O” is making such a huge impact on Omaha radio and I am excited to be a part of its growth,” exclaimed Steele.

Tommy O is currently the producer for KQKQ’s Morning Show with Pat and JT. The Nebraska native graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1998 and immediately launched his radio career as the evening disc jockey at KSRZ-FM in Omaha. He joined the KQKQ Morning Show in 2002 providing on-air production elements and entertainment features, coordination of various on-air interviews and station contests. Commenting that he will now be competing against the morning show he once produced, Tommy O stated, “I have learned so much during my six years with Pat and JT that I am ready to launch my own program. Allison and I have great synergy and we can’t wait to get behind the mic and make a positive impact on a city we both know and love. ”

“The Big O” launched in late December 2007 to fill a void in Omaha Radio by providing listeners with an upbeat and artful blend of the greatest pop rock hits of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today. The station’s name and call letters were designed to evoke the symbolic representation of its hometown, the city of Omaha, with the big “O” as striking as its namesake. The music-intensive station features the voice talents of “Mr. Jay Peterman” (John O’Hurely) from Seinfeld fame and its new local on-air talent lineup includes “The Big O Morning Show with Allison Steele and Tommy O,” middays with long-time Omaha broadcaster Shari Stone and afternoon drive with station Program Director Billy Shears.

Journalism and PR experts, commence your critique...

World-Herald Layoffs

2008-04-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

The Omaha World-Herald recently laid off a handful of employees, including veteran Jake Thompson, who had been in the World-Herald’s Washington, D.C., bureau for several years.

Also among those let go, according to sources at the World-Herald: photo assignment editor Craig Chandler, business reporter Mike Avok and graphic designer Sid Jablonski.

Calls to the World-Herald for comment were not returned.

World-Herald Passes On Revealing Controversial Site

2008-04-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

The New Nebraska Network, self-billed as "the state's premiere source of progressive online political commentary and community-building," reveals what many readers of Monday's Omaha World-Herald newspaper were wondering: just what was the URL of that website that offers detailed sex information to teenagers?

The World-Herald story, written by Joseph Morton, reported that several lawmakers in the Midlands thought the site was not appropriate, "both in the graphic detail it provides and the messages it sends on topics such as premarital sex and abortion."

"It's enough to make an old person blush," Rep. Lee Terry (R) told Morton. "If that was in a printed magazine, it would be wrapped (in brown paper) and put behind a counter, and no teens would be allowed to buy it."

After revealing that the site in question is TeenWire.com, New Nebraska Network writes:

"It's a shame the World-Herald would allow the site to be insulted like this without even giving it a name and listing its address. But, then those few young people who read the World-Herald might actually be able to get some real information about safe and responsible sexual health. Of course, we wouldn't want that.

The World-Herald would also be encouraging people to use the internet - something else they're clearly afraid of, if we're to judge based on the ongoing embarrassment they call Omaha.com."

A Sold Out Show

2008-03-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

The annual Omaha Press Club Show attracted a sellout crowd of 795 Saturday night at the Mid-America Center.

(Jane Palmer's review in the online edition of the Omaha World-Herald is no longer available.)

City Weekly to Launch Radio Show

2008-03-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

The City Weekly newspaper will begin a new show on KKAR (1290 AM) beginning Saturday, April 12.

The show, titled “City Weekend,” will feature an hour of entertainment news and happenings in Omaha each week.

Hosted by the staff of the City Weekly, “City Weekend” will include short interviews with entertainers coming to Omaha, film reviews and concert previews, as well as highlights of the week’s issue of the City Weekly – and much, much more.

Beginning Monday, KKAR will begin running 30-second promos for “City Weekend.” D.L. Hughley will be among the guests on the first show.

"City Weekend," which will air each Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m., replaces cooking show “Come On Into My Kitchen.”

Scott Voorhees Will Face The Globetrotters

2008-03-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

KFAB morning talk show host Scott Voorhees will suit up and play basketball Saturday night against the Harlem Globetrotters.

Voorhees elaborated on his roster spot with the Washington Generals - the Globetrotters' perennial opponent that has lost more than 13,000 games - during Wednesday's program. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.

"Are the Globetrotters going to be pulling down my pants and throwing confetti on me," Voorhees asked Washington Generals Owner Red Klotz.

"No, no, no," Klotz said. "You're a fine guest."

Voorhees, who played for Ralston High School, said he's a streaky shooter.

The last time the Washington Generals defeated the Globetrotters was Jan. 5, 1971, in Martin, Tenn., Klotz himself hit the game-winner in overtime in the 100-99 victory.

Journal Star Names New Editor

2008-03-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Michael Nelson is the new editor of the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper.

Publisher John Maher made the announcement today, saying Nelson would begin his new position on April 21.

Nelson comes to Lincoln from the Kansas City Star, where he was the paper's assistant managing editor and has worked for nearly 35 years.

The Journal Star's announcement pointed out his "deep ties" to the state: Nelson graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and he spent his high school years in Omaha, where many of his relatives still live, the paper said.

NCAA Hoops: How Omaha Stacked Up

2008-03-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Kansas City Star reporter Blair Kirkhoff writes that "Omaha and the Qwest Center did it right" in a story assessing the first and second round games Omaha hosted last week.

Steve Sipple, on the Lincoln Journal Star's "Life In The Red" blog, writes "we should count ourselves lucky that Omaha had the wherewithal to build a big-time arena and position itself to play host to the first and second rounds of that little event that tends to transfix us at this time of year."

But Las Vegas Sun reporter Ron Kantowski feels much different about his experience covering hoops in Omaha. In a column titled, "Game for a good time? Not in Nebraska," Kantowski writes that the only thing you get at 1:50 a.m. in Omaha is a cab from the airport."

And don't forget to stop by the blog of Las Vegas freelance photojournalist Louie Traub, whose checks in with a boatload of photos and writes that he is "thankful I get to board a plane and head back to Las Vegas, where I can still get a kick ass steak anytime, with no last call for beer."

NCAA Hoops: What Is Being Written About Omaha

2008-03-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

With the Qwest Center Omaha hosting first and second round NCAA Tournament games Thursday and Saturday, Omaha is getting its share of attention from scribes around the nation.

Here's a sample of what they are writing:

J. Brady McCollough of the Kansas City Star, catches up with Omaha's most quoted economist.

The Kansas City Beer Blog says no trip to Omaha is complete for anyone with even a passing interest in good beer without going to the Upstream Brewery.

Tim Griffin of ESPN.com writes that Omaha hasn't had this much star power "since Jack Nicholson and Kathy Bates were filming 'About Schmidt' here a few years ago."

"Amid railroad tracks, slabs of beef, Warren Buffett's mansion and any other local characteristics worth mentioning, two wonderful freshman players will showcase their skills," writes columnist Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Bob Lutz of the Wichita Eagle relates his five-hour drive to Omaha with three others in a rented Ford Expedition on "Bob's Blog."

Las Vegas freelance photographer Louie Traub writes that he "missed the memo that bars close at 1 a.m." Check out his photo-plentiful post here.

And even Omaha World-Herald reporter Dane Stickney touches on a few city and state stereotypes in "The Elite Eight things to do in Omaha."

Tom Becka Becomes Ordained Minister

2008-03-18T16:16:00.001-07:00

KFAB (1110 AM) afternoon talk show host and Omaha City Weekly columnist Tom Becka is now an ordained minister.

On his program and his Myspace.com page Tuesday, Becka revealed that he has joined the Universal Life Church and became an ordained minister.

"A friend asked me to officiate at his wedding," Becka said. "I am now legal to perform weddings in all 50 states."

New York Times Features Omaha's Film Streams

2008-03-18T05:58:00.001-07:00

Decide for yourself whether an account for the New York Times of Omaha's new Film Streams two-theater cinema casts the city in a favorable light.

"When Omaha Met Cinema," was written by Eric Konigsberg and published in weekend editions of the New York Times.

Konigsberg moved away from Omaha to attend high school and college on the East Coast, but his parents still reside in Midtown. An accomplished writer for several publications, Konisgsberg's recent book, "Blood Relation," is an account of his great uncle, Harold "Kayo" Konigsberg, who was a vicious Mafia enforcer currently serving a life sentence in prison.

Writes Konigsberg:

"When I grew up there, in the 1970s and ’80s, Omaha was a great place to live if you were interested in insurance, softball leagues, college football, steak or hamburgers.

I took an interest in a great many of those things (the exceptions being softball and insurance). But my parents, transplanted New Yorkers, were under-stimulated — particularly my film-buff mother, who lamented the tendency of local moviehouses to decline (as “foreign films”) most anything that didn’t star Henry Fonda or Benji."

Omaha photographer (and former UNO Gateway staffer) Chris Machian shot the photo that accompanies the article.

Catching Up With ‘Allison Steele’

2008-03-14T10:35:00.001-07:00

From our “Where are the now?” file: Renee DuBay.

Omahans will remember DuBay (pictured) better known as Allison Steele, who was on the air here under that name for 14 years before joining the Mix (WTMX-FM) in Chicago in 2006.

DuBay, her real name, perhaps had her most popular run as midday and afternoon host on Z-92 (KEZO-FM), where she also served as music director. DuBay was also Allison Steele on the now-defunct City (KCTY-FM), Star 104.5 FM and Q-98 (KQKQ 98.5 FM).

When she decided to try Chicago, DuBay sold “Everything she owned,” including her car, and decided to go by her given name.

“Some family members and friends thought I was nuts for leaving a comfortable existence at Q-98.5 for part-time work in Chicago,” DuBay recalled. “I always had the dream ever since I was a 16-year-old of working in a Top 10 radio market and I was going to market No. 3. I was single, no kids, if I was going to do it, it was time.”

DuBay started working one day a weekend, then two days, and later filled in for full-timers.

“It was hard for many months,” she said. “I wondered if I'd made the wrong decision but hung in there because I believed and many others believed this dream was going to happen.”

Back in Omaha, managers at Lite 101.9 (now the Big O, KOOO-FM) needed someone to fill in for Shari Stone while she was on maternity leave. DuBay agreed to fill in, and an epic commute was under way.

“In early January ’07 I started flying between Chicago and Omaha,” DuBay said. “I would fly to Omaha on Sunday night after my air shift on the Mix. I'd work in Omaha Monday through Friday. I'd fly back to Chicago on Friday night to work at the Mix Saturdays and Sundays. I did that for seven weeks.”

DuBay was eventually offered a full-time midday gig with the Mix in Chicago.

“I’ve got to meet a ton of celebrities because I follow such a successful morning show (Eric and Kathy),” she said. “I’ve also got to see many great shows at many great venues here in Chicago. My favorites: Bon Jovi and Daughtry at Allstate Arena, Pat Monahan at the House of Blues, and Linkin Park at Midwest Amphitheater.”

No husband or kids yet for DuBay. However, she does have a boyfriend in her life. But she hasn’t replaced her car.

“I take a cab to work every morning which costs me $9, including tip,” DuBay said. “It takes me 12 minutes to get to work in the morning and it takes me right down the Magnificent Mile. I love cruising over the Chicago River and looking east and west every day.”

There’s obviously a lot more to see in Chicago – “It’s the most entertaining city I’ve ever lived in,” says DuBay – but the on-air personality still misses Omaha.

“I was so blessed to stay in my career in Omaha for 14 years,” said DuBay. “I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss Omaha. It’s a friendlier place to live. You know your neighbors, etc. Life is more simple, not noisy, and I can dress for fashion and not for the elements. It’s nice to get in a car and have heat and air conditioning.

“I miss being able to accommodate lots of people in my home for dinner, games and such. I miss having a fenced in backyard with a dog, bird feeders and other animals, like deer in my (old) neighborhood, and being able to barbecue.”

DuBay, a native of Minnesota, gets back to Omaha every three or four months, she said. And the next time you make it to Chicago, DuBay recommends Shaw’s Crab House, “the best restaurant experience I've ever enjoyed.”

From The Notebook

2008-03-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Last Call for OPC Journalism Contest Entries
Entries for the Omaha Press Club's Excellence in Journalism Awards competition are due Monday, March 17 at 2 p.m.

The awards contest annually recognizes excellent writing, design and photography. Categories include TV, radio, public relations, magazine, still photography and print. A new category this year recognizes "Best Blog."

The awards will be presented at a banquet May 29 at Joslyn Castle.

Entry forms are available for download here.

KVSS Expanding Broadcast Reach
Omaha Catholic radio station KVSS (88.9 FM) is making plans for a multi-million dollar expansion that will increase its broadcast reach to nearly 1.2 million people.

The nine-year-old station currently reaches 662,000 people within a 50-mile radius of Omaha. The planned expansion is expected to cost $3.5 million - of which $1 million has already been raised.

'Empire' Strikes Again

2008-03-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

As longtime darlings of Omaha radio, Todd Brandt and Mike Tyler continue to branch out with their Omaha-based morning radio show. The duo, which originates from Z-92 (KEZO-FM), has been simulcasting its 5:30-10 a.m. weekday show to stations in Wichita, Kan., and Springfield, Mo., since Nov. 2006. This week, the popular No. 1-rated duo (in the Omaha market) announced an agreement with Envision Radio Networks, a syndication specialist with offices in Cleveland and New York City.

Envision calls Todd and Tyler’s show “an engaging highly customizable syndicated morning show targeting 25-54 year old men.

“From news to love advice, politics to sports and everything in between, the conversation is smart, real and irresistible to men and women alike.”

“Envision will be the syndication company that we are working with to offer the (Todd and Tyler) show to other stations around the country,” said Steve Wexler, executive vice president of television and radio operations for the Journal Broadcast Group, which owns Z-92 and the stations in Wichita and Springfield.

Wexler said that will include airing Todd and Tyler on radio stations not owned by the Journal Broadcast Group.

Said T&T: “After 15 years together, we’re very excited to be on board with Envision Radio Networks as we take the next step. We knew Envision was the best partner we could have to launch us into national syndication.”

Former CW Co-owner Goes to NRG

2008-03-06T14:22:00.001-08:00

Former City Weekly co-owner Andy Ruback is settling into his new gig as general manager of NRG Media’s Lincoln radio stations: KLIN-AM, KBBK-FM, KFGE-FM, KLNC-FM and KWBE-AM.

Before helping launch the City Weekly in 2004, Ruback was national sales manager for Clear Channel's Lincoln and Omaha properties and was general sales manager for KGOR-FM and KRQC-FM in Omaha.

The City Weekly was sold to City Media Group last March.

City Weekly Moves Into New Offices

2008-03-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

The City Weekly newspaper has moved into a recently remodeled building at 5015 Dodge St. The weekly news and entertainment publication previously had its offices at 1307 Leavenworth St.

Interestingly, the new office is directly across the street from the City Weekly’s first office, which it occupied at 5008 Dodge St. from Feb. 2004 to Jan. 2005.

Also across the street from the CW now is NRG Media’s Omaha radio stations. And just up the road a handful of blocks away at 5010 Underwood Ave. are the studios for Clear Channel’s Omaha stations.

Kugler Going to Final Four

2008-03-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Kevin Kugler, co-host of “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” on Omaha’s the Zone (KOZN 1620 AM), has been named the play-by-play voice for the national radio broadcasts of the NCAA Men’s Final Four and the Men’s National Championship Basketball game on the NCAA-Westwood One Radio Network.

Kugler, a four-time winner of the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year (2003-2006), is in his second season as Westwood One's lead play-by-play announcer for its NCAA basketball coverage. For the Final Four broadcast he will be joined by former Seton Hall head basketball coach Bill Raftery, who is in his 17th year as Westwood One college basketball analyst and by former Georgetown head basketball coach and Basketball Hall of Fame member John Thompson.

The Final Four broadcasts are scheduled for April 5 at 4 and 7:30 p.m. with the National Championship set for April 7 at 7 p.m. from the Alamodome in San Antonio.

“U.C.” airs weekdays 2-6 p.m. on the Zone, with co-host Mike’L Severe.

‘Morganizing’ the Virgin Islands

2008-02-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

We’re going to be tracking down former Omaha on-air personalities in the coming weeks for a where are they now-type of series. Up first, a former KGOR 99.9 FM) morning show host who was recently accused of being a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Roger W. Morgan, who made his “Morganizing” prank phone calls a staple on his Omaha morning shows, now is the owner/operator of WYAC-FM in Christiansted, U. S. Virgin Islands.

Last year, the Federal Communication Commission dismissed a bid by a coalition of Virgin Islands senators and citizens to deny the transfer of the WAYC-FM broadcasting license to Morgan. Morgan had run the station for four years, and the FCC ultimately sided with Morgan.

“We own it ... finally,” Morgan said this week. “It was a long battle in which I was accused of being a member of the Ku Klux Klan! I was also accused of trying to overthrow the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

Morgan said the island’s senators were angry because the on-air personality allowed callers to discuss their (the senators’) “outrageous raises at a time when the kids here are living under the federal poverty line and not enjoying the kind of education that our taxpayers try to provide for them.”

Morgan said he’s hosting a 6-9 a.m. morning show similar to the one he did on KGOR in the 1990s. Then, from 9 a.m. to noon, Morgan hosts “Free Speech,” in which callers are encouraged to call in and voice their opinions.

Asked if he missed the winters in Omaha, Morgan said: “As much as I still think of Omaha as being ‘home,’ and as much as I would enjoy visiting, even during ice and snowstorms, I can’t imagine life anywhere but in this paradise. Year-round, the high temp is about 83 and nighttime lows are about 78. Gentle morning rain showers and light trade winds in the afternoon. It just doesn’t get any better than this.”

The Death of R-O-C-K in Omaha?

2008-02-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

When the latest report from the Arbitron radio ratings service came out at the end of last month many longtime rock radio listeners in Omaha no doubt did a double take.

Heritage rock and roll gorilla Z-92 (KEZO-FM), launched in 1978, had been overtaken by 2-year-old rock station the Brew (96.1 KQBW-FM) in the broadest demographic of listeners available, during the Fall 2007 rating period.

Listeners 12 and older, Monday through Sunday 6 a.m. to midnight, chose the Brew – a 4.2 share to a 3.9 share – over Z-92.

Sure, advertisers seek specific demos, such as the coveted adults 25- to 54-year-old group, but the 12-plus result is significant nonetheless.

While the Brew led Omaha’s rock stations, the Brew was No. 8 with listeners 12 and older overall. The top three stations were, in order: News-talk KFAB (1110 AM), country station the Kat (KXKT 103.7 FM) and oldies KGOR (99.9 FM).

Two of the Omaha market’s other rock stations were lagging as well. New station the Big O (KOOO 101.9 FM), a light rock station that went on the air two months ago, came in at No. 10 (behind No. 9 Z-92). Meanwhile, longtime classic rock station CD-105.9 (KKCD-FM) was No. 12.

So where has the rock gone on commercial stations in Omaha? Are their too many rock stations sharing the same play list, with the same usual suspects – the Eagles, the Police, Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Journey, Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, etc.?

“Yawn,” seems to be the response from local listeners.

The River (89.7 FM), a non-commercial station based out of Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, plays a lot of modern rock and has respectable ratings. However, scoring good ratings and selling advertising based upon those ratings is not the main goal for non-commercial stations like it is for commercial stations.

The biggest story in this latest report for Omaha’s commercial rock stations is that the once-mighty Z-92 appears to be slipping. Z-92 has beaten all of the other rock stations consistently in recent years, including the past five ratings periods. But from Fall 2006 to Fall 2007, Z-92 went from having a 7.1 share of the 12-plus market to a 3.9 share.

It could be a fluke, and likely is. I expect Z-92 to bounce back in the next ratings period. Maybe not to the station’s glory days, but certainly better than a 3.9 share.

"Over the years, there has been plenty of rock competition for Z-92. That's nothing new," said Steve Wexler, executive vice president of television and radio operations for the Journal Broadcast Group, which owns Z-92. "They seem to show up every couple years then disappear. There's not much to 'tweak' on Z-92. We know that our audience expects us to play everything that rocks...they expect to start their day with Todd and Tyler in the morning...and they expect fun, larger-than-life contests and promotions, like the 'Todd and Tyler Party Plane to Vegas,' which starts next month. That hasn't changed and won't change. As for the Fall ratings, we've learned over the years not to pay much attention to the occasional 'down' ratings book. I can tell you that we're extremely happy with Z-92's performance and it's continued dominance."

Sharpe Is Huskers' New Football Play-by-Play Man

2008-02-05T23:48:00.000-08:00

Tuesday's hiring announcement of Greg Sharpe as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's footbal and baseball play-by-play announcer ends months of speculation about who would replace Jim Rose.

Sharpe is a two-time Kansas Sportscaster of the Year who was the play-by-play voice of Kansas State football and basketball from 1996 to 2002. A press release from the Husker Sports Network said he will continue to work as an announcer for Fox Sports Net in addition to his hosting duties for the Nebraska football and baseball TV coaches' shows.

He most recently has served as the Director of Operations at WIBW, where he has overseen a staff of 52, making programming decisions and assisting with sales accounts, marketing efforts and station promotions.

Sharpe is a native of Olathe, Kan.

'Unsportsmanlike Conduct' Conducts Super Tuesday Stadium Poll

2008-02-05T14:18:00.000-08:00

KOZN (1620 AM) afternoon sports talk show "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" used a poll Tuesday afternoon to gauge listener interest in the debate over renovation of Rosenblatt Stadium and the desire to build a new baseball station in North Downtown Omaha.

The "Super Tuesday" poll offered five choices of action:

-Approve of building a new stadium in NoDo, using public funds as needed to provide for the cost.

- Approve of building a new stadium in NoDo, provided no public dollars are used to fund said stadium.

- Omaha should rebuild Rosenblatt at its current location, provided no public dollars are used to fund the rebuild of the said stadium.

- Omaha should rebuild Rosenblatt at its current location, using public funds as needed to provide for the cost.

- Omaha should neither build a new stadium nor rebuild Rosenblatt.

Results of the non-scientific poll were being shared with listeners throughout Tuesday's program.

Matt Perrault Fires Back At Jim Rose

2008-02-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

KXSP (590 AM) afternoon sports talk show host Matt Perrault spent time Thursday responding to the article published in this week's Media Watch column in the latest edition of the Omaha City Weekly.

During the 3 p.m. hour of "The Big Show," Perrault said he "doesn't really like Jim Rose," and shared with listeners the story of a lunch the two had at the Ironwood Country Club a few weeks after Perrault arrived in Omaha in April of 2005.

"I remember calling my ex-girlfriend right after that and I said, 'I've just had the most ridiculous lunch with the most pretentious man I've ever met in my life,'" Perrault said. "From that moment on, I just (said) Jim Rose and I will not get along."

Perrault said he has not spoken to Rose recently, but the two have crossed paths - including once during "a funny night" at a bar in Downtown Omaha.

"It was literally like 'Anchorman' where you had all the KFAB people on one side and all the Big Sports 590 people on the other," he said. "I felt like we were going to have a brawl."

Perrault took issue with Rose's assertion that the former Husker football play-by-play man has received more than 3,000 e-mails of support and that "The Big Show" has not received 3,000 e-mails since it debuted nearly three years ago.

"I probably get a thousand e-mails in a week," Perrault said. "Why would you even try to crack back on a dumb statement like that? There's no need for that. It makes you look stupid."

Although he didn't elaborate on his sources, Perrault stuck to his story that Greg Sharpe will be the new play-by-play voice of the Nebraska football team.

"We can all start fresh," he said. "Callahan's gone. Pederson's gone and Jim Rose is gone. It's a win, win, win for everyone."

Big show Co-host Travis Justice joined Perrault later on Thursday's show and called Rose's statement about not knowing Bo Pelini's wife, Mary Pat, a lie. But he was also quick to say that it wasn't really an issue.

"That's a lie because I watched him go in and say hi (at the press conference to announce Pelini's hiring as head coach)," Justice said. "I don't care if he went in to say hi. Keep in mind that there's a relationship there between those two. During Bo's time as head coach the first time around, Jim was the voice there. Jim hosted the TV show. Jim was on the road with them down at the Alamo Bowl."

Justice said he likes Rose and has never had a problem with him.

"Sometimes you (referring to Perrault) and I get mixed up," Justice said. "I don't care what you think about Jim. But I've known him for the 14 years that I've been here. I've never had a problem with him. I like Jim. Every time that we see each other we say hi and have some conversation. I didn't think I attacked him, personally."

Listen to the "The Big Show" segments regarding Rose here: 3 p.m. hour, Part I, 3 p.m. hour, Part II, 4 p.m. hour.

Rose Responds to Perrault, Justice

2008-01-31T12:04:00.000-08:00

Big Sports 590 AM talk show hosts Matt Perrault and Travis Justice spent part of a show last week discussing former Nebraska football play-by-play announcer Jim Rose, claiming Rose wanted his job back.

Last November, with three games left in the Husker football season, Rose quit his job as play-by-play caller, a job he had done the previous six years. Rose said he was stepping down for personal reasons, including spending more time with his family. He continues to co-host the KFAB (1110 AM) morning show, as well as sell advertising for Pinnacle Sports, which has the rights to Huskers sports on the radio.

Perrault and Justice questioned Rose’s reasons for quitting his play-by-play job during last week’s show. An excerpt:

Perrault: There’s a rumor going around that Jim Rose is trying to get his job back.

Justice: I’ve heard that one.

Perrault: So it’s not surprising.

Justice: It doesn’t surprise me at all.

Perrault: What I’ve heard is that he wants his job back and he won’t give up the sales angle.

Justice: That’s true. … Jim protected himself by saying that he had anxiety problems and he missed his family and all that stuff. Which part of it may have been true. But I think in the end he thought he was going to get fired. And then he realized after he quit that he wasn’t going to get fired. Don’t forget, when Bo Pelini was hired he (Rose) gets down there and runs into the suite and wants to talk with Bo’s wife and Bo one-on-one. Jim and I get along all right; I don’t have a problem with Jim. But I think he jumped the gun on this one. He should have never quit in the first place.

Rose said this week that he was glad that he could provide fodder for Perrault’s and Justice’s show.

“I’m glad to be of service to those guys because they’re having trouble coming up with topics that people care about. If what they suggest is true then that would make everything that I said on the air back in November a big fat lie. And I can assure you, I have discussed returning to the broadcast booth with no one because it’s not my intention. If they were firing me, why would I continue to be on KFAB and why would I continue to work out here (Pinnacle)?”

As for rushing to talk with Bo Pelini’s wife, Rose said, “I wouldn’t know Mary Pat Pelini if she sat down in my lap.

“I think it’s hilarious that these guys have found nothing more insightful to talk about in the world of sports than the comings and goings of a former play-by-play announcer.

“I received over 3,000 e-mails from people all over the world thanking me for the job I did … Now, I don’t think that radio show (Perrault/Justice, 2-6 p.m. weekdays) has gotten 3,000 e-mails since it went on the air.

“I don’t care what they think. They don’t know what they’re talking about. And I’m a little bit offended that they are basically calling me a liar.

“I didn’t have to leave the job when I did. And I have no interest in returning.”

Time For Sweeps

2008-01-31T06:52:00.000-08:00

Get ready for a barrage of cross-promotion, radio advertisements and "special investigations." Today marks the start of the Nielsen Media Research TV ratings month.

KMTV-3 reporter Mary Williams made the rounds on Journal Broadcast Group-owned stations this morning, inviting listeners to tune in tonight to "Take the bully test."

Corn, Crop Circle Highlight Omaha 'Idol' Episode

2008-01-30T06:24:00.001-08:00

Reaction to Omaha's appearance on "American Idol" Tuesday night was mixed.

Some were happy to see the city get its moment in the spotlight, while others were dismayed at the stereotypical images of corn that are more often associated with the state itself.

Swanson Russell Associates Public Relations Manager Jennifer Windrum told listeners of KFAB's "Good Morning Show" Wednesday that Swanson Russell worked closely with the show's producers to showcase the entire city - in addition to the "American Idol" crop circle Swanson Russell helped create.

"In a sense, we added to the corn," Windrum said. "But we tried to mix (agriculture) with the modern. But we knew they couldn't come here and not show corn."

Windrum said the AI production crew wanted shots of things viewers would recognize - Mutual of Omaha, the Henry Doorly Zoo, etc. - but that not everything made the show.

"We made an itinerary for them and we had four hours with them," Windrum said. "But the rain really hampered things. The day they were shooting it was rainy, so we had to change plans."

One of the original goals of the project - to get show host Ryan Seacrest on a Claas LEXIONClaas LEXION Combine - didn't happen, Windrum said.

"We got them out to the Claas facility but it was raining and they wanted a combine in action," she said.

The crop circle came off much better, despite the rain and a short timetable to get it made.

"Once we mentioned that to the producers, we had two weeks to do it," Windrums aid. "We hired a company from Utah called The MAIZE and they mapped it out with a GPS. The 'Welcome to Omaha' part was hand-carved with machetes.

Swanson Russell's website features a "making of" video of the crop circle. Windrum and SRA Public Relations Associate (and former KETV reporter) Laura Liggett (pictured above) are shown helping cut the crop circle.

Voorhees Wants Your Opinion

KFAB (1110 AM) morning talk show host Scott Voorhees is inviting listeners to cast their vote for the impression left by Tuesday's American Idol episode.

The choices are: "Too much corn, but that's ok," "Too much corn, and that's ignorant," Who cares about the corn? We were featured on the #1 show!," and "I didn't watch it."

When An Embargo Isn't Honored

2008-01-29T05:24:00.000-08:00

There's a story behind the massive crop circle that will be shown on tonight's episode of "American Idol."

Media outlets were alerted about the circle and how it came about through an embargoed press release from the Omaha office of advertising agency Swanson Russell Associates. But not everyone agreed to the embargo that was to have held the details until after tonight's Omaha-centric episode airs on KPTM-42 at 7 p.m.

Judith Siers-Poisson, who contributes to PR Watch.org, a blog that is part of the Center for Media and Democracy, publishes the entire text of the press release and photos that were sent out by Swanson Russell Public Relations Manager Jennifer Windrum.

Siers-Poisson writes:

Unfortunately for Ms. Windrum, this incentive means nothing to us. I emphatically do not want to keep getting her emails, and neither I nor CMD has ever promised to honor an "embargo" on what is essentially unsolicited spam... Now, I know this is far from an earthshaking story. To be honest, I just got annoyed past the point of politeness. And hopefully, PR "pros" will learn to not send unsolicited emails -- especially embargoed information -- to PR industry watchdogs.

What follows in the comments section is a back-and-forth exchange between Siers-Poisson and Windrum that might have been better handled as a private phone call between the two parties.

Former World-Herald Building Will Be Razed

2008-01-26T05:56:00.000-08:00

The Omaha World-Herald's former headquarters at "World-Herald Square" (14th & Dodge) will be torn down and replaced by a park, according to a story in the newspaper's Saturday editions.

The land eventually may feature more than a planned plaza, said World-Herald CEO and President Terry Kroeger. The building is expected to be torn down this spring and the park in place by fall.

“This is an important piece of land for our company, as it literally sits between our primary offices at the Omaha World-Herald Building and our manufac turing plant at the Freedom Center,” Kroeger said. “Therefore, long-term control of this property is critical.”

The World-Herald moved out of the building in 2006.

In This Week's Edition...

2008-01-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

There’s a shift in power at the top of the TV ratings in Omaha.

Read more about how the Omaha TV stations fared in the latest Nielsen Media Research ratings in this week's edition of the Omaha City Weekly.

Bill Randby Quoted In World-Herald Story

2008-01-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a long time, the Omaha World-Herald reached out to a TV station for information.

KETV-7 Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby is quoted in Saturday's editions of the newspaper in a story headlined, "Forecasting winter weather an inexact science."

Reporters Michael Avok and Tom Shaw provided direct quotes from Randby in the front page, above-the-fold story. They also sourced weather forecasts for Sunday from two other Omaha TV stations, KMTV and WOWT.

KPTM's forecast was not referenced even though it was posted online immediately after the station's 9 p.m. newscast. (In it, Chief Meteorologist Tyson Pearsall called for 2-4 inches of snow on Sunday.)

According to the newspaper story, the World-Herald's weather consulting service, AccuWeather, calls for 2-4 inches of snow on Sunday. KMTV and KETV forecasts agree with that total, while WOWT predicted a "60 to 70 percent chance" of snowfall. The Weather Channel forecast also calls for that same snowfall percentage while the National Weather Service forecast office in Valley predicts 1-3 inches of snow.

Omaha World-Herald Gets Cruiser Camera Video

2008-01-17T06:59:00.000-08:00

The Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, offers Omaha Police cruiser camera video of a pursuit that occurred in November 2006.

The video was released following Wednesday's sentencing of Robert Carter, the man being pursued by police after a string of three robberies in less than 15 minutes. Carter shot at officers several times during the 20-minute chase, which ends with one police cruiser crashing into a pond.

The accompanying story, published in the newspaper's print and online editions, doesn't do the video justice, though veteran reporter Todd Cooper gives it his best shot.

Following departmental policy, Omaha Police do not routinely release cruiser camera video. Public information officers say it is considered "evidence in an ongoing investigation" and thus does not meet the guidelines for release as stated by the state's open public records law.

Changes at KETV

2008-01-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

From a press release issued by KETV-Channel 7 Monday afternoon:

“Viewers tuning in to KETV NewsWatch 7 at 10 on Sunday night were greeted by a new Anchor team. Rob McCartney and Brandi Petersen along with Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby and Sports Anchor Matt Schick will now provide more complete coverage to viewers every Sunday night at 10.

“In addition to Anchoring the Sunday 10 p.m. news, Brandi Petersen is joining Julie Cornell as Co-Anchor of KETV NewsWatch 7 at 5 on Monday, January 7. Most recently Brandi was Co-Anchor of KETV NewsWatch 7 First News Weekend. Julie Cornell and Rob McCartney will continue to Co-Anchor KETV NewsWatch 7 and 6 and 10.

“’This change allows KETV to continue to have a strong Anchor team on our 5 p.m. newscast, while freeing up Rob McCartney to do more investigative reporting,’” according to KETV News Director Rose Ann Shannon.

“Rob McCartney will now lead KETV NewsWatch 7’s investigative ‘I-Team.’ Rob has won numerous broadcast journalism awards and adding him to the I-Team allows KETV to highlight one of his strengths. ‘My first love in television is reporting,’ said Rob McCartney. ‘Leading KETV’s I-Team allows me to focus on more stories that impact the heartland.’”

Notes From The Omaha Press Club

2008-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Omaha Press Club's annual poke at public figures and news events will be titled "Rosensplatt...And Other Foul Bawls" and takes place Saturday, March 29, at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.

The annual read-through for cast, band and crew will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Press Club. Members wishing to be involved with the show who cannot attend the Read-Thru should e-mail Kurt Keeler (kurtykee(at)msn(dot)com.
* * *
The Press Club’s annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6 p.m. Officers and directors will be elected at the meeting and all members are invited to attend. If you are unable to attend, a proxy ballot can be found in this month's newsletter, which is being mailed this week.

* * *
The Press Club's fifth annual Excellence in Journalism Awards competition opens Monday. The competition honors the outstanding work of media professionals in several categories.

New this year is the "Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame Award," which will be presented at the Excellence in Journalism Awards banquet on Thursday, May 29.

Contest entry forms are available for download here. Deadline to enter is March 17.

Maddox Voted 'Hottest Newswoman' On Big Sports 590

2008-01-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Malorie Maddox, weekday morning news anchor at WOWT-6, topped Brandi Petersen of KETV-7 in the third annual "Hottest Newswoman of the Year" call-in poll on "The Big Show with Matt Perrault" on KXSP (590 AM).

In voting on Monday's program, Maddox narrowly edged out Petersen, who was the winner of the 2006 contest. Maddox won in 2005 and later appeared on the show to accept her prizes, something Petersen did not the following year (at the request of KETV management).

Maddox recently won the NebraskaInfoWomen Yahoo! Group poll, which asked which Omaha TV weekday morning female anchor did the best job.

Click here to listen to the final voting.

The Game That Never Was

2007-12-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

With no bowl for Big Red this season, more than 550 Nebraska Cornhusker football fans turned out for the “Bowl Game That Never Happened” at Omaha’s D.J.’s Dugout on Dec. 27.

Orchestrated by 1620 the Zone’s Kevin Kugler, the computer-simulated game was played on all the screens at the sports bar, and most of the fans attending treated it as if it were a real bowl game. Live play-by-play calls were also part of the action.

Listeners to Kugler’s 2-6 p.m. weekday sports talk show chose Notre Dame as the team NU should face in the quasi-bowl game.

Final Score: Nebraska 43, Notre Dame 31.

Lite 101.9 switches formats

2007-12-27T14:14:00.000-08:00

Lite 101.9 FM changed to the Big O 101.9 at 3 p.m. Thursday. The new format consists of ’80s rock targeting 25 to 54-year-old adults.

“It’s the music that many adults grew up with in Omaha, like Bruce Springsteen, the Police, Eric Clapton and Tom Petty,” said Billy Shears, program director at the Big O.

The voice of the Big O is John O’Hurley (pictured) of Mr. J. Peterman and “Dancing with the Stars” fame.

Paul Aaron's Next Venture: Indoor Football

2007-12-11T17:44:00.000-08:00

Pinnacle Sports founder Paul Aaron is the new executive director of the United Indoor Football league.

According to a press release, Aaron will officially take over with the league that features the Omaha Beef after the first of the year.

"Between now and then, I intend to use the time to familiarize myself with league operations and plan a schedule for meeting with interested parties who have expressed an interest in the UIF," he said.

Aaron said he was excited about the UIF opportunity because he could use his previous sports marketing and management experience in an new and exciting way.

"It is a very exciting opportunity because the owners are all successful individuals with both the commitment and the resources to take an already successful league to an even higher level of success."

In 1996, Aaron and business partner Dale Jensen founded Pinnacle SPorts Productions, LLC. Pinnacle was the broadcast rights holder for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln sports broadcasts including football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball and baseball. The Pinnacle Sports Network includes 68 radio stations in 16 states. Aaron sold Pinnacle Sports to Triple Crown Media Inc/Host Communications in September, 2006.

Aaron also has more that 28 years in the broadcast industry, primarily in upper management. Several stations he managed broadcast significant college and/or professional sports including Ohio State and Standford football, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers. His current business interests include a long term consulting agreement with Host Communicaitons and various real estate activities in Omaha .

The UIF's biggest challenge - according to Aaron - is having enough time to follow up with inquiries for potential new teams.

"The UIF is widely regarded as a successful, solid league with many advantages other leagues do not currently offer. Meeting with those who have expressed an interest and making sure that all of the elements for their success are present and that their geographic location is compatible with the location of our existing teams is essential and the first order of business."

'The Big Show' Auction Will Help Shooting Victims

2007-12-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

KXSP (590 AM) afternoon sports talk show host Matt Perrault told listeners Friday that he was looking for a way to do his part to help the victims and families of Wednesday's mall shooting.

His idea - to auction off sports memorabilia - took off during Friday's show. Already, nearly three dozen items are available for on-line bid (courtesy of Omaha's Proxibid.com) during Monday's program.

The list includes a baseball autographed by New York Yankee pitcher (and former Nebraska player) Joba Chamberlain, two tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs' game against the Tennessee Titans, a hat signed by Nebraska's three Heisman Trophy winners and an opportunity to sit on press row during a Creighton men's basketball game.

One Letter Makes A Big Difference

2007-12-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

As the Leavenworth Street ("Talk of Nebraska Politics") blog points out, even under tragic circumstances, CNN can't help but make a political statement.

Westroads Shooting: National Stories Of Note

2007-12-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

CBS Marketwatch reporter Jon Friedman says the media should stop its identifying crazed fame-seekers, such as the gunman who killed eight people Wednesday in an Omaha mall before taking his own life.

"Don't release their names or photos," Friedman writes in his column. "By taking such a bold step, television, print and web executives could help society and maybe even save lives. Media do-gooders often point to the positive ways in which they help people to live better lives. Now, those in charge can accomplish something truly noteworthy by doing nothing at all, and it wouldn't cost a dime."
* * *

Editor & Publisher magazine reporter Joe Strupp writes that the Omaha World-Herald initially sent 10 staffers to the scene of Wednesday's shooting and eventually had 50 of its nearly 200-person newsroom on the story in some form.

Unfortunately, few were able to access any of the reporting the newspaper was trying to provide on its website and its afternoon edition had already gone to press.

"Thousands of people were simultaneously trying to get to Omaha.com," Colleen Schinker told Strupp. "The site never went down, but many people could not get to the site."

NRG Media Establishes Relief Fund For Victims

2007-12-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

NRG Media is working with First National Bank to provide an outlet for people to help the families of the victims of Wednesday's shooting at the Von Maur store at the Westroads Mall.

NRG Media Promotions Director Julie Hansen said donations are being accepted in a variety of ways:

- At any Omaha-area First National Bank location

- By mail to: Westroads Victims Relief Fund, c/o First National Bank, 1620 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68102

- Through credit card or PayPal at the following NRG station websites: www.q985fm.com, www.lite1019.com, www.power1069fm.com, www.1290kkar.com, www.1180lapreciosa.com and www.1620thezone.com.

Hansen said 100 percent of the donated money will go to the families of the victims.

ABC Photographer Dies In I-80 Crash

2007-12-06T22:47:00.000-08:00

ABC News photojournalist Ralph Binder, 58, died Thursday morning in a one-vehicle rollover on eastbound Interstate 80 near Wood River, Neb.

Binder and ABC audio specialist Daniel Johnson were traveling in a 1996 Chevy Utility truck when Binder lost control of the truck on ice. The truck rolled over into the south ditch, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

Binder was wearing a seat belt but was partially ejected from the truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Johnson, 49, was treated and released at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. He was also wearing a seat belt, the State Patrol said.

Binder and Johnson were on their way to Omaha to cover Wednesday's shooting at Westroads Mall, according to a letter posted Thursday by ABC News President David Westin on the network's Web site.

Binder started at ABC News in 1974, working in the network's Washington bureau and most recently freelancing out of Denver. He was married to Joy Wolf, a freelance producer for ABC News, and was the father of two sons, ages 12 and 9.

More On Omaha.com's Problems

2007-12-06T14:09:00.000-08:00

The problems the Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, has had in handling large amounts of visitor traffic have been well documented. But now, more than just Nebraskans are taking notice.

"Reflections of a Newsosaur" is a blog written by Silicon Valley CEO Alan D. Mutter. The former city editor of the Chicago Sun-Times later became the second-in-command editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Today, he is a managing partner of Tapit Partners, a two-man, think-tank that helps business owners create successful companies.

In a post titled, "Flat-footed in Omaha," Mutter takes the paper to task for problems he says were not technical, but editorial.

"The poor coverage evidently was caused by a lack of contingency planning on the part of editors, web producers, reporters, photographers and all the other people who are responsible for rapidly, thoughtfully and accurately gathering the information and visual assets necessary to tell a story like this in the age of multimedia."

For more than 24 hours after Wednesday's shooting, access to Omaha.com has been sporadic. Subscribers attempting to access the on-line "E-Edition" have also encountered an error message, rather than the standard sign-in dialogue box.

Perhaps most telling are the comments logged by professional journalists around the country (who are not posting anonymously).

[Update at 5:23 p.m.]
Omaha.com stripped its web content to a single page, containing a single story and the following message:

"We are sorry. Omaha.com is experiencing extremely high traffic.The site is still operational, but it may take some time for you to access it."

KFAB Interview: Hawkins Was Selling Drugs At School

2007-12-06T08:53:00.000-08:00

A parent of a Papillion-LaVista South student and his daughter told KFAB Thursday morning that the Bellevue Police Department and Sarpy County Sherrif’s department did not act when presented with evidence that Robert Hawkins was selling drugs at school and threatening to harm them.

The student - “Mandy” (not her real name) – said she was an acquaintance of Hawkins and a close friend of Hawkins’ ex-girlfriend.

Mandy said she was threatened as recently as a month ago by Hawkins, who told her he was going to kill her and her family and burn their house down. Mandy said Hawkins accused her of stealing something from his car.

“I actually told him, ‘Yeah Robbie, I’d like to see you do that. I didn’t believe him,’ ” she said.

Mandy’s father, who was identified as “Bob” but said he has previously worked in law enforcement himself, was also part of the interview by Gary Sadlemyer and Scott Voorrhees. He said both law enforcement agencies ignored him because a Bellevue police officer’s own son was allegedly involved in the drug dealing at school.

“This guy (Hawkins) brings narcotics to Papio South every day and they're not doing anything,” Bob said. “The second time I went in there (to the police department), I told them I would give them until 4 p.m. Amazingly, I heard from a narcotics officer that day. But on our stake along, he could not go on without more proof.”

Perrault: KMTV Should Have Had Alternate Plan

2007-12-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

Matt Perrault, while expressing compassion for the victims, said he was disappointed that KMTV-3 did not have an “alternate plan” to show Wednesday night’s Creighton-Xavier men’s basketball game. The KXSP (590 AM) afternoon sports radio host said he was inundated with messages from unhappy Bluejay fans who had hoped to watch the game on KMTV at 7 p.m.

“I was hoping for at least a split screen (broadcast) of the game,” Perrault said Thursday morning on “Todd and Tyler’s Radio Empire” on KEZO (92.3 FM)

KEZO, KMTV and KXSP are all owned by the Journal Broadcast Group.

Perrault said he will take time during “The Big Show” from 2-6 p.m. to talk about the shootings.

"There is a sports angle to this with Virginia Tech and how they dealt with it and how they moved on afterwards, how did they respond, how did the community respond," Perrault said.

Click here to listen to the segment in its entirety.

A poll on "The Bluejay Cafe," a message board for Creighton fans, was running 3-to-1 early Thursday morning in favor of KMTV showing the game.

The Front Pages

2007-12-06T06:27:00.001-08:00

Above, from left: Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News.

Above, from left: Lincoln Journal Star, Kansas City Star

Above, from left: Omaha World-Herald, Diario de Pernambuco (Brazil)

Above, from left: North Platte Telegraph, New York Post.

All images above courtesy of The Newseum, except for the North Platte Telegraph.

How Omaha Media Fared When Put To The Test

2007-12-06T01:27:00.000-08:00

Suddenly, that "snow event" forecast for Thursday, seemed insignificant. Even President George W. Bush's trip to Omaha earlier Wednesday - only the ninth time Bush has visited the city and eight more times than President Bill Clinton - was nearly forgotten. (Bush left town about a half-hour before the shootings.)

You didn't have to be at the Westroads Mall Wednesday afternoon to know something big was going down. Omaha Police cruisers, with lights flashing and sirens blaring, barreled down streets from every corner of the city to converge on what would turn out to be the largest one-day shooting massacre in the city's history.

Omaha media have covered mass-scale tragedy before - but not of this magnitude and on such a national stage. Only three people died in the Tornado of 1975, but the widespread, sweeping damage made it a mammoth undertaking for reporters in a time when news didn't travel nearly as fast.

More recently, the crash of a Seward school bus in West Omaha - one that took the lives of four people in October of 2001 - sparked massive, immediate media coverage. But on that Saturday afternoon, college football games took precedence over breaking news coverage.

Perhaps the closest thing to this tragedy was the bank robbery shooting deaths of five people in Norfolk, Neb., in September of 2002. But while that event attracted as much national attention, it did not get wall-to-wall coverage from Omaha media outlets.

The Early Going

The first dispatch by The Associated Press out of its Omaha bureau was headlined, "Man reportedly shot at Omaha mall; stores locked down" and it only hinted at the horror that was to come:

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Police have locked down a busy Omaha mall after at least one person was shot this afternoon.

That report, though, came nearly a half-hour after Omaha TV stations first interrupted regular programming with early reports of the shooting. What followed would be more than eight hours of uninterrupted TV coverage by the city's ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates.

WOWT was clearly the leader in breaking new (and accurate) information. The station recorded many "firsts" including: that the gunman had died of a self-inflicted gunshot (courtesy of investigative reporter Mike McKnight), that he was 19-year-old Sarpy County resident Robert Hawkins and that he had left behind several suicide notes. WOWT was also first on the scene of a Bellevue home with Maniko Barthelemy's interview with the woman who said she was letting him live there after he had been kicked out of his own home.

WOWT also took a rather somber approach in its coverage. Anchor Tracy Madden was overly subdued, then suddenly reverted to her standard delivery during the station's late-evening newscast. Reporter Brian Mastre took a contemplative approach to his delivery - which, combined with his across-the-street location for live shots - made it seem as if he was more distant from the event than he actually was.

KETV broke out its playbook that has consistently made it a must-watch station for breaking news. The ABC affiliate pulled out all the stops with multiple live shots and live streaming coverage on KETV.com early on. When no new information was coming in hours later, the station trotted out reporter after reporter on set to share their own stories of what they saw and heard.

Of course there's no substitute for experience and KMTV's anchor team of Carol Wang and Carlo Cecchetto - who will have been on the job one year next month - came off as the outsiders they are when compared to their competitive anchor counterparts at WOWT and KETV. Their saving grace was veteran anchor Mary Williams, a Bellevue native who has worked at the station for more than 20 years.

KMTV's Cecchetto, though, offered one of the most compelling first-hand accounts by any media type, though, when he told viewers that he had been in the Von Maur store - at the customer service desk to pay a bill - just five minutes before the shootings.

"(It was) kind of eerie," Cecchetto said during a segment. "Just moments later he (Hawkins) was roughly at the same spot, shooting down at people on the second floor. Watching the video, I saw a lady wearing a turquoise sweater and blouse who was working at the counter who I paid my bill to and who was lovely and wonderful and cheerful and had that holiday spirit. A couple hours later, I see her outside in the cold, comforting herself, shaking and crying. It's a reminder of how violence can shake everything you know and throw it upside down."

Noticeably absent from KMTV's coverage was veteran reporter Joe Jordan, who broke the story earlier Wednesday of an expected showdown between US Senate candidate Mike Johanns and longtime Republican-now-registered Democrat Tony Raimondo, a Columbus, Neb., businessman. Jordan extensively covered the President's visit to Omaha, only to see most of his prepared report shelved in favor of shooting coverage.

World-Herald Left To Play Catch Up

Has the state's largest newspaper ever been so out of touch with a breaking news story? In a day when a website can keep a print outlet even with its electronic competitors, the Omaha World-Herald's web portal, Omaha.com, folded like a Kevin Cosgrove-coached Nebraska defense, buckling under the pressure of thousands of visitors. And it came as no surprise. The same thing has happened twice before in the past month: First, when Tom Osborne was hired and Steve Pederson fired as Nebraska's athletic director; And Sunday, when Bo Pelini was announced as the Huskers' new head coach. The newspaper also had the unfortunate timing of having gone to press with its afternoon edition at about the same time as the shooting was taking place.

There were lows on TV and radio, too. KETV's Todd Andrews practically gushed that he "grew up in Westroads Mall." KPTM's Amanda Mueller asked one of the station's reporter whether Hawkins - other than his depression, the loss of his job and the break-up of his girlfriend - had showed any signs that he might snap.

One station (KMTV) initially reported that police were looking for two suspects. More than one station initially reported that the suspect was "a black male." Both of these erroneous reports came as a result of reporting police scanner traffic - something the Poynter Institute decries.

The dreaded "shots rang out" cliche reared its ugly head several times, though not a single witness to the shooting described the gunfire they heard in that manner. Rather, many said they mistook the sound of the shots as balloons popping or the sound of construction.

Radio station KFAB, which had earlier pulled out all the stops in putting "all hands on deck" at the scene and on the air, interrupted coverage of the Nebraska men's basketball game later Wednesday night for a "report of a bomb at the Westroads Mall." Thankfully, afternoon talk show host Tom Becka quickly interceded to clarify that police were simply checking out a vehicle thought to belong to the shooter. Unfortunately, listeners were left to wonder what was going on thereafter, as the station decided to take audio from KETV's broadcast.

What Lies Ahead

So what's to come over the next few days and weeks and months? Already there is criticism that the media has given Hawkins the very attention he sought by going on his killing spree. A debate rages over gun control in the comments on one website and a 9:30 a.m. press conference is already set to release more details.

There will be the makeshift memorials, the identification of the victims and their stories, many more stories of heroics and tragedy. Questions are sure to come about the six minutes it took for police to respond. Or what involvement mall security had (or did not have). The release of calls to 911. Possibly even surveillance tape will be leaked, particularly since the shooter didn't live to stand trial. Even the Omaha World-Herald is expected to face questions about its front page story in Sunday's editions marking the 50th anniversary of Charles Starkweather's killings (He, too, was 19 at the time.) and whether it glorified a tragedy and served as a blueprint for Hawkins' massacre.

"Good Morning America," "The Today Show" and countless other network and cable news programs are sure to have interviews with those who were in the store when the tragedy unfolded. Someone will undoubtedly court an interview with the Von Maur pianist, who reportedly played on (unwittingly) after the first sound of gunshot. And what became of the mall Santa Claus during the shooting? Where and how did he take shelter?

And you can expect World-Herald columnist Mike Kelly to write something along the lines of "Omaha will no longer just be known as the home of the College World Series."

The Westroads Shooting: Coverage Notes

2007-12-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

KETV-7 and KMTV-3 benefited from having fixed "skycams" near the Westroads Mall, allowing them to give viewers an early bird's eye view of the scene.

KETV was first to feed video back from the scene (pictured at right).

At least two stations (KMTV and KETV) reported "police scanner" and "police radio" reports indicated that at least five people were shot. At about 2:15 p.m., KMTV reported that "two people were dead" and "two suspects were being sought."

The Journal Broadcast Group switched some of its stations to a simulcast of KMTV's audio around 2:20 p.m.

A KKAR (1290 AM) staffer identified as "Heather" was inside the mall at the time of the shooting. She filed a report for the station from the back of an ambulance, where she had been evacuated to after police arrived.

CNN began broadcasting live coverage, courtesy of KETV. Omaha native Dan Simon, (a former KPTM producer and current CNN correspondent based in San Francisco), said it was the "last place you would expect violence like this."

KPTM-42 was last to begin live coverage, which was eventually picked up by CNN (around 2:40 p.m.) and FOX News Channel.

MSNBC took WOWT's live coverage.

KETV broadcast still photos taken by "Todd Trimpe" of a man in a green vest being questioned by police. He was reportedly hiding under a nearby bus bench outside the mall. Trimpe also e-mailed the photos to other news outlets and KFAB morning talk show host Scott Voorhees.

WOWT reporter Mike McKnight was the first to report that the shooter had died of a "self-inflicted gunshot."

The Omaha World-Herald's web portal, Omaha.com, went down at 2:15 p.m. due to heavy visitor traffic. It resurfaced shortly after 5 p.m. with a story, a video and a link to a new "World-Herald blog" that contained a single posting.

WOWT-6 reporter Jason Joseph reported from Creighton University Medical Center that he had spoken to someone who was at the hospital, accompanying someone "who had been injured in a gunfight with police."

KMTV reporter Michelle Bandur reported at 3 p.m. that there may be "up to five more victims" inside the mall after several victims had been taken from the scene.

KFAB afternoon talk show host Tom Becka and producer Matt Tompkins went to the scene to join News Director Tom Stanton. KFAB occasionally took portions of KETV audio. Becka also filed live reports to MSNBC.

KKAR reporters Brian Barks and Terry Leahy were also on the scene.

Radio news coverage prior to the police press conference noticeably lagged behind that of their TV news counterparts.

Moments after anchor Carlo Cecchetto referenced "privacy concerns regarding HIPAA laws that authorities have to respect" KMTV broadcast a mug shot of "shooting victim" Jeffery Schaffart, a 34-year-old Omaha attorney, who was hospitalized in fair condition. (The station later explained it spoke with Schaffart before he was taken away by rescue squad.)

Nearly every news outlet broadcast a press conference outside the mall at 4:05 p.m. At that time, the death toll rose from two confirmed dead to nine - a figure which included the shooter. Police say "every available officer" was sent to the mall after the call to 911 of an "active shooter." The response time was six minutes.

WOWT's website headlined the incident as "The Mall Massacre."

At 4:23 p.m., KETV broadcast raw videotape of an interview with a woman who described herself as a "wrapper" at Von Maur. The woman revealed several victims' names, including that of her boss. The tape was then fast-forwarded to a point later in the interview.

KPTM's Taylor Wilson reported that the Von Maur pianist continued playing after the first couple of shots "rang out." Witnesses said they thought the sound of gunfire was actually construction.

WOWT was first to report (at 4:30 p.m.) that a 19-year-old Sarpy County man left a suicide note in a home in Bellevue that read, "I'm going out in style." According to the station, the man’s vehicle was found in the mall parking lot.

On Friday night, a grenade was found Friday night in the the northwest corner of the parking lot at Westroads Mall. The Omaha Police Bomb Squad Unit was called and safely removed the intact grenade.

WOWT began simulcasting its coverage on News On One (Cox Channel 1) at 4:30 p.m.

At 4:35 p.m., KETV reported on the suicide note without revealing specifics, saying only that the Sarpy County Sheriff's department was given the note by a woman around the time of the shooting and the information was passed along to Omaha police.

By 4:40 p.m., a Google news search indicated that more than 650 stories had been posted about the shooting.

The Lincoln Journal Star asked people who were in the mall at the time of the shooting to e-mail the newspaper.

One of the most compelling interviews was with a woman identified as "Teresa" who told WOWT reporter Brian Mastre that she worked at JcPenney. "I saw a guy run by with a huge gun. At first it didn't register. Then, there was a woman who had an awful look on her face with two little kids. She was practically dragging the one and pushing the stroller and saying 'he has a gun and he's shooting people.'" Teresa told Mastre that she got the woman and the two children to a safe area and used her store radio to warn others about the gunman.

Only KMTV (who subbed midday anchor Mary Williams for the vacationing Carol Wang) was without its normal main anchor team during wall-to-wall breaking news coverage that began shortly after 2 p.m. Wang later joined Cecchetto and Williams on the set. Cecchetto told viewers that five minutes before the gunman opened fire, he happened to be at the customer service desk on the third floor of Von Maur, paying a bill.

"Kind of eerie," Cecchetto said. "Just moments later he was roughly at the same spot, shooting down at people on the second floor. Watching the video, I saw a lady wearing a turquoise sweater and blouse who was working at the counter who I paid my bill to and who was lovely and wonderful and cheerful and had that holiday spirit. A couple hours later, I see her outside in the cold, comforting herself, shaking and crying. It's a reminder of how violence can shake everything you know and throw it upside down."

KMTV was also the only TV station to broadcast live (at 4:57 p.m.) a press conference at the Creighton University Medical Center. KPTM joined the news conference in progress. WOWT reporter Justin Joseph (identified as "Justin Jospeph" on the chyron) also reported on the press conference by phone.

At 5:01 p.m., Maniko Barthelemy reported by phone from outside the Bellevue home of the 19-year-old who was thought to have left the suicide note. WOWT anchor John Knicley also reported that the man was facing charges of "contributing to the delinquency of a minor."

Several stations revealed that Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren were both out of town during Wednesday's shooting.

KMTV reporter Dave Roberts may have been the first reporter on the scene. Roberts told viewers he was driving to work on nearby I-680 when he heard the call of a shooting on the police radio. Roberts also reported that seven of the victims were found dead in the mall. Two others died enroute - or at - local hospitals.

At 5:16 p.m., KMTV reported that it received information from the Sarpy County Sheriff's Department regarding the suicide note referenced earlier by WOWT and KETV.

Four minutes later, KETV revealed the name of the shooter as "Robert A. Hawkins." A caller identified as "Shawn" said Hawkins "did a lot of things he shouldn't have done." "He was bouncing around jobs and got kicked out of Papillion-LaVista schools about two years ago," Shawn said.

More than an hour after Omaha Police revealed that the shooter used a rifle to commit the slayings, KETV's "breaking news" crawl read, "Don't know what type of gun was used."

KPTM was first to abandon wall-to-wall coverage of the incident.

Omaha bloggers were quick to weigh in on the tragedy, as well as on local message boards such as eomahaforums.com and mavpuck.com.

At 5:35 p.m. Barthelemy interviewed a woman identified as "Debra" who was identified as the "owner of the home of the shooter" (WOWT was not naming him at the time) and that she found out that the 19-year-old had lost his job earlier Wednesday. "Part of the note said he had snapped," Debra said. Barthelemy also reported that Omaha Police were set to arrive at the home with a search warrant. At 5:41 p.m., Knicely and co-anchor Tracy Madden identified the shooter as "Robert "Robbie" Hawkins."

At 5:45 p.m., KMTV had not yet made a decision to carry the Creighton-Xavier basketball game, which was scheduled to tipoff at 7:05 p.m. in Cincinnati.

Thirteen minutes after WOWT - and 28 minutes after KETV - KMTV reported the name of the shooter as "18-year-old Robert Hawkins."

Farrah Fazal of KETV began broadcasting live at Hawkins' home around 5:50 p.m. She also interviewed the woman WOWT identified as "Debra." Fazal reported that Hawkins had been fired from McDonald's, that Sarpy County Sheriff's deputies had blocked off the road to the house and that Omaha Police were not yet on the scene. She also said Debra said the suicide note read that Hawkins "would go out being famous." KETV also broadcast video of the home in Bellevue's Quail Creek neighborhood.

KMTV broadcast a statement from President Bush at 6 p.m., expressing his sympathy for the Omaha community. Coincidentally, Bush was in Omaha earlier in the day, visiting a South Omaha business and the home of prominent Omaha businessman Walter Scott.

Yahoo posted a slideshow of the incident, courtesy of Associated Press photographers.

KETV reporter Carol Kloss said approximately 100 people who were inside the mall at the time of the shooting were still being debriefed more than four hours later.

Omaha radio station KSRZ "Star 104.5 FM" announced that morning show co-hosts Glennboy and Glo will take listener calls to hear the stories of those affected by the tragedy. The station also invited its listeners to post messages on its community message board on the front page of its website.

At 6:30 p.m., KMTV reporter Devon Patton reported from outside Hawkins' home by phone just moments before the station established a live picture. Williams, a Bellevue native herself, was very familiar with the neighborhood and shared some background information on it with viewers. Patton said he learned Hawkins was a hunter and experienced shooter. A chyron accompanying his report noted that Hawkins was 19, not 18, as the station previously reported. Later, Patton introduced his taped interview with "Debra" (shot in the station's live truck) by telling viewers "we're going to give you that interview right now live."

Patton's interview revealed that it was "so out of character" for Hawkins to go to a mall. "He didn't go to malls," Debra said.

Several reporters - WOWT's Mastre and KETV's Brandi Peterson - were using the parking lot of the nearby Hampton Inn to file their live reports. Coincidentally, that motel became a gathering point family members of the victims to meet with grief counselors.

WOWT terminated its live simulcast on News on One at 6:38 p.m.

KMTV reporter Chriss Knight broadcast a live (phone) interview with Schaffart, the Omaha attorney at Koley Jessen, who was shot in the arm.

KETV.com reported that a viewer e-mailed the station the following: "I went to school for seven years with (Hawkins) and he seemed to be a suicidal kid. During school, he would talk about killing or something along those lines."

(Media Watch concluded its live blogging at 6:55 p.m.)

McWilliams' Unit Scheduled To Return

2007-12-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

KETV meteorologist (and Army National Guard Lt.) Chuck McWilliams is scheduled to return to Omaha this afternoon along with other members of the National Guard's 755th Chemical Company.

KETV.com visitors have been able to follow Lt. McWilliams through his station blog, the "Lieutenant's Lounge."

From The Notebook

2007-12-02T22:01:00.000-08:00

Even though he has changed schools, former University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Director Steve Pederson still refers to himself in first person plural:

"We are thrilled to be back in Pittsburgh," Pederson said at his introduction Friday as Pittsburgh's new athletic director. "Leaving here five years ago was the hardest professional decision we had ever made. Coming back was the easiest decision we had ever made."

One reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review called Pederson the "good-luck charm" for the Panthers' upset of West Virginia Saturday night.

"New athletic director Steve Pederson -- is he a good-luck charm, or what? -- was standing on the sidelines for WVU's final, heart-stopping play, a 4th-and-17 from the Pitt 28 as the clock ticked down," wrote Joe Starkey.

* * *

KOZN (1620 AM) "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" co-host Kevin Kugler said the hiring of Bo Pelini as Nebraska head football coach is another step toward cutting ties with recruiting services like Rivals.com.

"You first saw that in Tom Osborne's press conference when he was introduced as interim athletic director," Kugler said. "He puts no stock in these recruiting services and neither does Bo. That was something from the previous regime."

Locally, Rivals.com (also known as "HuskersIllustrated.com) reporter Sean Callahan files reports for several news outlets, including WOWT-6, KOLN/KGIN in Lincoln and KFAB.

* * *

KPTM-42 Sports Director J.J. Davis cracked up the press corps and much of the audience at Sunday's press conference when he asked Pelini if he felt like "the man" after getting the job.

Saturday's Ice Storm: Thursday Night Forecasts

2007-11-30T10:45:00.000-08:00

Forecasts for Saturday's weather event changed from snow and ice to primarily an ice storm on Thursday's late-evening newscasts. Thursday was also the final night of the November "sweeps" - the Nielsen Media Research ratings period.

First, the official "Hazardous Weather Outlook" statement issued at 5:37 a.m. from the National Weather Service forecast office in Valley, Neb.:

Freezing rain or sleet will develop over the area after midnight, possibly beginning as a period of light snow. Glazing is expected by daybreak with significant ice accumulations possible by mid-Saturday morning. A winter storm is in effect from late tonight through Saturday evening.

Freezing rain or sleet should change to rain Saturday. This changeover should occur in the morning along and south of Interstate 80, and by early afternoon over the rest of the area. Additional glazing can be expected in the morning. The precipitation could change back to freezing rain or freezing drizzle Saturday night before changing to light snow or flurries early Sunday. At this time, freezing rain or sleet appear to be the main weather hazards from this system.

The exact path of the storm and the timing of the precipitation switch are still somewhat uncertain.

And the late-evening TV forecasts (in alphabetical order):

KETV Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby led off the newscast by emphasizing that there was still a whole day to "analyze, assess and prepare" for a blast of winter weather on Saturday. His initial forecast graphic emphasized freezing rain and rain.

"Noon to 6 will be rain but from 6 a.m. to noon it's that band of ice," Randby said, referring to a 75-mile wide band on his forecast map.

In his main weather segment, Randby said forecasts for a quarter to a half-inch of freezing rain on Saturday morning, followed by a quarter to half an inch of rain on top of that, has him worried.

"If that happens, that wouldn't be so bad," Randby said. "My worry is that somebody
- probably up here (pointing to an area in northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa) - gets stuck in just freezing rain for the duration and has power outages and trees down and power lines down."

Randby said the stage is set for a "very nasty Saturday morning in Omaha," but then added, "if our computer models are true to what they're saying tonight, we'll be spared because we'll get above freezing in the afternoon. (We) shouldn't then have power line issues and trees coming down."

KMTV Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike, whose forecast segment always leads off the late-evening newscast, emphasized that several weather systems will converge on the Midwest, putting the "First Warning Threat Tracker" in the orange, or highest level.

McPike said to expect frozen precipitation - snow or sleet, possibly changing to freezing rain, sometime after 4 or 5 a.m. Saturday morning - followed by rain around noon.

"Here's the setup: the storm track (is) very close to Omaha," he said. "It looks like it will be just south or right over the top of us."

More details on the forecast are posted on the station's weather blog.

KPTM Chief Meteorologist Tyson Pearsall told viewers in his main weather segment to expect a little bit of snow through the overnight hours in the Omaha metropolitan area, followed by freezing rain.

Pearsall said Omaha will receive its heaviest precipitation - in the form of freezing rain - between 6 a.m. and noon on Saturday.

"Yes, we could see some snow here in the Omaha metro, but the bigger concern right now is the ice," Pearsall said.

WOWT Chief Meteorologist Jim Flowers led off his main weather segment with a follow-up to the two computer forecast models he referred to in his forecast on Wednesday.

"Tonight, those same models are in much better agreement in terms of the type and amounts of precipitation," he said. "There could be a little bit of snow or ice pellets at the beginning, but the amounts are insignificant compared to the amounts of freezing rain and rain (that are) forecast."

Flowers said around 4 or 5 a.m., light snow, possibly mixed with ice pellets, will be falling in Omaha. But about an hour later, freezing rain takes over.

"Then the system begins lifting on to the northeast," Flowers said. "As it does so, we expect a changeover to rain by about 10 or 11 a.m. from Omaha on toward the south."

Flowers said the station's in-house weather computer model is forecasting about a third-of-an-inch of ice for Omaha.

Read more about the forecast on the station's weather blog.

Star 104.5 Radiothon Helps Nearly 2,000 Families

2007-11-30T10:26:00.000-08:00

A planned two-day radiothon on KSRZ (104.5 FM) to provide holiday assistance to Metropolitan Omaha-area families wrapped up in less than 12 hours Thursday.

Star 104.5 morning personalities "Glennboy" and Glo Goodwin told listeners Friday morning that the station's efforts to help the Salvation Army assist those in need took only 11 hours and 38 minutes to match individuals and businesses with all 1,742 families that were up for adoption.

Star 104.5 Program Director J. Pat Miller said the station could not have been prouder of its biggest event of the year.

"It was an amazing sight to see businesses, individuals, volleyball teams, Girl Scout troops, bingo/poker clubs, etc., all call in to pick up a piece of the community," he said.

Saturday's Weather: The Latest Online Forecasts

2007-11-30T05:53:00.001-08:00

Updating the online forecasts 24 hours before Saturday's expected weather event and 48 hours after we first checked them:

The Omaha TV station forecasts, alphabetized and in descending order:

Saturday Snowfall: Wednesday Night Forecasts

2007-11-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

Omaha TV forecasters widely speculated on the possibilities of a winter storm Saturday during their late evening newscasts Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service forecast office in Valley, Neb., the storm system will bring a mix of precipitation to the region beginning Friday night.

Here is the rest of the NWS advisory, issued at 5:30 a.m. Thursday:

The precipitation is expected to begin as freezing rain and sleet after midnight Friday and continue through early Sunday. Rain and freezing rain are most likely Saturday across Southeast Nebraska and Southwest iowa. A mix of snow and freezing rain is more likely north of Interstate 80, with the heaviest snowfall across far northeast Nebraska and West Central Iowa. The exact path and timing of the system are still somewhat uncertain. So it is too soon to forecast specific precipitation amounts and types for any one location.

In alphabetical order, here are summaries of each Omaha station's forecast Wednesday night (at either 9 or 10 p.m.):

KETV Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby said the key is where a cold front from the north mixes in with moisture coming from the south.

"Do we just get a little bit of snow, then quickly change over to rain and not have an ice storm? Or is the ice storm in Tekamah or Sioux City? I feel pretty confident there is going to be an ice storm across part of eastern Nebraska and a good chunk of Iowa. And a very heavy snow - something on the order of a foot for some people - certainly up toward the Sioux Falls area (and) southern Minnesota."

Later, Randby told co-anchors Julie Cornell and Rob McCartney "if the colder air stays in here ... a historical thing that our computer models don't handle well, we could be talking about just a substantial icing event."

KMTV Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike said moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and tropical moisture out of the southwest figure into the system, with the storm track appearing to be just south of Omaha.

"At the very least, we're going to see some type of wintery precipitation," McPike said. "It may start as a little frozen precipitation, go to rain Saturday afternoon and then maybe some light snow as the cold air works in behind this system."

McPike said it is still a bit early to forecast what type of precipitation, but "things are coming together."

"It looks like the track will be near us, or a little bit south which is favorable, especially south of us, for wintry weather," he said. "I don't think moisture is going to be a problem. Certainly the cold air is going to be in place. It just kind of depends how deep that cold air is as to what type of precipitation we see."

KPTM Chief Meteorologist Tyson Pearsall told viewers his forecast was an early indication of what was going to happen and that it would be updated over the next couple of days.

"(The) best chance for accumulating snow - possibly eight or more inches - as you start to make your way toward Northeastern Nebraska up around Sioux Falls, northwest Iowa, too, " Pearsall said. "Further off to the south, right here in the Metro, from Lincoln down toward Plattsmouth, a little bit of everything. Freezing rain a concern. Snowfall a concern. Sleet a concern, too. You can see the snow line of about four plus from just about Omaha north, then freezing rain becomes a big concern as we go across eastern, southeastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa, too."

Pearsall said one computer model puts "96 one-hundredths of an inch of precipitation - nearly the equivalent of one liquid inch of moisture" - on Omaha.

WOWT Chief Meteorologist Jim Flowers showed a graphic revealing information from two computer models, one keying in on ice and freezing rain, the other keying in on freezing rain that turns to rain.

"Looking at these rains, as far as freezing rain goes, both are giving us over half-an-inch of freezing rain before any potential changeover," Flowers said. "So that's the key we're looking at now as far as surface temperatures as we head into Saturday."

Flowers said somewhere in the pink area on his "Potential Ice Storm" graphic is looking at a fairly significant ice event. "It would tend to favor the northern half of the area, but we will of course keep you apprised as those models keep coming in over the next couple of days."

Want even more details? Read the station weather blogs:
KETV
KMTV
WOWT

Star 104.5 Adopt-A-Family Radiothon Underway

2007-11-29T07:25:00.000-08:00

KSRZ (104.5 FM)'s annual "Star 104.5 Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family Radiothon" invites listeners to make a contribution to help Metro area families who couldn't otherwise afford gifts to make the holidays bright.

Last year, the two-day effort helped the Salvation Army assist more than 1,700 families.

The number to call to adopt a family is 898-6050.

A live webcam allows listeners to view the broadcast from the Salvation Army Headquarters. The station's website also features podcasts of families who are up for adoption during the radiothon.

Update at 1:15 p.m.:
More than 600 families had been adopted in the first five-and-a-half hours of the radiothon.

Saturday Snowfall: The Early Forecasts Online

2007-11-28T11:10:00.000-08:00

The National Weather Service forecast office in Valley, Neb., provided the following information in its Wednesday morning (3:46 a.m.) forecast:

Friday night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Lows around 17.

Saturday - Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of light freezing rain and snow. Highs in the lower 30s.

Saturday night - Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Lows in the lower 20s.

Sunday - Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Highs in the lower 30s.

Here are the extended (graphical format) forecasts from the four Omaha TV stations' websites (in alphabetical order) at 11 a.m. Wednesday:

Voorhees' Topic: NU Fans Don't Want Black Head Coach

2007-11-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

KFAB (1110 AM) morning talk show host Scott Voorhees baited listeners Tuesday with a topic that generated plenty of phone calls: There is talk that Nebraska football fans do not want Turner Gill to be the next head football coach because he is black.

"If you think I'm bringing this up just to get phone calls, you're wrong. You're absolutely wrong," Voorhees said.

(A portion of the segment is available via podcast here.)

KFAB's "Husker Insider" Sean Callahan of HuskersIllustrated.com, disagreed with Voorhees, discounting a former player's assessment to Voorhees that Husker fans don't appreciate blacks unless they are playing for the team. Once their eligibility is used up, the former player told Voorhees, fans could care less about Husker players who are black.

Callahan also said there was good reason that Gill was passed over for the interim head coaching job when former Husker Coach Frank Solich was fired in 2003. Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel pointed out in his column in Tuesday's editions that Gill held a higher position — assistant head coach - than Bo Pelini, who was named interim head coach for one game.

"A lot of people don't know this, but Jim Rose filled me in that Pelini had it written into his contract that he would become interim coach if the head coach was fired," Callahan said.

Callahan Firing Coverage

2007-11-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Radio station KFAB posted this picture on its website Saturday morning. Bill Callahan waved to the cameras as he left his meeting Saturday morning with interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne.

Sean Callahan announced on WOWT-6 at 8:58 a.m. that Bill Callahan had been "terminated without cause" during the coach's meeting with Osborne. KOLN/KGIN in Lincoln began its coverage of the 9:30 a.m. press coverage at 9 a.m. At about the same time, the Lincoln Journal Star was reporting that LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini had been contacted by a search firm hired by Nebraska.

By 10 a.m., the Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, was no longer accessible, its server unable to handle the traffic load. Husker fan forums like Huskerpedia.com and Huskerboard.com were also operating at record traffic levels.

Z-92's '92 Hours of Caring' Wraps Up Today

2007-11-21T05:18:00.001-08:00

Nearly 5,000 pounds of food and more than $2,000 have been collected heading into the final hours of Z-92's "92 Hours of Caring Food Drive."

Since last Friday, the station has been providing listeners with live updates from the Baker's store at 156th and West Dodge Road. The collected food will be given to the Omaha Food Bank. Monetary donations are being accepted at all US Bank locations.

New Format Debuts Today For 93.3 FM

2007-11-19T10:07:00.001-08:00

Omaha's newest country music station debuts today at 3 p.m. on 93.3 FM (formerly "Legendary American Country: US 93.3 FM")

According to a press release sent to Omaha-area advertisers, the new "Twister 93.3" is the newest incarnation of Clear Channel's "Country Combo" strategic positioning, designed to serve the 18-to-34-year-old listener.

"Twister is the first place to hear new country music from Cari (sic) Underwood, Keith Urban, Craig Morgan, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Brad Paisley and more," reads the release.

In the most recent Arbitron ratings, the former KHUS (93.3 FM) was listed near the bottom among all listeners, aged 12-and-older. Another Clear Channel country-formatted station, KXKT, ranked third among all listeners in the same ratings period (summer 2007). KHUS made its debut in October 2005.

Drew Bentley, Liz Adams, out at KGOR

2007-11-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

KGOR Program Director Drew Bentley has been let go by the oldies station at 99.9 FM. In addition, KGOR on-air personality Liz Adams was also let go.

Another layoff: Tom Goodwin, program director of the Kat (KXKT 103.7 FM), was let go, too. Both the Kat and KGOR are owned
by Clear Channel.

Taylor Walet, general manager of Omaha's Clear Channel stations, has yet to return phone calls. However, sources at the station confirmed the layoffs.

More details to follow.

KETV-HD Moving Down The Dial On Cox

2007-11-17T06:24:00.000-08:00

KETV's HD channel on Cox Communications is on the move again. After debuting on Channel 809, it was removed from Cox completely in October 2006 during a dispute over retransmission rights.

When an agreement between Cox and KETV's parent company, Hearst-Argyle, was reached in September, KETV-HD returned on Channel 806. Now comes word that it will be moving again - to Channel 709 on Dec. 11.

Summer Miller Widhalm, public affairs manager for Cox Communications in Omaha, said the shift down the dial for KETV-HD is one of a number of channels moves being made.

"We are shifting all of our channels to make room for more HD and to group like channels together," she said.

KIOS Hires News Director

2007-11-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

Non-commercial radio station KIOS (91.5 FM) has hired a news director to beef up its offering. Katie Knapp, who comes here from a news anchor and reporter job at WGIL-AM in Galesburg, Ill., will lead KIOS’ local news at the top and bottom of the hour during morning and afternoon drive times beginning in January.

For now it will be Knapp running the show, but “eventually, we may have more reporters,” she said. “It’s a big job creating a news department from scratch, but also a very rewarding one … We’re beginning to lay the framework for the news department, with the plan to do local news both morning and afternoon, as well as long-form reports and features during those times.

“I envision our news department will be more issue-based...not so much what’s happening in general, but why, how, and what it means for Omaha residents.”

Knapp has already begun work at the station, recently posting a story/audio on KIOS.org covering former President Bill Clinton’s visit to Glenwood, Iowa.

The 'Buzz' Turns 1

2007-11-15T13:24:00.000-08:00

“Omaha Buzz” – WOWT-6’s locally produced entertainment-driven show aimed at 20- and 30-somethings – celebrated its first year on the air recently. It airs each Wednesday at 8 p.m. on WOWT’s digital signal on channel 620.

The brightly colored, fast-paced show might seem a tad cheesy to the hipsters in town, but for club-hoppers and social butterflies, “Omaha Buzz” provides a look inside Omaha’s nightlife scene and all things entertaining.

“It’s your V.I.P. pass to Omaha,” said the show’s creator Vic Richards, who also handles promotions for WOWT. “We take you to new venues, local concerts, interviews with local bands, visiting bands, new bars/clubs, events, nightlife.”

Imus Signs Deal With Omaha-Based Broadcaster

2007-11-14T14:10:00.001-08:00

Don Imus and Rural Media Group have agreed to a five-year contract that will make "Imus in the Morning" available on Rural Media Group's RFD-TV and RFD-HD.

Rural Media Group owns RFD-TV, an Omaha-based satellite and cable channel dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America and agriculture.

According to stories published Wednesday, Imus' show will air live on weekdays from 5-8 a.m. CST. "Imus in the Evening," a rebroadcast of the morning program, will air in primetime on RFD-HD from 5-8 p.m. and will be featured on video-on-demand.

"Imus in the Morning" for radio will be broadcast on the radio from 5-9 a.m. by Citadel Talk WABC/New York and will be syndicated across the country by the ABC Radio Network.

RFD-TV is available on the DISH Network, DIRECTV, Mediacom, Charter, NRTC, Bresnan and NCTC cable systems. The corporate and national sales office is headquartered at 128th & West Dodge Road. Its studios and broadcast content originates from Nashville.

Christmas Music: Which Station Will Be Next?

2007-11-14T05:55:00.000-08:00

At least one person is tracking which radio stations in the upper Midwest are making the switch to an all-Christmas music format.

Star 104.5 (KSRZ) re-branded itself as "Omaha's Christmas Music Station" last week. According to Upper Midwest Broadcasting, KSRZ is the only radio station in Nebraska to have "flipped" formats. At least four stations in Minnesota have plans to broadcast Christmas music.

According to the site's archive section of Christmas music stations, six stations in Nebraska made the programming switch last year, including four in Omaha.

Justice Defends Story On Callahan Resignation Request

2007-11-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

KMTV-3 Sports Director Travis Justice reported Thursday that two separate sources close to the Nebraska football program say Nebraska football Coach Bill Callahan told his team before Thursday's practice that he was asked to resign.

"Both of the sources tell Action 3 News that coach Callahan told the team to play for themselves as the coaching staff will more than likely not be around next season," read a story posted on the station's website.

Justice defended his report Friday, which has resulted in a flurry of Internet message board postings and several spin-off stories by other media outlets.

"I got tipped off late last night, checked it out this morning, verified it and ran with it," Justice said on the "The Big Show" on KXSP (590 AM).

"People are really upset about me that I didn't say who asked him (Callahan) to resign," Justice said. "It may have been Tom Osborne. I don't know. I reported what was said at practice yesterday.

"To me, the big part of the story is that this is the first time that he has taken time with his players to say 'we're in dire straights right now.'"

The Associated Press' Eric Olson first asked Callahan during Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference whether he had been asked to submit his resignation. The question drew a nine-second pause before Callahan sidestepped the question.

If Callahan is fired at the end of the season, his contract calls for Nebraska to pay him more than $3 million.

'Murder House' on NET

2007-11-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

Fans of the C.S.I shows will want to tune into Nebraska Educational Television Nov. 16 (9 p.m.), Nov. 18 (1 and 9 p.m.) or Nov. 22 (9 p.m.) to see what goes on behind the scenes.

“Murder House,” a new documentary from NET, takes a look at the next generation of crime scene investigators and how they are being trained.

The doc focuses on a masters degree program in forensic sciences at Nebraska Wesleyan University where students work on a mock crime scene set at an actual house as part of their training.

During the making of the doc, investigators in Omaha were getting to work on the case of Jessica O’Grady, a young Omaha woman who had disappeared. The Douglas County C.S.I. team collected enough evidence from suspect Chris Edwards’ bedroom to conclude that O’Grady died in the room. They charged him with murdering O’Grady in May 2006.

Due to what jurors felt was overwhelming evidence, Edwards was later convicted of murder in the O’Grady case. It was the first murder conviction without a body in the history of Nebraska.

“Murder House” talks with lead C.S.I. member David Kofoed about the O’Grady case and offers fascinating insight and images into the case and how the investigators went about solving it.

Kofoed said in a recent interview that his staff at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office provided several O’Grady crime scene photos, as well as aspects of Kofeod’s PowerPoint presentation that he offered in court during testimony to NET for the documentary.

Omaha.com Adds Profiles of Local Bands

2007-11-09T06:30:00.001-08:00

The Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, is now offering profiles of local bands.

The 24 bands listed link to a separate page featuring genre, a bio, band member information, photos, a discography and official website (when available).

The Monroes list their genre as "Tractor Punk."

Some No Longer Using Rodriguez's Name

2007-11-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

More than 1,000 news stories appear in a Google search related to the flight to Mexico by Lexington teacher Kelsey Peterson and the 13-year-old boy, Fernando Rodriguez, she once taught.

Rodriguez's picture even moved on The Associated Press wire when he and Peterson first disappeared last week.

But now, The Associated Press and at least one local TV station, KETV-7, are no longer using Rodriguez's name, citing sexual abuse allegations in connection with Peterson's arrest. The change first came to light Tuesday when AP editors ordered Rodriguez's name be struck from subsequent stories, saying the most recent charges allege he was the victim of a sex crime.

In a report Wednesday night at 5, KETV reporter Farrah Fazal referred to Rodriguez as "the boy." However, stories archived on the station's website, KETV.com, still include Rodriguez's name.

The AP first used Rodriguez's name in its initial stories, explaining that wire service "generally does not identify people who may be victims of sex crimes, but the boy’s name had been widely publicized as police searched for him."

More of the Name Game
Some Omaha news media outlets are naming the woman suspected of writing bad checks under an assumed name to cover cash taken from the Douglas County Treasurer's Office. The Omaha World-Herald is not, citing its policy of not identifying someone who is not yet charged with committing a crime.

Christmas Music Starts Thursday on Star 104.5

2007-11-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

The first Omaha radio station to break format and go with Christmas music in 2007 will be Journal Broadcast Group-owned KSRZ, better known as "Star 104.5."

A countdown clock on the station's website reveals the switch from its usual "hot adult contemporary" format will be made Thursday morning.

Last year, Clear Channel-owned KGOR (99.9 FM) was the first Omaha station to play Christmas music regularly (beginning Nov. 23).

More On Rose's Exit

2007-11-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

Be sure to pick up this week’s issue of the City Weekly newspaper (on streets Wednesday), as it includes more insight on Jim Rose’s announcement that he is no longer going to do the play-by-play calls for the Husker Sports Network.

Some highlights:

– Kent “Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown!” Pavelka, who was the voice of the Huskers from 1983 to 1996, said Tuesday he was “really surprised that he (Rose) decided to leave. But I understand the pressures of that job and I just wish the best for him and his family.” Would Pavelka, who returned to do play-by-play of Husker basketball games in 2006, be interested in the Husker football play-by-play gig? “I’d love to do the games again,” Pavelka said. He added that he has not been approached by the Husker Sports Network regarding the football job.

– One local sports broadcaster who doesn’t want the job is KMTV-3 sports director and Big Sports 590 co-host Travis Justice. “The truth is, that’s the toughest job in the state,” Justice said Tuesday after hearing about Rose’s exit. “They’re either going to love you, or they’re going to hate you. And I think with the changes taking place, I think everybody was paranoid. If you were associated with Steve Pederson whatsoever, and align yourself with that side of the aisle, I think pressure was always going to be on you. If there’s one job I never want, that’s the job. You can’t keep them happy. You’re not a homer enough, you’re too much of a homer … .”

– Said one local broadcaster of Rose’s explanation for stepping down as play-by-play voice: “It’s one of the best spin jobs I’ve ever seen,” and that Rose’s speech was “self-righteous bullshit in the extreme.”

Look for more coverage in this week’s City Weekly.

Rose Steps Down From Play-By-Play Job

2007-11-06T07:23:00.000-08:00

Nebraska football play-by-play radio announcer and KFAB morning show personality Jim Rose is stepping down from the microphone as the "Voice of the Huskers."

Rose made the announcement on KFAB Tuesday morning at 7:15.

"My decision is to give up the games. I just can't do this anymore," he said. "It's not that I don't love it. I just can't make the sacrifice anymore. It's not fair to me. It's not fair to my family. It's not fair to my friends."

Rose said his absence from the radio booth during Saturday's 76-39 drubbing of the Huskers by Kansas was the result of "some serious soul-searching" over the past couple of weeks.

"I began to have some health problems. Just some fatigue and disorientation," Rose said. "I think it comes from having a lot of demands. It's been that way for six years - long days."

Rose said he was overworked, having focused much of his attention on preparing for the football game, while ignoring his friends and family.

"It just got to the point several weeks ago where I began to get concerned," he said. "I was just going from one place to the next and didn't know where I was even going.

"I began to think long and hard what was going on in my life. It became pretty clear to me that I had become more of a thing than a person. (Being) the voice of the huskers is thrilling and exciting ... the people you meet and places you see. But I had forgotten who I was. I had totally lost touch with really important things in my life. I didn't know who my kids were. I hadn't talked to my wife, my mother or done anything (other than the broadcasts) that I had enjoyed the past six years."

Rose said he approached management at KFAB and Host Communications, the rights holder for Nebraska sports broadcasts, with his concerns last Thursday.

"I told them I wasn't ready to do the broadcast," Rose said. "I simply could not go on the air if I wasn't ready. It would have been a disservice to the listeners."

Rose said he firmly believes that this is a good decision for him and his family. He has been a radio broadcaster for 25 years. He said it had nothing to do with the Huskers' poor performance this season.

"It's nothing more than that. It's all about the people who are important to me," he said.

KFAB Program Director Gary Sadlemyer, who has also previously been part of Nebraska football broadcasts, said the play-by-play job had been a "labor of love" for Rose.

"He grew up in Lincoln and this was really a dream come true for him," Sadlemyer said.

Rose agreed.

"These six years have been the most rewarding six years of my life. I just loved doing it."

Prior to his announcement, Rose kidded with Sadlemyer about the rumors that filled Internet discussion boards after his absence from last Saturday's game.

The two best ones, Rose said, were (fellow KFAB personality) Tom Becka's assertion that Rose was clairvoyant and knew the Huskers would come up way short against the Jayhawks ... and another that Rose was attending the birth of his first grandchild.