Meteorologist Rusty Lord joins WOWT

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.