KTRK 13's Andy Cerota going to KPRC 2?

I hear KTRK 13 reporter Andy Cerota's contract is up and he is most likely moving on from the Houston ABC owned station. But the talk does not stop there.

The BIG rumor is that Cerota could end up behind the anchor desk down the freeway at KPRC 2.

I contacted Cerota's agent Rick Ramage of N.S. Bienstock, Inc. about this potential "move across the street" as they say. Ramage told me Andy is currently weighing several job offers, but it is his policy to not comment on client contract negotiations.

Cerota has been at channel 13 since 2003. According to his bio, Cerota came to Houston from Los Angeles TV. Before that, he worked in Phoenix, Austin and Abilene. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and is originally from New York. One thing in his bio that sticks out is Cerota freelanced for NBC News and filed reports for The Geraldo Rivera Show.

In recent years it has not been common for Houston talent to jump from one local station to another but is has happened (much more common for behind the scenes folks as demonstrated on this blog).

Here are some names that are currently on Houston TV that come to mind though:

KHOU 11's Shern-Min Chow has also worked at KTRK and KPRC.
KHOU 11's Jeff McShan used to be a sports reporter at KTRK.
KTRK 13's Christi Myers worked for KPRC and KHOU.
Katishia Cosley has moved between KTRK and KIAH 39.
KTRK 13's Katie McCall used to work at KIAH.
KHOU 11's Vicente Arenas used to work at KTRK.
KHOU 11's Sherry Williams used to work at KIAH.
KHOU 11's Gene Norman used to work at KTRK.
KPRC 2's Frank Billingsley used to work at KTRK
Fox 26 KRIV's Ford Atkinson used to work at KPRC.
Fox 26 KRIV's Emily Akin used to work at KPRC.

Cerota declined to comment for this post.

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KHOU 11 growing viewers in May 2012 sweeps

KHOU 11 has let me know things went for the Belo owned station during May 2012 sweeps:

"May delivered momentum for KHOU 11. While the majority of other stations showed year to year declines among the A25-54 demo, KHOU maintained or grew viewers. In fact, at 10pm, KHOU was the only English language newscast to experience growth over the last year in the all-important A25-54 segment. When it comes to households at 10pm, KHOU is just 2/10th (0.2) of a HH rating point shy of the #1 position (KTRK 6.1, KHOU 5.9, KPRC 4.7).

In addition to the 10pm news, other standout newscasts include KHOU 11 News at 5a, 4p and 6p. In these peak periods KHOU is ranked #2 – a solid showing for the 4pm newscast in particular, which is still less than a year old. Another bright light, KHOU’s morning news is up among A25-54 and showing growth compared to other station numbers that are either flat or down from the previous year."

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Texas TV May 2012 sweeps ratings roundup

Texas TV May 2012 sweeps ratings roundup

May 2012 TV sweeps are over and now everyone can exhale. In February, you might remember how three Houston TV stations claimed a victory at 10pm. From what I understand, things aren't that close this time. This is the reason I don't even pretend to understand ratings. There are too many variable to be taken.

Apparently KTRK 13 did very well this time. Sorry, I don't subscribe to Nielsen so most likely you will be able to read an article in the Houston Chronicle that goes into more detail.

KIAH 39 tells me it has good news. On Adults 25-54, NewsFix weeknights at 5pm doubled in the ratings year to year and the station's 9pm edition grew 25%.

Earlier I posted Fox 26 KRIV number 1 newscasts May 2012 sweeps.

UPDATE
- KHOU 11 growing viewers in May 2012 sweeps
- Channel 13 leads local English-language stations in May sweeps, but Univision’s 45 is tops overall

Dallas-Fort Worth:
- Channel 11 has most 10 p.m. news viewers in May ‘sweeps’ period
- May "sweeps" local news finale: NBC5 breaks through with two wins while Fox4 wins three of four demo derbies and 10 p.m. results are split
- Fox 4 KDFW claims number 1 in DFW May 2012 sweeps

Austin
- KXAN-TV Continues Hot in May Ratings With Two Highest Rated News Programs; KEYE-TV Edges KVUE-TV at 10 P.M.
- Ratings show KXAN with Top 2 newscasts
- Something for Everyone and Something New

Didn't see anything else about San Antonio or other Texas markets so if you do, please send me a link.

Fox 26 KRIV number 1 newscasts May 2012 sweeps

In May 2012 sweeps, Fox 26 KRIV in Houston is number 1 at 4am, 8am and 9am. It also has the number 1 show in primetime...you guessed it, American Idol.

KRIV FOX26/KTXH MY20
May`12 Sweep Highlights (source: NSI May`12 and May`11 L+SD)
A25-54

FOX 26 is # 1 in the following time periods:

• FOX26 News @ 4am, +1 in rank, 133% growth vs. May`11. #1 in rank A25-54 RTG/SHR: 0.7/8
• FOX26 News @ 8am, +2 in rank, 33% growth vs. May`11. #1 in rank A25-54 RTG/SHR: 1.2/9
• FOX26 News @ 9am, +2 in rank, 100% growth vs. May`11. Ranks #1 A25-54 RTG/SHR: 0.8/7
• AMERICAN IDOL is the #1 Show in Total Prime in May`12 A25-54: Wed: 5.3/15, Thu: 5.4/16

OTHER RATINGS HIGHLIGHTS

• FOX26 News @ 5am, 67% growth vs. May`11. A25-54 RTG/SHR: 0.5/5
• FOX26 News @ 6am, +1 in rank, 63% growth vs. May`11. Ranks #3 A25-54 RTG/SHR: 1.3/9
• FOX26 News @ 7am, +1 in rank, 42% growth vs. May`11. #2 in Rank A25-54 RTG/SHR: 1.7/12
• FOX26 News @ 5pm, +1 in rank, 80% growth vs. May`11. Ranks #3 A25-54 RTG/SHR: 0.9/4
• BIG BANG THEORY/M-F/6:30p on KRIV, +2 in rank, 86% growth vs. May`11. Ranks #3 in TP. A25-54 RTG/SHR: 1.3/
• KTXH/My20 Prime, +1 in rank, 50% growth vs. May`11. Out-Ranks KIAH/CW A25-54 RTG/SHR: 0.6/2

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- Fox 4 KDFW claims number 1 in DFW May 2012 sweeps

Fox 4 KDFW claims number 1 in DFW May 2012 sweeps

Fox 4 KDFW in Dallas-Fort Worth is celebrating this May 2012 sweeps month. The Fox owned station is claiming number 1 across the board for the DFW TV Market.


FOX 4 is #1 ….
· at 4:30 AM and 5 AM in A25-54 and A18-49
· at 6 AM in A25-54
· at 5 PM in A25-54 and A18-49
· at 5:30 PM in A18-49
· at 6 PM in A18-49 and A25-54
· at 9 p.m. in A18-49 and A25-54
· at Prime in A18-49

May’12 FOX 4 Ratings Highlights:
- Good Day 4:30am (MF) was #1 ranked in the time period posting a 0.6/10 rtg/shr in Adults 25-54. Among Adults 18-49, Good Day was also #1 (0.4/8 rtg/shr).
- Good Day at 5am (MF) posted a 1.0/13 rtg/shr in Adults 25-54 (#1) and a 0.7/10 rtg/shr in Adults 18-49 (also #1 in market).
- Good Day at 6am (MF) was #1 in the time period among Adults 25-54 with a 1.7/15 rtg/shr and was #2 among Adults 18-49 with a 1.1/12 rtg/shr.
- FOX 4 News at Noon (MF) was #1 in Adults 18-49 with a 0.6/5 rtg/shr.
- FOX 4 News at 5pm (MF) posted a 1.6/8 rtg/shr in Adults 25-54 (#1) and a 1.1/6 rtg/shr in Adults 18-49 (#1 in the market).
- FOX 4 News at 530pm (MF) is #1 in A18-49 with a 1.3/7 rtg/shr
- FOX 4 News at 6pm (MF) posted a 1.7/8 rtg/shr in Adults 25-54 (#1) and a 1.2/6 rtg/shr in Adults 18-49 (#1).
- FOX Prime (Mon-Sat 7-9p/Sun 6-9p) was #1 in the market posting a 2.7/9 rtg/shr in 18-49
- FOX 4 News at 9pm (MF) posted a 2.7/7 rtg/shr in Adults 25-54 (#1) and a 2.2/6 rtg/shr in Adults 18-49 (#1 across all late newscasts).
- FOX 4 News at 10pm (MF) posted a 2.3/6 rtg/shr in Adults 25-54 (#2 across all 10pm newscasts) and a 1.7/5 rtg/shr in Adults 18-49 (tied for #1 in the time period).

Coming up...ratings for Fox owned stations Fox 26 KRIV Houston and Fox 7 KTBC Austin.

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- Fox 26 KRIV number 1 newscasts May 2012 sweeps

Fox 4 KDFW hires Calvert Collins from KLAS

Calvert Collins courtesy of KLAS

Calvert Collins joins the KDFW FOX4 news team, announced Robin Whitmeyer, the station’s Vice President and News Director. Collins will serve as a general assignment reporter. Her first day on air will be Monday, June 18th.

In making the announcement, Whitmeyer stated, “This is a ‘coming home’ for Calvert, a Dallas native and graduate of Highland Park High School. Her tenacity, insightful storytelling and ability to produce a quality news report will be great assets to our station.”

Most recently, Collins served as anchor and reporter at KLAS-TV in Las Vegas. Prior to that, Collins was a reporter and fill-in anchor at KPTM-TV in Omaha. Collins holds a Bachelor of Journalism-Broadcast News from the University of Missouri.

Added Collins, "It is a dream come true for me to return to Dallas-Fort Worth to work for KDFW. I am a seventh-generation Texan, born and raised in Dallas, who rarely missed a FOX4 9 o'clock newscast growing up. I am thrilled to begin the next chapter of my life in my hometown."

KDFW FOX4 is part of the FOX Television Station group, one of the nation’s largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 27 stations in 18 markets and covering nearly 37.21% of U.S. television homes. This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.

(This post is from a Fox Broadcasting release sent to me)

Nnete departs 97.9 The Box KBXX Madd Hatta Morning Show

Radio One has confirmed to me that 97.9 The Box KBXX morning show co-host Nnete Inyangumia is no longer with the station.

 Nnete, described as the First Lady of the Madd Hatta Morning Show, has been with the station since 2001 according to her LinkedIn account.

A Radio One representative told me that the station group could not comment on her departure from KBXX.

Listeners are starting to ask questions on Facebook about Nnete's radio whereabouts. So far, she has not responded or acknowledged her status.

According to her website, Nnete is also a budding comedian, actor and entrepreneur.

I contacted Nnete, but did not hear back from her for comment.

UPDATE:
According to a tweet by @solcaritas, Nnete will head to Los Angeles to help produce and co-host the Skits and Bits show on Foxxhole. Foxxhole is actor Jamie Foxx's Sirius XM channel.

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KTRK 13's Dave Ward: "They’ll probably carry me out of here feet first"

Legendary KTRK 13 anchor Dave Ward got a nice profile by TVNewsCheck's Rich Mates. There is even a surprise appearance by your's truly!

One of the standout parts of the piece is how Ward says he wants to leave the Houston ABC owned station:

Ward is in the middle of a three-year contract. Following Zindler’s example, Ward expects to exit KTRK only when he exits — permanently.

“They’ll probably carry me out of here feet first,” he says. “KTRK-TV is like my home, I’ve been here so long. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t come into work every day. I still feel like I contribute to the newscast and they seem to want me here.

"As long as they want me to stick around, I probably will.” READ THE REST

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KHOU 11 bets on Drew Karedes from KTNV Las Vegas

I'm usually pretty good at telling you about newly hired Houston TV reporters before they start on the air, but even I have my misses.

 Case in point, new KHOU 11 reporter Drew Karedes. He is one of many constantly changing folks in front of the camera lens at the Houston Belo station. I find consolation in the fact that considering the amount of new people arriving to the station over the last year, my batting average ain't too bad overall.

Karedes started at KHOU last week apparently. He comes from KTNV-TV in Las Vegas where some of his work was even featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal. Before that he reported at the NBC affiliate in Green Bay, WI. Karedes started behind the scenes at WHDH-TV in Boston.

In the past, Karedes has described himself in his bio as a true "New Englander." In fact he graduated from Northeastern University.

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