Fox 26 KRIV reporter Nancy Zambrano to leave the TV biz after after a few months in Houston
Nancy Zambrano
Nancy Zambrano is leaving Fox 26 KRIV after about four months on the job a FOX Television Stations representative confirmed to mikemcguff.com.
Multiple sources tell me this is an amicable split and that Zambrano is leaving the TV news business and Houston. I've heard she is possibly going back to Austin for a PR/marketing job.
If they're still as good as they used to be, I'd be going back for some Stubb's BBQ and ZTejas myself.
Zambrano came to Fox 26 KRIV as a reporter last February from sister station Fox 7 KTBC in Austin.
As I blogged a few months ago, before Austin Zambrano served as Reporter/Weekend Anchor for KMID-TV in Midland-Odessa, TX. Prior to that, she was Reporter/Weather Anchor for WUFT-TV at the University of Florida’s television station in Gainesville, FL. Zambrano began her career as an intern at various stations, including WCJB-TV in Gainesville, FL, WFOR-TV in Miami, FL and Univision Network in Miami, FL.
FOX Television Stations tells me Zambrano's last day is this Friday. Zambrano did not return my repeated requests for a comment.
Alex Cadelago Named Vice President, Director of Sales for KILT-AM, KILT-FM, KIKK-AM, KHMX-FM, KKHH-FM and KLOL-FM
Alex Cadelago has been named Vice President and Director of Sales for CBS RADIO's six stations in the Houston market. This appointment was announced
today and is effective immediately.
Cadelago will be responsible for managing the company’s monthly and annual sales objectives for the market as well as driving strategy to grow revenue on all six CBS Houston stations which include: KILT-AM, KILT-FM, KIKK-AM, KHMX-FM, KKHH-FM and KLOL-FM.
Sarah Frazier, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of CBS RADIO Houston, said, "Alex is a proven sales manager in the Houston market. He is adept at analyzing the business from all angles, and has risen from the management ranks organically as the next logical Director of Sales of our Houston team. His experience marketing within both the General Market and the Hispanic market uniquely qualify him to best position our portfolio of brands in this minority majority city. In his new position Cadelago will simultaneously manage sales for Houston’s Mega Ciento Uno, Numero Uno en Exitos, KLOL-FM."
Cadelago started his career in radio at KXYZ, 1320AM, in Houston during 1992. He spent time as a Local Sales Manager for MEGA prior to the station coming under the CBS umbrella in April of 2009. Alex was promoted to General Sales Manager after joining CBS, transitioned his team into the CBS culture and quickly gained credibility with his peers and the company. In 2011 Cadelago drove MEGA to the number one spot in the market for non-traditional revenue.
(This post was taken from a release sent to me by CBS Radio Houston)
Wayne Dolcefino shows up on KHOU, KPRC and the Houston Chronicle in a single day - one station with a 1 and a 3 was noticeably missing
Like Nielsen LPM measurements through the flat screen TV, so are the former KTRK anchors of our lives.
We should know the ultimate showman like Wayne Dolcefino wouldn't be content to just show up on one TV station, so he went to the city's main newspaper and on two Houston stations that were not KTRK abc13 during May 2013 sweeps.
The former 13 Undercover man started his day off in the Houston Chronicle where he said, “I miss what I used to do. I don’t miss working for Channel 13.”
We were all eagerly awaiting his KPRC story at 10pm, but first Wayne-O showed up on KHOU 11's 6pm newscast in his Dolcefino Communications role. This time, the former investigative reporter is involved in a smelly fight brewing in Hempstead that also involves attorney Rusty Hardin.
Then came the main event on KPRC 2's 10pm newscast after The Office series finale (yeah Michael Scott showed up of course) and some other show.
Joel Eisenbaum's report didn't really give us anymore insight than we can get from reading the pages of this very blog, but we did get a chance to see Dolcefino's house and the fact he slimmed down and looks healthier after leaving KTRK.
For whatever reason, Click2Houston.com is behind the times on letting users embed its video on other sites (at the time of this publishing the video wasn't up anyway), but I will link you to what looks like an online only version of the Dolcefino tale that seems to have different info from what was on TV.
"Channel 13 and I got divorced it was as simple as that. One thing I don't like people suggesting is that I'm retired. I didn't retire, I can't afford to be retired," Dolcefino told KPRC in the online story.
Man, Dolcefino seems pissed at KTRK. Glad there is no one else out there that seems angry at the ABC owned station. What? You mean there is someone else? Oh, a couple of more people?
Oh yeah, I almost forgot about former KTRK abc13 sports director Bob Allen quitting the station and then showing up on competitor KHOU 11 a few months later. That was followed by former KTRK abc13 weekend sportscaster Tim Melton giving his first post stroke interview on KHOU to Allen.
As I said last night on Twitter, it's been 5 minutes, any KTRK folks scheduled to appear on other TV station newscasts yet?
This follows former KTRK abc13 weekend sportscaster Tim Melton in his first post stroke TV appearance being interviewed by former KTRK abc13 sports director Bob Allen on his new station - KHOU 11 (this interview was a ratings winner from what I understand).
For those outside of Houston reading this I know it sounds confusing. It's become like a soap opera in market 10. People are asking questions about why all of these famous channel 13 employees are showing up all over the television dial. An anchor scorned type of thing...[cue the dramatic music].
I can play this game too. Here is my interview with former KTRK abc13 weatherman Ed Brandon. Since I'm not a TV station, I don't get a massive Nielsen ratings spike though.
According to the KPRC promo, investigative reporter Joel Eisenbaum sits down and grills "bad boy of Houston TV" Dolcefino about why he left KTRK abc13. I'll give you a preview with something I wrote in November.
Hey channel 2, you might be getting this exclusive TV news story (this is getting meta), but I'm the only one who has Wayne Dolcefino getting peed on. You can't take that away from me!
What's next? Shara Fryer will start anchoring the news somewhere too...oh wait that has already happened.
I gotta say this is the most I've watched any TV sweeps period in a very long time. As a 30 something male, it's not like I've been the target demographic for any TV station in years! Thanks for including me for once.
Not sure if/when it was officially announced, but Katherine Whaley named KHOU noon anchor in her online bio
Ron Trevino & Katherine Whaley
UPDATE
Katherine Whaley got back with me and to her credit, before I posted this, I just missed her email. She told me she's been anchoring the noon since last summer. Shows you how much I know about Houston TV.
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Last week KHOU moved Whaley's bio up to the top of its website talent page. When I clicked on Whaley's bio, here is what I found:
Native Houstonian Katherine Whaley is passionate about covering stories in city as diverse and dynamic as Houston. You can find Katherine anchoring KHOU 11 News at Noon and helping drivers Beat the Traffic on KHOU 11 News This Morning.
I guess this is a new assignment, because I don't remember an announcement anywhere and I believe that show has generally been a solo anchor gig. Both KHOU and Whaley have been mum when it comes to my requests for information. I was also a little confused when I tuned in noon Monday to see Lily Jang and Tuesday Mia Gradney instead of Whaley (she was there Wednesday).
Guess me going to all the Houston TV website talent bio pages every 30 minutes and hitting refresh pays off.
According to her bio, Whaley grew up in West Houston, attended Memorial High School and graduated with a history degree from Rice University. She went on to work as an anchor and reporter at KLFY-TV in Lafayette, Louisiana, and KAVU-TV in Victoria, Texas. She then worked as an anchor, reporter and even weathercaster at KVBC-TV Las Vegas. Whaley hit the jackpot and was KHOU bound in 2009 where she replaced Darby Douglas in the morning traffic role.
Whaley's bio does not mention where she interned though, and that was at KTRK abc13 (I was working there at the time).
Speaking of the KHOU noon newscast, I could tell when new meteorologist Brooks Garner arrived because this post about Chita Johnson started to explode with traffic.
KHOU 11 hires KPLC Lake Charles sports director Drew Shirley as producer
Drew Shirley
Drew Shirley has been hired as the new KHOU 11 sports producer from KPLC Lake Charles.
Bob Allen had publicly said he wanted his new sports department to have a sports producer. Apparently the station cut that position in 2009 leading to Giff Neilsen's departure.
"I'll be on air occasionally, but mainly working behind the scenes with Bob Allen to put together the daily sportscasts," Shirley told mikemcguff.com.
"I love being the sports guy here at KPLC, but after 11 months of commuting to Lake Charles, I am ecstatic about this new gig."
You might remember I wrote last year about Shirley taking the Sports Director role at KPLC Lake Charles, La. It was great for him to get a good job, but the native Houstonian's wife and kids remained here. He was having to commute back and forth on the weekend to see them!
Another thing about Shirley, he also has a law degree. As I wrote last summer, that means when Shirley wants an exclusive interview with an athlete, he brings along a pen and an ironclad contract they can't get out of (I'm kidding Drew, once again, please don't bring legal action against me!).
Cindy Scull swaps shifts with Nikki Sixx
At Rock KEGL/Dallas, night host Cindy Scull moves back to mornings, while the syndicated Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx moves to nights.
H2O Dallas To Get Hot?
Less than a year after launching the “H2O Radio” brand in Dallas with the potential to expand elsewhere, Univision appears ready to transition 107.9 KESS-FM Lewisville/Dallas to a more traditional radio brand.
Through his radio sermons, a Dallas rabbi helped residents reflect on the JFK assassination
Immediately after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, hatred toward Dallas left the city bewildered, defensive and ashamed. The legacy lingered for weeks, then months, then years. Rabbi Levi Olan, who led Temple Emanu-El from 1949 to 1970 and had a radio show on KRLD, helped people process the tragedy and the hatred.
Joe Pags back in Houston?
Lot's of people were leaving angry comments on my blog about Joe Pags on the outs at 950 KPRC, but he's back here again subbing for Matt Patrick on 740 KTRH this week.
TSU, UH tip their caps to famous alums
That's Doctor Michael Strahan to you, Kelly. Strahan, the former All-Pro defensive end for the New York Giants and co-host with Kelly Ripa of the ABC weekday morning show "Live with Kelly and Michael," received an honorary doctorate of humane letters Saturday from his alma mater, Texas Southern University.
KVUE’s news team grows
Foti Kallergis and Amy Johnston-Harper are both filling in at KVUE for the next few months, helping the station out while anchors Jade Mingus and Jessica Vess take maternity leave.
Hit-and-run injures TV crew
A McAllen TV reporter and her photographer were hospitalized after their work vehicle was struck by a speeding vehicle Monday morning.
Jenelle Shriner leaves KVUE and lands at KPRC 2 as the Executive Producer for KPRC's Morning News.
Ray Fisher, former KIAH 39 sports weekend anchor, has left his job as the Digital Content Manager for Fox Sports Houston and is now the Social Media Community Manager at the Shell Oil Company.
CW33's Daniel Novick latest to join PR parade
Reporter Daniel Novick, who survived CW33’s transition to the comedy-infused 9 p.m. Nightcap (“A Different Kind of Newscast”), has decided to make a career change.
Bill Spencer from WXYZ Detroit joins KPRC 2 Houston as investigative reporter
Bill Spencer
Bill Spencer is the new KPRC 2 investigative reporter and tells me he is thrilled to be back in Texas.
In fact, it's a homecoming for him in a way since his first TV job was at KMID in Midland. Spencer actually was there in the early 1980s covering the "Baby Jessica" McClure stuck in the well story. He tells me he worked for almost three days straight and filed reports for CBS.
Spencer replaces the spot left open by longtime Houston journalist Stephen Dean who is now at WRTV Indianapolis. Dean left KPRC in May of 2012.
"I'm going to be looking for the stories that really blow people away," Spencer told mikemcguff.com. "The things they had no idea that are going on or see coming."
Spencer was the Chief Consumer Investigative Reporter at WXYZ Detroit's "Call for Action" since 1998. According to Deadline Detroit, the station did not renew Spencer's contract last January.
"I come up with stories that affect a huge group of people," Spencer added.
Here is where Spencer previously worked according to his LinkedIn profile:
KNXV-TV
Anchor/Investigative Reporter - (October 1994 – March 1998) KLAS-TV
Anchor/Reporter - (October 1993 – October 1994) KTUL
Morning Anchor - (October 1991 – October 1992) WMUR-TV
Crime Reporter - (September 1988 – October 1991)
KPRC is owned by Post-Newsweek which is based out of Detroit. At Scripps owned WXYZ, that means Spencer was competing against Post-Newsweek owned WDIV for many years. Now he is one of them.
Thanks to one of Spencer's first tweets, we know he is already on the case.
If you have been the victim of a home burglary, and lost a lot, please contact me I'd like to talk to you.I'm at bspencer@kprc.com
— Bill Spencer (@kprcbillspencer) May 14, 2013
Spencer is married to a native Texan, his wife is from San Antonio.
Here is video of Spencer in Action - the only ones I could find on YouTube. The first clip he is rescuing stuck ducks, the next he is channeling Marvin Zindler and helping a woman with her smile.
Bob Allen interviewed longtime friend and former KTRK abc13 colleague Tim Melton about his stroke and subsequent recovery. This is the first time we've heard from Melton in almost two years since the stroke and it's on a competing station.
Melton talks about the night the stroke happened in October 2011 at KTRK abc13 after the 5:30pm Sunday newscast and a lot more.
I found this part particularly interesting:
"I would like to return to work," says Melton. "Sometimes I say to myself that’s crazy, but it’s something that I still want to do so I still keep working towards that and I keep trying to get better."
After working side by side with him since 1981, I’ve got to think someone will want him. He’s talented, brave, one of the most decent people I’ve ever known and he’s not quitting.
Here's something different, vintage Houston radio clips ranging from the 1950s to the 2000s! And all of these air checks are available on YouTube thanks mostly to coolcat713. If you love old radio or are feeling nostalgic, then I have just sucked many hours and hours away from you!
KILT 610 Houston - Jingle Montage
Here's a collection of jingles and recordings from the 1950's to early 1980's on KILT 610 AM radio in Houston.
104 KRBE Houston - Chris Kelley (1984)
Chris Kelley talks to a Diana Ross fan (Dale Gibson) over the phone at the Diana Ross concert at the Houston Summit.
