THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606200035
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: 70 lines
LOCAL TV news and views to ponder why you wait for Carol Hoffman to switch from WAVY to WVEC's morning news team on July 8:
He's gone but not forgotten - Soon after the The New York Times Co. bought WTKR, the new owners canceled what I thought was the coolest, hippest, best-produced local program ever - ``Buz TV.''
The late, great ``Buz TV'' has won an Emmy. Robert James, the program's host and producer who now works in Los Angeles, will be pleased as punch to learn that ``Buz TV'' recently captured a regional Emmy as best regularly scheduled entertainment program.
(The New York Times Co. recently spent $226 million for TV stations in Oklahoma City and Des Moines. It now owns eight. Does this mean that rooftop weather forecasting is on the way to Oklahoma and Iowa?)
WVEC was the big local winner at the 38th annual Capital Region Emmy ceremonies. Bonita Billingsley won an Emmy for the news feature, ``Today's Dads,'' and Phillip Wright was honored in the cinematography-videography competition. Canda Lambert won an Emmy for best graphics and David S. Ferebee III took the statue for editing in public service and promotion spots.
You've added a fancy line to your resumes, ladies and gentlemen.
Hello, Judy - Soon after Michael A. Mastrullo left WAVY, his job as the NBC affiliate's promotion and marketing manager was filled by Judy Triska. Triska didn't need a road map to Channel 10's studios in Portsmouth.
She was a producer for five years at WAVY before leaving for WTKR where Triska has been senior promotion producer for the past 3 1/2 years. ``It's great to be home,'' said Triska.
Promoting a station that's affiliated with TV's No. 1-rated network is a piece of cake. Right, Judy? Adios to Mastrullo, one of the good guys in local broadcasting.
So many channels, so little space - New cable channels are popping up all over the place like summer thunderstorms. Come July 15, the NBC-Microsoft all-news channel (MSNBC) will sign on with Fox also preparing to challenge CNN in the near future.
Two new sports channels - ESPNEWS and the Sports Illustrated-CNN channel - are scheduled to start up late in 1996. Other new channels include Animal Planet, Ovation, the Television Food Network, Prime Life Network and the Game Show Network. So, what are the chances of seeing these new cable networks in Hampton Roads?
A spokesman for Cox Communications, with about 200,000 subscribers in Hampton Roads, says Cox will consider adding some of the new networks. But not anytime soon, said Larry Michele of Cox.
And speaking of new networks - The folks who run the Trinity Broadcasting Network in Tustin, Calif., say they're cranking out a low-power UHF signal in Virginia Beach with a reach of about 25 miles. My rabbit ears haven't pulled it in. Have yours?
TBN is on the air with uplifting programming 21 hours a day.
``We've improved reception in your area,'' said Chris Hiser from California. Hiser says the network is on 300 low-power stations.
The $1-million gift - With WVEC's on-air personalities asking viewers to reach for their checkbooks, the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk raised $1,053,769 during a recent telethon broadcast from the hospital's lobby.
Nationally, the Children's Miracle Network Telethon brought in $141.3 million for 161 hospitals.
Good morning, again - Not long after ABC's ``Good Morning America'' saluted the Little Theater of Norfolk on its 70th anniversary, ``GMA'' is scheduled to drop in on us again Tuesday, in Virginia Beach, to celebrate the Central Business District Association's 10th anniversary. Where is Virginia Beach's central business district, exactly? MEMO: My Infoline number is 640-5555, press 2486.My Infoline number is
640-5555, press 2486. by CNB