WOWT "Pros"

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:45 pm

Omababe wrote: Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:35 am
WOWT hasn’t been “Pro” since the year Gary Kerr retired in 1999.. Their quality has, incrementally, decreased every year since...
I remember him sortakinda. Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't he the one who semi-retired but came back to do one nightly show during the week? I remember him as pretty much the last of the old-school Omaha anchors. I always expected him to move on to a larger market but apparently he never did.

Gary Kerr was an old school icon of a reporter. He started his career on the Big 6 in the 1960’s and remained at WOWT until he retired in 1999. Kerr was a gem and one fantastic reporter/news anchor. Like I stated previously- WOWT’s quality has fallen, incrementally, since he retired...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 2:51 pm

Channel 6 was a class act in the 1970s and 1980s. Then the Magid people took control, blow dried everyone’s hair, sucked out half their personality and smarts, and left us where we are today. I recall Gary Kerr with fondness. And I really liked Cat Joyner. She did an excellent morning news program. You felt like she really cared about the community. We didn’t realize how good we had it until we didn’t have it any more.

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 4:51 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:45 pm
Omababe wrote: Mon Jul 09, 2018 10:35 am
WOWT hasn’t been “Pro” since the year Gary Kerr retired in 1999.. Their quality has, incrementally, decreased every year since...
I remember him sortakinda. Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't he the one who semi-retired but came back to do one nightly show during the week? I remember him as pretty much the last of the old-school Omaha anchors. I always expected him to move on to a larger market but apparently he never did.
Gary Kerr was an old school icon of a reporter. He started his career on the Big 6 in the 1960’s and remained at WOWT until he retired in 1999. Kerr was a gem and one fantastic reporter/news anchor. Like I stated previously- WOWT’s quality has fallen, incrementally, since he retired...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

I was more of a KETV7 guy--Charlie Martin, Alan Muse, Marcia Ladendorff, Sue Wolff...Carol Schrader was a field reporter.

But yeah, not necessarily do I miss Kerr, Ray Depa, even Byron Wood so much as I miss real news.

Ryan Air · Post by **Ryan Air** » Mon Jul 09, 2018 9:37 pm

It is Rachel - I was half-listening with my mom yesterday and her voice came on and my mom and I looked at each other and immediately started laughing. We were like “this can’t be real”
Cartoonish and very odd pauses. Entertaining for a few minutes - we then decided to wait until a real news broadcast was on... KETV at 5:30.

WOWT is terrible in EVERY WAY
Set: terrible
Graphics: terrible
Music: terrible
Marketing: terrible
Talent: terrible

Not up for debate. They’re terrible. Cringeworthy and embarrassing.

Channel 3 is far better. If they had a real set and CBS O&O graphics/music, I’d watch them over 7. I like the Jens and Craig.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Tue Jul 10, 2018 1:36 am

It's all about money. I don't know what kind of income is generated by ad revenues in Omaha these days, but since the advent of cable TV and its explosion in the 80's and 90's, individual stations' market shares are pretty small. Back in the day, there were only 3 commercial stations and market share was huge, and the stations made money. The current financial situation with regard to newspapers and TV news is pretty frightening. We are lucky to still have the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and even USA Today----they at least have the resources to investigate malfeasance by various government units and corporate America. What is left at the local level? Dunno,but it ain't anywhere near what it used to be. Local governments and companies know this, and I fear that, without much oversight anymore, all kinds of illegal nonsense will go undetected. The explosion of online "news" blogs and "news" talk radio has destroyed legitimate political debate in this country, since they don't have to adhere to any type of journalistic standard. Lies are accepted as truth, and the truth gets the label "fake news". We're becoming a nation of angry trolls. I'm astonished at the bizarre conspiracy theories some of my Omaha relatives believe to be the truth. Unraveling that for them is sometimes more trouble than it's worth, not that they would want to believe me anyway. I wish some of the local philanthropists would agree to fund an investigative reporting outfit that would be dedicated to hard news stories----something has to happen to guard honest reporting.

jessep28 · Post by **jessep28** » Tue Jul 10, 2018 4:38 pm

Unlike most newspapers, The New York Times and Wall Street Journal have successful paywall models. As evidenced by general complaining about the Omaha World Herald's subscriber plus articles, people don't want to pay for news products that they use.

bigredmed1 · Post by **bigredmed1** » Tue Jul 10, 2018 5:53 pm

jessep28 wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 4:38 pm Unlike most newspapers, The New York Times and Wall Street Journal have successful paywall models. As evidenced by general complaining about the Omaha World Herald's subscriber plus articles, people don't want to pay for news products that they use.

Can't speak for the NYT, but the thing I like about the WSJ is that you subscribe and get a year's worth at one fee. You also get extras like WSJ+ that gives you extra value.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Tue Jul 10, 2018 8:41 pm

jessep28 wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 4:38 pm Unlike most newspapers, The New York Times and Wall Street Journal have successful paywall models. As evidenced by general complaining about the Omaha World Herald's subscriber plus articles, people don't want to pay for news products that they use.

I'm lucky. I have a digital subscription to the Washington Post (around $175 per year), and I get the WSJ and USA Today at work for free (their HQ is a block from where I work); they are very generous with the businesses in the neighborhood, offering several free copies per business. The Sunday NYT can't be beat for literature/art/culture, so I pick one up very so often. I think we still have the best newspapers in the world, and access to them is relatively cheap.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 6:59 pm

I subscribe to the Sunday NYT. It’s $8 a week now, but I spend hours reading it, and I get access to all of their online web pages, daily email briefings, food and political blogs, and other services for no extra charge. I also subscribe to the Washington Post online, and to the weekend World-Herald, which gives me access to all of their online services for $1.99 per month. It is nice to have access to local and national media outlets when I am abroad, which is over 100 days a year now.

bbinks · Post by **bbinks** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:46 pm

Eliminate John Knicely and the budget would grow. One of the so-called reasons for getting rid of Jim Flowers was his pay. If that's true, Knicely should be gone too.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:33 pm

bbinks wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:46 pm Eliminate John Knicely and the budget would grow. One of the so-called reasons for getting rid of Jim Flowers was his pay. If that's true, Knicely should be gone too.

I'm curious as to what kind of money Knicely is pulling in

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:03 pm

Louie wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:33 pm
bbinks wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:46 pm Eliminate John Knicely and the budget would grow. One of the so-called reasons for getting rid of Jim Flowers was his pay. If that's true, Knicely should be gone too.
I'm curious as to what kind of money Knicely is pulling in

One one level, I am curious. However really that's between Gray, Knicely and their accountants. I can tell you that his co-anchors prolly make $12/hr., which is why the co-anchor job is a revolving door.

And there really is no audience left to shiv a git, anyhow.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 5:26 pm

Louie wrote: Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:33 pm
bbinks wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:46 pm Eliminate John Knicely and the budget would grow. One of the so-called reasons for getting rid of Jim Flowers was his pay. If that's true, Knicely should be gone too.
I'm curious as to what kind of money Knicely is pulling in

I’m fairly sure he pulling in a healthy 6 figure salary..

Obviously overpaid for his quality of work, imo...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

jessep28 · Post by **jessep28** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 4:11 pm

nativeomahan wrote: Wed Jul 11, 2018 6:59 pm I subscribe to the Sunday NYT. It’s $8 a week now, but I spend hours reading it, and I get access to all of their online web pages, daily email briefings, food and political blogs, and other services for no extra charge. I also subscribe to the Washington Post online, and to the weekend World-Herald, which gives me access to all of their online services for $1.99 per month. It is nice to have access to local and national media outlets when I am abroad, which is over 100 days a year now.

I've got a digital subscription to both the Wall Street Journal and the World-Herald. I prefer to read yesterday's news on fish paper out of habit, but unfortunately I now live outside both paper's regular delivery area. I had a NYTimes subscription since their international reporting was decent, and it was half the price of the WSJ, but it's getting obnoxious reading a liberal newspaper in today's political environment. I prefer a little more business news too, so I switched my online national back to the Journal.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:55 am

Now Jessica Gill is leaving WOWT. Last day 8/8.

With everyone thinking she was next in line for the main anchor, wonder if they look outside the station?

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:37 pm

Brad wrote: Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:55 am Now Jessica Gill is leaving WOWT. Last day 8/8.

With everyone thinking she was next in line for the main anchor, wonder if they look outside the station?

They'll just call someone up from another Gray station nearby, promote an intern, or (heaven forfend) promote Anastasia Champ. With their revolving door, they have to hit a home run this time. I think they won't.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:12 am

The new co-anchor started tonight.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:28 pm

Just after 6am this morning, the WOWT "Live Desk" was showing traffic jams on the interstate in Atlanta |expletive| Georgia! ATLANTA GEORGIA!!!

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 4:47 pm

Brad wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2020 3:28 pm Just after 6am this morning, the WOWT "Live Desk" was showing traffic jams on the interstate in Atlanta |expletive| Georgia! ATLANTA GEORGIA!!!

Imagery trumps relevance. It's eye candy, no nutritional content.

Emily Dwire is very attractive, though.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:56 am

Remember when WOWT called their newscasts Action News? Well, sometimes I wonder what if WOWT kept the Action News name when they changed their logo in the early 90's to what it is today–A white "6" in Avant Garde on a black tile with the NBC peacock logo in the lower right corner and Charlie Van Dyke introducing them as "This is Channel 6 Action News"?

Personally, I think Action News was a better fit for WOWT than it was for KMTV. KMTV was better when they were NewsCenter 3. If KETV can keep NewsWatch 7 after 40+ years, then WOWT could've done the same with Action News. The same goes for KMTV with NewsCenter 3.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Mon Apr 27, 2020 8:39 am

I don't care what they call it as long as they (all of them) put out a better news product than they have done for the past so many years.

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Mon Apr 27, 2020 5:46 pm

Omababe wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2020 8:39 am I don't care what they call it as long as they (all of them) put out a better news product than they have done for the past so many years.

It gets more foul by the day. I'd rather watch two hours of Ellen or Wheel than this lecturing by our betters that Hearst foists upon us.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Mon May 11, 2020 5:40 am

I bet there were a lot of folks back in the 80's and 90's who thought the quality of the news coverage in Omaha sucked and they missed "the good old days" of the 60's and 70's. Just think, in 10 or 20 years from now, we'll be looking back on these as the good old days. At least, some folks will. I don't necessarily mean myself, but other people will. It's just in our nature to remember the past better than it actually was.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Mon May 11, 2020 8:48 am

mrsticka wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 5:40 amI bet there were a lot of folks back in the 80's and 90's who thought the quality of the news coverage in Omaha sucked and they missed "the good old days" of the 60's and 70's. Just think, in 10 or 20 years from now, we'll be looking back on these as the good old days. At least, some folks will. I don't necessarily mean myself, but other people will. It's just in our nature to remember the past better than it actually was.

Let's see here, back in the late 1990s, 20 years ago, I started to realize that WOWT news was lame and annoying. It seemed like every other word was "heartland", which sounded warm and fuzzy maybe the first two times it was used, but they ran it into the ground! An example was, if somebody was arrested in Plattsmouth for armed robbery, they would say "A heartland man was arrested for robbing a heartland drug store ..." with absolutely no mention of Plattsmouth. It just got old, sorry.

So, my bottom line is that WOWTs news sucked just as bad, possibly worse, 20 years ago. In fact, I hate to admit it, but the last few times I've watched it (mostly for not changing the channel after Jeopardy), It did not seem as bad as it did maybe 5 or so years ago. There's still far too much filler and some inane happy talk, which I'm sure they've backed off on somewhat due to the current events.

I think their low point came in the early-mid 20-teens when they were doing stuff such as passing off f-book comments as news, and doing "features" on local firms who had just signed big ad deals.

Oh well ...

bigredmed1 · Post by **bigredmed1** » Mon May 11, 2020 1:55 pm

Omababe, it could always be channel 3. They have sucked so bad and for so long that they are a low pressure comparison reference site for hurricane hunters needing to calibrate their instruments.

Effectively we have one station.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Mon May 11, 2020 10:31 pm

I caught Channel 3 news on Sunday morning. Top of the hour. We have a weekend of Flynn, Wuhan Virus, Killings outside of Atlanta and a host of other stories. 7:05 ... Channel 3 is giving a fluff story. Not news. Fluff.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Mon May 11, 2020 10:53 pm

Omababe wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 8:48 am
mrsticka wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 5:40 amI bet there were a lot of folks back in the 80's and 90's who thought the quality of the news coverage in Omaha sucked and they missed "the good old days" of the 60's and 70's. Just think, in 10 or 20 years from now, we'll be looking back on these as the good old days. At least, some folks will. I don't necessarily mean myself, but other people will. It's just in our nature to remember the past better than it actually was.
Let's see here, back in the late 1990s, 20 years ago, I started to realize that WOWT news was lame and annoying. It seemed like every other word was "heartland", which sounded warm and fuzzy maybe the first two times it was used, but they ran it into the ground! An example was, if somebody was arrested in Plattsmouth for armed robbery, they would say "A heartland man was arrested for robbing a heartland drug store ..." with absolutely no mention of Plattsmouth. It just got old, sorry.

So, my bottom line is that WOWTs news sucked just as bad, possibly worse, 20 years ago. In fact, I hate to admit it, but the last few times I've watched it (mostly for not changing the channel after Jeopardy), It did not seem as bad as it did maybe 5 or so years ago. There's still far too much filler and some inane happy talk, which I'm sure they've backed off on somewhat due to the current events.

I think their low point came in the early-mid 20-teens when they were doing stuff such as passing off f-book comments as news, and doing "features" on local firms who had just signed big ad deals.

Oh well ...

To me it started in the 80s when channel 6, as far as I can tell and I could be wrong, paid a ton to a consultant who made a number of suggestions. The consultant thought they'd take maybe one or two but they figured they paid for all the suggestions so they did all of them. The first one was overpay to switch to NBC because that network was #1 at the time. They also took the consultant up on what I have to believe was a suggestion made as a joke...arrogance. In addition, As I understand it nicely's priest said he shouldn't do sports anymore and should be an anchor. The whole station went from being Omaha's most trusted news team to a clown car.

None of that matters these days. From what little I can stomach watching snippets of Omaha's news stations it just appears that all four (yes, 42 included) have dropped off the planet in terms of quality. I can't believe they pay much if anything and it truly shows.

It's a tragedy.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Tue May 12, 2020 1:45 am

Here's a crazy thought–What if when Dale Munson retired from WOWT, Bill Randby went there instead of KETV and Jim Flowers remained at KETV all these years until his retirement in 2016?

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Tue May 12, 2020 8:46 am

Bob from Omaha wrote: Mon May 11, 2020 10:53 pmit just appears that all four (yes, 42 included) have dropped off the planet in terms of quality.

42 is sooooo far out in left field (scratch that, make that RIGHT field) that it's not even in the same universe as the three so-called majors! The last time I attempted to watch their "news" it was still outsourced to Billings (or was it Bakersfield that week? India maybe?) and incredibly lame.

(Are they still importing it from some far-away studio? I don't know, I'm asking.)

jag42 · Post by **jag42** » Tue May 12, 2020 10:21 pm

Yup... Fox 42 Omaha news still originates at Fox 26 Fresno, California:

http://kmph.com/station/people

Original · Post by **Original** » Wed May 13, 2020 2:23 pm

I feel sorry for the 42 local reporters in that they don't really have a chance to practice at anchoring or doing in-studio work, since they don't have a studio anymore.

We used to have 42 on in the background while doing other stuff in the kitchen at night. (Hey, we don't have cable and it was better than murder murder murder that fits in that timeslot on the broadcast networks, plus the kitchen antenna didn't pick up PBS reliabily)

My two favorite 42 moments - (these were during the Fresno era)

The sports guy doing an entire segment saying, "The Huskies"

The lead story from Paul Gutierrez, the local reporter, being about bunnies attacking plants at the Bellevue Berry Farm, complete with slow-mo footage of a rabbit hopping across the field.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Fri May 15, 2020 3:52 am

Why did KPTM move their studio to Fresno anyway?

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Fri May 15, 2020 9:47 am

mrsticka wrote: Fri May 15, 2020 3:52 amWhy did KPTM move their studio to Fresno anyway?

Beancounters figuring that it's more cost-effective to concentrate news production in one geographic area and not to duplicate facilities at every station.

bbinks · Post by **bbinks** » Fri May 15, 2020 10:15 am

Where did Tom Becka do his segment from if it's outsourced? I caught a recent one last week and he's from home, perhaps covid related.

I thought they were local again after not being out of Davenport anymore.

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Fri May 15, 2020 1:09 pm

bbinks wrote: Fri May 15, 2020 10:15 am Where did Tom Becka do his segment from if it's outsourced? I caught a recent one last week and he's from home, perhaps covid related.

I thought they were local again after not being out of Davenport anymore.

His Mom's basement! :-)

omaha79 · Post by **omaha79** » Fri May 15, 2020 5:45 pm

For anyone looking for some local news nostalgia, I find this youtube page to be a treasure trove...

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrYoumatic

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Fri May 15, 2020 7:13 pm

omaha79 wrote: Fri May 15, 2020 5:45 pm For anyone looking for some local news nostalgia, I find this youtube page to be a treasure trove...

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrYoumatic

I subscribed to that YouTube channel a couple of years or so ago..

It’s great fun..and reminds me of the old Omaha news/weather personalities from back when I was a little kid through my 20’s..some of those people I had completely forgotten about...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

damonhynes · Post by **damonhynes** » Sat May 16, 2020 4:34 am

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Fri May 15, 2020 7:13 pm
omaha79 wrote: Fri May 15, 2020 5:45 pm For anyone looking for some local news nostalgia, I find this youtube page to be a treasure trove...

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrYoumatic
I subscribed to that YouTube channel a couple of years or so ago..

It’s great fun..and reminds me of the old Omaha news/weather personalities from back when I was a little kid through my 20’s..some of those people I had completely forgotten about...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Beautiful--this fills in a lot of holes. Thanks!

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Sat May 16, 2020 6:04 am

It's been a while since the user uploaded anything. Hopefully, he'll get back to posting soon.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat May 16, 2020 6:42 pm

damonhynes wrote: Sat May 16, 2020 4:34 am
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Fri May 15, 2020 7:13 pm
omaha79 wrote: Fri May 15, 2020 5:45 pm For anyone looking for some local news nostalgia, I find this youtube page to be a treasure trove...

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrYoumatic
I subscribed to that YouTube channel a couple of years or so ago..

It’s great fun..and reminds me of the old Omaha news/weather personalities from back when I was a little kid through my 20’s..some of those people I had completely forgotten about...

Ciao..LiO...Peace
Beautiful--this fills in a lot of holes. Thanks!

I had completely forgotten about Ann Schatz, Jan Rasmussen etc.. Then I see them in these old Omaha TV news clips and I now completely remember them. Those clips are a treat for sure...

Ciao..LiO...Peace