Channel
Surfing
By Laura Nachman
[email protected]
June 28, 2001
First on Fox:
Fox-Philadelphia is looking for a new news director, as John Mussoni was
relieved of his duties last week. Fox-Philadelphia
general manager Roger LaMay, who preceded Mussoni as news director, made the
tough decision to fire the 11-year station veteran because the station “has
been stagnant ratings-wise.” In
the May sweeps, the “Ten O’clock News” anchored by Jill Chernekoff and
Rich Noonan, lost 25% of its audience from a year ago, dropping from a 5.2
rating/8 share to a 4.1 rating/6 share of the audience.
Meanwhile, its main competitor WB17 had a 2.4 rating/4share and has
tentative plans to expand to an hour newscast in the fall. LaMay dismissed WB17
as a reason for Fox-Philadelphia’s troubles. “We never think about PHL.
They have not made a serious challenge and are not a factor,” he said.
WB17 news director Rich Scott, who now has the longest tenure of news
directors in town (he began in December 1996), disputes LaMay’s statement.
“Our viewer ship has remained steady while their’s has dropped.
He (LaMay) needs to be concerned about us.
We hope to be neck and neck with them soon.”
For Mussoni, one time assistant news director to LaMay, and news director
since November 1996, it was “a great run.”
On his final day at the station, a steady stream of staffers wished
Mussoni the best, the day after he announced his departure to the staff.
Before Fox, Mussoni was the assignment manager at Channel 10.
He said that he is going to take the summer off to consider his options,
noting that the timing isn’t right to apply for the KYW-3 news director
position that has been open since Melissa Klinzing left at the end of May.
Meanwhile, Fox-Philadelphia will continue to make changes that began with
replacing eight-year weatherman Frank Cariello with Rich Guarino at the
beginning of the year. Hoping for a
“solid 6 rating,” Lamay said Fox-Philadelphia wants to become a more
aggressive news operation, but doesn’t want to radically change things. “For
the longest time, it was WPVI and everybody else.
That situation is ending. Our
goal is to get closer to 6 and 10.”
Some of the biggest stars in America will be in town July 4th to participate in “Independence Day 2001” on ABC at 10 PM. Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg, Catherine Zeta Jones, Edward Norton, Kathy Bates and Kevin Spacey will read from the Declaration of Independence in the live special hosted by Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer. Garth Brooks, Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott, and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops will provide the musical entertainment.
It’s
New Year’s in July as the Summer Mummers Parade airs on WB17, Saturday, July 7th
at 8 PM. Toni Yates and Steve
Highsmith host.
Captain Noah docks at the 6ABC Studio Store in the Plaza of the King of Prussia Mall July 14th from noon to 2 PM. The host of the popular Channel 6 children’s show “Captain Noah and His Magical Ark” retired after a 27 year run in 1994. He now writes children’s books.
Yardley’s Lisa Mishler of NBC10 returns to weekend anchoring July 7th. Mishler gave birth to baby daughter Alexis, on May 7th. Alexis will have a newsroom playmate in a few months, as NBC10 reporter Dawn Timmeney is expecting a baby.
Hugh
Douglas of the Eagles guest-starred on HBO’s “Arliss” June 17th.
Robert Wuhl plays a sports agent in the sitcom that features guest
appearances by professional athletes each week.
Douglas has experience in front of the camera as a player-reporter for
Fox-Philadelphia’s Eagles coverage. The
Pro-Bowler is entering his seventh season in the NFL and fourth with the Eagles.
Laura
Nachman can be reached through her web site “Brady Residence,” www.geocities.com/bradylady