Blotter

Here's a round-up of some recent stories about the local media scene:

WHIO-TV and Cox Radio to Relocate Under One Roof
Cox Media Group will unite WHIO-TV as well as local Cox radio stations — WHIO, WHKO and WZLR — under one roof at the Cox Ohio Publishing Media Center by 2011. The new offices and studios will be located at 1611 South Main Street.

WLWT's Eric Green to KOAT
More changes in the weather at WLWT this week as chief meteorologist Kevin Robinson gets ready to debut on News 5 this week. Eric Green, meteorologist at WLWT for three years, is heading to Hearst sister station KOAT to forecast weather the morning weather on Action 7 News. This departure allow Valerie Abati to cover the entire weekend shift beginning this coming weekend. Randi Rico will continue on mornings as previously reported.

Layoffs at WDTN
WDTN is letting four staff members go as a result of the economy. Station veteran Sharon Howard, director of community and public relations, was one of the victims.

Carl Day back on Dayton TV
Veteran Dayton broadcaster Carl Day is going back to his broadcast roots as he prepares to launch commentaries on WKEF and WRGT, just in time for birthday number 72. The commentaries will air twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Sinclair duopoly.

Anchor Changes at WKRC

It's official - Cammy Dierking and Kit Andrews are switching places at WKRC. Here is the new weekday anchor line-up at Local 12:

Good Morning Cincinnati: John Lomax and Liz Bonis
Local 12 at Noon: John Lomax and Kit Andrews
Local 12 First at Four: Kit Andrews
Local 12 at 5: Rob Braun and Cammy Dierking
Local 12 at 5:30: Dave Burchell and Kit Andrews
Local 12 at 6: Rob Braun and Cammy Dierking
Local 12 at 10 on CinCW: Dave Burchell
Local 12 at 11: Rob Braun and Cammy Dierking

According to WKRC president and general manager Les Vann, the move was made because Andrews expressed an interest in a lifestyle change. The move also will allow Andrews to work on additional projects.

Blotter

Broo has Heart Attack
If you caught Ken Broo and George Vogel on 700WLW today from 12-3, you probably heard why Broo has been absent for several days from both News 5 and 700WLW. Just days after eye surgery and what Broo referred to as "his best day in the studio in years" due to his new and improved vision, he suffered a heart attack on Christmas Eve day. He caught the heart attack early, and little damage was done. Just a year ago, WLWT sports anchor George Vogel experienced similar heart problems.

Rico Inks Three Year Deal
Sources inside WLWT are telling us that News 5 Meteorologist has inked a three year deal with the station to continue doing weekday morning weathercasts. With the arrival of new chief meteorologist Kevin Robinson, questions still remain as to what will happen with Valerie Abati and Eric Green's placement on the WLWT weather roster.

WLWT Hires New Chief

A former Cincinnatian and Princeton High School graduate is about to take the reigns as WLWT's Chief Meteorologist. Kevin Robinson will hit the Cincinnati airwaves on January 11th. Robinson comes to Cincinnati from The Weather Channel, where he has served as a meteorologist on Evening Edition. Prior to working at the Weather Channel, Robinson worked at Hearst-owned WAPT. WLWT plans to make announcements on the redeployment of its weather staff in the coming weeks.

Cincinnati Ratings Round-Up

There were some surprises in Cincinnati's local news race during November sweeps. Most notably, WLWT saw audience growth, despite being a struggling NBC affiliate. WLWT was the only tri-state station to see growth in the evening news block (5-6:30) and they also saw increased numbers at 11. However, this was not enough to get them out of third place. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that WLWT's number bump could be coming from a couple places. The first variable is the revamped anchor team of Jack Atherton and Sheree Paolello is catching on in the tri-state, while the other variable is WLWT's 5PM lead-in, Judge Judy, saw a ratings increase of 30%, while WCPO's Oprah lead-in saw a 17% decrease.

Here are a look at the general ratings trends:
Early Mornings (5-7a): 1st: WKRC; 2nd: WCPO; 3rd: WLWT; 4th: WXIX
Mornings (7-9a): 1st: Good Morning America; 2nd: Today; 3rd: FOX 19 Morning News; 4th: The Early Show
Evenings (5-6:30p): 1st: WCPO; 2nd: WKRC; 3rd: WLWT
Late News (10 or 11p): 1st: WKRC; 2nd: WCPO; 3rd: WXIX; 4th: WLWT

Anchor Leaving WDTN

From the "Old News" file, WDTN anchor Libby Kirsch will be leaving the station and heading to Southeastern Michigan. Kirsch's husband, Tom Wamsley, recently took a job at the University of Michigan and both will be moving to Ann Arbor. Kirsch has been a fixture at WDTN since 2002, when she joined the station as a general assignment reporter. She also has served as the station's weekend anchor and morning anchor before becoming the anchor of 2 News at 5:30.

Ali Not Returning to WLWT

Announced Wednesday, WLWT anchor Sandra Ali will not be returning to the station following her maternity leave after her five years with the station. According to WLWT general manager Richard Dyer, "After 5 years with WLWT, Sandra Ali has decided, with the recent birth of her first child, to take this rare opportunity as a first time mom to focus on her family beyond her official maternity leave period and then move on to another opportunity that you will hear about soon."

Ali arrived at WLWT in 2004 from the FOX affiliate in Detroit where she had been a weekend anchor and reporter. She replaced Anne Marie Tiernon as one of WLWT's primary anchors. She and husband Shawn Ley of WKRC had their first child this past summer.

Where Are They Now?

Former WHIO-TV morning meteorologist Jeff Porter has resurfaced in Western Michigan. Porter is now the morning and noon meteorologist at WWMT, the CBS affiliate in Kalamazoo.

WCPO Launches New Look

If you caught 9 News this evening, things probably looked and sounded a little different. That's because the station launched new graphics and music in preparation for sweeps. The graphics are part of the Scripps corporate package. Similar graphics can be seen at other ABC affiliates owned by Scripps, such as WFTS in Tampa where the Scripps graphics hub is actually based. Do you like the new look? Do you think it fits WCPO's image?

Blotter

Atherton to Start at WLWT
One of the worst-kept secrets in Cincinnati television is about to hit the airwaves, as Jack Atherton takes the anchor chair this coming Monday at WLWT. Atherton departed WXIX this past winter after being the anchor of the FOX19 Ten O'Clock News since 1993. Expect to see Atherton anchoring News 5 at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11 alongside Sheree Paolello until Sandra Ali returns from maternity leave. News director Stacey Owen also told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Atherton may stop and say hello on News 5 Today this week.

Where Are They Now?
If you were watching WDTN, you may have seen former WHIO reporter and HighQ host Randy McIlwain in a syndicated about homeless veterans. If you were curious, tipster H D let us know that McIlwain is now a repoter at the NBC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Also, former WHIO news director Julie Weindel is now the news director at KBCI, the CBS affiliate in Boise. Thanks to tipster Donald, who let us know that Weindel is KBCI's sixth news director in seven years at the Fisher-owned station.