Welcome Aboard...

This will be the place for tidbits, posts, thoughts and comments on the Philadelphia media scene..."PHILLYmediaWATCH" as we call it! WELCOME ABOARD! Let's get started.

*Former CBS-3 anchor Tom Negovan and current Chicago noon anchor of WGN News at Noon looses his anchor gig when the station expands the newscast to 90 minutes beginning at 11:30 a.m. -- and -- brings on new talent -- replacing Negovan. Now what would you think if Negovan were to return to Philadelphia to anchor alongside Angela Russell on the 4 p.m. broadcast?

*Dan Gross of The Philadelphia Daily News reports former CBS-3 reporter Brandy Bell is now working for Philly.com doing video web reports.

*Vince DeMentri, anchor at NBC-10 continues to be missing from the newscasts. Local media reported last week about an incident that occurred at the station concerning a vehicle owned by morning anchor Lori Delgado being "keyed" and police investigating DeMentri concerning the incident. DeMentri was on a scheduled vacation last week and due to return Monday July15th--to no avail. On Tuesday's 10 p.m. "My PHL-17 News at Ten" broadcast--the newscast was missing co-anchor DeMentri and no mention made of his disappearance. Usually, if a co-anchor is out it will be made mention such as "Vince DeMentri is off tonight". No such reference was made. Does this mean DeMentri is on suspension or has been terminated? No one is talking at the station. Stay tuned.

*If you're a viewer of "FOX-29 News at Ten" you know that Kerri-Lee Halket has been the "sub" for the departed David Huddleston. There have been many who wonder if Kerri-Lee might not be the actual *replacement* for Huddleston as they phase out Dawn Stensland for the new co-anchor yet to be decided? Many also wonder if Stensland's days are numbered? Several weeks back, management met with a former South Florida well-known news anchor for the opening on the "ten o'clock". Could THAT be the actual open spot yet to be filled...i.e. the "Stensland seat" versus the "Huddleston seat"? Time will tell!

*In other Fox-29 news--look for the station to add a six o'clock and eleven o'clock newscast as early as January '09...later in '09 -- a weekend edition of "Good Day Philadelphia".

*Former Fox-29 anchor Rich Noonan continues to find success in his video production company (Rich Noonan Productions) in Alpharetta Georgia. Alpharetta is 25 miles northeast of Atlanta. Noonan has no intentions, at least anytime soon, to head back to an anchor chair of any television outlet.

*On July 13thAction News' consumer reporter Nydia Han (filling in for Rob Jennings) told viewers a little-known secret about weekday 5 p.m. anchor Rick Williams. Williams played the lead in the Moorestown NJ production of "The King & I". Check out the video here...Williams' is quite the talented actor and singer. His wife and child also played parts in the production as well.

*Rumors have circulated about a possible sale of NBC-10 by parent company G.E. Some say it would never happen in the fourth largest television market. Who knows...no one at G.E. or NBC-10 will confirm or deny. However, the Miami Herald reports the NBC-owned station -- WTVJ -- in Miami could very well be sold to the owner of WPLG--channel 10 (Post-Newsweek). And, the sale actually was sealed, as reported on WPLG's website. It's no secret G.E. has been on huge cost-cutting measures at all of its 13 owned stations, including here in Philadelphia at NBC-10. The station is the last to go HD in this market. Even Allentown's WFMZ broadcast "69 News" just recently debuted their HD newscasts! Personally, channel 10 should be embarrased!