Houston.BloggersPub

NBC 5 KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth has named Scott Friedman as its early morning anchor reports Uncle Barky. He'll anchor with Gracie Award Deborah Ferguson.

Friedman replaces former anchor Brendan Higgins who left KXAS in January.

Scott Friedman NBC5 KXAS bio

RELATED
- KXAS 5 morning anchor Brendan Higgins exits
- Deborah Ferguson of NBC 5 KXAS wins Gracie Award

I was invited to preview the new Sony 3D TV and totally jumped at the chance. It was a cool experience but different than what I expected.

The new 3D televisions do not work like the 3D movies of the 1980s. Yes both require you to wear glasses (more on that later) but you are not going to feel like objects are constantly jumping out at you - instead it feels more like an extra dimension has been added to the screen.

When I told Larry Harrison, the manager of the Sony Style store in the Houston Galleria, that watching the TV was like looking through a window - he said that was a good way to put it.

MORE AFTER VIDEO





The demo I was watching was playing from a Sony PlayStation 3. Not surprising that the video game part of the demonstration was one of the best looking parts in my opinion. PS3 users will reportedly receive a firmware update this summer to start the 3D game play (3D TV required). And much like standard HDTV, sports really jumped out too. That extra dimension was definitely present in the soccer game footage. I had to laugh when 3D demo footage of Wheel of Fortune appeared on screen. Finally Vanna White could be separated from the wall of letters thanks to 3D technology (there could be riots at nursing homes).

When I walked up to set, which was a BRAVIA XBR-52LX900 for those keeping score, you can tell it's a 3D signal immediately because the screen does look slightly distorted. I put on the glasses and asked if it mattered if I was standing or sitting in front of the set. Harrison said either way works with this set. I sat down and looked up at the TV for the demonstration. He said that the TV will seamlessly switch between 3D and non-3D.

The 3D glasses do not look like the standard cardboard set with a red and blue lens that we are used to. The modern version is sleeker and black. Harrison says the sets will most likely come with a pair of glasses. Additional glasses will probably cost around $50. They will have a lithium ion battery inside that lasts for 120 hours of viewing and then will need to be charged. I am one of the few people in the world that has not seen Avatar (I like to think of myself as a counter culture hero), but I imagine these are the same type of shades.

If you are still reading this far, then you will probably want to know that the Sony BRAVIA XBR-52LX900 is 52 inches, 1080p, has Motion Flow technology with a 240 hertz refresh rate. According to the press release I received, the TV has Sony's Edge LED backlight which is designed to deliver "deep blacks and brilliant whites." I totally did not notice! Guess the 3D had my total attention.

If 3D isn't enough for you, the set also comes with Wi-Fi so you can watch shows over the Internet and add new functions with online widgets.

The 52 inch Sony BRAVIA XBR-52LX900 will reportedly come out in late June/early July of 2010 and could cost anywhere from $3,500 to $4,000. There will be two other models that are 3D capable. The HX900 and HX800-series will be able to become 3D capable using Sony 3D active shutter glasses and 3D transmitter (each sold separately).

You don't have to take my word for it. Each Sony Style store across the US supposedly has a model you can go view for yourself. Just don't get too excited when Vanna shows up on screen in total 3D glory.

sony.net/united/3D
sonystyle.com/retail
sony.com/bravia

(Thanks to Petri Darby)

I told you a few days ago how the winners of the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters 2009-2010 Television Contest were announced. KHOU 11 lets us know it won 23 awards in the competition.

Of the 23 awards won by KHOU, ten were first place honors, giving the 11 News team the most total awards won and most first place awards won by any large market television station in Texas.

Best Weathercast
First Place: KHOU, Houston- Gene Norman, Aired 5 p.m. 9-25-09

Best News Anchor/Team
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Christine Haas

Best Spot Coverage/Station
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - April Flood

Best Spot Story/Individual
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Leo Gonzalez & Tom Empey, Fire Trucks Collide
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Jeff McShan & Greg Hamilton, Subway Robber

Best Feature/Serious
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Jeremy Rogalski, Keith Tomshe & David Raziq, Soldiers at Risk - Iraq Water Investigation

Best Feature/Light
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Ernesto Torres & Chris Desmond, Rescue Me

Best Investigative
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Mark Greenblatt, David Raziq & Keith Tomshe, Under Fire: Discrimination & Corruption in the Texas Army National Guard

Best Photojournalism/Station
First Place: KHOU, Houston

Best Photojournalism/Individual
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Todd Rogenthien

Best Sports Story
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Daniel Gotera, Winning One for LZ
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - Len Cannon & Chris Desmond, Wrestling School

Best Documentary
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Mark Greenblatt, Keith Tomshe & David Raziq, Under Fire: Discrimination & Corruption in the Texas Army National Guard

Best Specialty/Beat Reporting
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Christine Haas, Brad Woodard &Todd Rogenthien, Soldier Stories
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Alex Sanz, Harris County Government

Best Reporter
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Brad Woodard
Honorable Mention: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece

Best General Assignment
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Brad Woodard, Frank McBride & Guy Tubbs, American Icon Abandoned

Best Continuing Coverage
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Kevin Reece, Chris Desmond & Ernesto Torres, Rescue Me

Best Deadline Editing
Second Place: KHOU, Houston - Ernesto Torres, Galveston Trees

Best Feature Editing
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Todd Rogenthien, Hearts for Hunter

Best Online/Special Content
First Place: KHOU, Houston - Houston Snow

Best Morning Newscast
2nd Place: KHOU, Houston - Aired 6-10-09

RELATED
- KENS 5 wins 20 awards, including 'best newscast' from Texas AP Broadcasters
- Mike McGuff wins at TAPB 2008-2009

KENS 5 in San Antonio is adding a newscast to its weekday rotation:

KENS-TV announced Thursday morning that it will be adding a local 4 p.m. weekday newscast to its lineup starting in August.
The new broadcast, which will be called "Eyewitness News -- First at 4 p.m.," will be anchored by Deborah Knapp. Bill Taylor will be the meteorologist.
"I'm proud to be able to add a local newscast that will serve the San Antonio community and will be the first local news at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday," said KENS 5 President and General Manager Bob McGann.
The station will hire several new positions to support the new 4 p.m. show, which will go on the air Aug. 2, McGann said in an announcement letter to KENS staff members. READ MORE

Lots of leadership changes at KTVT 11 and KTXA 21 in Dallas - Fort Worth, but it looks like the final touches have been put on the management group there (follow the saga in the Related Links section below). Leneli Liggayu of Broadcasting and Cable reports Adrienne Roark has been named Vice President and News Director of the CBS owned stations:

She was news director for WFOR-TV and WBFS-TV in Miami-Fort Lauderdale area before joining the Dallas stations. She has also worked for five other stations: WTVJ-TV in Miami, WESH-TV in Orlando, WKYC-TV in Cleveland, and WCMH-TV and WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. Along with being a graduate of The Ohio State University, she is a two-time Emmy winner and received regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2008 and 2009. READ THE REST

Meanwhile The Dallas Observer starting doing some digging and found that Roark is a "Protector of Ethics and Ideals."

Adrienne Roark WFOR-TV bio

RELATED
- CBS 11 KTVT gets new man in charge
- KTVT news director Scott Diener now at KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles
- DFW's KTVT boss moves to LA's KCBS
- KTVT general manager Steve Mauldin aims to make CBS 11 number 1

Just when you thought life couldn't get any better, we learn that NBC is producing a live version of Access Hollywood called Access Hollywood Live (who would have guessed?).

According to B and C the show will be broadcast live and will feature in-studio guests, a cast of regular contributors to be announced and segments on fashion and design.

In Texas you'll be able to watch it on Fox 26 KRIV in Houston and Fox 4 KDFW in Dallas/Fort Worth this Fall. Interesting how Access Hollywood is an NBC show that I thought was developed for its stations. KXAS 5 in Dallas is owned by NBC, but this show is airing on Fox owned KDFW.

(Thanks Murdock)

Summer is quickly approaching and I am sure there are students out there wondering where they should do the all important internship. I interned at KTRK 13 as a youngster and ended up getting a job there so it does work. But where to begin?

A new site aptly called internships.com has just launched that helps you sort it all out. It actually works on different levels:

Employers
Post internships, Search for candidates, Manage your listings, Manage your interns and internship program

Interns
Identify the type of internship that meets your goals with the Internship Predictor, Build your resume, Learn how to be effective in an interview and how to dress for success, Search for internships

Higher Education
Post internship opportunities that are exclusive to your students, Customize and send materials about your students to prospective employers, Review and track the success of your student interns

I scanned around and found internship listings for MTV, ABC, NBC...etc, but it is not just a media site. If you type in Houston as the location, you will see listings for The Chronicle, NASA, Aeros, Dynamo...etc.


RELATED
- Rapping to be a Colbert Report intern
- More on interning in television

Margaret Downing posted on Hair Balls a few weeks ago how HISD is starting an Internet radio station for parents and students. I totally forgot to post this and now it is showing up all over the place.

Interesting concept.

I am more interested in Pat Fant, the man behind the new station. I've been blogging about Fant for years. He was one of the driving forces behind Rock 101 KLOL in its glory years. He then packed up and started 94.5 KTBZ The Buzz in the early 90s which was an amazing alternative station when it first signed on. He also tried to bring the KLOL spirit back with Rock 103.7 KIOL. That didn't work, but I am not sure he was the reason for the failure.

We should watch what he does this time.

And speaking of Rock 101 KLOL, I talked about putting together a DJ reunion, but Lanny Griffith suggested a better idea. A documentary. I have already been offered a great amount of material about the former rock station. It's the money that is the hard part. I would want to hire professional TV folks to help me like I did for the Mayor Annise Parker social media interview I recently conducted. A 15 minute interview is one thing, an entire documentary will cost a bit more. My 30 minute TV specials have been Emmy nominated so I can do this.  Know anyone who wants to sponsor something like this?

Pat Fant would be someone I would want to interview for sure - he along with Stevens and Pruett and gang, Outlaw Dave, Dayna Steele, Wendy Miller, Lanny Griffith and anyone else I could find.

I can't begin to tell you how many people come to my blog looking for news on Sam Malone (formerly of 104.1 KRBE, Mix 96.5 KHMX, 740 KTRH). This has gotten bigger as Maria Todd returned to Mix 96.5.

Malone has been filling in on 700 KSEV here and there but he has a bio on the station's Web site and a more apparent permanent presence now. He is on the 4 to 6pm slot that is labeled as Dan Patrick's show on KSEVradio.com.

I was supposed to interview Malone via telephone Monday but my voice is totally gone. Instead I am waiting on email questions.

I believe he is on again from 4 to 6pm on 700 KSEV today.




RELATED
- Maria Todd and Brad Booker team up for Mix 96.5 KHMX mornings
- Maria Todd on Mix 96.5 KHMX, but where's Sam Malone?
- Sam Malone and Maria Todd still have an audience in Houston
- Is Sam Malone going to 700 KSEV?
- Hear Houston radio's Sam Malone again
- Sam Malone of KRBE, KHMX talks to Mike McGuff