Media Buzz: Channel 12 Reporter Goes Home, Changes at Coast 93.3, ABC-6 Revolving Door, and More

Media Buzz: Channel 12 Reporter Goes Home, Changes at Coast 93.3, ABC-6 Revolving Door, and More

Coast 93.3 makes a switch in one of the most important time periods of the day. Morning drive had been with legendary KISS-108 morning man Matt Siegal who syndicated his Boston show so it was heard here on Coast. Now, Matty is gone from the 6am to 10am line-up and Toby Knapp is his replacement. Knapp's show is live not syndicated which is a good thing for the local radio scene - anytime live talent comes back it is a good thing for listeners. No word on why Siegal's show was taken off the air.

ABC 6 - More Changes

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ABC-6 and News Director Dan Fabrizio have parted ways. With the new ownership not much of a surprise that the station would have a change in that his spot. Fabrizio had worked with former GM Steve Doerr at the station and unlike a lot of news directors out there, Fabrizio was actually a reporter at one time and could have a real sense of news content. The station has put Shahnee Lagor in the chair. Part of her career was working at Channel 10 as an associate producer and then from there she become the 4pm news producer at Channel 6 and most recently was the 11pm newscast producer at 6. Station insiders question if she is the right choice given her limited experience. Questions to Channel 6 about Lagor's experience and plan for the 3rd place station were not immediately answered.

Late Night

Ever wonder who wins late night TV around here ? We often tell you which station wins the weeknight news ratings race - but as one avid GoLocal reader asked - why not shed some light on some other programming. Ok - here it is. For the last major ratings period, the clear winner of late night comedy is Jay Leno on Channel 10. He measured a 3.74 rating (each rating point represents about 6,200 housholds), David Letterman on Channel 12 not so much a close second with a 2.28 rating. And ABC's Nightline show comes in 3rd with a 1.85 rating. To give that some perspective, and to show how things have changed for that show since Ted Koppel left, the show Family Guy is not far behind Nightline with a 1.12 rating.

WPRI and HD - Trailing 10 and 6

Station insiders at Channel 12 tell me the race is on to get to HD as soon as possible. A lot of the equipment is in and in the process of being installed. Channel 10 was first to go HD but apparently Channel 12 will be the first station in the market to have HD cameras in the field.

Also word from Channel 12 is that reporter Alex DiPrato has scored himself a gig at WSVN in Miami. It is good news for him because he is a native of Florida and actually worked at WSVN as a writer early in his career. DiPrato started in March of 2008 at Channel 12.

Churchville Update

This is the last week of work for Channel 10 VP & General Manager Lisa Churchville. As GM's go in this town and many other places, she had a great run with the station. Churchville says her next move is still not planned but what is clear she'll take the summer off to relax a bit. No word yet on who Media General, who owns Channel 10, will put in her spot as a replacement.

Speaking of Channel 10 - a bit of history has now made its way over to Rhode Island College. The former set from Channel 10 was donated by the station when 10 switched to HD and put in a new set. Students at "Anchor TV" will have a real live set to work with. RIC's Director of News and Public Relations, Jane Fusco, says the set and other equipment is in the process of being put together and should be ready for the students to use in September. Many of the station's anchors reporters signed the anchor desk for the students as a sign of good luck which is neat. This is the same anchor desk Channel 10 legend Doug White and other greats used for so many years.