People
Gray ABC affiliate WBAY-TV/2 (Green Bay) provided an update on anchor Sarah Thomsen, who is recovering from a concussion suffered in a car crash in May. The station reports that Thomsen continues daily therapy sessions and is determined to overcome the injuries.
Sports anchor/reporter Taylor Budge announced her impending departure from Forum ABC affiliate WDAY-TV/6.1 (Fargo). She has not yet announced her next step.
Fargo, thank you. The last two and a half years have meant the world. pic.twitter.com/wyK4NHle8N
— Taylor Budge (@Taylor_Budge) September 14, 2022
Stations
The Star Tribune reported that the Bois Forte Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has again extended the shutdown date of WELY-FM/94.5 (Ely) and WELY/1450 (Ely) as talks continue with prospective buyers.
Gray TV’s KBJR-TV (Superior-Duluth) has launched a new morning newscast combining the staffs of previous competing newscasts on its NBC and CBS channels, which have shared a newsroom since 2007. The combination allows the station to add live field reporting in the morning, a service not previously offered by Duluth TV stations on a daily basis.
Here it is! The new crew on @KBJR6news @CBS3Duluth mornings! We are so excited to be waking up with you and sharing the news you need to know for the day ☀️ we hope you’ll join us! pic.twitter.com/qRIBjiuy1Q
— Natalie Grant (@naniigrant) September 5, 2022
The Changing Newscasts blog notes that Nexstar My Network TV station WJMN-TV/3.1 (Escanaba-Marquette) has dropped its weekend newscasts.
My Central Valley LLC’s new station in Duluth, KMYN-LD, is carrying Buzzr on channel 32.6 with no other channels.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Scripps’ WTMJ-TV (Milwaukee) will add QVC and ShopLC on channels 4.6 and 4.7 next month. Laff will move from 4.6 to 4.4 and Court TV will be seen only on channel 55.3 of Scripps’ WPXE (Kenosha-Milwaukee).
Regulatory issues
Politico and other news outlets reported that Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) temporarily withdrew her Journalism Competition and Preservation Act after Republicans inserted provisions that Klobuchar objected to. The bill would allow news outlets to collectively bargain with tech companies to receive payment for the use of their content. Currently, most news outlets receive no compensation for the use of their content on Facebook, Google, and other platforms.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) again introduced the Go Pack Go Act, which would change federal regulations to require cable and satellite providers to import Wisconsin stations into 13 counties that are part of the Minneapolis, Duluth, or Marquette markets. The concern is primarily driven by several Green Bay Packers games each season that are not seen on Minneapolis or Duluth stations (see the 2019 article for more background). Various similar proposals have failed to pass.
RELATED: How TV markets are assigned
In case you missed it here:
- Civic Media Adds Several NW Wis. Stations for Liberal Talk Network
- New Newscasts in Bismarck, Madison, Rochester, Wausau
- Subarctic Upgrades Mankato Classic Hits Format, Moves Country
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