New GM at WFTS? News Director Leaves WUSF-FM; WTSP Finally Gets HD

There's a grab bag of different stories flying through the local media scene already today. I expect to spend a fair amount of time chasing them down this week.

First, local folks are buzzing over news that the general manager of the NBC affiliate in Detroit, Steve Wasserman, is leaving Jan. 18 -- primarily because of rumors he may be headed to Tampa to replace Bill Carey at WFTS-Ch. 28 (shown at left). Carey, loyal blogreaders may recall, was suspended by WFTS owner Scripps-Howard after his arrest in September on charges of auto burglary, battery and hit and run with property damage. It all stems from an incident in which a Lutz woman claims Carey attacked her to retrieve his license after handing it to her following an accident between their two cars. At this point, I have no idea whether this rumor of Wasserman coming is true, but I'll be checking it out in days and weeks to come...

Second, it seems John Sepulvado, news director at local National Public Radio affiliate WUSF-89.7 FM is leaving the building, headed for a new job in Atlanta. He says the departure is his idea, with the hope of doing more long-form reporting at his new gig; WUSF hasn't yet announced a replacement.

Third, WTSP-Ch. 10 announced in ads run during prime time programming Sunday that they will debut high definition local news broadcasts sometime this month. They're a little late in the game -- WFTS and WFLA-Ch. 8 already have HD local newscasts and WFTS even has HD reports from the field. But this is a transition every station will have to make sooner or later, so its good to see WTSP getting it together...

Comments

[Chris]

Now all's they need to do is dump that RIDICULOUS "ABC Action News" branding.

[Jim]

Got an HDTV for Christmas. Glad to see Ch. 10 going HD since I watch them frequently. WFLA seems to be the best but WFTS is the worst, even though they went HD first.