The Director's Cut Makes Its "Must See" Picks for the 2010 Winter Olympics on NBC and WKYC

The Director's Cut blog has put together a "Must See TV" list of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games you will want to catch. The Olympics kick off Friday night, February 12th on WKYC and NBC.

And don't forget to join us for the Olympic Zone with Jim Donovan every weeknight during the games beginning Monday, February 15th at 7:30 p.m.

Click on the graphic below to save and print a Adobe Acrobat .pdf file:

Preview: "The Fusion Center - Tom Meyer Investigates" - Monday at 11

Ever heard of The Fusion Center? You might want to, because it's costing local taxpayers millions of dollars. Monday at 11 PM.

Click on the video to watch:

<

Behind the Scenes: WKYC Staffers Get a Little Sugar to Kick Off February Sweeps

This afternoon, our News Director Rita Andolsen gave us a little sugar... No, not that kind...but delicious dessert to help us kick off February sweeps which started Thursday.

Assistant News Director Howard Fencl had the hidden camera rolling and snapped a few shots of the staff.

Unfortunately, he forgot to take a picture of the dessert.

Click on the photo for several more pictures from our WKYC Facebook page.

(Your blogger is the guy in the middle waiting for the speech to be over so we could get right to the sweet treats.)

WKYC Production Assistant Ashley Glaze Heads to Haiti To Volunteer, Provide Reports to Channel 3 News

WKYC production assistant Ashley Glaze took some time off to volunteer in Haiti with her church group to help the victims of the recent, devastating earthquake.

While she is in Haiti, she will be filing reports for Channel 3 News including flipcam video and photographs from her first person account.

She'll file reports as often as she has internet connectivity, which is sparse at times, in the still recovering nation.

We invite you to follow Ashley's on scene work and ask you continue to keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers.

Here's a link to her first set of pictures we have received: http://bit.ly/dzpkzf

For her on scene report: http://bit.ly/cj7ZSV

Notes From the Newsroom: 2/4/10

By Frank Macek

Time for another edition of "Notes from the Newsroom" as we blog from the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center about what's going on behind the scenes at Channel 3.

The Olympics are getting close and Channel 3 is pysched up for the big event which features 15 sports, 86 medal events and 2,500 athletes all competing on the world stage.

WKYC and WKYC.com will have complete coverage including:

*Opening Ceremonies - February 12th at 7:30 p.m.
*Olympic Zone w/Jim Donovan - Feb. 15th -19th & Feb. 22nd - 26th at 7:30 p.m. on WKYC
*Olympic Coverage on NBC & WKYC - February 15th through February 28th
*Olympic Zone on WKYC.COM (www.nbcolympics.com/wkyc)
*Olympic Zone Weather for Vancouver on WKYC.COM
*Closing Ceremonies - February 28th at 7:00 p.m.

Something new and fresh is coming to Channel 3 News. We can't quite tell you yet what it is. But, we have spotted painters, carpenters, electricians, designers, lighting technicians and artists all working in the studio round the clock lately. Keep watching to see what's coming this February.

Yes, it's sweeps. Today is the first day of February Sweeps which run through March 3rd. Channel 3 News has a great bunch of reports to bring you on stories that matter to you. It's real news you can use.

January was a great sweeps month for Channel 3 and WKYC. Channel 3 News was #1 at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. In fact our morning show with Mark Nolan and Hollie Strano is up 37% in adults since last January. NBC's Today Show continues to dominate the morning network shows. Rachel, Ellen and Dr. Phil are all #1 in the key demographic for women. (In fact, Ellen even beat Oprah.) Channel 3 News at 6 & 11 PM with Romona Robinson were both clear choices for local evening news - even with NBC's primetime ratings down significantly. And, our weekend morning news remains #1 on Saturday and Sunday morning anchored by Kim Wheeler.

Don't forget if you haven't joined us on Facebook yet, please become of friend of Channel 3 News and Channel 3 Weather. We have special on-line ncontent just for our Facebook friends including your chance to be our Facebook Friend of the Day, daily behind the scenes promos, sneak peeks at NBC shows, a daily programming guide of what's on Channel 3 and much more.

• Click to become a Facebook Friend of Channel 3 News
• Click to become a Facebook Friend of Channel 3 News
• Click to become a Twitter Follower of Channel 3 News
• Click to become a Twitter Follower of Channel 3 Weather

Gannett Names Gracia Martore as President and Chief Operating Officer

Editor's Note: The following is news regarding WKYC parent company, Gannett.

McLEAN, Virginia -- Gracia C. Martore has been named president and chief operating officer of Gannett Co, Inc., Craig A. Dubow, chairman and chief executive officer, announced Monday.

Martore, who was most recently Gannett's executive vice president and chief financial officer, will continue to serve as CFO until a new CFO is appointed. She will continue to report to Dubow.

"Gracia is an outstanding leader and business executive," Dubow said. "She has made enormous contributions to Gannett during her many years here and most recently as our CFO and executive vice president. She has tremendous financial skills and extensive knowledge of our business operations. She's earned this opportunity and I couldn't be more pleased that she will serve as our president and COO."

"Craig has brought new vision and direction to our company. As the economy continues to move ahead, we look forward to furthering the many changes under way and setting the course for what our company will look like in the years to come.

This move will allow Craig to concentrate on Gannett's long-term strategic planning while Gracia manages the day-to-day operations of the business. Craig and Gracia have been exceptional leaders for Gannett and work in tandem as an outstanding team," said Karen Hastie Williams, Gannett's presiding director.

Martore joined Gannett in 1985 as assistant treasurer. She was named vice president/Treasury services in 1993. She was given responsibility for Investor Relations in 1996, became treasurer and vice president/Investor Relations in 1998 and was named a senior vice president in 2001. She became chief financial officer in 2003 and was named executive vice president in 2006.

Martore is a native of Boston and graduate of Wellesley College where she was a Wellesley Scholar. Prior to Gannett, she worked for 12 years in the banking industry.

Director's Cut TV Tech Center: Hi-Tech 360-degree Camera Used To Survey Damage In Haiti

Special to the Director's Cut Blog
By Joe Smith

We've been seeing horrible images of devastation out of Haiti for the past several weeks. Now a new high-tech camera is giving the world a 360 degree view of the devastation.

"It's immersive because it gets everything," says Immersive Media's co-founder David McCutchen. He envisioned the camera while working in special effects.

First there was a black and white attempt, and then came color. McCutchen took a cue from everything spherical. "This shape a dodecahedron it's called. It's the most efficient way to divide a sphere optically," McCutchen explains.

The camera is made of 11 lenses that capture full motion video. Cameraman Craig Adkins had to learn a new way of shooting. "The world of 360 is a completely new way to perceive the world. You tend to always want to be panning," he explains. "Everything happens around you and you want to pan with it. It's really tough to teach yourself to just stand there and realize you're getting things at all times."

The video signals are recorded on to the backpack hard drives. It's then edited and put on the web. "All eleven lenses have come together to make this one cohesive piece in world view," explains editor Eve Hansen.

The camera has been used worldwide from jumping out of a plane to President Obama's Inauguration to the Grand Canyon to Africa, Baghdad, Afghanistan, and now Haiti.

"They want to get a very good mapping of the entire city. So they're able to compare it against pre-destruction, post-destruction," says Chief Marketing Officer Larry Logan.

Originally, the camera was intended for entertainment and advertising. It was the first to do map surveys for Google. Now the company is shooting a 360 video for Mapquest, but it's the video in Haiti that's giving the company a new view from within.

Immersive Media will be in Haiti for at least the next 30 days. It's offering its cameras and sharing the data gratis.

The 360 view camera will be used on the upcoming Grammy Awards and also NBC wants to use one at the Olympics.

From the Wires: About 48 million Watch Obama's State of the Union

LOS ANGELES -- About 48 million viewers watched President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address on 11 networks, with Fox TV drawing the biggest share.

The Nielsen Co. said viewership for Wednesday's speech was 7 percent lower than for President George W. Bush's first such address in 2002 but 5 percent higher than for President Bill Clinton's inaugural State of the Union speech in 1994.

From 9-10 p.m. EST, more than 9.7 million people watched the hour-plus speech on Fox, with ABC drawing 7.6 million viewers, NBC 7.2 million and CBS 6.2 million, according to preliminary Nielsen figures Thursday. Those early numbers don't reflect West Coast viewership of the speech that aired at 5 p.m. PST.

Among the cable news networks, Fox News was the leader with 5.7 million, followed by CNN with 3.3 million and MSNBC with 2.4 million. The speech also was carried live on Telemundo, Univision, BET and CNBC.

---
Source: The Associated Press

From the Wires: Jay Leno Says He Hasn't Spoken To Conan O'Brien

CHICAGO -- Jay Leno tells Oprah Winfrey that he hasn't spoken to Conan O'Brien throughout the recent contentious negotiations over "The Tonight Show."

In quotes provided Wednesday by Harpo Productions, Leno tells Winfrey that "it didn't seem appropriate" to speak to O'Brien.

But Leno says the two comedians might talk when "things cool down."

NBC unseated O'Brien and moved Leno back to the program he hosted for 17 years. Leno is scheduled to return to "Tonight" on March 1.

In a video previewing "The Oprah Winfrey Show" interview, Leno says: "This whole thing was a huge mess."

Leno's interview is slated to air Thursday. Harpo Productions made an offer for O'Brien to appear on her show, but it hasn't been confirmed.

Here's a Director's Cut Blog preview:


---
Story Source: The Associated Press
Video Courtesy: Harpo Productions

From the Wires: Gone From 'Tonight,' Conan O'Brien Still Produces for NBC

NEW YORK -- NBC says it has a deal with Conan O'Brien to produce a possible series, only days after his rancorous exit as host of the network's "Tonight Show."

NBC is picking up a pilot from O'Brien's production company, Conaco. The drama, as yet untitled, focuses on a Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to start his own practice.

Casting has yet to be announced for the pilot, which is bucking for a series slot on NBC's fall schedule.

Despite O'Brien's recent split from NBC as an on-camera star, he retains a development deal with the network.

Past series produced by Conaco include the comedy "Andy Barker, P.I.," which featured O'Brien's longtime talk-show sidekick Andy Richter.

---
Source: The Associated Press

The Director's Cut Celebrates Its 3rd Anniversary

Hard to believe it has been 3 years this month since we launched the Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek.

We are proud of our accomplishments and grateful to you, our readers, for following what goes on here at the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center.

Our readership has ballooned over the past 3 years as our blog has exceeded a half million views.

So, thanks for celebrating with us as we begin year 4 on the Director's Cut Blog.

Don't forget, your comments and letters are always welcome. You can reach our blogger, Frank Macek, at fmacek@wkyc.com

Now, back to the party! Who brought the champagne?

From the Wires: Upset Winner In Massachusetts Senate Race Headed For Leno

LOS ANGELES -- Scott Brown is going prime time.

The Republican who rocketed to national prominence by winning a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts is scheduled to appear Thursday on "The Jay Leno Show."

NBC spokeswoman Tracy St. Pierre says Brown will do a skit via satellite hookup in which Leno fires off 10 quick questions.

The once little-known state legislator jolted the national political landscape last week by capturing the Senate seat once held by Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.

---
The Associated Press

Director's Cut TV Tech Center: First HDTV, Now 3DTV

By Frank Macek

The digital revolution has not only given us high definition television, but has also opened up the possibility of 3DTV just as fast. If you think HD is good, wait until you see stereoscropic content come alive in your own living room. And, it will all begin THIS year.

Like HDTV, early broadcast adopters will be sports television. ESPN will be credited as the sports leader in the technology when it launches its new 3D network on June 11th.

The sports network will begin with a 3D telecast of the World Cup soccer championship between Mexico and South Africa. By the end of its first year, ESPN plans to offer viewers a target of 85 live events in 3D.

In July, Direct TV will jump on the bandwagon as it teams up with Fox Sports to air a 3D broadcast of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Dallas at the equally high tech, new Cowboys' stadium in Arlington.

And later this year, Discovery will be involved in several productions and concerts as it works with IMAX and Sony in their endeavours that will air on its new 3D channel.

There is good news and bad news for consumers. The bad news is you'll need to buy a new 3DTV set if you wish to take advantage of the new programming being offered. The good news is the cost should be only a few hundred dollars more than today's HDTV sets. This June, TV manufacturer Vizio is expected to jump into the market quickly with a set debuting around $2,000.

In addition to the television itself, you will also need to purchase high tech 3D glasses which are likely to cost extra.

Two different technologies will be available: "active shutter" and "passive shutter." The active technology uses glasses that open and shut lenses in front of your eyes so quickly, the eye can't see it happening.

Be warned. Those who have experienced the technology already are telling us the visual experience is so compelling and realistic, viewers have to guard against motion induced sickness.

Viewers will have a hard time separating television and reality - and that's what broadcasters and advertisers are hoping for in the years to come, as time spent watching tv continues to increase annually.

Behind the Scenes at WKYC: 1/22/10

Ever wonder what goes on "behind the scenes" during a live, Channel 3 News broadcast?

The Director's Cut is excited to finally be able to show you.

Click "Play" and sit back and enjoy the show "behind the scenes."

Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV

Late Night Wars: Download Leno and O'Brien Cut Outs

With the final episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien upon us, we thought we'd join the "fun."

Click here to download a printable version of "The Chin" and "The Hair"

The same link will also take you to the best clips recently of Conan and Jay as they and others react to the late-night war.

It's Official: NBC Announces That Jay Leno Returns To Host of "Tonight", Conan Leaves

UNIVERSAL CITY, California - NBC confirmed today that popular late-night host Jay Leno will return to host "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" from 11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. (ET) beginning March 1, 2010 and that "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" will continue to be broadcast from 12:35-1:35 a.m. (ET). The announcements were made by Jeff Gaspin, Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment.

"We're pleased that Jay is returning to host the franchise that he helmed brilliantly and successfully for many years," said Gaspin. "He is an enormous talent, a consummate professional and one of the hardest-working performers on television."

Leno previously hosted "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" from May 1992-May 2009. The program will continue to showcase many of the features that made Leno America's late-night leader for more than a dozen years.

"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" made its broadcast debut on March 2, 2009 with "Saturday Night Live" alum Fallon as the host of the comedy-talk show. The program serves as a platform for comedy, music and A-list talent out of NBC's Rockefeller Center Studio 6B. Fallon is joined by his house band -- the critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning hip-hop band The Roots. Earlier, Fallon launched his "Late Night" video blog (or "vlog"), giving viewers behind-the-scenes access to his preparation for the show's official launch at www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com.

Fallon joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" in 1998 and quickly became an audience favorite for his impressions of actors and musicians as well as for creating many memorable recurring characters. In 2000, he became co-anchor of the segment "Weekend Update" alongside Tina Fey. Fallon also appeared in the Emmy Award-winning miniseries "Band of Brothers," and his feature films include "Almost Famous," "Taxi" and "Fever Pitch."

In addition, NBC and Conan O'Brien have reached a resolution of the issues surrounding O'Brien's contract to host the "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."

Under terms of an agreement that was signed earlier today, NBC and O'Brien will settle their contractual obligations and the network will release O'Brien from his contract, freeing him to pursue other opportunities after September 1, 2010.

O'Brien will make his final appearance as host of the "Tonight Show" on Friday, January 22nd.

Your Daily Conan Update: Signs Point To Friday Farewell For Conan O'Brien

Special to the Director's Cut
By Lynn Elber, AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Conan O'Brien all but tacked up a farewell banner on this week's "Tonight" shows, even as his exit deal with NBC remained under discussion.

O'Brien's guest lineup for Thursday and Friday had the ring of finality, with several big names, including Robin Williams and Barry Manilow on Thursday.

Tom Hanks was scheduled for Friday, as was Will Ferrell, who was the first guest O'Brien welcomed when he started last June as "Tonight" host.

O'Brien, whose show was scheduled to be in reruns next week, also joked in a monologue about looking forward to history's biggest drinking binge in a few days.
---
Source: The Associated Press

DIRECTOR'S CUT EXTRA: Must See Video: Chinese Animation of NBC Latenight Woes.

WKYC and Indians Announce 2010 Broadcast Schedule

CLEVELAND -- Winter's just started, but the baseball season will be here before you know it. The Indians announced Wednesday their broadcast plans and schedule for the 2010 season.

WKYC-TV, the flagship station of the Indians over-the-air network again this year, will air 20 regular season games. WKYC's sister station, SportsTime Ohio, will air 148 regular season games and simulcast the games aired by WKYC.

April 12 vs TEX 3:05
April 18 vs CWS 1:05
May 2 vs MIN 1:05
May 16 @ BAL 1:35
May 23 vs CIN 1:05
May 28 @ NYY 7:05
June 10 vs BOS 7:05
June 13 vs WAS 1:05
June 15 vs NYM 7:05
June 27 @ CIN 1:10
July 18 vs DET 1:05
July 25 vs TB 1:05
July 29 vs NYY 7:05
August 8 vs MIN 1:05
August 15 vs SEA 1:05
August 22 @ DET 1:05
August 29 vs KC 1:05
September 12 vs MIN 1:05
September 19 @ KC 2:10
October 3 @ CWS 2:05

Click here for the complete 2010 Indians Schedule

Meet The Newest Member of Channel 3 News: Darrielle Snipes

Darrielle Snipes joined the Channel 3 News in January of 2010 and primarily reports for Channel 3 News in the morning.

Before moving back to the Midwest, Darrielle worked as a weekend anchor/reporter at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.

While there, she covered breaking news stories and lots of weather stories.

Darrielle says she saw three tornados and covered a major ice storm that knocked out power to more than 500,000 people.

Darrielle has also worked in Baltimore, Detroit and Indianapolis as a reporter/fill-in anchor. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism.

She grew up in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and spent her summers as a child with relatives in Washington, D.C.

Family members tell Darrielle she told them at the age of 7 she wanted to report the news. So, it is a dream come true to be able to tell stories for a living.

She is excited to be here in Cleveland where she has relatives and a host of friends.

Darrielle is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Be sure to welcome Darrielle to the Channel 3 News family. Her e-mail is darriellesnipes@wkyc.com

You can check out the biographies of all our Channel 3 personalities, including their email addresses and facebook pages at: http://www.wkyc.com/company/bios/default.aspx

Your Daily Conan Update: O'Brien's Staff Is Sticking Point In Talks

Special to the Director's Cut
By Lynn Elber, AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES -- The sticking point in Conan O'Brien's exit negotiations with NBC may involve his TV staff, not Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

A person close to the talks said Tuesday that O'Brien is intent on guaranteeing severance deals for his "Tonight Show" staff and crew and he is dug in on that point. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract talks were intended to be private.

The issue of whether NBC retains rights to familiar O'Brien comedy bits including Triumph or Pimpbot 5000 was undecided Tuesday but not a key issue for O'Brien, whose focus was his staff's welfare, the person said.

The proposed deal could pay more than $30 million to O'Brien to leave NBC and "Tonight," allowing Jay Leno to move back to late night.

WKYC and the Ohio Benefit Bank Team Up for Special Assistance Phone Bank

CLEVELAND -- Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans are eligible for government benefits, but have never applied. In fact, every year nearly $2 billion in benefits and tax credits go unclaimed in the State of Ohio.

That's why WKYC and the Ohio Benefit Bank are teaming up to get you faster access to assistance.

Channel 3 will offer a special phone bank staffed by benefit bank counselors to answer your questions, take your information and help you sign up for any benefits you may qualify for.

The phone bank will be open from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 21st.

Phones numbers will be displayed on Channel 3 News throughout the day.

Read more about the program from WKYC Reporter Dick Russ.

Sneak Peek: What's Ahead in February on WKYC

February's going to be a big month here on WKYC Channel 3.

Enjoy this sneak peek!

Golden Globes shines with TV audience boost

Editor's Note: Locally, the Globes did a 13.45 rating, 19.1 share on WKYC-TV in HH in Nielsen Overnight Ratings.
----
Special to the Director's Cut Blog
By FRAZIER Moore, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK -- NBC says its Golden Globes broadcast won a ratings prize: a 14 percent increase in viewers from last year.

"The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards" won its three-hour time slot Sunday, drawing 16.9 million viewers. That beat its audience of 14.9 million viewers in 2009.

Originating from Los Angeles at 5 p.m. local time, the event was aired live by NBC in all time zones coast-to-coast, rather than delayed for prime-time broadcast in the West. British actor-comedian Ricky Gervais was its host.

Even with the audience upswing, viewership was far below the biggest year for the awards show. In 2004, 26.8 million viewers tuned in.

The awards are given annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
---
Source: The Associated Press