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Post by gartv on Aug 13, 2006 1:57:09 GMT -3
For two days now, WMGT-41 "Todays MGT" has been off the air.
I noticed last night (Friday 8/11/06) around 11:30 pm when I got home and tuned to the station to find a color pattern saying "WMGT Please Stand By" and the program guide on Dish Network indicating the program schedule as "off the air" throughout Saturday afternoon.
Tonight (Saturday 8/12/06) I tuned in to watch Saturday Night Live and the station is was still off the air.
I checked via antenna and channel 41 is dead air. On Satalite, you get the test pattern. I don't have cable, so I have no idea if WMGT is broadcasting via cable.
Whatever the case there was no warning, there has been NO news about this (possible transmitter work?) and there is no information about this via the MGT website. So unless the atmosphere changes and I somehow get WALB, WLTZ, WAGT or WXIA over the air (all of which happens occasionally late at night), there is no NBC available in my area.
I wonder if the local Cable company removed the BLOCK of WXIA's signal for NBC programs for the cable subscribers. Atlanta's stations are available on cable here but most syndicated and ALL network programing is blocked due to local (Macon) station's "exclusive" rights to the programing. Basically, all we will get from Atlanta is the local news. Most of the day an Atlanta station's programing is replaced with informercials or a simple blank screen with the message explaining that a local station has the rights to the program and you'll have to tune to the local station when they air the program. (one of the reasons I don't have cable)
I am worried about the future of WMGT. They have lost most of their original news staff in less than two years of the revived newscast. They were slow to replace anyone, there is no sign of ever expanding the newscasts. They have been very slow to add their new on-air people to the website- we have had a new co-anchor named Brooke Martin for a couple months and she has yet to be added to the TODAYS MGT website. The changes to the station have made little sense and now they are off the air without explanation. And with NASCAR races on NBC this weekend! This is surely to anger a lot of people.
In addition, their offices are closed on weekends, you cannot call them but you can leave a message. I wonder if I will get a call back if I leave a message.
We (the viewers) have no idea what is going on but suspect typical Macon imcompetence in how this situation is being handled.
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Post by gartv on Aug 13, 2006 10:02:18 GMT -3
As of Sunday morning (8/13/06) WMGT-41 "todays MGT" is back on the air.
The local church service they air at 7am was on followed by the Today Show at 8.
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Post by atlnewsfan03 on Aug 13, 2006 15:06:59 GMT -3
Biographies for Brooke Martin, Monica Lorraine, Heather Graf, and Jennifer Gordon are now on the web-site. It would appear that WMGT is still the 2nd most watched news product in Central Georgia. I notice that the other Macon stations have been seeing that mass turnover of anchors and reporters.
13WMAZ... Ben Hoover left to take the morning anchor position at WHNS-TV. David Solano left to take a sports anchor and reporter position at WZZM-TV. Plus, Tenikka Smith, Tiffanie Wallace, and Andy Wood have since left. Mary Therese leaving after 18 years was a real shock.
New faces that have since showed up... Grant Gilmore, Leah Johnson, and Tyler Pearson.
FOX 24... Chase Ambrose and Angela Williams have since left.
Today's MGT... Susan Jackson and Seth Bauguess are no longer there. Melissa Sogegian has since moved back to Florida, and taken a reporter position at Cable News Channel "Bay News 9". Derek Kinkade has since taken a meteorologist position at WTVM-TV.
New faces that have since showed up... Brooke Martin, Monica Lorraine, Ashanti Hathaway (?), Jennifer Gordon, and Heather Graf.
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Post by gartv on Aug 13, 2006 22:12:49 GMT -3
Biographies for Brooke Martin, Monica Lorraine, Heather Graf, and Jennifer Gordon are now on the web-site. It would appear that WMGT is still the 2nd most watched news product in Central Georgia. I notice that the other Macon stations have been seeing that mass turnover of anchors and reporters. 13WMAZ... Ben Hoover left to take the morning anchor position at WHNS-TV. David Solano left to take a sports anchor and reporter position at WZZM-TV. Plus, Tenikka Smith, Tiffanie Wallace, and Andy Wood have since left. Mary Therese leaving after 18 years was a real shock. New faces that have since showed up... Grant Gilmore, Leah Johnson, and Tyler Pearson. FOX 24... Chase Ambrose and Angela Williams have since left. Today's MGT... Susan Jackson and Seth Bauguess are no longer there. Melissa Sogegian has since moved back to Florida, and taken a reporter position at Cable News Channel "Bay News 9". Derek Kinkade has since taken a meteorologist position at WTVM-TV. New faces that have since showed up... Brooke Martin, Monica Lorraine, Ashanti Hathaway (?), Jennifer Gordon, and Heather Graf. I see where they added the new people to the "news team" section of the website. This was not there last time I looked a few days ago. Honestly, I was looking for Brooke Martin's photo to appear on the main page with the other anchors as Susan Jackson's photo used to be. Anyway, the new anchors have been around since May and June (and this is the primary newscast that I watch) They can remove a bio from a site in a quick second. But two months to add someone? Anyway, Jennifer Gordon appears to be the Warner Robins Anchor and Keysha Lopez seems to have replaced Seth Baugess' role as the main General reporter. BTW: I am really dismayed at the departure of Seth Baugess. He has the great talent to succeed anywhere as a Main Anchor. His professionalism was far superior to anyone on the air here. I wish he could have stayed much longer and rose to the role as main anchor. But some larger city will get to enjoy that. And he was popular. I was shopping at Best Buy when he was shopping there with his wife. And people were constantly talking to him and paying him compliments. (I did not disturb him) You don't see that with other local TV personalities in public. |
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Post by raven3 on Aug 14, 2006 0:24:32 GMT -3
I lived in Fort Valley, and this not first time WMGT was out service, I think this first time happen back in May or after the new show call Windfall first start to air on tv. I glad day update News Team web page, but why not add Ashanti Hathway she has been with the station longer Brooke Martin and Heather Graff. Also I think the whole website need to be updated, I guess they don't have a professional webmaster on staff.
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Post by atlnewsfan03 on Aug 14, 2006 4:07:25 GMT -3
They gave the web-site a makeover a few months ago. If I could grade it, I'd probably have to give it a B-.
--No streaming videos. I'd really like to see streaming videos of the top local stories, exclusive reports, and the weather forecasts.
--Lack of various contents. Station History... We learn more about WMGT for the early days as WCWB, from radio (if the station began with radio) to television, and the present day as "Today's MGT". Frequently Asked Questions... WMGT provide answers to such questions, like "I saw myself on 1 of your newscasts. How can I obtain a copy?", "What's the difference between Today's MGT and NBC?", and "How can I arrange for my group to take a tour of the WMGT studios?". Staff Biographies... I believe they've been a bit slow about getting the biographies for Brooke Martin, Monica Lorraine, Jennifer Gordon, and Heather Graf posted. We're still waiting for Ashanti Hathaway's biography to be posted.
Morris Networks currently owns WMGT, WCBI, WXXV, and WWAY... and is currently in the process of acquiring ownership of WDEF from Media General. It took several months for CBS to ditch the Sinclair graphics, logo, and theme music from KOVR. I'm guessing it could and might take several months for Morris to ditch the Media General graphics, logo, and set design from WDEF. I'm guessing that Morris has yet to ditch the Liberty-Raycom graphics from WWAY.
I notice how certain broadcasting groups tend to have a similar web-site design. Media General, CBS, Tribune, FOX, and ABC have customized designs. Liberty-Raycom has the WorldNow design. NBC-Universal, Cox, Post-Newsweek, McGraw-Hill, and Hearst-Argyle have the IBSYS design. Allbritton has the Irides design. It would appear that Meredith is transitioning from WorldNow to IBSYS. I don't know if Morris plans on introducing WorldNow or IBSYS to WMGT, WXXV, WCBI, WWAY, and WDEF. It's a thought.
Just my 2 cents.
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Post by gartv on Aug 14, 2006 10:27:30 GMT -3
Todays NEWSBLUES has a mention that WMGT has had 7 people resign from the station's news department in the past month. The station only had a staff of 15 when the (current) news department started two years ago. The article gives no other informaton. No report on who quit or why or where anyone moved to. I kinda resent Newsblues headline on their main page refering to the "Crappy little station" in Macon. (although this may apply to ANY station in Macon) WMGT does put on a good product for this area and it forced WMAZ to improve a little on their product. We can't all be like the big city stations can we? Like NYC, ATL Orlando or (Newsblues home base) Gainesville Florida!  |
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Post by extvtog on Aug 14, 2006 12:19:31 GMT -3
I agree with GARTV. I live in DFW, Tx and I wouldn't dare compare this market to Macon. It's like comparing apples to oranges. I have not had a chance to see WMGT's news product, although I would love to. I do remember when they had news back in the 80's and early 90's. Coming from the technical side of broadcast news, I was so excited when I found out they purchased their live truck from TEC, Inc. This is stupid, but to me, in the Macon market, if you have a decent live truck and some news photographers, your station is not crappy. FOX 24 is probably the crapiest.
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Post by raven3 on Aug 14, 2006 22:47:25 GMT -3
WMGT have add Brooke Martin and Monica Lorraine to the main page, but they took Ke'Sha Lopez picture off. I guess they no longer have Warner Robins station or main anchor. But also missing from staff bios is the morning meteorologist. Is the morning meterologis Ryan Chambers or Crissey (I forgot her last name). The station used both of them, but lately Ryan Chambers have been on in morning show more.
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Post by extvtog on Aug 16, 2006 18:08:22 GMT -3
Ke'Sha Lopez's picture and bio is still on the team page. She apparently still works there; unless she is not on the air. In that case, I would not know because I do not live there and WMGT DOES NOT have steaming video!
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Post by gartv on Aug 17, 2006 0:37:52 GMT -3
Ke'Sha Lopez's picture and bio is still on the team page. She apparently still works there; unless she is not on the air. In that case, I would not know because I do not live there and WMGT DOES NOT have steaming video! I saw Ke'sha Lopez on the air last night. She reported from the main studio. I did not see her on the air tonight. I happen to be watching their news as I am typing this. Jennifer Gordon has been in the Warner Robins anchor chair in recent newscasts. Ms Lopez has been reporting more in the field after Seth Baughess left. If anyone needs a vacation by now it would be Kesha Lopez. All of the other anchors have taken days off this summer. |
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Post by atlnewsfan03 on Aug 17, 2006 1:35:31 GMT -3
WMAZ has offered news for years... possibly since the stations inception back in 1953. WMAZ is currently the #1 rated news product in Central Georgia.
WMGT offered 2 different news products during that stations history. The 1st news product being during the WCWB era (between 1968 and 1983). The 2nd news product being during the WMGT era (between 1983 and 1992). Both suffered from financial and technical issues... as well as poor ratings. Around 1992... the station did away with offering local news.
In 2004, WMGT begins offering a news product once again, after the station had been on a long 12-year hiatus from offering local news. It has since become the 2nd most watched news product, behind rival station WMAZ.
I'd have to say my only disappointment about WMGT was having to see most of the original news staff leave. They had let a quite a bit of good talent slip away, like Seth Bauguess, Ashley DeBeltrand Fouri, Stephanie Golden, Gaynor Hall, Susan Jackson, Kaitlyn Pratt, and Melissa Sogegian. WMGT reintroduced the news product, and pretty much became "Central Georgia's Fastest Growing Newscast" by it becoming the 2nd most watched news product.
WPGA had offered a news product from 2000 until 2003. It never quite got off the ground. The station has since did away with offering local news.
WGXA has offered news since the stations inception back in 1982. From 1982 until 1995, the station served as an ABC affiliate. Since 1996, the station has served and still serves as a FOX affiliate. WGXA used to be the 2nd most watched news product... now has become the 3rd most watched news product, since WMGT began offering local news once again.
I'd have to say my only disappointment about WGXA is their parent company. They don't seem to want to put any money into that station's news product. Their set, graphics, and theme music could definitely use a makeover. I feel like they did better as an ABC affliate; however, it may be several years down the road if were to see another affilaite switch take palce.
Here's an idea. CBS remain at WMAZ... NBC remain at WMGT... PBS/GPB remain at WDCO (soon-to-be WMUM)... ABC come back to WGXA... The CW and The Tube go to WPGA... and FOX and My Network TV go to WGMN.
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