The word coming out of KSHB these days is that new General Manager Brian Bracco started shaking things up the minute he arrived on the scene at the NBC affiliate on December 3.
After all, Bracco had spent much of his career at Kansas City ratings leader KMBC and parent Hearst Broadcasting for 25 years. He had some very definite ideas on how to run a station.
It now looks like he is putting those ideas into action.
Earlier today word surfaced that reporter Beth Vaughn was heading to Indianapolis to co-anchor the morning show on WRTV.
Now the word is that meteorologist George Waldenberger will be leaving KSHB and heading to WFTV in Orlando. His first day on the ABC affiliate owned by Cox Media will be Jan. 16.
Waldenberger first worked at KMEG-TV in Sioux City, Iowa, until August 2007. He then spent two years at KJRH-TV in Tulsa before joining KSHB.
Ironically, Waldenberger’ s profile on the KSHB site begins this way:
“I’m going to go ahead and say this right away, I like snow. From blizzards to flurries, I think it’s all great. Kansas City has some of the most exciting weather in the world! Thunderstorms, heat waves, cold snaps, ice storms, and floods along with a little snow on the side all keep my job here very challenging.”
Good luck covering those Orlando snowstorms…
NOTICE TO LEZAK?
I wonder how much notice Gary Lezak got on this move..
COINCIDENCE WITH BRACCO ARRIVAL
I personally believe that Waldenberger was already on his way out, unless Bracco was secretly making decisions before even arriving at KSHB, and George was told to keep quiet and to keep this whole ordeal secret and look for a new job.
The same goes for Beth Vaughn too. They had probably already been searching for new jobs and found them, and this is just coincidental timing for the both of them.
But maybe not too…who knows!
PERSONNEL MOVES
Vaughn maybe want to go back to full time Anchor and George a chance in the future to got o Chief and a chance with WFTV if Tom Terry leaves.
NOT A DOG FAN
I really think the one that should be going is Gary Lezak. I travel all over the world and I think it is appaling that the station allow a dog to be sitting at a news desk. It is an a disgrace to the local station as well as the City.
MISSED FORECAST
Oops. One more storm KC’s most accurate forecast failed to see coming.
REMINDER TO ‘BUNDLE UP!”
bdr… a dog on the set is “appalling?” really? maybe a bit cutesy, but come on. what i find appalling is that every single winter, every single meterologist or weather forecaster has to remind us, cheerfully i might add, to “bundle up!” when it’s freakin’ 20 degrees outside. do they think we’re stupid? i’ll take stormy doing her “tornado” trick any day over that claptrap.
DOG STUFF IS STUPID
I agree, the dog stuff is just STUPID at this point… Jeff Penner should be Chief Meterologist, he is to the point, factual, and has an excellent on air manner.
Lezak is NEVER there, ALWAYS on “vacation” always showing his lavish trips and ALWAYS has the dogs as part of the weather. He has gotten more off topic in the past couple years, spending more time on his idea’s and non weather stuff, to the point I quit watching. Last week was nice… He was NOT there, KSHB should make a move with him very very soon, Gary needs to move to Vegas !
Please take the dogs too !!!!!
SOME PREDICTIONS FOR KSHB
#1. Jeff Penner is pretty much gone as well at this point. Brian Bracco also doesn’t like Lezak. Would be very surprised if Lezak doesn’t get the boot as well.
#2. Brett Anthony or Erin Little will be Chief of 41 by the Summer.
#3. Wouldn’t be surpirsed if they try and get Matt Chambers from St. Louis to do mornings or weekends here.