or


[10/31/11 - 07:19 AM]
NBCUniversal Makes Major Investment in NBC Owned TV Stations
10 stations are hiring more than 130 new people, producing more local news, launching new consumer and investigative units in five markets and making other enhancements.

[via press release from NBC]

NBCUNIVERSAL MAKES MAJOR INVESTMENT IN NBC OWNED TV STATIONS

NBC Stations to Add Over 130 New Jobs, Produce Total of 2,200 Additional Hours of Local News

NEW YORK, NY - October 31, 2011 - NBCUniversal today announced a number of enhancements at its 10 owned television stations that are the result of a major investment the company is making to further strengthen the news gathering operations at the stations and ensure they have the resources necessary to effectively compete in their markets. Valari Staab, President of the NBC Owned Television Stations, said the 10 stations are hiring more than 130 new people, producing more local news, launching new consumer and investigative units in five markets and making other enhancements.

"Our stations have a responsibility to deliver critical local news and information to viewers in their respective communities each and every day," said Staab. "By making these strategic investments in our stations, we will ensure we meet our viewers' high expectations."

Staab, who joined NBCUniversal earlier this year after working at local television stations for 30 years, said the company is committed to making sure the stations are well-positioned to serve the needs of their individual communities. The investments, much of which will take place over the next several months, include:

· Hiring more than 130 people across all 10 stations, primarily in the news departments, including reporters, producers and photographers;

· Producing more than 1,200 additional hours of local news a year on the stations' primary broadcast channels, including:

· An hour-long 5 PM newscast on WNBC/4 New York

· A 30-minute noon newscast on KNBC/4 Los Angeles

· A 30-minute noon newscast on WMAQ/5 Chicago

· Two 30-minute newscasts at 4:30 AM and 11:00 AM on WCAU/10 Philadelphia

· A 30-minute newscast at 11 AM on KNTV/11 Bay Area

· A 30-minute newscast at 11 AM on KXAS/5 Dallas-Fort Worth

· Two hours of news on Saturday and Sunday mornings on WTVJ/6 Miami

· A 30-minute noon newscast on KNSD/7 San Diego

The company has now increased local news programming at its owned stations by more than 2,200 hours since the Comcast/NBCUniversal transaction was approved.

· Establishing investigative and/or consumer units in five markets, including WRC/4 Washington, D.C.;

· Adding 15 new vehicles to the current fleet as well as upgrading 14 more vehicles with live news capabilities;

· Purchasing 20 new cameras and other new equipment;

· Building new sets and/or studios at four stations, including WNBC/4 New York;

· Adding or increasing the hours of helicopter coverage in several markets; and

· Restoring the promotions departments at all 10 stations.

"We want our stations to enterprise stories and truly produce differentiated, high quality local news content; and we want them to make it available to our audiences in as many ways as possible - on TV, online and on the go," said Staab. "With these investments, our stations will be even better equipped to serve their markets."

For an interview with Valari Staab discussing the investment in the NBC Owned Stations, please visit NBCU Direct at http://www.nbcudirect.com/nbcownedstations103111/.





  [october 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[05/11/26 - 02:15 PM]
Prime Video Announces Premiere Date for "Ride or Die" Starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham and Releases First Look Photos
From Paramount Television Studios, the fast-paced series will debut all eight episodes globally on July 15, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

[05/11/26 - 11:42 AM]
ESPN Presents "Last Train to North America," A New Documentary Series Following North America's Road to the 2026 World Cup
Hosted by ESPN's renowned journalist, Martin Ainstein, the nine-episode series follows a unique rail journey across the United States, Mexico and Canada as the three nations prepare to jointly host the biggest sporting event of the summer.

[05/11/26 - 11:37 AM]
Great American Media Renews Beloved Original Series "When Hope Calls: Brookfield" for Season Four
Set in the picturesque town of Brookfield, the series continues to follow the evolving lives of its residents as they navigate love, hardship, and new beginnings together.

[05/11/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Little House on the Prairie" - Official Teaser #2 - Netflix
Independence isn't just a way of life, it's a place to come together.

[05/11/26 - 11:00 AM]
Prime Video Renews Global Hit Series "Reacher" for Fifth Season Ahead of Season Four Premiere
The third season reached 54.6 million viewers globally on Prime Video in its first 19 days and stands as the most-watched season on the service since "Fallout" season one over the same timeframe.

[05/11/26 - 10:53 AM]
Viaplay Announces June Slate - Greek Noir Thriller, Acclaimed Nordic Series & Films
New U.S. debuts include "Save Me" and "Black Sands."

[05/11/26 - 10:31 AM]
Wellness Gets Wild in Amazon MGM Studios' New Reality Series "Reality Retreat," Bringing Together Some of TV's Most Iconic Women
The series will premiere in 2027, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[05/11/26 - 10:11 AM]
OWN Greenlights Season 12 of Its Hit NAACP Image Award-Nominated Series "Love & Marriage: Huntsville," Expanding Its Saturday Night Powerhouse with a 30-Episode Order
The new season will roll out across 2026 and 2027 as part of OWN's signature Saturday night lineup of must-watch unscripted programming.

[05/11/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Calabasas Confidential" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Fresh out of college, a tight-knit group of friends, exes and rivals returns to hillside SoCal luxury and unfinished drama in this opulent reality series.

[05/11/26 - 10:01 AM]
Investigation Discovery Sets June Return for a New Season of "People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer"
The new season will feature six gripping episodes unpacking the real-life, harrowing accounts of survivors who crossed paths with serial killers and lived to share their story.

[05/11/26 - 10:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces Aaron Paul Joins the Cast of "Fallout" for Season Three
Also announced, Annabel O'Hagan and Dave Register have been upped to series regulars for season three, alongside Frances Turner who was upped to series regular in season two and remains a regular.

[05/11/26 - 10:00 AM]
Keiana Martin Joins ESPN as "SportsCenter" Anchor
Most recently, she served as an on-air host and reporter for CBS Sports, appearing across CBS Sports HQ, "Inside College Basketball" and "Inside College Football" on CBS Sports Network, while also contributing to college football, college basketball and WNBA coverage as a sideline reporter.

[05/11/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Sweet Magnolias" Season 5 - Official Trailer - Netflix
With wedding bells on the horizon, the Magnolias chase a shared dream, explore the world beyond Serenity, and lift each other up amid a summer of change.

[05/11/26 - 09:30 AM]
NBC Sports Acquires Extra NFL Week 17 Regular-Season Game, to Be Played Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, at 4:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock
With the two Saturday games and "Sunday Night Football" on January 3, NBCUniversal will be home to three Week 17 games as playoff races and positioning become more heated.

[05/11/26 - 09:00 AM]
Versant Expands Programming Slate with New and Returning Scripted, Unscripted, and Live Sports and Events for 2026-27 Season
Newly announced premieres include the return of "The Ark" on July 29 and the debut of "Anna Pigeon" on August 7.