Syracuse TV

Updated SYRACUSE — Confirming yesterday’s initial reports of the imminent sale of WSYR-TV and many other stations owned by Newport Television, we’ve learned today that the ABC affiliate will be sold to Nexstar Broadcasting Group.

UPDATE 7/19: WSYR-TV has been sold to Nexstar; see our newer story here. SYRACUSE — The parent company of local ABC affiliate NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) is reportedly getting closer to a sale, nearly four months after initial reports that Newport Television was putting itself on the market.  And it looks like there will be not

SYRACUSE — For the first time in almost 40 years, the National Football League is relaxing its TV blackout policy. But Buffalo Bills fans in Syracuse and Utica won’t notice anything different: the Bills announced today that they won’t be exercising a new option to reduce the team’s “blackout threshold.”

SYRACUSE — Jason Benetti logs most of his on-air hours as play-by-play announcer for the Syracuse Chiefs. If you’re not a baseball fan, you might know his name from televised local high-school and college sports. You might not have known much else about Benetti until now — he’s this week’s Syracuse NewTimes cover story.

SYRACUSE — If you’re among the few holdouts that still think of Fox as the “fourth network” in television, this might turn your head: after many years on CBS5 (WTVH), highly-rated syndicated game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are moving to Fox 68 (WSYT) this fall.

SYRACUSE — You may have noticed some new faces on local television newscasts… and a familiar face on a different channel. The Syracuse Press Club reports that CNY Central (WSTM/WTVH/WSTQ-LP) has hired two reporters to replace Chris McGrath and Caitlin Nuclo.

BOLTON LANDING — It’s a night of congratulations for stations throughout all three markets covered by CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com.  Five stations in Syracuse, two in Utica and one in Ithaca are winners at the New York State Broadcasters Association’s 46th annual “Excellence in Broadcasting Awards.”

SYRACUSE — Ask viewers to name people who work in local TV news and you’ll probably hear names like Matt Mulcahy, Carrie Lazarus, Rod Wood, Jackie Robinson, Christie Casciano and Michael Benny pretty often.  How about Roger Mirabito or Kristy Smorol?  People inside local TV news know these names, but outside of their respective stations’

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Oswego-based NPR affiliate WRVO took home seven first-place awards from the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association over the weekend, more first-place finishes than any other radio station in the state.  Among local television stations, Utica NBC affiliate NewsChannel 2 (WKTV) was the top winner, with four first-place titles.  And Syracuse

Following a long weekend out of town, your editor has returned to CNYRadio.com HQ.  As has been the case after some previous trips away, we’re back with a quick recap of some items missed during the time off.