Stephen Merren

UTICA — Stephen P. Merren, perhaps the only person ever to be the General Manager of every TV station in Utica (not at the same time, of course), passed away on Christmas Eve. Word comes through multiple news media outlets, attributing the news to an announcement from his family.

UTICA — The WUTR/WFXV Eyewitness News HD newsroom has a new leader. Veteran journalist Don Dudley will fill the position that’s been vacant since Joe Parker exited the operation a few months ago.

Updated 11:50pm — UTICA-ROME — Management confirms Joe Parker has exited his post as news director and anchor at the Eyewitness News operation at ABC affiliate WUTR and Fox affiliate WFXV.  Parker’s bio has disappeared from the stations’ website and co-anchor Elsa Gillis reportedly anchored tonight’s early newscast alone.

SYRACUSE and UTICA-ROME — Plans for a one-hour, two-market televised debate between the two candidates for the 22nd Congressional District have been cancelled, amid controversy in which one candidate, who was refusing to appear for the debate, is being accused of threatening to pull his advertising dollars from Utica’s WUTR.

WASHINGTON, DC — For years, the FCC has allowed television stations to reduce operating expenses by forming duopolies or other agreements where multiple stations are operated under one roof.  We have examples of this here in Syracuse and Utica.  And soon, there could be another chance to save more money: the FCC has announced a

UTICA — After several years without any local newscasts, Eyewitness News HD is set to debut on ABC affiliate WUTR and Fox affiliate WFXV today. As of this writing, that first newscast is one hour away. Traditionally, newscasts on WUTR have struggled to compete with longtime market leader WKTV, but today’s launch has the support

Updated 5:10pm with much more info and a look at the studio. UTICA — When local news returns to ABC affiliate WUTR following an eight-year hiatus, it’ll be making a big splash. Station management today revealed that those newscasts — on WUTR (Channel 20) and on Fox 33 (WFXV) — will air in high-definition when

UTICA — Applications are now being accepted for journalists, anchors, producers and meteorologists as Nexstar Broadcasting moves closer to bringing a local news product back to ABC affiliate WUTR this fall. The operation will also produce newscasts for sister stations Fox 33 (WFXV) and MyNetwork 11 (WPNY-LP).

UTICA/ROME — Almost eight years since Clear Channel shut down the newsroom at ABC affiliate WUTR Channel 20, the station’s current management announced today plans to revive the newsroom across the street from longtime market dominator WKTV.  Local newscasts will also be added to the lineups of Fox 33 (WFXV) and MyNetwork 11 (WPNY-LP).