Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Corpus Christi, Texas • 106

1 Mortensen Bombeck Landers Readers' Exchange 611 Weddings 811 Hobbies 1111 211 711 411 wm SUNDAY MAHC11 29 1981 i Something old While KZTV Channel 10 retains longtime anchor Gene Looper and eschews gimmicks (right) There'll be a tme changes made on the television news programs ain td by KIII-TV (Channel 3) and KRIS-TV (Channel 6) in Corpus Christi soon Channel 3 probably mil expand its evening program to an hour later this year while Channel 6 is about to launch a new anchorman and a new format Two other stations in Corpus Christi are standing pat I Someone New KRIS Channel 6 is welcoming new anchor Jeff Simmons and a new format News-center 6 (below) stations eye new! formats By FELIX SANCHEZ ttaH Wrttor newscast niay begin later this year when the ABC Evening News will be fed to local affiliates only at 5:30 pm Channel 3 now cu rrics the program at the opt ion-ul 5 pm slot KI1I-TV plans to have 30-minute news broadcasts surrounding the national news one show at 5 pm and the other at 6 pm when the network makes the Kill Channel 3 Eyewitness News is most-watched newscast in South Texas with anchor Joe Gasin (right discussing plans with assistant news director Mike Manning and reporter Kay Douglas Channel 3 is considering one-hour format later this year No 1 I I move desire for more information has expanded dramatically'' While said huur news broadcast should satisfy that necd'Any market is ready for it I think we are here" In addition to the hour newscast Channel 3 is planning to introduce a public 'affairs program dealing with Hispanic Issues It will be conducted in Spanish and is being considered for broadcast later this summer No major changes are planned in the next few weeks although They Channel 6 Is reassigning anchor Chuck Mdchcn (L) 9 to on-location editor leaving Carolyn Cay (C) and rC newcomer Jeff Simmons in Ihe anchor spots With the new anchor and the new format the station seeks to return to its newscasts to their former most-watched status No 2 ter Barnett) Local television viewers may not need a scorecard to tell the players but there will be some drastic changes in television news in the coming months at least at channels 6 and 3 Beginning early next month KKIS-TV Channel 6 jplans to launch its Newscenter 8 local news broadcast at 6 anti 10 pm The newscast formerly called Pro 8 News will debut jcomplete with revamped sets ana new anchor Jeff Simmons Meanwhile-arCKannbl 3 officials are planning to introduce a one-hour newscast beginning later this year Station iManager Bob White said officials have becn'stUdying the move for several months and because of network plans the hour broadcast is nea-rift reality The moves at Channe 6 and 3 are designed to improve ratings which in turn means Increased advertising revenues Owners also said the changes are designed to vault Corpus Cfiristi into a more sophisticated television news market I At Channel 6 Simmohs formerly an anchor at WXOW-TV In LaCrosse Wis replaces Chuck Machen Machen has bjen reassigned as on -location editor Simmons will share the anchor position with local news veteran Carolyn Cay The changes at Channel 6 are the results of several Iweeks of study by the Detroit-based television news consultant Company of Keymer and Gersin Owner Frank Smith brought in the consultant firm as part of what local industry observers call Smith's of the pallet" a catchy saying 1 don't know if it's true" Smith said Smith estimates the Ration is spending about $15 million to make changes in the I station's news broadcasts Among the changes A new news editor David Carrocci from WTCN-TV in MinneaJjolis-St Paul a new assignment editor establishment of about five to six 'more reporter-cameramen positions: and purchase of-state-of-the-art studio cameras At Channel 3 a one-lyiur local the same subjects So you get different shows" Kennedy said of the different styles of local news programs view the same problems differently If all cal it'd be the stations were identica I i White said the station will be looking closely ut its news content and the way it is presented Thu station does plan a major addition to its building on South Padre Island Drive to house news studios and offices White said The building will be constructed later this year the station tnan-ager said At Channel 10'KZTV-TV station owner Vann Kennedy plans no changes in the news broadcast which are now called Newswatch 10 The show was formerly The News at 10 Said Kennedy: "We will continue to use our news veterans and keep our efforts on content of the news rather than the cosmetics" There are reports that Kennedy plans to build a new transmitting tower to take the load off the CBS affiliate's present tower Last summer during Hurricane Allen and immediately after the storm had passed through the Coastal Bend Channel 10 went off the air for several days because of difficulties involving the transmitter near Kobstown Kennedy did say that his station plans to acquire several new reporters and photographers in the next few months But he said there are not other major plans have different persons and different minds dealing with Most local television slat inn revenue is generated by advertisements sold during local programming in particular the local newscast Most stations have about seven to eight minutes of commercial time during newscasts to sell This compares to about 80 to 90 seconds that local stations get per 30 muuiies of prime time television ollicial say At klll-TY the lop rated station advertisers must pay uIhjuI $105 to $218) lor 30 seconds of com- mcrciil time during Eyewitness News at 8 and 10 pm The rate is doubled for 00 -second advertisements At Channel 8 advertisers dole out $135 to $155 for a 30- second spot That amount also doubles lor a 00-sccoiid commercial Al Channel 10 advertisers pay $8l lor a 30-sccond spot on Newswatch 10 al 5 and 10 pm A 50 rale applies lor the noon news-casl Kates for both Channel 8 and Channel It) are also the same for their pm newscasts In Ihe past four ratings books compiled by Arhitron KlII-TV's In pm newscast pulled in viewing shares of the audience totalling 49 44 48 and 43 percent In comparative time KKIS-TV Channel 8 pulled in shares of 29 27 and 28 percent KZTV Channel 10 had audience shares ol 15 17 18 and 21 percent and KOKO had ratiligs ol 3 3 2 and 5 percent of Hie audience In the latest ratings sweeps KOKO reivivcd 5 iiercent id the viewing audience The ratings are bused uu surveys of imrsons living in the Corpus Christi metropolitan area Hotings are taken every May No-vcmlicr and February and are used to determine advertising rales and also demographics on what type ol audience is watching a program Although Smith downgrades the impact ol high ratings on advertising rates White and other television officials said good showings in the ratings book can mean higher rales would not elaborate The new Channel 8 anchor leant ol Ms Cay and Simmons will lie joined by regulars Chris Gentry doing weather and Boh Tucker on sports At Channel 3 Joe Gazin will continue at anchor along with Tom Nix on weather (after the April 4 election because Nix is running for Hie school board) and Gary Stricklin on sports Channel 10 will continue with veterans Gene Looper and Walter Kurlcy at co-anchor on the 5 and Hi pm newscasts while Channel 28 retains Hoberto Perez at anchor and 1'epe Claire on sports In the last two years Channel 8 has faltered in the rulings after being atop the local news market for several years The most recent ratings those released in November show Channel 3 again atop the local three stations with a 53 percent share of the audience Channel 6 gathered 28 percent of the viewing audience for its lu pm broadcast while Channel Id was watched by 13 percent of the audience a little boring" At Channel 28 KOKO-TV station manager Scverarido Caballero said some major changes are In store but only because the Spanish-language station is mov- ing into new offices in 30 to 80 days The station's 5 and 10 pnt newscasts Noticario 28 and 24 Haras Mini Noticiario 28 presently are broadcast from the 800 Building downtown At the new locution 102 Mesquite more modern studios will be built and equipped with new studio cameras video tape machines and control room equipment Caballero said is not because of the other (stations') changes" Caballero said simply because we're moving into a new building" He added that there might be some changes in Hie news format but he New KRIS boasts Gazin only change at KKIS-TV a firm believer ol solid journalism We feel that we are going to get to llic point where if people who gel their news from TV don't watch us they're going to be missing something Carrocci was new- director ut WTCN in Minncupolis-St Haul one of the most prestigious news markets hi the country according to various television journals He said he came lo Channel 8 to work because or Corpus Christi's snialjer community The population of Min-neapolis-Sl Haul is about million "A smaller community allows us to get into (Ihe news) issues that affect them" Carrocci said Ms Cay agreed that Simmons is nut the only factor (hat will make Channel 6 belter "No single thing makes the difference It's more of a combined effort The way we cover our stories the time we sKnd in the field paying attention to detail Shu added: (Gazin) is good No question about that Hcs a formidable competitor and I admire him but I don't think he's King of the Anchors' Is the leaving? "I gel rather well compensated for what 1 do here" said Gazin "As far as I'm concerned if I can live well and he comfortable there is no reason for me to leave" A FELIX SANCHEZ He said he makes special cllorts to gel into tlie lield to gather news stories in addition to his anchoring duties He also points to about 14 years ol experience on the air at various stations Gjzin has been anchoring locally more than two years Simmons has been in the prolcssional broadcasting Held about thiee years one as anchor at the UiCrosse NIK' affiliate He discounts talk that he was hired only as a law" to challenge Gazin "I will be covering Ihe news and reporting it That's the only type ol job I would take" Simmons said "I think that's Ihe most important part of the Bob White station manager al KIII-TV said Channel 3's philosophy is to lure well-quulilied television journalists and not good-looking anchors to read the news "Kon Fullon is not what you call a handsome fellow" White said "But he's a damn good journalist That's what we're looking for" Suva Gazin: "It's nice to lie out in front Bill it's also a nice feeling when you wm something that you win something worthwhile the changes at Channel 6 will inspire Channel 3 to do something else" Gazin said David Carrocci news director at Channel 6 says Simmons will not be the audience Sometimes people just get tired uf looking ut the same old people all the time "We haven't done that (changed anchors) here uf course Looper and I have been there for 25 years I don't know whether that means we're better or worse or nobody cares We've maintained a steady audience though" Fur-ley said Simmons who is coming to KKIS-TV from WXUW in LaCrosse Wise says there is no razzmatazz being considered ut KKIS-TV only good solid journalism think we're really going to be dedicated to getting all the news us we possibly Can Not only that hut getting involved in the community" Simmons says lie adds he will be bringing what he feels is a new dimension to local anchoring "As an anchorman and journalist I want to get involved in the story I will be covering as well as reporting" Simmons says "I've never met Joe Gazin He seems to do the job But 1 don't see him out in the field that much" he added "That's what separates a reader from a broadcast journalist someone who goes out into the field as well as communicating it to the public" Gazin thinks that dimension is already here in his work To hear Jeff Simmons talk Pro 8 News soon to be called Newscenter 8 will be the top-rated news show in the city in a few months Simmons will be joining Carolyn Cay us co-anchor on the 8 pm and 10 pm newscasts beginning early next month The new anchor says that the tandem of Simmons-Cuy along with other new changes ut Channel 6 should vault his station to (he top "We have the potential With the team that we're putting together here we arc going to be the best" Simmons says "We're making some drastic efforts to do that" That doesn't faze Channel 3 Eyewitness News anchor Joe Gazin "I wish him well" Gazin says "As in the case in most markets it will take some time (for him) to he recognized by a majority of people" Meanwhile Gene Looper and Walter Furlcy will continue as usual at Channel 10 where station owner Vann Kennedy says there will be no changes at his station It's doing just fine not going to go into show business A bunch of gimmicks music spotlights and razzmatazz builds your audience up but it doesn't give them the news" says Gene Looper co-anchor at Newswatch 10 Adds Furley: far as anchors go the name of the game is to attract an 4 Channel 10 veteran Walter Fur-ley painta out his station enjoys a steady if not large following JiirJ''-.