Watching early news at KIRO

Gary Horcher solo anchor for the 4 pm hour (where they used to double run Judge Judy) and the pace here was super-frenetic. I lost track of the facts, it moved so fast. Breathless pace. Gary was mostly doing back-to-back-to-back-to-back voiceovers with banner graphics galore and leading to video/packages which were questionably sourced, especially one on Dubai Golf which was not at all labeled as a handout piece. Elle Thomas solo for the 5 and barely on camera. Heavy video emphasis.

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Seattle TV Weekender Ends Her Run

So long to KOMO's longtime weekend morning anchor Lee Stoll who did her final show Saturday. She previously worked at KIRO7 and KREM2 in Spokane and did a little fill-in for me at the old NWCN. She's a Northwestern U grad. Weekend weather sidekick Theron Zahn will likely step right into anchor slot. Newcomer Stella Sun may also be in the mix. Zahn bid Lee a final goodbye this morning. She is not revealing what is next, saying "That's for later." Also, next month Komo News Operations boss Dennis Hanson and longtime Production Tech Rena Mullen are retiring. There's a big Studio C station bash for them and retiring ND Phil Bruce on December 5th.

Where is Frankie?

Many have missed KIRO 7's weekend PM weather anchor, Frankie Katafias, so I reached out to some of my sources to find an answer. She is apparently taking a few months of leave, but not known specifically what the reason may be. Although there is uncertainty, it could be a personal or family matter. I am told she is expected back at some point in the new year. She is a great asset to what has become a troubled station. Meanwhile former KOIN Portland chief met holds down the fort.

Slicing Staff in Seattle TV

ICYMI, it appears COX-APOLLO owned KIRO7 in Seattle has cut almost a dozen staff as cutbacks across the company reportedly continue. The only names confirmed so far are Sports DIrector Chris Francis, son of longtime NBC correspondent Fred Francis, and his producer, Chris Swanson, who formerly worked for me at the old Northwest Cable News. No word on how KIRO will cover sports in the market going forward, with the Mariners leading the AL West, the Seahawks and UW football coming soon, not to mention the Kraken's fourth hockey season. Gonna be interesting to watch. I already notice KOMO's weekend news, where the news anchor reads just a minute or two of sports. Nico Tamurian is the station's only sports reporter/anchor right now. Courtesy: ftvlive.com ...

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