MediaMaven

Kelly Hatmaker, who was the Asst. News Director at Fox 13 from 2022 until June 2025, has landed at WVIT, the NBC O&O in Hartford-New Haven, CT.   He will be the new Asst. ND.    Hatmaker also spent nearly six years at KHQ in Spokane in management roles.   Hatmaker made the announce ment on social media.

KOMO videojournalist Drake Presto is moving to KING 5 as its new dedicated investigative unit videojournalist.   He notes on social media that he looks forward to working with the station's award-winning reporters.   Good sign to see the commitment continues and as reported here, KING has just added two field reporters.  

Julie Wolfe, who was promoted to a Regional News Content VP following her stint as News Director at KING 5, has been ousted by the company after less than a year in the job.   Another Tegna VP, Michael Valentine, who was one of my bosses at Tegna, is also gone from his regional position back east. Wolfe came to Seattle in 2021 from the ND job at the Tegna station in Louisville.   Wolfe  All per rickgevers.com

Fox 13's Washington Sports Wrap replays at 11 a.m. the following day will be dead after Labor Day when The Jennifer Hudson Show moves from 1 pm to 11 am.   Both the Sherri sydicated program and Studio 13 Live are gone.  Also, the station is running a show called 'Battleground' (Midterms) at 11 pm against news on the other three locals.  The sports show was nothing more than a morning placeholder as we already reported.  The original still runs at 6:30 weeknights.   I am also seeing another edition of West Coast News Wrap from KTVU in Oakland running back to back at 7:30, but I don't recall what  p reviously ran in that time slot.  I watch Jeopardy anyway!      Update: A loyal reader says Sports Wrap was airing on a 730 replay weeknights, so looks like it's gone too.

KJR-FM's longtime radio host Softy Mahler is replacing Elise Woodward as sideline reporter on the station's broadcast of the 114th Apple Cup Saturday at Husky Stadium.  Jessamyn McIntyre will be on the opposite sideline as usual for the Cougar Radio Network.  It should be a barnburner, a nailbiter, a cliffhanger and that's just the game! As you may know, Woodward now does the play-by-play now after years on the Husky sideline.

Based on the cable grid, with Sherri's program gone, it appears FOX 13 will simulcast its Live Desk from noon to 2 pm on the main channel after Labor Day.    Live Desk will continue past 2 pm on 13+.    Jennifer Hudson syndie show airing 11-noon.    Meanwhile, Drew Barrymore's show eventually replaces Kelly Clarkson on KOMO at 2 pm weekdays.  Can't tell your shows without a program!

  This clock makes sense.  Deadline approaching for a Seattle teacher's strike.    Next up?  Apple Cup countdown clock for Saturday?   More clocks please!    Gimmick overkill?  Did a consultant recommend this?