KETV (Cox Channel 9) weekend morning anchor Brandi Petersen is the "Hottest Local News Chick of 2006," according to KXSP (590 AM) listeners who cast their vote during the "Biggie Awards" on Matt Perrault's "The Big Show on Big Sports 590."Petersen narrowly beat out co-worker Andrea Bredow, who is KETV's morning meteorologist.
WOWT (Cox Channel 8) morning anchor Malorie Maddox finished third.
Preliminary voting on the station's website, bigsports590.com, whittled a list of 25 candidates down to five finalists: Bredow, Petersen, Maddox and Kerri Stowell and Molli Graham, both of KMTV (Cox Channel 5). Perrault said nearly 1,000 votes were cast.
Before the voting began, Perrault defended the contest, which Maddox won last year.
"This is intended to be complimentary," he said. "It's not intended to be rude or mean. Don't tell me guys don't think some of these women on the news are hot."
After allowing listeners to cast their votes, Perrault said he had told his producer that Petersen would win this year's contest.
Petersen garnered 24 votes to Bredow's 22. She will receive a dozen roses and a $120 gift certificate to a beauty salon.
