No 'Morganizing' This Time; Just The Facts

Roger W. Morgan made a name for himself by pranking unsuspecting listeners with his "Morganizing" on "The Mighty 1290" KOIL in the 1960s.

More than 40 years later, Morgan is still raising the ire of some people. But this time, there's no joking involved.

As nationally syndicated libertarian talk-show host Neal Boortz reports, Morgan is promoting a recall effort for four St. Croix (part of the U.S. Virgin Islands) senators because they voted themselves a substantial pay raise.

The senators are now petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to block Morgan's attempt to buy the license of the radio station where he works ("Paradise 93.5 FM" in St. Croix).

Morgan, writing on the forum of Nebraskaradio.com, says the senators accuse of him trying to "overthrow the government of the Virgin Islands."

"Talk about 'Morganizing!,'" he writes.

Voting Begins On KEZO Commercials

Omaha radio station KEZO (92.3 FM) is inviting listeners to visit its website to vote for one of nine commercials that will be shown on KMTV (Cox Channel 5) on Super Bowl Sunday.

The entries are the finalists in the station's "It's My Z" contest, which invited listeners to create a 30-second commercial for Z-92.

Although voting is being conducted online, the final decision on which commercial wins will be made by Z-92 judges, according to the official contest rules. The rules also state the contest winner will receive "no monetary compensation," but a teaser on the station's home page advertises that the winner will receive $1,000.

New KMTV Anchors Debut Tonight

Carol Wang and Carlo Cecchetto make their debut as evening news anchors on KMTV (Cox Channel 5) tonight on "Action 3 News at 5."

Wang most recently worked for KXAS (NBC) in Dallas/Fort Worth. Cecchetto comes from KFMB (CBS) in San Diego.

The pair replace veteran anchors Deborah Ward and Greg Peterson, whose contracts were not renewed last month.

Which Game Is He Covering Tonight?

High school basketball teams beware.

When Omaha World-Herald high school sports writer Stu Pospisil shows up, expect an upset.

In his ratings column Tuesday, Pospisil pointed out that he was on hand last week when two of the state's unbeaten boys teams played and lost (in separate games).

Friday night, Pospisil covered the No. 1 Bellevue West girls basketball team's game against Omaha Central. The result? Bellevue West was handed only its second loss of the season after the Eagles' 62-59 win in Bellevue.

Snow In The Forecast: What They're Saying

As KMTV meteorologist CT Thongklin points out, if the Omaha area gets snow this weekend, it will have seen accumulating snow three out of the past four weekends.

With that in mind, here are the latest forecasts from Omaha TV meteorologists:

KETV (Cox Channel 9)
Morning meteorologist Andrea Bredow told viewers that Thursday night computer models give Omaha between three and five inches of snow from the storm. She also writes on KETV.com that "as always, the track of the storm could change, so keep checking back."

As of Friday morning, KETV weekend meteorologist John Campbell had not weighed in with a forecast on his blog.

KMTV (Cox Channel 5)
Morning meteorologist CT Thongklin said areas of the Omaha metropolitan area could see between four and six inches of snow. His forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of snow Saturday evening and again on Sunday.

Thongklin also goes into greater detail in an entry on the Action 3 News Weather Blog.

KPTM (Cox Channel 10)
Chief Meteorologist Tyson Pearsall's forecast calls a chance for snow beginning in the metro Saturday night. He writes on the station's website that snow will continue through Sunday afternoon and night. "Accumulating snow is likely and this storm system should be fairly similar to what we experienced last weekend," he writes.

WOWT (Cox Channel 8)
Morning meteorologist Scott Akin said snow will begin to fall Saturday and that accumulations appear likely by Sunday morning. The Omaha metropolitan area will probably receive at least four inches, but specific amounts will not be forecast until later today, he told viewers.

Super Bowl XLI Notes: Couric Will Contribute;Winning Z-92 Commercial Will Be Shown

"CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric will contribute a feature to the network's four-hour Super Bowl pregame show on Feb. 4.

The network announced Thursday that Couric will also anchor the evening news from Miami, the site of the NFL football championship game, on the Friday before the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XLI will be broadcast on KMTV (Cox Channel 5) in Omaha and KOLN (Time Warner Channel 11) in Lincoln.

CBS will also send Randy Cross to Iraq to watch the game with American troops and deliver reports, the network said.

Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play and Phil Simms will provide color for the game. This will be the network's first Super Bowl since Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction. Prince will be the halftime entertainment.

KMTV is scheduled to broadcast the winning entry in Z-92's "It's My Z" contest sometime on Super Bowl Sunday. KEZO (92.3 FM) listeners have been invited to submit a 30-second commercial for the classic rock station. At least one entrant has already posted his commercial on YouTube.

Notes From The Laptop

KETV (Cox Channel 9) reporter Farrah Fazal notified Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey of Elkhorn's decision to continue fighting annexation. Fazal approached Fahey as he sat courtside during Thursday night's Creighton University men's basketball game at the Qwest Center.

KFAB (1110 AM) talk show host Tom Becka's rendition of a state song for Nebraska, "The Eastern Nebraska State Song" was the 97th most viewed video on YouTube Thursday.

Former "KPTM Kid's Club" host Theresa Cassaday is now serving as Chief Communications Officer for the Girls Scouts Great Plains Council.

NewsBlues, Mike James' website that advertises itself as "TV News insiders dishing the dirt on America's television newsrooms," is offering free access to its entire site until Monday, Jan. 29.

Matt Perrault's "Big Show" on KXSP (590 AM) will have a distinctively Husker flavor next week. Tuesday: former Nebraska pitcher Joba Chamberlain. Thursday: Former Husker quarterback Zac Taylor and tight end Matt Herian. Friday: Former Husker fullback Dane Todd and lineman Greg Austin (live from the Midwest Auto Show).

KETV Meteorologist Files ReportsFrom 'Lieutenant's Lounge' Blog

KETV (Cox Channel 9) meteorologist Chuck McWilliams is opening the door to his experience of serving as a U.S. Army lieutenant in Iraq through a new blog appropriately titled, "Lieutenant's Lounge."

Lt. McWilliams is a Chemical Officer with the 755th Chemical Company of the Nebraska Army National Guard. He says the intent of his blog will be to tell stories from the perspective of someone serving overseas.

"I plan on passing along stories that normally aren't covered by traditional media outlets," he writes. "Don't look for a debate on politics or how I feel events in Iraq will impact the next presidential campaign."

McWilliams also writes not to expect detailed discussions about tactics, techniques, or procedures of his company's missions. In his first entry on the blog, he shares word that he was able to witness the birth of his third child via webcam.

Creighton Game Will Be BroadcastStatewide Tonight On NET1

Tonight's Creighton University men's basketball game against Bradley University will be the first of two Bluejay broadcasts by NET1 (Cox Channel 12) Television. It will air statewide and in high definition on NET-HD (Cox Channel 812).

Kevin Kugler will call the play-by-play and Scott Schumacher will serve as analyst. Kugler is co-host of "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" on KOZN (1620 AM) and also handles college football and basketball broadcasts for the Westwood One radio network. Schumacher is a former sports information director who worked at Wichita State University.

The game will also be broadcast free on two websites, www.gocreighton.tv and www.netnebraska.org.

Omahan Creates 'South Park' VideosFor Todd & Tyler Listeners

Omahan Len Witte is the man behind the "South Park" style videos that animate segments of the "Todd & Tyler Radio Empire" for listeners of KEZO (92.3 FM).

Witte, who is known as "Dick Payne" on the videos and in posts to the "Todd and Tyler Unauthorized" discussion forum, said he stumbled upon the idea while trying to hear a segment in which a co-worker called the popular morning show.

"That night I downloaded the MP3 and cut everything out besides his call," Witte said. "A couple of days later I was playing with Windows Movie Maker and had the idea of adding the audio from my coworker's call. Then I thought a cartoon would be cute and thought of the South Park character site that I had seen before."

Since then, Witte has created cartoon characters for each of the show's stars (Todd Brandt, Mike Tyler, Travis Justice, news reader Craig Evans and producer Jeremy Campbell) as well as regular guests, Dr. Ed Dominguez, Jay Medicine Hat, "Black Tony" and "Larry The Cable Guy."

Each character has 18 images, as well as the ability to blink their eyes. Witte said it takes him about a minute to create a single second of video. The longest of the 11 videos currently posted on YouTube is three minutes and 48 seconds.

Judging by the number of views, the videos are being seen by quite a few people. One of the first videos he created (last November) has been watched nearly 9,000 times.

"I am happy they (Todd and Tyler) like the clips," the 36-year-old said. "They keep me from playing poker online."

Ray Depa New GM Of Huntsville Station

Former KETV (Cox Channel 9) News Director Ray Depa has been hired as general manager at Huntsville, Ala., ABC affiliate WAAY.

Huntsville is the 84th largest TV market in the country, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Last April, Depa resigned as general manager of KGUN in Tucson, Ariz.

While in Omaha, Depa helped found the Crime Stoppers program. He worked as a reporter and anchor at WOWT from 1970 to 1979. The 1970 University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate also worked in television in Kansas (KAKE) and Hawaii (KGMB) and in radio in Missouri at Springfield station WMAY.

Missouri Storm Cripples Part of 'TNT Empire'

The sleet and ice storm that pounded parts of Missouri Friday through Sunday is having a trickle-down effect on Omaha radio station KEZO (92.3 FM).

Springfield radio station KZRQ (106.7 FM) is one of two affiliate stations in "Todd and Tyler's Radio Empire."

"The Ozark's Pure Rock" station only regained power to its building and studios Wednesday morning.

"However, we still do not have power to our transmitter," said Journal Broadcast Group Director of Radio Programming Tom Land. "We are working on this, but much of the market is in the same situation."

Land said he is hopeful that the station will be back on the air by Thursday.

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt said he believes Springfield is the hardest hit city in the state. As of Tuesday night, more than 35,000 utility customers remained without power and about 400 members of the Missouri National Guard were called in to work on removing debris and going house to house to check on people.

"The ice storm has crippled that community far more than you'll see or hear on national TV or radio broadcasts," Land said.

A Familiar Voice Returns to Omaha Radio

More than three decades ago, Dave Wingert could be heard spinning the hits on Omaha radio stations like WOW, KEFM and KGOR.

Now he finds himself playing some of the same songs, only now they're considered "oldies."

The irony of the scenario makes Wingert chuckle. The story of how he landed his new gig as morning host on KGOR (99.9 FM) is about as extensive as his resume, which includes work at a half dozen radio stations in Omaha and stops in Des Moines, Kansas City and Seattle.

"It's so thrilling to come back," Wingert said Tuesday as a news release was being prepared to officially announce his return. Since last week, he has been filling in on KGOR with program director Drew Bentley after the show's former host, TJ, was let go around the first of the year.

It was only a month ago that Wingert was starting a new job as a salesperson for Clear Channel Omaha, KGOR's parent company. He had been invited back to Omaha by a colleague at Clear Channel who had heard Wingert was passed over for a morning radio job in Los Angeles.

"There's a certain harmony to it," Wingert said. "You talk about the 'Circle of Life.' I thought it would make a lot of sense to come back here."

Only this time, Wingert wouldn't be behind a microphone. He'd be pounding the pavement and knocking on doors selling advertising. The work was satisfying, he said, but the itch to be on the air was still strong.

A window of opportunity opened when KFAB (1110 AM) program director Gary Sadlemyer invited him to fill in on a Saturday air shift. The response from listeners was positive and exposed his personable style to Clear Channel Omaha General Manager Mitch Baker.

"So when they announced that they laid off some staff and the morning job was open, I went to Mitch and said 'I'm not going to sit here (and not apply for the job),'" Wingert said.

Already In The Hall of Fame
Wingert's return to Omaha is the latest stop in an impressive career that's already landed him a spot in the Nebraska Radio Personalities Hall of Fame. Before leaving Omaha in 1989, he worked at WOW, KQKQ, KEFM, KGOR and KEDS. He also had stints at WHO in Des Moines and at KLSY in Seattle, hosting a nationally-syndicated show, "Dave 'Till Dawn," on 98 stations.

Omaha TV stations might want to take notice of his previous experience in that medium. Wingert hosted the magazine-format show "Good Day" with Joni Ballion on KMTV (Cox Channel 5) and also produced and hosted a children's television program on KETV (Cox Channel 9). Wingert said he still acts and recently landed a spot in an upcoming production at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

"Whatever I'm doing, I'm really drawn to material and content," Wingert said.

Without mentioning any names, Wingert said the competitive landscape of morning radio in Omaha is open for a more creative program.

"I want to do the kind of radio show I would enjoy listening to," Wingert said. "If there is one word used to describe my approach it is authenticity. Since 9/11, people have been looking for more authentic ways to connect with one another and find more meaning in their lives."

Wingert said his show will be a mix of newsy information and celebrity interviews, but not what listeners are hearing on other stations.

"I half kiddingly issued a moratorium on Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan news earlier this week," Wingert said. "Does it really matter to you what Paris did last night? What is her claim to fame other than having a famous name?"

In addition to his program on KGOR, Wingert will also produce a twice-weekly segment for KFAB called, "According to Dave." It will be his observations of how Omaha has changed after being away for more than 15 years.

"To see all of the energy down in the Old Market where they used to roll up the sidewalks at eight o'clock is pretty exciting," he said.

KFAB Host Composes His Own VersionOf New State Song For Nebraska

Updated: Jan. 17, 2007 | 12:47 p.m.

The debate over whether the Nebraska should adopt a new state song has spurred KFAB (1110 AM) afternoon drive-time talk show host Tom Becka and producer Matt Tompkins to compose their own version of a new state song.

Click here to watch their music video.

Last Friday, State Senator Carroll Burling of Hastings introduced a bill to change the state song to an upbeat country tune titled, "I Love Nebraska." It was written, composed and sung by Ginger ten Bensel, a reporter for Hastings TV station KHAS.

Omaha.com Relaunch Set For Jan. 28

The Omaha World-Herald's online site, Omaha.com, is scheduled to relaunch on Sunday, Jan. 28, according to World-Herald Public Relations Director Joel Long.

The revamped look will include more user-friendly features, including new drop down menu toolbars (pictured at right).

More details of the change can be viewed in an online tour.

Kugler Calling Games Coast-To-Coast

Kevin Kugler saw his share of off-the-beaten-path venues during his years as play-by-play man for the former Omaha Racers basketball team. Be it the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany, N.Y., or the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D., there are hardly first class accommodations when it comes to radio broadcasting in the Continental Basketball Association.

But 10 years later, Kugler finds himself calling the action for the Westwood One radio network in much more mainstream arenas at some of college's biggest sporting events. This weekend, he'll be courtside at UCLA, when the Bruins basketball team takes on Arizona. Next weekend, he'll be in Tucson, Ariz., when North Carolina comes to town.

"I traveled all day last Thursday (to the Hula Bowl), spent Friday and Saturday in Honolulu, did the game Sunday and then flew back on the red eye after the game," Kugler said. "Then I came in and did "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" (on KOZN, 1620 AM) and collapsed at home after watching the first four hours of 24."

During college football season, Kugler teamed with former Auburn Coach Terry Bowden on Westwood One's broadcasts. The Hula Bowl was one of his biggest challenges, he said.

"It is more difficult to do an all-star game than I anticipated, because it's not a team based game," he said. "It's all individual stuff, and very personnel related. It's more of an analyst game than even a regular season game, so I'm glad Terry was there with me to carry the breakdown aspect of these players."

Kugler said the Liberty Bowl was both a great game to call and a fun one to watch. Steve Spurrier's Carolina Gamecocks held off a late charge by Houston to win, 44-36.

"I think what stood out the most was the offensive play of both teams," he said. "They were head and shoulders above the defense for both teams, and I think when you get to a bowl game, you'd much rather see offense than defense."

After basketball, Kugler will call the College World Series for Westwood One for the fourth straight year. And next year?

"I'm certainly hoping they have me back to do games because I absolutely loved it. But in this business, who knows?"

Kearney TV Station Nearly Back To Normal

Kearney TV station KHGI is back at full power, with most of its equipment up and working again, according to Sara Linner, Executive Producer of New Media for NTV.

"We're still missing some acoustical ceiling tiles that were destroyed by water damage," Linner said. "We're getting by though, and just keep chugging along."

Linner said it appears the station's tape archive did not sustain water damage. More than 50 holes were punched through the roof of the station by chunks of ice that fell from the station's broadcasting tower.

An estimated 3,500 customers in rural central Nebraska remain without electricity two weeks after a New Year's weekend ice storm.

NBC Expanding 'Today' Show This Fall

NBC Universal notified its affiliates Friday that it intends to expand the "Today" show to a fourth hour, beginning this fall.

Currently, NBC's Omaha affiliate, WOWT (Cox Channel 8), broadcasts "The Dr. Keith Ablow Show" from 10 to 11 a.m. The choice to broadcast the program's fourth hour will be left up to affiliates.

More details are expected to be released Wednesday at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif.

Hastings TV Reporter Wrote SongProposed As Nebraska's New State Song

Should Nebraska get a new state song - one written by a Hastings TV reporter and former Nashville recording artist?

That is what state lawmakers are being asked to consider under a bill (LB345) introduced Friday in the Legislature.

KHAS (NBC) reporter Ginger ten Bensel says she wrote "I Love Nebraska" in 2002 with the idea it would someday be adopted as the state's official song. She performed the upbeat country tune at Governor Dave Heineman's inauguration ball last week.

The current state song is "Beautiful Nebraska." It was written by Jim Fras, a Russian refugee who came to Lincoln in the early 50s. It was adopted as the state's official song in 1967.

KFOR Changes Afternoon Lineup

Lincoln radio station KFOR (1240 AM) shuffled its afternoon programming lineup this week.

Greg Jackson now hosts the KFOR Afternoon show from 1 to 3 p.m., taking the time slot previously occupied by John Baylor, KFOR sports director.

Baylor's show will now be heard from 3 to 5 p.m. and John Cutler returns to KFOR to host from 5 to 6 p.m.

Public Pulse Reader: 'Event Was Newsworthy'

A letter in Wednesday's edition of the Omaha World-Herald's Public Pulse section criticizes the newspaper's decision not to report on the inaugural Omaha Entertainment Awards last Thursday, Jan. 4.

Writes F. David Codr:

Last Thursday, I was among about 1,000 supporters of the Omaha entertainment scene who gathered for a black-tie gala at the Holland Performing Arts Center for the first Omaha Entertainment Awards to honor artistic performers in three disciplines. While nearly every local news organization was on hand to cover the event, The World-Herald was sadly missing that night.

I find it insulting that a newspaper that claims to support the local arts and entertainment scene couldn't be bothered to cover a regal, black-tie event held a block away from its offices. National performers such as actor John Billingsley and musician Conor Oberst felt the event worthy of their presence. So did Mayor Mike Fahey and other supporters of the arts.

My hat is off to the organizers and participants of this great event. They have done our community and the arts proud. Everyone I spoke to had a fantastic time.

I look forward to the 2008 Omaha Entertainment Awards and hope The World-Herald will consider it worthy of coverage.

WOWT-DT (Cox Channel 248) and KXVO (Cox Channel 11) both produced live coverage of the event, while The Reader (a sponsor of the event) and The City Weekly newspapers each published stories and the list of winners.

World-Herald Columnist Sibyl MyersDead At The Age Of 55

Omaha World-Herald neighborhood news columnist Sibyl Myers died Monday of heart failure. She was 55.

Myers started working at the newspaper in 1975 on the same day as World-Herald Executive Editor Larry King.

"Over the next 30-plus years, I've seen her work as a full-time journalist, as a weekly columnist and as a publisher and businesswoman," King said in an article in Wednesday's editions. "Her integrity, her compassion and her love for Omaha and its people were clear in all she did."

Myers' funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John AME Church, 2402 North 22nd Street.

Power Returns to Kearney TV Station

Employees at KHGI (ABC) in Kearney moved back into the newsroom over the weekend and spent a good portion of time cleaning up the damage left behind by falling chunks of ice from the station's transmission tower.

"We have power back and the holes in the roof have been patched - temporarily," said Sara Linner, executive producer of new media at NTV. "It's not pretty but it works."

The station has started a food drive to help those who lost perishables due to the long-term power outage.

"There has also been a fund set up by the Kearney Community Foundation to help people who had damage to property and lost wages during the storm," Linner said. "My understanding though, is that most people have called the foundation not to donate, but to find out how they can receive help."

What Happened To TJ?

Several KGOR (99.9 FM) listeners have written The Reader's Media Notes, asking what happened to "TJ," the station's morning show personality.

Clear Channel Omaha General Manager Mitch Baker won't say specifically whether TJ has left the station, but did say the station is "looking at several exciting options and an announcement is forthcoming."

Since Monday, legendary radio personality Dave Wingert has been handling the morning shift on KGOR. A member of the Nebraska Radio Personalities Hall of Fame, Wingert has worked at Omaha radio stations WOW, KQKQ, KEFM, and KGOR, in Des Moines at WHO, and in Seattle at KLSY - hosting the nationally-syndicated show, "Dave 'Till Dawn."

TJ has worked for several Clear Channel stations over the past four years, including KXKT (103.7 FM), KEFM (96.1 FM) and KHUS (93.3 FM).

Omaha.com Getting A Makeover

The Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, is relaunching later this week with a site makeover that promises better ease of access.

New navigation menus (like the one shown at right) and dialog boxes will be the most noticeable changes. The newspaper will also change its page headers from orange to blue to red to purple through the day "to reflect ever-changing content mix" on the site.

The changes are being promoted as "the first phase of a complete overhaul of Omaha.com."

Readers are being invited to take a tour of the changes they can expect.

Omaha World-Herald Hires Columnist

Robert Nelson, a veteran reporter for the Phoenix New Times newsweekly and a former Omaha World-Herald reporter, is the newspaper's new columnist.

Nelson fills the vacancy created in June by Rainbow Rowell, who left the World-Herald after nine years to take a job at Bailey Lauerman advertising agency in Lincoln.

Nelson is a Falls City, Neb., native and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate who previously spent six years at the World-Herald. He is a Thurgood Marshall Journalism Award winner, a two-time winner of Arizona's John Kolbe Government and Politics Award and a two-time finalist for Arizona Journalist of the Year.

As recently as last month, he told Laurie Fagan of the San Tan Sun News that he had no intention of leaving the New Times. He is the author of "Early Yuma," a photographic history that pays tribute to the first residents of the Southwest Arizona town.

Nelson and his wife, Denise, have three sons. She is a wastewater permit writer with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

'Her' Magazine Features Sheila Brummer

WOWT (Cox Channel 8) anchor and reporter Sheila Brummer shares her inside view of the news business, her unique experiences with presidential candidates and how she balances her professional life with personal endaevors in the December/January issue of "Her" magazine.

The unbylined, two-page story describes Brummer's first job in TV news, her coverage of the Iowa Caucuses in 2000 and 2004 and her recent marriage to musician and graphic designer Ed Antone.

In the article, Brummer says she enjoys volunteering, listening to live music and belly dancing. She also says she joined the Diva Soma Belly Dance Troupe last summer.

Journal Hires Program Director for KEZO

Steve Brill was hired last week as the new program director at KEZO (92.3 FM).

Brill comes to Omaha from Rockford, Ill., where he served as operations manager for a pair of Cumulus Broadcasting-owned stations, WROK and WKGL.

"There's no one more qualified and who has produced a better winning track record with heritage rock stations," said Tom Land, director of radio programming for the Journal Broadcast Group. "Steve is a great addition to our Omaha team, and our group."

Brill replaces Lester St. James, who left the station in October. St. James told Radio and Records that it was an "amicable parting."

Jim Timm, KEZO's station manager, said Brill has a "stellar" track record of guiding stations to rating success.

"He's the perfect person to build on Z-92's heritage and dominance," Timm said.

Brill said he looks forward to working for Journal.

"I'm excited to take the programming chair at one of the few, dominant, heritage Rock stations in America," he said in a press release.

It's A Girl! For KLTQ's Shari Stone

KLTQ (101.9 FM) midday personality Shari Stone had a baby girl, Samantha Marie, on Dec. 29. It is her and her husband David's first child.

Beginning Monday, former KQKQ (98.5 FM) midday personality Alison Steele will fill in for Shari Stone. Steele, who left "Q985" last year to move to Chicago, will be heard from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Merlyn Klaus Bids Viewers Goodbye

Veteran WOWT (Cox Channel 8) sports anchor and reporter Merlyn Klaus signed off for the last time Friday night.

An award-winning sports journalist at the station since 1984, Klaus is leaving the business to take a position at The Steier Group, an Omaha-based development consulting company that specializes in serving non-profit organizations.

Klaus told viewers at the end of Friday's newscast, "I'm going to miss being here. It's been a great run. I'll say hello and goodbye to everybody and thanks for making it a great 20-plus years."

Klaus says one night in particular stands out from his career of reporting on hundreds of games and thousands of athletes.

"When Nebraska won the 1994 national championship, we were on the air live for three hours," Klaus said. "It was not only fun but it was a momentious occasion. At the time, we were the only one with a satellite truck and the only Omaha station doing an extensive postgame. I was back here in the studio and we just kept going and going and going."

Klaus said he will also miss covering University of Nebraska at Omaha and Creighton University sports.

"The guys there (at UNO) are so great to work with and the NCAA road trips with Creighton have been great too," he said.

An award-winning sports journalist at WOWT since 1984, Klaus began his broadcast career at WLS (ABC) in Chicago in 1977. His first job in Nebraska was at KDUH (ABC) in Scottsbluff, where he handled news, weather and sports reporting. He later worked as sports director at KHGI (ABC) in Kearney before coming to Omaha.

Klaus is the latest of several former Omaha TV personalities who have gone to work for The Steier Group. The list includes John Glenn (KMTV), Rich Roberts (KMTV), Sean McMahon (KETV) and Tom Elser (KETV).

Notes From the Laptop

Post-event media coverage of the Omaha Entertainment Awardswas likely not what organizeers had envisioned.

The Omaha World-Herald chose not to review Thursday's show, which recognized individual and group performances across three creative disciplines: Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Live Music.

WOWT's H2O DT station (Cox Channel 248) did broadcast the event in its entirety (more than three hours) from The Holland Performing Arts Center. But no TV stations outside of WOWT were on hand for the event and results of the awards show were not published on the event's website 24 hours after the show.

Reader columnist Tim McMahan posts a summary of the show and winners of the live music category on his blog, Lazy-i. Both The Reader and The City Weekly are expected to publish recaps in their editions next week, on newsstands Thursday.

Kearney TV Station Takes A Pounding

Small market TV can be rough at times. But things have probably never been this difficult for the news staff at Pappas Telecasting-owned KHGI (NTV) in Kearney.

An ice storm last Friday and Saturday that left behind tens of millions of dollars in damage to power poles and transmission lines in central Nebraska knocked out power to the station Saturday. Generators are running nonstop to keep the station on the air but staffers have had to deal with a bigger problem - falling ice.

The station's tower, which stands adjacent to the newsroom building, began shedding chunks of ice when temperatures first rose above freezing Sunday afternoon. Thursday, station engineers estimated there are more than 50 holes in the roof, with the newsroom suffering the most significant damage.

The newsroom is now off-limits and newscasts are originating out of the station's Grand Island Bureau, more than 50 miles away.

"Our concern, first and foremost, is for the physical well being for all our employees, including the subcontractors and people we have working to assist us," NTV General Manager Vincent Barresi told the Kearney Hub newspaper.

Staying safe meant evacuating the newsroom on Tuesday after a huge chunk of ice tore through the ceiling of news director Mark Baumert's office. Computers were moved out of the newsroom into a conference room and the station's lobby. While newscasts were still being delivered from the news set at that time, anchors wore hard hards on the air to protect themselves against the threat of more falling ice.

"It's an unholy mess," said Sara Linner, executive producer of new media at NTV. "They're plugging along as well as they can."

Linner said trash cans litter the building, collecting water that is leaking through the ceiling. Getting to and from the station is difficult since fallen power lines have closed the main road (Highway 44) from Kearney, doubling the 15-mile, one-way trip.

"We can't edit any tape, we can't access national video, our sound board is fried, we can't run supers and we can't make full page graphics except through the weather computer," she said.

A new computer Linner used to post news to the station's website was ruined by water and the fate of the station's archive tapes - which were also soaked - is still not known, she said.

Linner said the station has been fortunate that viewers have posted news and photos to the "Community Correspondent" section of the website. Nearly 50 photos a day have been e-mailed in and posted online.

"They're constantly sending in photos, even though they are dealing with their own hardships," Linner said. "We can't put them on the air like we normally would do, but they are online for everyone to see."

With one to three inches of snow forecast for Kearney today, it might get worse before it gets better.

"We'll deal with it," Linner said.

'Power 106.9' Commercial-Free Until Monday

KCTY's relaunch as "Power 106.9, Today's Hottest Jamz" means the station will run commercial-free until Monday.

The urban format station will be programmed by Bryant McCain, who is known as "Bizzy B" on the air.

NRG Media Operations Manager Mark Todd said the growth of urban radio is a trend across the country.

"We see a great opportunity for the radio station and its format in this market and it fits perfectly within the strategic alignment of our NRG Media stations," Todd said.

Time Warner Cable Will Carry New Fox Channels

An agreement between News Corp. and Time Warner Cable means TWC subscribers in Lincoln will get a pair of new FOX channels when they launch.

It is not known when the Fox News Business Channel and the Fox Reality Channel will make their debuts. However, the deal signed between the two parties Tuesday also extends its carriage agreement for Fox News Channel, meaning Fox will eventually have three channels available on TWC systems.

Terms of the overall business deal were not disclosed, but Fox News has been receiving an average of about 70 cents per subscriber per month in recent deals.

Jim McKernan Returning to Omaha;Takes Helm of NRG Media's Omaha Stations

Jim McKernan is returning to Omaha to become the general manager of NRG Media's seven Omaha radio stations.

No stranger to Omaha, McKernan's experience includes management stints at KPTM, the Journal Broadcast Group and KMTV. He returns to the city after a year as general manager of St. Louis radio stations KEZK-FM and KYKY-FM (CBS) in St. Louis

"I am very excited to join the team of broadcast professionals with NRG Media in Omaha," McKernan said in a press release Tuesday. "Their portfolio of radio stations is impressive. I am looking forward to help take the group to the next level of performance with listeners, advertisers and the community as a whole."

Known to KEZO (92.3 FM) listeners as "General Jim," McKernan served as Vice President and General Manager of the Journal Broadcast Group from 1996 to 2001. He left in March of 2001 to become Director of Sales at KMTV before ascending to the title of vice president and general manager of the CBS affiliate in April of 2002.

"I am thrilled to have someone of Jim's caliber joining NRG Media", said Chuck DuCoty, Chief Operating Officer of NRG Media. "When the Omaha opening occurred, our 'non-negotiables' included someone who was not afraid to make tough decisions, cluster management experience, integrity, an exceptional team-builder and a good communicator. In the end, we were not only describing what we were looking for, we were describing Jim McKernan."

McKernan is a former Director of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and has served on the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and the American Red Cross boards. He is past President of the Arthritis Foundation of Nebraska and the Radio Association of Omaha and Television Association of Omaha.

NRG Media's Omaha stations are KLTQ (101.9 FM), KOIL (1020 AM), KKAR (1290 AM), KOZN (1620 AM), KYDQ (1180 AM), KQKQ (98.5 FM) and KCTY (106.9 FM).

AT&T Cotton Bowl: Critiquing FOX's Coverage

The Reader's Media Notes reviews FOX's coverage of the 71st annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Monday in Dallas. Auburn defeated Nebraska, 17-14.

Check Your Facts: FOX play-by-play man Pat Summerall said Callahan was with the "Super Bowl Champion Raiders" when, in fact, Callahan's Oakland Raiders lost 48-21 to Tampa Bay.

Case of Mistaken Identity: Analyst Brian Baldinger mistook Nebraska linebacker Corey McKeon for quarterback Zac Taylor, telling viewers Taylor was lined up to attempt a punt block late in the game. McKeon and Taylor both wear No. 13.

Announcers Faked Out: Nebraska placekicker Jordan Congdon quick-kicked out of field goal formation. Cameras caught Congdon smiling and high-fiving after the ball was downed at the one yard line. But moments later, Baldinger said of Congdon, "The punter has put his helmet back on. He's gone back to being a punter." Dan Titchener is Nebraska's punter.

Online or on TV: FoxSports.com streamed the game live, for free. Fans will be able to purchase single-game highlights or a "Best of the Bowl Bash" highlight package that will feature the best plays from all five bowl games FOX will televise in one program produced exclusively for digital distribution.

Most Revealing Interview: At the end of halftime, Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville told sideline reporter Krista Voda, "We're trying to do much. I can't believe we're still in the ballgame the way we played on offense. We're a little embarrassed after this first half. We're going to play better this second half. We had too much time off to put too much stuff in. I've cut it all the way back. We're going to play football this second half."

Dreaded Glitch: Voda's microphone malfunctioned as she was interviewing Coach Bill Callahan on the sideline prior to kickoff.

Trying Too Hard: Summerall dredged up every possible cliche about Marlon Lucky's last name and used all of them on the Huskers' opening drive of the game: "Lucky, better than lucky," "Lucky is better than that" and "Still Lucky, let's see if he is."

Shades of Last Year: The first video review of the game, when running back Kenny Irons fumbled on a third quarter run. In last year's Alamo Bowl, a Sun Belt Conference officiating crew that took plenty of heat for its shaky performance, including several plays that should have been reviewed but were not.

Shades of Last Year II: When "indisputable video replay evidence' showed Irons was down before he gained a first down that would have allowed Auburn to run out the clock. Callahan had already removed his headset and was preparing for the post-game handshake. Instead, Nebraska got the ball back for a final chance to tie or win the game.

Best Play Not Replayed: Fox Sports cut off the replay too early when Auburn receiver Courtney Taylor had an official's flag thrown into his facemask on a third-quarter pass interference call.

Best Observation: Baldinger correctly noted that Nebraska was ineffective when it tried to use a hurry-up offense. "Every time they've rushed a play today, it has backfired."

Best Comment: "He was the guy jumping over the huddle. Now guys are jumping over him." - Baldinger, talking about Nebraska defensive back Cortney Grixby's inability to defend the pass.

Check the Pronunciation Guide: Summerall had problems pronoucing the last names of Grixby ("GRIZ'bee" and "GRIGS'bee") and Maurice Purify ("Puri-FEE"), while Baldinger referred to former Husker Coach Tom Osborne as "Oz-BORN."

Best Views: A pre-game shot of Grixby leaping into the middle of the Huskers' huddle and a field-level view of Summerall and Baldinger in the Cotton Bowl stadium press box high above.

Omaha's KCTY (106.9 FM) Becomes'Power 106.9: Today's Hottest Jamz'

KCTY (106.9 FM) is now "Power 106.9, Omaha's Hottest Jamz."

The change was made Friday at 3 p.m., when NRG Media pulled the plug on its "BOB FM" format on 106.9 FM and rebranded the Hip-Hop/R&B format of KLBR (97.3 FM) and its translator station, 107.7 FM. As of Friday afternoon, 97.7 and 107.7 FM were simultcasting KCTY's signal.

Of the former "Hot 107.7/97.3" on-air lineup of personalities, only three are listed on Power 106.9's new website: "Hot Boy" (9-10 a.m.), "Bizzy B" (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) and "Mista Soull" (6 p.m.-10 p.m.) No mention is made of "Russ Parr," "P Minor," "Big Alo," "Big Tigger," "Houston," "Pappa Gattor," "Walt Baby Love" or "Marcey Projex."

The station's "411" section reads:

"It was almost four years ago to the day that Hot 107.7 and 97.3 was born. One thing that held us back was power. We didn't have the power for everyone in the metro to hear what we were doing. It is a new day in Omaha - and as of now - we've got the power. Today, Hot 107.7 and 97.3 moves to 106.9 in honor of this new found power, we're introducing you to the new Power 106.9."

The station's on-line playlist includes music from artists such as E-40, Yung Joc, Lloyd Banks, Chop Suey, Lionel Richie, Shareefa, Manish Man and Johnta Austin.

NRG Media Vice President of Programming Mark Todd could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. On Thursday, Todd said the BOB format was not resonating well with listeners and that Connisseur Media had taken out a permit to "construct" a new radio station on 107.7 FM.

ConAgra Foods New Year's Fireworks DisplayWill Be Shown at Midnight on Cox Channel 2

Cox Communications will ring in the New Year with a tape-delay broadcast of the ConAgra Foods fireworks display, beginning at midnight on Cox Channel 2.

This is the eighth year for the show that is billed as the largest New Year's Eve fireworks display in the region.

The 15-minute show is the final event of the 2006 Holiday Lights Festival, of which Cox Communications is a presenting sponsor.

Kevin Kugler Will Call Liberty BowlThis Afternoon On Westwood One

KOZN (1620 AM) "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" co-host Kevin Kugler will call the action at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl for the Westwood One Radio Network.

Today's game in Memphis, Tenn., matches Houston (10-3) against South Carolina (7-5). Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. CDT. In Omaha, the game can be heard on KOZN. In Lincoln,
KLMS (1480 AM) will carry Westwood One's coverage. The game will be televised by ESPN (Cox Channel 31).

Kugler, who will be paired with analyst Terry Bowden, is a three-time Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year. He will also work the 2007 Cornerstone Bancard Hula Bowl for Westwood One. The game on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. CDT annually matches the best collegiate seniors from around the nation.

'Bob' Format On 106.9 FM Signs Off Friday

Listeners tuning into KCTY (106.9 FM) Friday at 3 p.m. will no longer hear the "BOB FM" format that has been in place since May of last year.

NRG Media Vice President of Programming Mark Todd mentioned two factors which precipitated a change.

First, the format - a mix of classic songs from the 60s through the 90s, along with some current adult contemporary hits - was not resonating well with listeners. In the most recent Arbitron ratings, KCTY ranked in the bottom half of Omaha metropolitan area stations among listeners ages 12 and older.

The more immediate reason for the change, though, is Connisseur Media's permit to "construct" a new radio station on 107.7 FM, which NRG Media operated as its translator station for KBLR (97.3 FM) - more commonly known as "HOT 107.7/97.3 FM."

A translator station operates as a signal "relay," extending the range of the original radio station's signal into areas that cannot receive them otherwise. In the case of 107.7, the translator provided listeners in downtown Omaha with a chance to hear 97.3 FM, which operates off a tower northwest of Omaha near Blair.

Whether the music of "Hot 107.7" will be moved to 106.9 FM remains a question that Todd declined to answer Thursday. He also would not say whether the station's call letters - which remain from its time as "The City" dating back to 1999 - will stay the same.

The 106.9 FM frequency has seen its share of changes in the past two years. In March of 2004, KCTY switched to "Retro 106.9" with an 80s playlist. A little more than a year later (May 26, 2005), the BOB format made its debut.

"We did the research and it told us what Omahans want to hear," Todd said, when asked whether it was tough to decide between ditching "BOB" or the "HOT" format.

In the interim before the switch, "BOB" listeners are being encouraged to tune to another NRG Media station, KLTQ (101.9 FM), a move that some radio insiders say is an attempt to steer fans of the format to a similar one in the same ownership group.

The three on-air personalities on KCTY - Chuck Denver, "Emjay" and Ethan Stone - will continue to be employed by NRG Media, Todd said. They were informed in early November of the changes.

"They were just voice trackers on the BOB," Todd said. "Emjay and Chuck will continue to do work for Waitt Radio Networks and Ethan is now doing part-time work on KGOR (99.9 FM)."

WOWT News Director Works From HomeAs Battle With Cancer Intensifies

The newsman in WOWT (Cox Channel 8) News Director John Clark perked up when a reporter reached him earlier this week to check on his health.

Rick Gevers of Rick Gevers & Associates, a talent representation firm based in Indianapolis, Ind., had reported on his website that Clark was losing his ongoing battle with cancer. The story encouraged readers to e-mail Clark with their well wishes.

"I've been battling non-Hodgkin Lymphoma for 11 years so the only thing 'new' is the fact that we're running short on options," Clark wrote in an e-mail to The Reader's Media Notes.

According to the National Cancer Institute, adult non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is a disease in which cancer cells form in the lymph system. Clark said he has undergone a variety of treatments for the disease, including chemotherapy drugs, radiation, surgery and even an autologus stem-cell transplant in 1997.

The next step, he said, is to explore the possibility of a bone marrow transplant.

"I've been fortunate enough to be able to work continuously, with the exception of a short period during that (stem-cell) transplant, until recently," Clark wrote.

Clark told WOWT staffers last week about the change in his condition, which necessitated cutting back on regular office hours. People who e-mail him at the station receive an automated reply which reads, "I will be out of the office until further notice."

Getting through this difficult time in his life, Clark said, would not have been possible without the support from a wonderful family, great friends and tremendous colleagues at the station who have kept things going in his absence.

"My wife of 37 years (Joyce) has been my 'rock.' There is not a better caretaker in the world," Clark wrote. "WOWT - in particular my boss Frank Jonas - couldn't have been better to me during all this. I can't tell you how much I appreciate their support."

Clark is approaching his 16th year as WOWT's news director. On Dec. 31, 1990, he succeeded Steve Murphy, who had worked as the station's news director for 20 years and at WOWT since 1949. From 1972 to 1978, Clark worked as a reporter for KMTV (Cox Channel 5) and WOWT.

Time Warner Cable Deal With NFL NetworkDoes Not Apply To Lincoln TWC Subscribers

Though the National Football League offered up a free week of NFL Network programming to the New York division of Time Warner Cable, subscribers in Lincoln are not able to take advantage of the deal that would allow them to see a pair of bowl games involving teams from the Big 12 Conference.

Earlier this month, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league would offer the NFL Network free to Time Warner Cable and another provider, Cablevision, from Dec. 24 to Dec. 30. That would allow customers to see Kansas State play Rutgers in the Texas Bowl tonight and Minnesota against Texas Tech in the Insight Bowl Friday night.

The state's two largest newspapers, the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star, both published a story out of New York stating that Time Warner had reached an agreement with the NFL to carry the network on its digital service for the week.

But that agreement only applied to Time Warner Cable subscribers in the New York area, said TWC Public Affairs Manager Ann Shrewsbury.

NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky said the network offered the free preview to New York-area subscribers "to appease the New York residents who don't have a choice."

"There's a lot of high-rises and apartment buildings in New York that don't have the ability to get service," Palansky said.

Further complicating the issue for people in Lincoln was a news story that aired this morning on radio station KTGL (92.9 FM) saying tonight and tomorrow's bowl games on the NFL Network would be available to Time Warner Cable subscribers.

Shrewsbury said Time Warner Cable would like to carry the NFL Network, but the price ($137 million) is too high. The cost would have to be passed down to individual subscribers, raising rates to carry a channel that is not one of the top 25 cable networks, according to independent cable ratings systems.

"We don't feel like every customer should have to pay for this extremely high-priced programming," Shrewsbury said. "The eight games the NFL is carrying are the same ones that people got to see for free last year. Now they're making people pay for them and that cost is passed down to the individual subscriber."

That cost, Shrewsbury said, would be greater than some of the most popular cable networks currently available to TWC subscribers.

Time Warner Cable has received so many inquiries about the NFL Network issue that it has established its own informational website, www.nflgetreal.com.

"We encourage people to go on there and voice their opinion to the NFL," Shrewsbury said.

Matt Perrault Enters the Blogosphere

KXSP (590 AM) sport talk host Matt Perrault recently launched a blog to supplement his commentary on "The Big Show," which airs weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m.

Perrault's site, mattperrault.blogspot.com, joins several other Omaha and Lincoln TV, radio and print media members with blogs, including:

> KFAB (1110 AM) talk show host Tom Becka
> KFAB talk show host Scott Voorhees
> The KFAB morning show team
> "Mookie" from "The Morning Brew" on KQBW (96.1 FM)
> Steve Lundy, morning show co-host on KXKT (103.7 FM)
> KETV (Cox Channel 9) weekend meteorologist John Campbell
> KETV weekend sports anchor Matt Schick
> KETV anchor Julie Cornell (better known as "Julie's Diary")
> KMTV (Cox Channel 5) weekend meteorologist Dean Wysocki
> Lincoln Journal Star sportswriters who cover the Huskers
> KKCD (105.9 FM) morning host Steve King
> KGOR (99.9 FM) midday host Liz Adams
> KGOR afternoon host Drew Bentley
> KGOR morning host TJ

Gerald Ford Birthsite Full Of Activity

President Gerald Ford's birthsite was a popular place for local and national media Wednesday.

Fox News Channel hired a Kansas-based satellite truck to provide "static" live shots from the site at the corner of 32nd & Woolworth Avenue from 6 a.m. through the early afternoon. WOWT (Cox Channel 8) was also on the scene early Wednesday afternoon, as a handful of people wandered the grounds, some of them laying flowers in front of the monuments honoring the nation's 38th president.

The three-story, 14-room home where Ford was born was razed in 1971 following a fire. In 1976, Ford visited the site as construction of the birthplace was underway. In 1977, the birthsite was dedicated. The following year, a rose garden was added in honor of former First Lady Betty Ford.

In 2005, KETV (Cox Channel 9) reported that several of the stone monuments at the birthplace were not updated, listing President Clinton as president, Mayor Hal Daub as Omaha's mayor, etc. The monuments have since been updated.

Omaha World-Herald Subcribers Wonder:Who Gets The Tip?

More than one Omaha World-Herald subscriber has e-mailed The Reader's Media Notes this week to ask how tips to World-Herald newspaper carriers are distributed.

Since the Omaha World-Herald eliminated carrier collections years ago, individuals who renew their subscription via mail have the opportunity to designate a "Tip for Carrier" amount on their renewal notice.

However, if a subscriber has a seven-day subscription that includes the weekday morning edition, they likely have two different carriers - one of whom is delivering the newspaper five days a week and the other two days (Saturday and Sunday). This led to the question of how the "tip for carrier" amount is split between the two carriers.

One reader said she phoned the World-Herald and spoke with a woman in the newspaper's circulation department who didn't know the answer, but "thought maybe it was split in half."

The official word on how the carrier tip is divided comes from Joel Long, World-Herald public relations director.

He says the newspaper's circulation computer system automatically splits the tip equally between the two carriers.

"If a reader wants to tip one more than the other they will need to tip the carrier directly," Long said in an e-mail.

AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Broadcast Coverage

A fan's guide to Monday's 71st AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic:

On TV: Television coverage by FOX (Cox Channel 10). Kickoff at 10:40 a.m. CDT. This is the ninth consecutive Cotton Bowl to be broadcast by FOX.

About the Broadcast Team: Pat Summerall will handle play-by-play, Brian Baldinger will do analysis and Krista Voda is on sideline duty. Summerall first called the Cotton Bowl in 1964 for CBS with the legendary Chris Schenkel. He was also analyst for the 1967 game between Georgia and SMU - the only time the bowl game was played on New Year's Eve.

On the Radio: The national radio broadcast (KOZN, 1620 AM and Sirius, Channel 144) will originate on the Westwood One Radio Network, with Brad Sham handling play-by-play and Terry Bowden on color. The 51-station Husker Sports Network will broadcast the game with Jim Rose on play-by-play, Adrian Fiala doing color, Randy Lee contributing from the booth and Matt Davison on the sidelines.

Coverage Guidelines: TV stations are limited to one sideline camera. Highlights must be credited "Courtesy of CBAA/FOX Sports." Highlight packages cannot be more than five minutes in length and no video, audio or photographs in any media are permitted to be published or broadcast while the game is in progress.

Nebraska's Cotton Bowl History: This is the Huskers' fourth appearance (1965, 1974 and 1980 were the previous ones). The 1965 contest featured former Nebraska Coach Frank Solich (No. 45, shown at right).

Here is a capsule look at Omaha TV stations' Cotton Bowl coverage plans:

KMTV (Cox Channel 5) - "Big Red Now"
Sports Director Travis Justice says a crew of four will arrive in Dallas Friday morning and begin providing live reports at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. that day. A special edition of "Sports Soundoff presented by Horseshoe Casino" will originate live from Dallas Sunday night at 10:30 p.m.

Live Coverage Friday: 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Saturday: 10 p.m. Sunday: 5:30 (dependent upon a newscast being broadcast), 10 and 10:30 p.m. (Sports Soundoff) Monday: 5 and 6 p.m. (taped report at 10 p.m.)

WOWT (Cox Channel 8) - "Big Red Extra"
Sports Director Dave Webber and "Sunday Sports Extra" host Ross Jernstrom arrive in Dallas Thursday and begin providing live reports that night at 6 p.m. Jernstrom says Big Red Insider Sean Callahan of HuskersIllustrated.com will assist with coverage and feature stories that will also be broadcast in WOWT's morning and midday newscasts. Because NBC does not broadcast any bowl games, WOWT will be first on the air with live post-game coverage in its 4 p.m. newscast.

Live Coverage Thursday: 6 and 10 p.m. Friday: 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Saturday: 5 and 10 p.m. Sunday: 5 and 10 p.m. Monday: 4, 5, and 6 p.m. (taped report at 10 p.m.).

KPTM (Cox Channel 10) - "The N Zone"
Sports Director JJ Davis will handle live coverage from Dallas, beginning Thursday night and continuing through to Monday. Davis and weekend sports anchor Jeff Radcliffe will produce a live, 90-minute pre-game special that begins at 9 a.m. Monday. Radcliffe says the program will include a one-on-one interview with Bill Callahan, as well as live interviews with Husker Sports Network play-by-play announcer Jim Rose and Cotton Bowl President Rick Baker. Because of FOX's coverage of the Fiesta Bowl, Monday's "KPTM News at Nine" will air at 6 p.m.

Live Coverage: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m. Monday at 6 p.m.

Longest Running Local News Guest?Rips Has Been Appearing On KMTV Since '94

For as many personnel changes as KMTV (Cox Channel 5) has made in the past dozen years, one thing has remained current: Nancy Rips. The Bookworm Bookstore's literary expert began making regular guest appearances on KMTV news programs in December of 1994.

Rips can currently be seen once a month on "Action 3 News at Midday" with Mary Williams. She is a past Volunteer of the Year award recipient from the Jewish Federation of Omaha, participated in a panel at this year's BookExpo America (the publishing industry's largest trade show) and annually organizes a book-themed New York City tour for Nebraskans.