To me that was what she was. I will not call her anything more than an anchor. I am referring to KSN anchor Anita Cochran who had been with the station for over 20 years and signed off for the final time Tonight. I could have titled the post, "The End of an Era," but to me that means success and overall accomplishment. I never really got that feeling watching over the years. I could have wrote, "The End of a Legend," but I do not feel that works either. I don't think you write "Era," and "Legend," just because someone has been at a station for over 20 years, unless they have earned it. I do not believe she has. They are, I think, in 3rd place in Wichita and I think her moving out of the main anchor chair is a great thing for KSN. Tonight's show was actually a little less cheesy than I would have expected for someone like her. Dave Freeman of course had to get all reflective and gave her a "Weather Geek", or something like that, kit. Overall I thought it could have been worse.
KSN Future: As to the future of KSN, Stephanie Bergman is moving to Anita's chair and I think that is a great move. Along with her on the desk is John Snyder who most recently worked in North Carolina. I do not know much more than that other than he has had some network stints over the years. I think it will be exciting to see this new pair and see if they can bring some positive reaction for the station. I think Stephanie has a very positive reputation so that should really help the main anchor desk and if her and John can interact well, they might have more people watching.
With Stephanie leaving the morning show, I am curious as to who will replace her. -Hal
Update: Thanks for the e-mails and comments who say the new KSN line-up will be as follows:
Morning and Noon: Anne Meyer and Mark Davidson
5PM -Stephanie Bergman and Anthony Powell
6PM - Stephanie Bergman and John Snyder
10PM - Stephanie Bergman and John Snyder
Weekends - Josh Witsman and Dana Hertneky
New Poll: Please vote in the new poll on whether you think the changes will help KSN's ratings.
Update 4-27-09 10:30PM: The new look KSN anchor duo completed a full slate of shows Today along with Yesterday's 10PM. I think there is some good chemistry between Snyder and Bergman. Tonight I also liked the moments between Snyder and Kobbe. I think there could be some fun moments. It will be interesting to see what happens in the ratings in the months to come. I think KWCH will remain #1, less for their reporting and more so because of Roger and Cindy. I will be curious, however, to see if the gap between KAKE and KSN diminishes and we'll see a competitive race develop for 2nd in Wichita. -Hal
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56 comments:
You hit the nail on the head, Hal. Anita's problem is that it was always quite clearly all about her. She couldn't get along with a single co anchor that was placed with her. Her delivery was over dramatic and arrogant. And I agree with the commenter on the previous post. It appears she did her own tribute! Who does that???
I believe Ms. Cochran probably would never even have been given the anchor seat in the first place if it weren't for daddy Steckline.
KSN's future is only brighter without Anita Cochran. Now if only they'd can Dave Freeman, they might have an even better chance at running up their ratings.
Anne Meyer and Mark Davidson take over the morning desk Monday. Anthony Powell will be anchoring the 5 with Stephanie. And Josh Witsman and Dana Hertneky will be anchoring the weekends.
I am excited to see how everyone does.
KSN is doing everything right. EXCEPT getting rid of Dave Freeman. His arrogant cocky demeanor is just as bad as Anita's was, if not worse. He does not have a good reputation in the community or even within his own station. Put Leon Smitherman or Mark Bognar in there and you've got a winning combination. Mark and Stephanie back together at night? I think people would definitely enjoy a refreshing down to earth team on the nights vs. Mr. and Mrs. DIVA we've had for the last 10 + years!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ...once No. 3 always No. 3.
I personally don't see the need to be so rude. Oh, I guess it's OK to be rude on the Internet - my bad. I'll just have to get my news off the web - there truly is nothing left on television - especially NBC any more. I enjoyed Anita's newscasts and watched KSN only to see her. I think the weather is completely overdone - and could care less about sports. Anita made me feel like we were neighbors. I'm just glad I don't go to many of these blog areas where I have to read how nasty the people of Kansas can be.
So who will be left to report. It seems they are pulling a lot of their reporters off the street and most have minimal anchor experience. What are they thinking?
Anon 1005, You say the new anchor choices on KSN have minimal anchor experience. That's not exactly true. They may have minimal anchor experience in Wichita, but most have had it elsewhere. On the weekends, Dana Hertneky anchored for the Wichita Fox affiliate a number of years ago when KSN produced it. However, I am not sure of the experience of her partner Josh Wittsman, but I saw him anchor solo Tonight and thought he did a solid job and as good as Denise on KWCH. As for the morning team, Anne Meyer has anchor experience in other towns, while Mark may be new to anchoring news he has of course anchored sports. The transition might take a little time, but I think his style from sports should translate well to a morning show.
Anon 1005, as for your comments on reporters, that might be a minor issue, but I would assume on a daily basis one of the morning anchors would do some sort of a story for the day, Anthony would contribute to 10PM and the weekend crew would report on the days they work during the week.
NBCs across the country are already writing off their 10PM CST/11PM EST shows due to the pending Leno Talk Show disaster lead-in 5 nights a week. Every Net affiliate will get a 1 or 2 night a week Prime Time Lead Boost EXCEPT NBC. So KSN will be in the Toilet no matter what at 10 PM. I think they have an opening at 5 PM and 6 PM.
KWCH is the safe, boring #1..KAKE is the sensationalist distant #2 alternative. KSN HAS been the "we scream, too" 3rd wheel. Doomed to failure.
If KSN can do some serious journalism, heavy promotion, switch out Freeman for a non-screamer, and give more than lip service to the Web....I think they will get a serious second look from the market. Not saying they will win. But there's a window there for serious opportunity.
Anon 1120: I agree. Freeman needs to go. Smitherman or Bogner in that position would do fine.
You're left with Kozak and Rudd to round out weather for weekends/noons/mornings depending on who takes the top spot.
Or you bring in someone from the outside that would be a good counter for Stephanie. What about a woman chief? THAT would be interesting. KSN sure needs some eye candy.
What are they doing with sports now that Mark is gone from it?
9:03AM,
You mention how Freeman needs to go and let either Bogner or Smitherman be the replacement and then you would have Rudd or Kozac round out the weekends/Noon/mornings. I was watching KSN this morning and there was weather warnings and weekend morning guy Dean Jones broke in. He was good. I read his bio and it sounds as he knows its smarter to have a Full-Time job in Pharmaceutical Sales instead of TV, but for a weekend moring meteorolgist he is good. Actually he is better than Andrew Kozac in my opinion.
It's Kozak, not Kozac and I think he actually does a very good job. I have never seen Dean jones on but read his bio and he seems pretty smart.
I agree with the previous statements that Freeman needs to go.
Lots of tornadoes then lost of rain and flooding. I thought KWCH had the best coverage at ten, followed by KSN and then KAKE.
Nice try KSN but I'll take Roger and Cindy any day of the week.
Anon 9:03
I know what you are saying about eye candy & totally understand. But unfortunately this isn't the early '90's when eye candy was a must. Today we finally are seeing female reporters for their skills rather than their looks.
Wichita has some reporters (male & female) that are heavier than you would expect, as well as some who are not the best looking, but dang they are good in what they do, so who cares? On the other hand, IMHO we have some lookers who are bad!
There have been some nice looking ladies, but all professional's in KSN's past. Melissa Beck & Laurie Roberts were 2 that come to mind and were swept away to bigger markets. There have been others like Grace Hargis, dang she was hot!
But in the end it isn't about eye candy as nice as it is. It is about who we feel comfortable getting our news from.
And by the way, I have always thought Anne Meyers has a really cute smile and a great rapport with the other on air talent!
It seemed to be the Bergmann show and Snyder was just along for the ride. The shows looked very 90's ish. Even the graphics are kind of mid-nineties.
Doesn't the Fox 9pm newscast usually have better numbers than the KSNW 10pm newscast??? That's a bad sign right there.
KSN has a chance when they had Paul Petite(sp) as anchor but he and management let anita run over him and over shadow him
Definitely a formidable attempt by KSN. It's hard to overcome history, but they're definitely a player. Give them credit.
Anon 4:08.
Petite did not have a good TV news demeanor. Its yet another example of poor talent decisions in KSN's past. He was more fit for a cable shopping channel or better yet one of those local used car commercials.
As a viewer, I was not real excited about this combo, as I personally have never cared for Stephanie in the morning. Mike & Jamelle are my choice.
However, I have been surprised.
I think the new Channel 3 morning has improved. I think Anne & Mark are very good already and as their on air chemistry grows, so will the viewership.
I also like the new combo of Stephanie & John in the evenings. At least it isn't the I am "Anita Cochran look at me" show anymore! However, I feel John has a much stronger presence than Stephanie. I do think her on air persona is much better with John though.
I will agree with anon 10:42 it does seem to be the Bergman show with John along for the ride. Something it should not be. Hopefully they will build on Johns strengths.
I personally would like to see Channel 3 give 10 & 12 a run for the money!
I am loving Snyder. I would agree that Stephanie needs to go. I think someone a little older and thats voice isn't so pushed would be good. Most of their, KSN's, weather team should go. Leon would do go as chief but they should try to get Ross Janssen from KWCH. He is by far my favorite out of all three Wichita stations.
KSN kicked butt tonight with tornado video out west. Whether or not they're number one, they're surely performing like one lately. Good for them. Competition is always a good thing.
Anon 9:46,
ARE YOU HIGH!
KAKE had the only tornado video at 10 from out west--was live with it at 7
KAKE had live video during the tornado last night... nobody else did! I thought their coverage was way better than 3 and 12.
I really like KSN's new evening anchor team. I think that they have a shot at overtaking KAKE as no 2 but it will take some time.
It was video of a superstorm thunderstorm, not the tornado that KSN had.
Wrong again. Aja Vickers got video of the tornado near Garden City.
wrong again--KAKE had tornado live on the ground at 7pm...broke in briefly on KAKE--but did most of their cutins on garden city station.
And it's called a "supercell" not a superstorm. Anon 11AM don't you ever get tired of being wrong?
I sure am glad Rebecca Gannon didn't die from Swine Flu! Looks like somebody dropped the ball at KWCH Wednesday night! I'm sitting here watching the Fox News at Nine replay on MyTv and after Ayna pitches to break and the screen fades to black you hear Rebecca Gannon talking to Jen Bates about something that has to do with her going to visit her mother on Saturday but she couldn't because she was "dying with Swine Flu." You then hear the floor director yell for Jen to give them a mic check. All in all the mics were left on for probably about 30 seconds. I'm not sure if that went out over the 1st run Fox broadcast but it sure did on the replay. Who's checking the Fox broadcast over at KWCH before it gets put on air???
Could someone at Channel 3 please help Stephanie out with her wardrobe? The huge fisherman's jacket's she wears have got to go!
Hey Hal. It looks like KSN killed the Dave Freeman dog and pony show at the beginning of every newscast. Thoughts?
Oversight on Fox? Have you seen the trash they put over the air? And I'm not just talking about the news product. There can't be any oversight if they let Rebecca Gannon and Ayna on air.
Obviously the weatherfirst was considered a failure.. I think Freeman used sparingly and just for weather might be ok... But using him to open every newscast was a terrible idea.
The problem with dumping Freeman is he's the most known personality at KSN. If you get rid of him, the station has nobody you recognize while the other 2 stations have names everyone knows who doesnt even watch news regulary in Kansas.
FOX Kansas and MyTV control the rebroadcasts. Since it didn't show up during the 9pm airing, the problem was on their end, not KWCH's.
Good work by KSN and KAKE on covering the New Albany storm. Where was the "Cornerstone" KWCH? Hmmmm. A lady died, but no KWCH. I guess they let KCTV do their work for them.
Neither KAKE nor KSN sent a crew to New Albany. It's out of the viewing area. You are lying. They relied on KSHB and KMBC.
KWCH had more coverage on the storms than anyone. Sounds like someone is jealous and lying to make up for a lack of coverage.
I think the new main anchor team on KSN is working. John is getting used to the market, but in time I think he will get the hang of all the city and town names.
I do think he should be doing the 5pm with Stephanie though. Anthony Powell, while a great reporter should stay out in the field. I still think Dave Freeman should have hit the road with Anita though.
The AM team is good. Anne and Mark seem to have something really good going there. Gives KAKE a little run for their money.
What are they going to do about replacing Mark Davidson on the weekend news now? Only 2 people on their sports team? Jim Kobbe is well respected and I like him. And what happened to Andrew Kozak? I liked him too.
Just noticing a lot of changed over at KSN. Right now, it seems KWCH has the most solid product, with KSN catching up. Not so sure about KAKE these days...
KSN AND KAKE did send a crew out to New Albany. Trust me I DO know because I was out there.
KSN's anchor teams have no chemistry. Everything seems forced.
It seems 8:25 is a KSNer trying to buck up the new teams already. And you are doing it on a website that we all need to admit is dying. Hal posts about once a month now. It seems even he has given up.
Anon 9:25: Either you are trying to incite an argument or you are just plain clueless. Very likely, it's the latter. I can't speak for KSN, but KAKE most certainly did send a crew to New Albany. Again, you are the same KWCH jerk who gives everyone else who works there a bad name. But, then again, much of the KWCH crew is a bit too snooty for my taste, anyway. Cheers!
Anon 8:25 am works for the Eagle
Maybe Hal got a real job. Is the dub business booming again?
Or maybe the courts let you back in to help "coordinate".....
Anita's commencement address to WSU. Unbelievable.
http://www.anitacochran.tv/
Awful, awful, awful speech.
Uh.... why is Anita Cochran giving a graduation speech anyway.
Shame on her, and shame on WSU.
They robbed graduates of what should have been a memorable moment.
In response to Anita's speech @ WSU; I'm surprised they didn't wait to have graduation at the new Intrust Bank Arena. I KNOW that the roundhouse wasn't large enough for Anita to get her big head in there.
I disagree. I think she was smart, professional, and good at her job. I'm into getting into the personal lives of figures we see on tv. Plus, every encounter I've had with her personally has been a delight.
OMG..ANITA giving a Commencement Address? at an alleged University???? This is just AMAZING. I mean for those few of us who held out hope that WSU is not a complete joke--we were WRONG! Why in God's name would anyone who is not a Basketball player who can't get into KU--even THINK of attending WSU. Seriously, is there ANYONE who thinks this is a new LOW--even for WSU???
Hal, did you happen to catch the Fox broadcast on Wednesday's finale night? Wow, can we say train wreck?
Maybe Hal finally got laid.
KWCH leading its Fox newscast with a deer in someone's backyard? Wow, are they pathetic. That was embarrassing.
ATTENTION all news teams.
Will you all PLEASE quit your bitching about the weather to your weather guys? When it is 58 degrees after a 32 degree batch you love it. But when it is 58 in late May, you bitch.
Granted, it should be warmer, but we will have plenty of extreme heat to deal with later on!
Who has had the best coverage of the Abner trial? All three stations have basically been sharing a camera in court, but all three have different reporters giving insight on the court happenings.
They're sharing a camera in court because that's how it works... only one camera allowed. That's the case for all trials.
So it appears with the tiller death, KAKE broke in first, KSN brought in its main anchors and broke in 2nd and had the first reporter on the scene on camera atleast. KWCH has only done a scroll as of 12:35pm.
Safe to say KWCH is not being the dominant #1 covering this story this morning.
I would like to point-out that KSN is soooooo much more enjoyable now that Anita is gone.
If only they would replace Dave Freeman with someone who was more watchable & less of a freakin' drama queen!!!
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