Reporter Kevin Torres has left KDVR/KFCT & KWGN after 13 years in Denver TV news.

Reporter Kevin Torres, has left KDVR & KWGN,  the two stations announced his departure today.   

Kevin joined KDVR/KFCT 7 years ago after leaving KUSA & KTVD, after a speeding ticket while in a news car.  In his time in Denver TV News he has traveled the state, covering a variety of stories, his biggest story was that of 13 year old Dylan Redwine, the young teen that went missing in Vallecito, Colorado after a court ordered visit and was later found dead.  

He says that he will be taking on a position at Robert Half, a staffing agency in their corporate communications department.   

 

 

Photo: KDVR/KFCT

 

                 

Deborah Takahara has left Colorado's Own Channel 2--KWGN.

Anchor Deborah Takahara has left KWGN after 16 years, her last day on the air was March 23rd 2022..  She started out at FOX31 in 2006, but after the merger between KDVR & KWGN in late 2008, she eventually  joined the Channel 2 side of the operation in 2009.   

She is leaving TV News for a job with the United States Attorney's office in Denver, where she will be there media spokesperson. 

She started her carrier at KHBS-TV the ABC station in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, she then moved to other jobs at stations in Dallas ( CBS Owned & Operated Station KTVT), & San Diego (NBC Owned & Operated KNSD) before landing here in Denver.

We will miss having Deborah on the air, good luck in your new adventure.  

Here is the article & video from KWGN: https://kdvr.com/news/local/deborah-takahara-says-goodbye-after-28-years-in-news/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR1q8Sx2Pf-n8GkgqDznp3F3b26DJBvOhdGxcKrunS7QiSMrSsj1MrAL63E

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

TEGNA--KUSA & KTVD's parent company is being aquired.

Tegna Media the owners of KUSA & KTVD here in Denver & numerous NBC affiliates across the country as well as MyNetworkTV, CBS, ABC & FOX stations is in the process of being acquired by  Standard General for $5.4 Billion in cash. 

Standard General is headed by Soo Kim, they have recently--had interests in Young Broadcasting, Lin Media & Media General.  Young was merged into Media General, Lin Media & Media General were eventually sold to Nexstar Media group. 

At this point in time I don't see how KUSA & KTVD make it out of this, without becoming a much smaller operation.  I would love to see KUSA go to NBC Universal & make it an O&O, then spin KTVD off to a 3rd party-- I don't see it happening at this time.   

I feel bad for most of the Tegna employees, as usually big capital groups like this don't do much towards investment into the tv properties while they own them, already they have announced that some of the larger Tegna stations are going to be spun off to COX Media Group, the stations are all in Texas--KHOU 11 in Houston, KTBU 55 Houston WFAA 8 in Dallas  KPMX 29 in Dallas, & KVUE 24 in Austin, Texas.  

This is all subject to FCC & DOJ Approval of course!

So as they like to say STAY TUNED, it's about to get interesting.  

More here: https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2022/tegna-standard-general-sale-local-tv/

Here is the 9NEWS article announcing the sale: https://www.9news.com/article/money/business/tegna-acquired/73-bd3cff4a-cfc0-40da-b766-a1c780c913b0?fbclid=IwAR1pNDdAwqYs-OEijvEJolJIcBacG2ZPipSwNelUCaLr0G9rS5l6oMsk6tg

9NEWS & Channel 20 have been restored to DISH Network

After 120 Days and 58 Hours, Tegna & Dish have come to an agreement.  So most Tegna Stations were restored to DISH shortly after 5:00PM Mountain Time this evening.  

This is a long term agreement, and should get Tegna & Dish through whatever transaction might be coming for Tegna Media as a whole.   This also means that after 4 months and 58 Hours KUSA & KTVD have been returned to Dish Network customers. Along with Tegna stations across the country including many NBC stations who are airing the Winter Olympic Opening ceremonies tonight. 

This was one of the longest blackouts that Tegna & a provider have dealt with. 

 

    

 

 

 

Former Denver sports anchor Les Shapiro has passed away.

We are sad to pass along the news today that former CBS4 sports anchor Les Shapiro has passed away after a long battle with lung cancer.  He passed away this morning with his family around him, he was in hospice care for less than a week. 

 He worked at CBS4 for 15 years, before moving on to radio and FOX31.  

I remember him watching his sports reporting when I was growing up...  He will be missed!

Les Shapiro was 65 years old.  

 Les Shapiro 2021--from Westword via Les's Twitter account. 

 

Here is the full article and some pictures from KCNC TV, including some pictures from the former Rocky Mountain News.. 

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2022/01/29/les-shapiro-cbs4-sports/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%20Manual&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0SeHEQiLes_9rfD-xrV1krhDINGhDgQV41kSnva4kG1xB28jHGeUQZrYM

A Former Denver sports anchor has entered hospice care.

According to reports, former KCNC Sports director Les Shapiro has entered hospice care after a long battle with cancer.  

Les Shapiro was on KCNC from the early 1990s to the early 2000s, I remember watching him when I was younger on KCNC when it was an NBC O&O.    

After CBS4 he hosted a long running sports talk radio show here in Denver on ESPN Radio and later at Mile High Sports Radio called 'The Score'.  He also had a gig over at KDVR for broncos coverage for a time.  

He is currently living in Arizona, and according to KCNC-TV he doesn't have much time left.  

We send our thoughts & prayers to Les and his family during this time.    

 

Just a note to clarify:  Mile High Sports Radio is *Formerly KDCO-FM* (It is now heard on station: 98.1FM---K251CV Denver)

Here is the article about Les from Westword: https://www.westword.com/news/les-shapiro-hospice-denver-tv-radio-tributes-13306027 

And the news report from KCNC TV: https://denver.cbslocal.com/video/6191560-former-cbs4-sportscaster-les-shapiro-enters-hospice-care/

  Les Shapiro 2021--from Westword via Les's Twitter account.

 

Since we are discussing Les's career in broadcasting here in Denver lets throw in some old school logos & present logos just for the heck of it....   

   

(KCNC Logo--1992-1995  NBC Universal, LLC )

 

   

(KCNC Logo---Present, CBS Television Stations, Inc)

 

 

                                                                          

MAJOR WILD FIRE IN BOULDER COUNTY COLORADO---LIVE COVERAGE!

All of the Denver TV stations have broken away from network programing this afternoon due to the Boulder County Wild Fires.  KUSA Stayed on the air from the start of there Noon newscast.  CBS 4 went back on the air at 12:40PM.  KMGH went on at around 1PM, KDVR went on around 1PM & KWGN went on at around 1:20PM..     

A  75 MPH Wind Gust was reported at 2:30 at the NWS Office in Boulder (NCAR MESA LABS).  The NWS office is currently on Emergency standby generator.

HERE ARE THE LINKS TO LIVE WILD FIRE  COVERAGE FROM THE DENVER STATIONS...

 

  

(KUSA-TV Image)

 

(KUSA): https://www.9news.com/watch?vid=93a388db-6989-4790-a218-16b732ef8dc9 

(KCNC):  https://www.cbsnews.com/live/cbsn-local-den/ 

(KMGH):https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ 

  (KDVR): https://kdvr.com/live/fox31/

(KWGN): https://kdvr.com/live/kwgn/