Backchannelmedia

Charleston Daily Mail

By Matthew Thompson

The business of local television stations is a lot like the plot of ABC's hit show "Lost."

It's all about the numbers.

Last week, I reported that WSAZ-TV was the most watched station in Kanawha County, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The figures were a part of Nielsen county coverage ratings, which are a compilation of four regular ratings periods published once a year. The timeframes studied occurred in May, July and November 2005 and February 2006.

While WSAZ is the most popular in the county Sunday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m., WCHS-TV is most popular during the weekday newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

This fact was brought to my attention by WCHS Station Manager Harold Cooper.

"WCHS is still the clear cut top news choice in Kanawha County," Cooper said. "I think news is the most important. I don't want it to be perceived that WSAZ is the No. 1 news station in the county."

According to the Nielsen figures, WCHS wins the 6 p.m. time period in the county with 14,077 viewers, compared to 9,789 for WSAZ and 6,213 for WOWK-TV.

At 11 p.m., the station wins with 7,626 viewers, compared to 6,913 viewers for WSAZ and 4,274 for WOWK.

WSAZ station manager Don Ray said while his station falls behind WCHS for newscasts, the numbers are an increase in how WSAZ performed last year.

"Both stations are doing better," Ray said. "But now people are starting to recognize that we're up there. It's become a horse race."

I'm sure we'll be back at the numbers game when sweeps time arrives in November.

* n n

WSAZ-TV is adding a new face to its staff of meteorologists. Amy Katcher will join the station next week.

Katcher, 28, will replace Erin Jordan, who left in August for a job in Tucson, Ariz.

"I think she will really connect with people here," said WSAZ news director Maribeth Anderson. "I think she'll be fantastic."

A native of Solon, Ohio, Katcher comes to Huntington from Chattanooga, Tenn., ABC-affiliate WTVC-TV. She had also worked previously for WAGM-TV, a CBS affiliate in Presque Isle, Maine.

Katcher is a graduate of Kent State University, where she earned a degree in radio and television production.

She is a fan of classic rock music, including artists like Pink Floyd and The Who, according to her biography from WTVC. Her favorite movies include the 1997 cult classic "Office Space" and the 2001 science fiction thriller "Donnie Darko." She also likes indulging in the literary works of John Irving and Hunter S. Thompson.

Katcher's first day with WSAZ is Oct. 8.

Contact writer Matthew Thompson at matthewthompson@dailymail.com or 348-4834.

(c) 2006 Charleston Daily Mail. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.