Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 28 > Entry
KXAN debuts new anchor, CBS cancels new show
KXAN welcomes Leslie Rhode (formerly Leslie Cook) back to the anchor desk tonight on the station’s 5, 6 and 10 p.m. local news.
As previously reported, Rhode (pronounced “roadie”) worked for Austin’s NBC station from 1995 to 2003. She and her husband Patrick moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked in the Bush White House and she landed a job as a reporter for WJLA.
That was then; this is now.
Rhode, who will co-anchor with former partner Robert Hadlock, unfortunately returns at a time when KXAN is missing a big chunk of its audience — probably more than 50 percent.
The station, which is owned by LIN TV, dropped off of Time Warner Cable on Oct. 3 in a contract dispute over retransmission payments. The stalemate continues.
Talk about bad timing …
And by the way, I’m working on an update of the KXAN/LIN vs. Time Warner Cable fiasco. Here’s my question to you, blog readers: Are you still watching NBC shows? How about KXAN’s local news? If so, how are you watching: over-the-air, online, satellite? I’d love to include this info in my next article. Post a comment here or send to dholloway@statesman.com. Thanks.
CBS kills ‘The Ex List’
CBS has dropped the ax on its romantic comedy “The Ex List.”
No big surprise since the show aired on Friday nights, and nobody — certainly not the twentysomething and thirtysomething crowd this show targeted — watches TV on Friday nights.
Elizabeth Reaser starred as a lovelorn woman searching for a hubby among the throngs of deadbeats she has dated in the past. Reaser, you might recall, played the disfigured Ava on “Grey’s Anatomy” last season.
“The Ex List” lasted only four episodes. Its Friday time slot will be filled this week by a rerun of “NCIS.”
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment Categories: Local people on TV
Comments
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By sharon yankelson
December 9, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
I'd like to welcome back Leslie Rhode who I knew as Leslie Cooke! Leslie,I hope you remember me and the times we spend getting ready for the Nutrition News that I was part of on KXAN. I would love to hear from you and want you to know how happy I am to see you back in Austin with us. I'm still a loyal NBC/KXAN watcher!!! SY
By mark in austin
October 30, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this
i disagree kxan is wrong,time warner is a greedy outfit and they did the same thing with the nfl network,im glad i switched to direct tv and like the programs on kxan.good luck leslie,its funny how time warner loves to spin things they are just like politicans,never taking blame.
By TexIrishRose
October 29, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
I stopped watching KXAN news during the time of Michelle Valles. Never could stand her flirting with the camera. Okay so she's hot...big deal. Just gimme the news already. THANK GOD for Leslie Rhode! I missed the Leslie and Robert pairing desperately. I jumped ship to KVUE with the onset of the Valles Virus but will be switching back to KXAN now. Thanks for bringing class back to Austin, Leslie! We missed you!!!
By Glen
October 29, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
I watch news on a bedroom TV with antennae.
I watch shows I like online.
By Harold
October 29, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
"Are you still watching NBC shows?"
Yes, Heroes.
"How about KXAN’s local news?"
No. There are KVUE, KEYE, KTBC, and several News 8 Austin channels for local news and weather. I get mostly of my news from CNN and the local news from the Statesman website.
"If so, how are you watching: over-the-air, online, satellite?"
Heroes also airs on G4 after the NBC airing. I watch Heroes online if I miss it on G4.
KXAN going away was a non-issue for me. I like Heroes, but if it went off the air, I wouldn't be that upset about it.
By FNLFan
October 29, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
And while I'm thinking about it...welcome back Leslie Rhode! It was great to see you behind the desk again last night! You and Robert make a GREAT team and its nice to see you back in Austin again!!!!
By FNLFan
October 29, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Ok Diane, gotta give you your props......I believe it was you who said that the KXAN/Time Warner fiasco would get resolved before November sweeps. And what do you know, when watching KXAN News this morning, they welcomed back their Time Warner customers. Apparently a deal was reached last night (I'm in the Leander area and have had UVerse for almost a year now....FANTASTIC product from AT&T and significantly cheaper then Suddenlink or TW). You certainly called it on the KXAN/TW issue! All I'm wondering is who caved....TW or LIN?
By Jody
October 29, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
KXAN is back on Time Warner. I discovered it this morning.
By John
October 29, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
I was using rabbit ears to watch Heroes and The Office, but I noticed this morning that KXAN was back on TW Cable, just in time for the Sweeps period when advertising rates get set. Sounds like someone at LIN finally realized what a disaster they were making for themselves!
By dave
October 29, 2008 6:31 AM | Link to this
KXAN reported on their morning news today that they're back on TW Cable.
By HT
October 28, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
Since LIN pulled their stunt, I've not had any interest in watching any NBC shows now even though I used to watch a few.
Never watched KXAN news, I prefer KVUE.
As far as I'm concerned, they don't need to come back to TimeWarner. Maybe we can get a good station to replace it.
By Andy
October 28, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Pretty much ditto Stuart's comments. I blame LIN, since they pulled the same stunt with Suddenlink. I've been watching The Office with rabbit ears, and I'll watch 30 Rock when it comes back. I seem to have a mental block because I keep forgetting to watch Chuck, though I really like it. And SNL. That's really about it for me on NBC.
By Rebecca
October 28, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
The only show I am watching now is ER playing it back on the internet. I used to watch other shows and the news but it's just too much of a hassle now.
By snowed in
October 28, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
I'm watching short snippets of a couple of NBC shows online very occasionally, but really, I've discovered I can live without NBC for the most part, and without KXAN news at all.
KXAN/LIN will be in a world of hurt when sweeps start later this week.
By Joe
October 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
I'm watching all NBC shows online. With the HDMI connection from my computer, I can get pretty good quality picture and sound on the tv. Some extra pixellation or distortion when the signal isn't that strong, but nothing more than I typically experienced with Time Warner's KXAN connection.
As dirty as it makes me feel, kudos to Time Warner for standing firm on this. LIN needs to figure out another way to make some money than passing the buck onto the consumer (albeit via proxy).
By Tim
October 28, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
I refuse to use rabbit ears when I spend over $125 a month on cable with Time Warner. I haven't seen an NBC show in weeks and getting tired of it. I don't care who's fault it is. Point is that if I move to AT&T or satellite, I will have NBC. If I don't see the game Nov. 16, I am sure to move to another carrier.
By Stuart
October 28, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
I have been watching NBC shows online or via rabbit ears if I am home. I have not watched KXAN news since they went off the air. I am just not missing KXAN that much right now. It is a little bit of an inconvenience, but I think LIN is in the wrong here and hopefully they will get this resolved before the Cowboys play on Sunday night football Nov. 16, if not I will just go to a friends house or a sports bar. TWC vs LIN & Suddenlink vs. LIN, common link is LIN, it took about 2-3 months for that one to get straightened out, hopefully not that long this time.