Orlando

[tralala]

Can anyone tell me about the market--how the stations stack up, compensation vs. cost of living? Should one consider buying a house there, or does the market dictate renting? And, you know, other than Disney Land, is it a fun place to live?

Thanks!

[Brain Cramp]

My question is: if you live in Orlando do you ever go to Disney World or Epcot or Universal a lot?

[LENSCRAFTER]

Orlando is a nice place to live... but the growth has been phenomenol. LOTS of new condo towers are going up downtown and the city continues to grow.

Unfortunately... roads are a MESS. The congestion is really bad. I-4 is a pain during the commute.

As for people living there and going to Disney, Universal etc. Certainly not everyday... but with so many park employees in the area... you usually know SOMEONE who can get you in for free or at a big discount.

For info on the tv market... one of the bext local sites in the country is www.rogersimmons.com (http://www.rogersimmons.com)

Lots of good tv in O'town. Good luck.

[Reed Street]

My knowledge of Orlando is mainly from watching the stations online or while visiting. I know one person in the market, but most of what I know about the market is common knowledge. And that is...

WFTV-9: Dominant ABC station, owned by Cox. I was stuck in Florida during one of the many hurricanes of 2004, and it was easy to see why this station is #1. Very solid coverage. Even after round-the-clock, non-stop coverage, the team was still running and gunning and doing a fantastic job. Their news is now in HD. Their shows are aesthetically pleasing, but they're still probably the least "flashy" in the market... and that's often a good thing. Not sure about morale... Call after hours and ask an insider.

WKMG-6: The CBS station that's been working hard to improve upon the bottom-dweller image it had during much of the 80s and 90s. They have a solid investigative reporter, and I like the anchors. Be aware, though, that their news is often driven by flashing lights, the shocking, and the bizarre. That's fine if that's your specialty.

WESH-2: A Hearst station with a good look and a lot of changes. Ratings have been slipping in recent years. Some people, like the Newsblues editor, have criticized the station for various reasons. Personally, I could take 'em or leave 'em. I wouldn't count on stability, though, as the station's got to do something to get the numbers back up.

WOFL-35: The hip FOX station with decent shows. During the hurricane, they were working hard, but the tenured talent from other stations seemed to have them beat on the trust factor.

Watch any of them online, and see what you think.

[tralala]

How about the real estate market? Should a new transplant even consider buying, or are prices still dropping, making renting a better idea?

[Mr G]

if you're going to buy, now's the time almost anywhere. great deals to be had.

[Al Jaffe]

Reed Street is correct in his assessment. So is the writer who complained about the traffic. In spite of that, it's a GREAT city.

I might add my own plug for Central Florida News 13. Maybe I'm biased, but I think News 13 is terrific.

[miss hap]

See I find Orlando anything but a community. It's not market size, DC has communities, San Francisco has communities,even Dallas has pockets of community.

Orlando has the Winter Park area (and that's pricey) but beyond that, in my 13 years of central Florida living I never found an area that felt like "home." It's like the 7-11 from 1983 should have an historic marker on it.

(If you don't mind a crap-ton of driving, I'd check out DeLand and the quiet charm Stetson Univ. offers.)

And I have no idea how the schools are in central Florida.

How's that for being utterly useless?

[LENSCRAFTER]

Here's an article that will really break down the Orlando Market for you.

The Orlando Sentinel (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/tv/orl-localtv07apr15,0,4817750.story?coll=orl-home-entlife)

[Signature on File]

"Oh! Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree"

[Roy Hobbs]

The Central City Market was voted "Best Take-Out" by Orlando Dining Magazine

http://www.centralcitymarketorlando.com/images/centralcitymarket3.gif