Nashville Market

Jan 6th 2007, 10:14 PM

Does anyone have any information on the Nashville, TN market? I'm interested in a producer position there. Station rankings? Pay scale?

Any information would be appreciated.

SpxGrunt · Jan 7th 2007, 12:26 PM

Do you have a backpack?

LENSCRAFTER · Jan 8th 2007, 02:18 AM

Nashville is a very competitive market that has generated some well known talent.

You may not find pay scale etc... but this website:

www.nashvilletv.org

will give you a great historical perspective on the market.

Good luck.

RollTide98 · Jan 9th 2007, 05:18 PM

To nearly copy-and-paste my reply in Open Line...

Not sure on pay for producers, but as far as market rankings, I can help a bit there.

The race for #1 is between WSMV (NBC) and WTVF (CBS). A few years ago, 'SMV was placed in turmoil by management with seemingly no regard for the high value of the station's honored news department. Long-time staffers left for greener pastures... some of them even seeking refuge at third-place WKRN (ABC).

WTVF gained during this period, and a few years ago, swept all local news timeslots. I'm not sure if the sweep continues today. 'TVF will be in transition later this year as I understand veteran lead anchor Chris Clark is stepping down. From the outside looking in, the station's strength is divided between strong anchors on the desk and strong reporters in the field. Look at their bios... They've got good experience.

WSMV seems to have righted its course, and a little while spent on their website shows some strong story-telling on relevant topics. Also working in favor for 'SMV is a recently-hired news director with a reputation for wanting strong local content. I've worked for him before, and at least to me, he served as a motivator for good, competitive work. He served as both a reporter and a producer (and a one-man-band photographer, I think) on his way to management, so he has a good grasp of what it takes to make the product.

WKRN is the perennial #3 and recently converted to the much-discussed Rosenblum VJ format. Some at the station have embraced it. Others tried their hand at it and went elsewhere in disgust. If you're a producer, that may not affect your happiness as much as a reporter or photographer... Check out their content online, and see if you want to be a part of it.

WZTV (FOX) runs a local news department about which I know very little... But they are, or at least were, owned by Sinclair. Which means beware. The cable carriage dispute affecting several states is now the latest move by the company which could severely affect revenues at their stations.

[ January 09, 2007, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: RollTide98 ]

Diplomat · Jan 9th 2007, 07:33 PM

RollTide,

Good info on the market.

Chris Clark is retiring from WTVF this year and the 5 and 10 pm newscasts have new anchors. Chris cut back to anchoring only the 6 last year.

Since the VJ thing started at WKRN, they've also shuffled the anchor line-ups on all their shows. The only anchor still in the same place from a year ago is one of the morning co-anchors. Their longtime evening anchors were relegated to the 4 and 4:30 shows.

A couple of prominent reporters have jumped from 'KRN; one to 'TVF, the other to 'SMV.

Roy Hobbs · Jan 14th 2007, 09:37 PM

The Nashville Farmers Market has fresh produce!

Jan 28th 2007, 07:13 PM

Things are about to get real interesting in the Nashville market. Rumor is the CBS affilate has big plans for Super Bowl Sunday after the game... Hints as to what that might be in Sunday's Tennessee business section. Plus, they just won the news excellence Emmy for the third year in a row, and pretty much cleaned up in all the other major categories. That station must be on the move. What have you heard?

amp · Jan 30th 2007, 12:42 PM

My sister lives in Nash-vegas, er, Nashville, and every time I am there, I am impressed with WTVF. They get better every time. I've done some awards judging from Tennessee, and WTVF always sends good stuff.

Jan 9th 2007, 07:33 PM	#5
Diplomat Open Line Elite Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where I Am Posts: 22,790	RollTide, Good info on the market. Chris Clark is retiring from WTVF this year and the 5 and 10 pm newscasts have new anchors. Chris cut back to anchoring only the 6 last year. Since the VJ thing started at WKRN, they've also shuffled the anchor line-ups on all their shows. The only anchor still in the same place from a year ago is one of the morning co-anchors. Their longtime evening anchors were relegated to the 4 and 4:30 shows. A couple of prominent reporters have jumped from 'KRN; one to 'TVF, the other to 'SMV. __________________ \"I should sooner live in a society governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard University.\"<br /> William F. Buckley, Jr.

Jan 30th 2007, 12:42 PM	#8
amp Open Line Veteran Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: UC-Sunnydale Posts: 2,017	My sister lives in Nash-vegas, er, Nashville, and every time I am there, I am impressed with WTVF. They get better every time. I've done some awards judging from Tennessee, and WTVF always sends good stuff. __________________ But don't listen to the talk about having shows beamed directly into your brain. That's science-fiction nonsense. Shows will be stored in the pancreas and will enter the brain through the bloodstream after being downloaded into your iHole. --Joss Whedon

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Jan 6th 2007, 10:14 PM	#1
Seeking Info Guest Posts: n/a	Does anyone have any information on the Nashville, TN market? I'm interested in a producer position there. Station rankings? Pay scale? Any information would be appreciated.

Jan 7th 2007, 12:26 PM	#2
SpxGrunt Open Line Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cubbyhole Posts: 2,234	Do you have a backpack?

Jan 8th 2007, 02:18 AM	#3
LENSCRAFTER Open Line Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: NC Posts: 3,176	Nashville is a very competitive market that has generated some well known talent. You may not find pay scale etc... but this website: www.nashvilletv.org will give you a great historical perspective on the market. Good luck.

Jan 9th 2007, 05:18 PM	#4
RollTide98 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Birmingham, Ala. Posts: 474	To nearly copy-and-paste my reply in Open Line... Not sure on pay for producers, but as far as market rankings, I can help a bit there. The race for #1 is between WSMV (NBC) and WTVF (CBS). A few years ago, 'SMV was placed in turmoil by management with seemingly no regard for the high value of the station's honored news department. Long-time staffers left for greener pastures... some of them even seeking refuge at third-place WKRN (ABC). WTVF gained during this period, and a few years ago, swept all local news timeslots. I'm not sure if the sweep continues today. 'TVF will be in transition later this year as I understand veteran lead anchor Chris Clark is stepping down. From the outside looking in, the station's strength is divided between strong anchors on the desk and strong reporters in the field. Look at their bios... They've got good experience. WSMV seems to have righted its course, and a little while spent on their website shows some strong story-telling on relevant topics. Also working in favor for 'SMV is a recently-hired news director with a reputation for wanting strong local content. I've worked for him before, and at least to me, he served as a motivator for good, competitive work. He served as both a reporter and a producer (and a one-man-band photographer, I think) on his way to management, so he has a good grasp of what it takes to make the product. WKRN is the perennial #3 and recently converted to the much-discussed Rosenblum VJ format. Some at the station have embraced it. Others tried their hand at it and went elsewhere in disgust. If you're a producer, that may not affect your happiness as much as a reporter or photographer... Check out their content online, and see if you want to be a part of it. WZTV (FOX) runs a local news department about which I know very little... But they are, or at least were, owned by Sinclair. Which means beware. The cable carriage dispute affecting several states is now the latest move by the company which could severely affect revenues at their stations. [ January 09, 2007, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: RollTide98 ]

Jan 14th 2007, 09:37 PM	#6
Roy Hobbs Open Line Effete Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Between Gil, The Thrill and Kurtis, Bill Posts: 22,303	The Nashville Farmers Market has fresh produce!

Jan 28th 2007, 07:13 PM	#7
news424 Guest Posts: n/a	Things are about to get real interesting in the Nashville market. Rumor is the CBS affilate has big plans for Super Bowl Sunday after the game... Hints as to what that might be in Sunday's Tennessee business section. Plus, they just won the news excellence Emmy for the third year in a row, and pretty much cleaned up in all the other major categories. That station must be on the move. What have you heard?