The Buzz
The Buzz
CERTIFIED broadcast meteorologist Sharie Shima weathercasts her last for KITV-4 on Thursday. She gave her notice to station News Director Wally Zimmermann Monday. Changes in TV
faces and ratingsHe said they wanted her to stay.
"We offered her a contract -- but she chose to go," Zimmermann said.
Shima is going to KHNL News 8, where Vice President and General Manager John Fink said, "She's the consummate weather professional, recognized by viewers as Hawaii's premier weatherperson."
Zimmermann said weather anchor and reporter Ben Gutierrez will take over Shima's slot at least on an interim basis. He is to appear on KITV-4 news from Monday through Friday, as well as on the weather page of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Shima starts her new gig Monday, April 2.
The early word on ratings
The advance Nielsen Media Research TV ratings are out. The ratings, key in attracting advertisers, were immediately being spun by each station.
"News 8 showed the most growth of any station in 6 and 10 p.m.," KHNL/KFVE Vice President and General Manager John Fink said,
"The true battleground in TV is for demographics, not households.," Fink said. "Clients want viewers (ages) 18 to 54, people most likely to buy products and most likely to be influenced by advertising."
Mike Rosenberg, president and general manager at KITV, said that while the 6 p.m. news did drop a share point in February "actually my demographics are up from November."
"You can position the story however you want," he said, but said viewers of KITV and KHON are the most loyal news viewers. "They probably watch our stories more times a week then KHNL and KGMB's viewers."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4757, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com