Joe Webb, arguably Cincinnati's best TV storyteller, doesn't want to say much about this story: His HomeTown features have been canceled by Channel 9.

        “I'm proud of what we've accomplished,” Mr. Webb says. “I don't understand the decision, and I'm very disappointed.”

        Bob Morford, the former WLWT news director named WCPO-TV newsroom boss in April, has pulled the plug on Channel 9's terrific four-minute feature effective June 30. The 330 HomeTown features will be repackaged as one-hour monthly specials July through December.

        He also has removed Bill Price from the “Healthwatch” beat after 15 years; terminated Craig Kopp's movie reviews; and hired former WXIX-TV news director Karla Stanley as assistant news director.

        All the changes are being made with one goal: Making Channel 9 the top-rated TV news station, as it was two years ago. (Channel 12 has been No. 1 since 1999.)

        “Our core mission is to be the TV news you need to watch to know what is going on in this town,” says Mr. Morford, Channel 5 news director 1994-97.

        To do that, he wants veteran reporters Mr. Webb and Mr. Price back on the street full time. Mr. Webb and videographer Rick Schuldlos spend two days a week shooting HomeTown.

        “Joe and Rick are too valuable to be on a project that does not help viewers choose Channel 9 news,” he says.

        Mr. Webb dodged the bullet 18 months ago. General Manager Bill Fee cut the number of HomeTown originally while canceling the Know It Alls local game and Around the House in late 1999. (The House was spared when Jay Shatz agreed to do it as an independent producer.)

        Quality wasn't an issue for canceling HomeTown, the daily “good news” feature started on Dec. 1, 1997, as part of an E.W. Scripps corporate mandate to develop a positive news franchise. The problem was the station's sagging news ratings.

        “It's a fabulous production, but it's not helping us. It satisfies the viewers we already have. If we were No. 1, it would be fine. But we're not No. 1, so it's not fine,” he says.

        “Now I have three more minutes available to me in my news. Call me crazy, but people tune into a local newscast for two reasons: "Local' and "News.'

        “As much as we love it, and care about it, the reality is that HomeTown does not help people choose Channel 9 news,” he says.

        You may disagree. You could tell him how much you liked one station making a commitment to good news. Write to: Bob Morford, Channel 9 News Director, 500 Central Avenue, Cincinnati, 45202. Or e-mail Mr. Morford or Mr. Fee through www.wcpo.com.

        But don't expect your “Ask the GM” e-mail to be read on the noon news. That segment has been cut, too.

        Other changes:

        • Anchor Carol Williams, who moved to a day shift by request in 1998, will take over Healthwatch medical stories on Monday.

        • Mr. Kopp's movie reviews end July 31. The segments, produced by Jim Friedman, also air in Lexington; Toledo; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Palm Desert, Calif.

        • Marty Pinales' Monday “Know Your Rights” feature has been canceled.

        • Ms. Stanley, who helped launch Channel 19's news department in 1993, will run the day-to-day newsroom operation starting June 25. The former Channel 12 reporter has been the interactive content director for NBC's KXAS-TV in Dallas since April 2000. She left Channel 19 in December 1999.

        Mr. Morford says he will supervise the investigative I-Team. Previous news directors have managed the newsroom, and delegated the I-Team to an assistant.

        Andy after dark: Andy Griffith Show reruns, a lunchtime staple for years on WSTR-TV (Channel 64), have moved to 11 p.m.-midnight.

        “We want to ... give the Cincinnati viewers an alternative to news,” says Merry Ewing, Channel 64 general manager. “Now more people can enjoy the classic programs because viewing levels are higher in the evening.”

        People's Court airs at noon, followed by The Munsters (1 p.m.). Bosom Buddies, the old Tom Hanks-Peter Scolari show, airs at 1:30 p.m. weekdays.

        Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus has been canceled.

        Kiese-watching: We need to thank Channel 12 meteorologist Layne Mason, who not once — but twice — on the 11 p.m. Sunday news told us “the temperature outside.” He knew we didn't want to know the temperature inside.

        Around the dial: Pledge breaks return to WCET-TV during the Donny Osmond: This is the Moment concert (8 p.m. today, Channel 48), as the station tries to make up membership short falls from December and March drives. Pledging also has been scheduled June 27-30.

        “We had a couple of drives below goal,” says Phil Meyer, membership and marketing manager. “We're just trying to get membership as successful as the Action Auction was.”

        The Auction ended Saturday with a record $1.29 million. Channel 48's fiscal year ends June 30.

        Contact John Kiesewetter by phone: 768-8519; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jkiesewetter@enquirer.com.
       

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