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Missing Football Players Draw Viewers, Hits

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

The rescue of a missing boater and the search for his three companions off the coast of Clearwater dominated local television news Monday with WTSP, Channel 10, offering marathon of coverage in the afternoon.

The CBS affiliate blew off the soap operas with nearly four hours of live coverage of the rescue of Nick Schuyler, a former University of South Florida player, and the continuing search for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith, and Will Bleakley, another former USF player.

At about 11:55 a.m. Monday, WFLA, Channel 8, apparently was the first to report that the U.S. Coast had found the missing boater.

"We reported that our helicopter pilot, Judd Chapin, was hearing radio talk that the rescuers may have found someone," says Don North, news director for News Channel 8
Schuyler was found wearing a lifejacket and clinging to a capsized 21-foot boat. Chapin's helicopter video, including Schuyler being removed from a rescue basket on a Coast Guard helicopter, generated more than 11,200 views on TBO.com by 4 p.m. Monday.

The story of Schuyler's rescue unfolded during midday newscasts on all broadcast stations as well as cable's Bay News 9, which had extended coverage.

But CBS affiliate WTSP decided to go the distance while other broadcast stations continued with online coverage.

"We just felt so many elements of this story were coming into play that we wanted to keep the coverage going," says Darren Richards, news director for WTSP's "10 Connects."

He says that from about 12:30 p.m. to just after 3 p.m. there was enough new information from the Coast Guard, the hospital and the Schuyler family to make it worthwhile.

"We also were streaming live coverage on our Web site and we peaked at about 8,500 views," he says.

There was a glitch in the WTSP coverage - an erroneous report that Cooper had been found. "We got a tip that turned out to be incorrect and we apologized for that mistake," Richards says.

This is not the first time that "10 Connects" has offered extended live coverage of a breaking news story. The station went long recently when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released linebacker Derrick Brooks, tailback Warrick Dunn, linebacker Cato June and wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard.

IDOL THOUGHTS: What's wrong with "American Idol?" Just about everything, according to the negative online buzz from fans, bloggers, TV critics and just about anyone with half a brain and access to the Internet.

The number of "Jump the Shark" moments this season is hitting an all-time high as ratings continue to slide.

Nielsen Media Research says Season 8 is down 8 percent in the total audience from last year and 14 percent in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic (a bad sign, because this is the crowd that might buy "Idol" music and attend concerts).

The show still averages 28 million viewers, but those who are tuning in seem disappointed.

Tonight, another 12 perform live. On Wednesday night, viewers must suffer through a slow "reveal" show to find out which three will advance.

A two-hour "wild card" round on Thursday episode brings back all the previously eliminated semifinalists for a second chance. Three of them will round out the top 12.

I'm getting bored just writing about this process.

SNOW JOB: Tampa's Brittany Snow, 22, is in line for the lead in a "Gossip Girl" prequel series to air on The CW next season. Snow, who starred in NBC's "American Dreams" and was in "Hairspray" and "Prom Night," will play young Lily van der Woodsen, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The prequel will be set in the 1980s when Snow's character is living with her onscreen sister, Carol (Krysten Ritter), after falling out with her parents.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"Reaper," 8 p.m., The CW

This offbeat comedy about a reluctant bounty hunter for the devil (Ray Wise) returns for 13 episodes.

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