Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
November 14, 2006

NBC10 officially announced what we reported two weeks ago – that it will be making changes to a few of its weekday broadcasts, with the biggest change being that Renee Chenault-Fattah will anchor one newscast instead of three.

At 4 p.m., Tracy Davidson will anchor a consumer-oriented hour called “All That and More.”  At 5 p.m., Vince DeMentri will anchor a newscast that will focus on longer pieces.  At 6 p.m., Tim Lake will anchor solo.  Then at 11 p.m., Renee Chenault-Fattah will join Lake for the final newscast of the day.

In an email, Chenault-Fattah wrote, “When it came time to renegotiate my contract, (starting in January 2007) I went to Dennis (Bianchi, the NBC10 general manager), requesting to do one show versus three.  That’s been my schedule for over a decade. My reasons were strictly personal--my girls are getting of the age (Cameron, 8 and Chandler, 3) where I really wanted to be home with them more.  

Finally, whether Chaka (Fattah, Chenault’s husband) runs for mayor or continues in Congress...he is super busy..I just felt like one of us needs to be around home more. I know the timing looks suspicious with his getting ready to run for Mayor...but I can honestly tell you my decision to do the one show was my request and it has nothing to do with him running for Mayor.  I know there has been a lot of speculation over whether if he runs for Mayor (trust me, he is) whether I can continue as news anchor.  I have never seen a problem.   I think people know that our news operation is balanced and objective.  If (when) there was to be a negative story about City Hall or let's say a “Mayor Fattah,” then this station, as aggressive as we are, would be out front on the story...as well we should be. So I have never seen a problem with a conflict of interest.  And the station by signing me to a multiyear contract (Chenault-Fattah signed a new five-year deal), obviously feels the same way."

Chenault-Fattah, who joined NBC10 in 1991, has been the weeknight anchor since 1995.

Not Every Democrat Won

Former Philadelphia weather anchor Craig Weber lost his bid to become a United States Congressman from North Carolina.  Weber lost by a 2-1 margin to incumbent Walter Jones.

Turkey Day

South Jersey native Kelly Ripa returns to the 6ABC/Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the fourth year in a row.  Other celebrities in the parade will be “Wheel of Fortune’s” Pat Sajak, Media’s Paul DiMeo of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition,” Renee Goldsberry of “One Life to Live,” “America’s Got Talent” champion and Philadelphia resident Bianca Ryan, and Paris Bennett and Ace Young from “American Idol.” 

Dave Roberts and Cecily Tynan will co-host the parade.