TV Notes

WCAU newscast changes are officially in the works
The changes at NBC 10 are now official and, according to a press release from the station, will be rolled out over the next few weeks.

The 4 p.m. newscast will be renamed “All That and More,” will be anchored by Tracy Davidson, and will focus on consumer issues. Vince DeMentri will anchor the 5 p.m. newscast, which will feature stories from The Philadelphia Inquirer that the station claims will focus “on quality, not quantity - well told, in-depth stories that go beyond the sound bite.”

The 6 p.m. newscast will be anchored solo by Tim Lake and will “focus heavily on the big local news of the day.” The 11 p.m.newscast will remain basically unchanged with Lake and Renee Chenault-Fattah anchoring.

Renee Chenault-Fattah denies conflict of interest
In Laura Nachman’s column in Tuesday’s Bucks County Courier Times, NBC 10’s Renee Chenault-Fattah admits she sees no conflict of interest between her positions as news anchor and wife of a Congressman who may be running for mayor of Philadelphia. She also denied that her husband’s further political ambitions are the reason for the cutback in on-air time.

With regard to the conflict of interest, Chenault-Fattah states, “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 multi-year contract [Chenault-Fattah signed a new five-year deal], obviously feels the same way.”

So apparently everyone at the station is happy with the appearance of impropriety.

Quick hits
On Monday morning, NBC’s Today show featured Meredith Vieira
becoming a Rockette and performing in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

NBC has ordered full 22 episode runs of “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “Friday Night Lights.”

The CW has ordered up three more scripts of the noir-flavored detective drama “Veronica Mars” and teen soap “One Tree Hill,” virtually guaranteeing full season runs of the shows.

A reminder for fans of NBC’s “30 Rock” - the show moves to Thursday at 9:30 p.m. starting tomorrow.

On Friday’s “Las Vegas” (10 p.m., NBC) Jill Hennessy and Jerry O'Connell will be playing their “Crossing Jordan” characters in a crossover episode. Oddly, the new season of “Crossing Jordan” hasn’t made its debut yet. The show is expected to return to NBC’s Sunday night lineup in January after Sunday Night Football is over.