Lezak to switch stations; Channel 50 gains points with Pax

WDAF, Channel 4, general manager Stan Knott is going to be sorry to see Gary Lezak go. Buoyed by Lezak and his faithful companion Windy, Fox 4's morning show just had its best month ever, widening its lead over second-place KMBC, Channel 9. Between 7 and 9 a.m. WDAF averaged a 4.6 rating and 18 "share" (percentage of televisions in use) in November, compared with KMBC's 3.6 rating and 15 share with the slumping "Good Morning America. " (A rating point equals 7,910 Kansas City television households.) But Lezak will move to Channel 41 after his contract with Channel 4 expires at the end of the month. Because of a non-compete clause in his contract, Lezak, who would replace Lori Miller as chief meteorologist, cannot appear on KSHB for six months. Channel 41 probably wishes he could start right now. With NBC's national ratings in a tailspin, KSHB's 10 p.m. newscast has lost 12 percent of its audience in the past two years. Channels 4 and 5 increased viewers for their late newscasts. Other ratings highlights: When KPXE, Channel 50, changed owners last year, and its Christian programming gave way to infomercials, the station fell off the map - literally. Nielsen Media Research registered a zero rating for KPXE most of the broadcast day. But now, with the Pax TV lineup of family-friendly repeats, Channel 50 is back. It soundly beat family-oriented KMCI, Channel 38, in prime time and had only one "hash mark" (zero rating) all day. Its 2 p.m. repeat of "Eight Is Enough" shows signs of becoming a hit, topping channels 29, 38 and 62 during the hour. KSHB's locally produced 9 a.m. show, "Kansas City Today," averaged only a 1.0 rating in November. But that's the highest rating Channel 41 has gotten in that time period in years. Looks like KCTV's decision to move Katie Horner into the lead meteorologist's spot and give Gary Amble Horner's old assignment has paid off. Viewership was up for Channel 5's newscasts at 6 and 10 p.m., while it was down for the newscasts at noon and 5 p.m. Bliss anchoring again When Katherine Bliss left WDAF this fall to take a reporter's position at CBS-owned WBBM in Chicago, no promises were made that she would also continue to have anchor duties. But after the station's two weekend anchors left, Bliss began filling in behind the desk. Now, the Chicago Sun-Times reports, that gig will continue for some time. This week Bliss has been filling in for lead anchor Linda Maclennan on WBBM's nightly newscasts. To reach Aaron Barnhart, television writer for The Star, call (816) 234-4790 or send e-mail to tvbarn@kansascity.com