Henderson weighs staying with Good Day, other options
01/28/09 09:57 PM
By ED BARK
Will she stay or will she go?
That's still an open question for Fox4 and Good Day co-anchor Megan Henderson, whose latest contract with the station expires in February.
"I have yet to make any decisions about my future," Henderson said in an email response. "I'm currently looking at all options, including staying with Fox4."
Henderson joined Fox4 and Good Day in 2003, replacing Julia Somers, now going by the name of Julie Summers at Miami ABC affiliate WPLG-TV. Good Day generally has been at or near the top of the early morning ratings during Henderson's tenure with incumbent Tim Ryan. But the show also did well with the Ryan-Somers team.
Fox4 management, which has a policy of not commenting on ongoing personnel matters, declined Wednesday to discuss Henderson's situation.
As previously reported, Henderson filled in twice last year on Fox News Channel's weekend edition of Fox & Friends, which is based in Manhattan. Several sources say that Henderson lately has drawn interest from the West Coast as well.
Henderson, who was raised in San Clemente, CA, arrived in D-FW from Fox's Salt Lake City affiliate, KSTU-TV.
NBC5 and WFAA8 may stand to profit, at least in the short term, if Henderson decides to leave Good Day.
The Peacock, with a veteran anchor duo of Deborah Ferguson and Brendan Higgins, has been battling for the top spot in recent weeks after Fox4 ran a solid No. 1 in the November "sweeps" ratings. And as reported last week on unclebarky.com, WFAA8 soon will be introducing a new male anchor -- Chris Flanagan from Des Moines, Iowa's WOI-TV -- to its No. 3-rated Daybreak program.
No. 4 CBS11, which has made slow ratings improvement in the past year, would have the second longest-standing anchor team, Scott Sams and Ginger Allen, if there's a changeover at Fox4.
It's safe to say that management at NBC5, WFAA8 and CBS11 would all heartily welcome a breakup of the Ryan-Henderson team, which also pays big ratings dividends for Fox4 during Good Day's extended 7 to 9 a.m. hours opposite the network morning shows.
But as Somers' departure proved, no one is irreplaceable. And the ever-underestimated Ryan isn't going anywhere.