Nick Miller is leaving Channel 9-KTSM (cable Channel 10), and your last chance to see him will be during the 5 p.m. newscast on Friday, July 31.
The move has been in the works for a long time, after Miller’s contract wasn’t renewed last year. I’m hoping to get an updated comment from him today, but Miller has said in the past that he was going to go into teaching. (Read an update to this blog post below.) Miller has been an anchor at KTSM since 1992.
On a personal note, I know Miller will be missed by the El Paso Times newsroom. The Times’ partnership with KTSM means that we often go on for live TV segments. Miller’s ease and professionalism always made it just a little bit more comfortable for us nervous newspaper folks to go live.
I’m sure not all our snarky blog commenters will agree, but for me, it’s hard not to miss this power duo from the past:
I talked to Miller this afternoon, and he told me that he is going to take some time off for a while, at least until January, and then look at getting back into teaching.
Miller has two master's degrees, in speech communication and geography, and taught "cutural geography" at UTEP for about 10 years.
I asked Miller if he could share some fond memories of his time at KTSM.
"Well, the fond memories ended a few years ago," Miller said. "I was very happy to come here. KTSM was not doing well in the ratings when I came here. Within five years we were #1, and we held onto #1 for some years."
Ah, those were the days. I used to tune in to NBC on Thursday nights to watch Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier and ER and then those two capped off a perfect night with their delightful banter and clever recap of the news.
And I agree that the snarkiness factor on this board is becoming intolerable. If I wanted to hear so much backbiting I'd watch MSNBC.
Posted by: Larry Grover | July 30, 2009 at 12:42 PM
I agree! Those were the days in El Paso News!
Posted by: Nospeakoeenglish | July 30, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Sorry to hear he's leaving. I rather enjoyed listening to him. I hope he does well where ever he goes. Keep on trucking Nick! The news station doesn't know what they have lost.
Posted by: Lynda | July 30, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Wow. What in the world is KTSM thinking?
Posted by: Guy Faux | July 30, 2009 at 01:30 PM
I liked him a lot too. He will be missed but there is still Estela's Escuelas!
Really, what was KTSM thinking?
Posted by: livingelpaso | July 30, 2009 at 01:44 PM
I haven't watched News Channel 9 in over a decade, not since finding abc7 more to my liking but I do wish Nick Miller well. I thought he did a good job many years ago (maybe not as good as Gary Warner but a close second). He and Felipa made a good team. Good luck, Mr. Miller, I think you will make an excellent teacher!
Posted by: nostalgia | July 30, 2009 at 01:50 PM
Come on Nick Miller is awesome. Why are they making that move. Ben Swan is a joke and so unprofessional when he delivers the news...Is he to cool to wear a tie. KTSM is losing the most credible anchor they have. They luck they still have the out-of-this-world beautiful Oralia Ortega... So I'll still watch. Good Luck Nick!
Posted by: Rooster | July 30, 2009 at 02:15 PM
It is sad to see some many veteran newsmen leaving the business. There is a very promising new crop of young reporter/anchors coming up to take their place, but no amount of gumption can replace those years of experience. Good luck Nick.
Posted by: gary clarke | July 30, 2009 at 02:17 PM
It seems as if KTSM is getting rid of all the old people and replacing them with new young reporters. They say its their "new image" So sad to see a legend leave the airwaves.
Twitter.com/elpaso411
Posted by: CeasarT | July 30, 2009 at 02:41 PM
I will tune into another channel for my news after he leaves. Good luck Nick!
Posted by: javier | July 30, 2009 at 02:49 PM
If behind-the-scenes management were held up to the same aging standards as those of on-air professionals, they'd have something to worry about.
Posted by: Underpaid Reporter | July 30, 2009 at 04:04 PM
Thank you, Nick Miller for your candor. You're right...the good old days at KTSM are loooooooonnnnng gone, and you deserve better.
Posted by: Why does it matter? | July 30, 2009 at 04:41 PM
If you go to the KTSM website, they have positions posted for videojournalists. That means they will have reporters write plust SHOOT and EDIT their own stories as well. First you lose some credibility with Nick leaving and now the quality of your product is going to suffer as well. Kim Bridger, the news director, will probably try to steal another idea (gimmick) from the Rio Grande Valley where she used to work. Pothole Patrol is an idea from the Rio Grande Valley.
Posted by: epnwswatcher | July 30, 2009 at 08:17 PM
His quote says it all. He got shafted and everyone knows it. It's always a terrible tragedy when good journalists are replaced by pretty boys who only know how to read a teleprompter. Does anyone know if my TV can get an English translation from one of the Mexican stations? I know I can get Spanish on English broadcasts but does it work in reverse? If so, I am switching to Telemundo.
Posted by: Larry Grover | July 30, 2009 at 08:24 PM
A really BAD MOVE by KTSM. Nick Miller is the dean of local news reporting and the sole reason I watch KTSM. HIs professionalism and news reporting are the best in town. In the last ratings, it appeared that only the morning news team at Ch 9 made any gains. Ben Swann is a rookie and nowhere near the capability of Nick Miller and yes, it's galling to see a news reporter who is too cool to wear a tie while everyone else does.
This Nielsen family will be moving over to Estela Casas and her Channel 7 team for our news. Good luck, Nick. You ARE the best news anchor in town and we will miss your reporting.
Posted by: RBSProds | July 30, 2009 at 10:26 PM
So sad to see nick go. He is a wonderful person and a great anchorman. I mostly watch ch. 7 but Nick was the last great thing about ch. 9. I CANNOT stand oralia ortega. Overteased hair and a lisp don't make a good journalist. Her prostitution story was joke. Best of luck Nick! we'll miss you!!
Posted by: Cathy | July 31, 2009 at 12:14 AM
KVIA is Better And #1
Posted by: Pam | July 31, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Oralia is the most attractive tv personality in ELP. What are you talking about, Cathy?
Posted by: Nospeakoeenglish | July 31, 2009 at 07:50 AM
They are getting rid of older more experienced people because they are paid more. They are replaced with younger less experienced people who will work for far less money. So much for loyalty to your best employees KTSM.
Posted by: Professor Peabody | July 31, 2009 at 08:17 AM
I grew up in El Paso & it was news reporters like Nick Miller that have me a loyal follower of NBC wherever I go...
Posted by: adrian juarez | July 31, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Good point, Professor, but how about loyalty to the TV audience? That's something that 'the brain drain at KTSM' didn't count on.
Wouldn't it be great to see Nick Miller sitting besides Estela Casas and if Rick Cabrera went back to his strong suit: sports. With Doppler Dave doing weather that would be the "El Paso Dream News Team" for some of us.
Posted by: RBSProds | July 31, 2009 at 11:13 AM
RBSProds, that would be an excellent idea!
Posted by: Nospeakoeenglish | July 31, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Not for me. My dream team would be four buxom babes who deliver the news in a titlating fashion.
Posted by: Rudy Canoza | July 31, 2009 at 12:08 PM
I would love to see Team Nick and Estela. I'm so tired of these young guns behind the desk who can't even spit out a sentence or overdramatize everything.
Posted by: alan g | July 31, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I am sure if enough people call or email KVIA requesting this, something could happen!
Posted by: Nospeakoeenglish | July 31, 2009 at 03:01 PM