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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Kara Sewell Leaving Fox 19 For Dallas

WXIX-TV
Kara Sewell

This doesn’t surprise me: Morning news co-anchor Kara Sewell is leaving WXIX-TV for a major market, WFAA-TV in Dallas, in her home state of Texas. She’s that good.

The Houston native was hired three years ago by Fox 19.

She replaced Jacki Jing,who only lasted nine months as the morning co-anchor replacement for Sheila Gray.

After she had removed Fox 19 references from her social media accounts, Sewell confirmed to me Tuesday that she's going to be the morning co-anchor in Dallas, the No. 5 TV market.  Cincinnati is No. 35.

Her last day at Channel 19 is next month. “I will make a formal announcement after the holiday,” she says.

Sewell’s departure could be the first of several changes coming to local TV stations after the November ratings “sweeps” end tonight.  (Contracts with TV talent expire after – not during – sweeps months.)

Sewell was originally paired with Rob Williams on the Fox 19 morning news. Weekend morning anchor Dan Wells moved into the chair next to Sewell in March 2016. That's when Williams was promoted to main evening co-anchor with Tricia Macke, after Scott Schneider left for Chicago.

Sewell is smart and very personable. It’s no surprise to me that she’s advancing up the TV market list after three brief years here, or going back to Texas.

The Stephen Austin State University graduate started her career at KOSA-TV in Midland-Odessa, in west Texas, after interning at KTRK-TV in Houston. Then she was a morning anchor for six years at KWCH-TV in Wichita, Kansas, before coming here in December 2014.

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.