The week in Boston TV News

On your mark, get set ... FOUR! For the second year in a row, WBZ-TV (Channel 4) will be the exclusive broadcaster of the Boston Marathon. For the first time, the station will stream live coverage of the elite runner's race from 8 a.m. to noon on race day, April 21st, on the station's website: wbztv.com. That means if you are stuck in the office like most of us, you can log onto to WBZ and watch the race and not feel like you missed out on the event. The station will also carry live coverage of the entire race from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mike Macklin, a former WHDH-TV (Channel 7) reporter, has filed an age discrimination suit against the station. Macklin, 56, who worked at WHDH for 13 years, claims the station fired him last year after he complained that he was discriminated against because of his age. To read the rest of my story, click here. A lot of you have been commenting on the news on various Boston TV blogs. The topic has stirred much debate over the station's hiring of young looking reporters.

Over at WCVB, general manager and president Bill Fine announced that he has named Gerry Wardwell as the station's assistant news director. Wardwell, a native of Framingham, had been managing editor for nine years. He joined the Needham station in 1998 as an executive producer.

Fox25's Frank Mallicoat has been promoted to weekend anchor at the Dedham station. He fills the slot that was vacated by Mark Ockerbloom who now anchors the 5 p.m., 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts with Maria Stephanos.

And last but not least, Boston Globe business reporter Peter J. Howe heads to NECN as its new business reporter. Howe, 42, replaces Mont Fennel, NECN's business reporter for the past 16 years; Fennel is joining DigiNovations Inc., a Concord firm specializing in video production and Internet TV. Howe has worked at The Globe for 22 years covering a range of beats that included the big three Ts (transportation, technology and telecommunications) among other things. He'll begin airing his reports next week on NECN.
(Photos below: Macklin, Mallicoat, and Howe)