Toledo station’s computer system gets hit by virus

WTVG in Toledo suffered a major computer issue that caused it to shorten some newscasts and replace others altogether.

• The station’s woes began Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, after the station’s news production software was hit with a virus, according to The Blade.
• The source of the issue appears to be a downloaded video file.
• Initially the station couldn’t air its 4:30 a.m. newscast Friday. It aired “America This Morning” from ABC News in New York instead.
• The 5 and 6 a.m. shows did air, but the station cut its noon news short and replaced its 5:30 p.m. newscast with “Inside Edition.”
• The issues apparently continued over the weekend and the station was forced to cancel its 9 a.m. newscast due to the issue, running a repeat of “This Week” instead.
• The station did air a 6 p.m. newscast that evening, however.
• During the newscasts that did air, the station couldn’t use recorded video clips.
• The bug affected the station’s news and sports departments, but weather was not affected because it uses a separate computer system.
• While the station hired an outside firm to help determine the issue, news director Mel Watson told The Blade said the virus is considered a “random occurrence” and they may never know the source.
• As of Monday, the station is playing video manually, though it says viewers shouldn’t notice a difference.