SAN ANTONIO – KSAT12 has announced Jeff Roper will join Fiona Gorostiza as co-host of "SA Live" when the show launches this September. In addition, Mayde Gomez and Johnny Garcia have joined the show as contributors and Multimedia Journalists.
Jeff is an award winning TV and radio host who's appeared on sitcoms and soap operas, CMT, the Game Show Network, and you may recognize him from the community specials and the video music show he hosted on KSAT12 since 2012. Jeff went to Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, where he found his passion for public speaking on the Speech and Debate team. "I've hosted and anchored morning radio and local TV news, weather, and talk shows across the south," said Jeff. "This opportunity with "SA Live" is huge for me and I can't wait to connect with Fiona and South Texas viewers." Jeff's a two-time winner of the Country Music Association's "Personality of the Year" and was named the top radio personality in the country by Billboard magazine. "Jeff's a true talent who knows San Antonio well, and we're excited to see viewers embrace his warmth and fun-loving personality," said KSAT12 Vice President/General Manager Phil Lane. Roper lives in Leon Springs with his wife Angie and their two daughters Abby and Jackie.
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Mayde Gomez previously worked for Telemundo-Telenoticias in San Antonio and covered many local stories, both on-camera and behind-the-scenes. "We really saw a spark in Mayde and felt she has the potential to be a very successful talent in the television industry," said Lane. Mayde is originally from Dallas, TX and has lived in San Antonio since 2012. In Dallas, she also worked for Telemundo and is thrilled to grow her career with KSAT12 and "SA Live". "I am so excited to make my foray into the entertainment side of television, and I can't wait to work with Fiona and the other cast members of "SA Live", said Mayde. "We're going to have a great time celebrating San Antonio."
Johnny Garcia is a photojournalist with 18 years of experience in television. He began as a videographer at KSAT12 in 2002, and has been expanding his talent ever since. "We're always excited when we can promote one of our loyal employees who has shone brightly covering local news for KSAT12," said Phil Lane. "We can't wait to see how Johnny embraces this new challenge." Johnny said "this is such a huge opportunity for me, and I'm so honored to be part of such a talented group of professionals. I can't wait to show my talents in front of the camera, and continue to shine behind the camera as well."
Viewers can connect with Mayde Gomez on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SALiveMimi and Johnny Garcia at www.facebook.com/SALiveJohnny. On Twitter, look for @SALiveJohnny, and @SALiveMimi for Mayde. To connect with Fiona, visit www.facebook.com/fionafanpage and @fionagorostiz on Twitter. To connect with Jeff Roper, visit www.facebook.com/jeffroperonair, and @jeffroper on Twitter. "We really hit a home run with Fiona and Jeff and together they will bring a new vibe of exciting entertainment to South Texas", said Lane. "Mayde and Johnny are great storytellers and bring some exceptional skills behind the camera as well."
"SA Live" will feature all the things that make living in San Antonio and South Texas great," said Lane, "South Texas viewers have always embraced our News product and we're really excited about this opportunity to provide them with entertainment as well. The vibrancy at "The Buckhorn" really lends itself to the type of program we want to produce." "SA Live" will feature fun, games, entertainment, local events, interviews, audience interaction, and exciting lifestyle segments.
"SA Live" will broadcast daily, M-F, 1-2pm from "The Buckhorn" at 318 E. Houston Street, and is being produced by the Creative Services Department at KSAT12. "General Hospital" will move to 2pm beginning September 8th.
"The Buckhorn" has a long and storied past. In 1881, seventeen-year-old Albert Friedrich, a bartender and bellhop at San Antonio's Southern Hotel on Main Plaza, decided to open his own saloon across the street. Little did Friedrich know, over 130 years later his Buckhorn Saloon and Museum would be one of San Antonio's top attractions. Today, the saloon houses a café, gift shop, shooting gallery, and two museums and continues to entertain tourists from all over the world.