Former Fox 5 ‘Good Day Atlanta’ anchor Mark Hayes joins NBC affiliate in Dallas
Now we know why Mark Hayes so willingly stepped away from his gig at “Good Day Atlanta” on Fox 5 earlier this month: he has a new gig in Dallas as a morning anchor for the NBC affiliate, KXAS-TV. He will start in May, anchoring from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.
“When a viewer turns on the news in the morning, Mark is the kind of person they want to see,” said Susan Tully, NBC 5 Vice President of News, in a press release. “He has a warm delivery and makes the early wake-up just a little more enjoyable. Mark had a deeply loyal following in Atlanta because of his personable approach to giving viewers their first news of the day.”
Tully declined to be interviewed.
Hayes, who was at “Good Day Atlanta” for ten years, hasn’t returned a phone call or text yet. He did emote in the press release using all sorts of big adjectives:
Their extraordinary vision and passion for journalistic excellence was what attracted me to this opportunity and I can’t wait to be part of such an outstanding news organization, rich with history and tradition, and dedicated to covering North Texas news. It is an honor and privilege to join NBC 5.”
According to Ed Bark, who has covered Dallas TV for more than a quarter century, Fox4 in Dallas is No. 1 and the NBC affiliate is a solid No. 2. I sent him an email and this is his response:
It’s a very competitive and close early morning race, with NBC5 trying to hold off the ABC affiliate, WFAA-TV, while also trying to catch front-running Fox4.
NBC5 still has an early morning overhaul in progress, and will still be adding a new featured meteorologist. So I don’t think it’s a bad movie for Hayes. And I’m sure he’ll be getting a fairly substantial promotional campaign in times when NBC5 seems to be serious about upgrading its product.
Brett Martin, the former Road Warrior at Fox 5, called this “a good move. He ran his course at Fox 5. But he’s a huge Giants fan. He’s going to have to adjust to life in the big D [with the Cowboys.]”
In case you missed Hayes’ goodbye on April 6 from “Good Day Atlanta,” here it is:
Mark Hayes Says Goodbye to FOX 5: MyFoxATLANTA.com
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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136 comments Add your comment
aj
April 16th, 2012
11:40 pm
I missed you before you left – I felt something fishy was going on and did not tune in if I didn’t see you in the morning while getting ready for work. Wow, Atlanta has lost a good one. Muah Mark – A good look for tired eyes in the AM.
Cool Breeze from TX
April 17th, 2012
12:13 am
I watched Fox 5 for years with the team of Mark, Suchita, Jeff, Cheryl, & Brett. They had great chemistry (especially Mark, Jeff, & Suchita!) and the really knew how to improvise off of each others comments! When Brett left, Fox never found a good replacement for him and the show suffered a little. When Suchitha left (does anyone know why she departed), I became an irregular viewer. I thought Jeff was a temporary move, now he seems locked in to sharing the evening weather with Ken. And now with Mark’s move, I hardly watch at all.
I’ve returned to the radio morning talk shows and watch Fox or WSB only for traffic reports and weather. Great job Cheryl & Joann!! ~ Karen is a rising anchorwoman and Guviri seems to professional (i.e. polished) for the morning shows. Buck just seems to lack the warmth that Mark, Jeff, and Suchitha possess. Did I ask where is Suchitha?
Mark will have a blast in Texas!! As a Texan, I know his personality will fit right in and he will quickly develop a huge following. Hey Mark, you gotta eat some barbeque brisket!! There is nothing like it in this world!!! “You will be missed, my friend.”
mookie staylock
April 17th, 2012
12:37 am
um, I thought it was funny when Rodney injected PERSONALITY, and humor, and keepinitrealness (in a LIGHT, way), with the he DID use all kinds of big adjectices, etc, I thought that was funny. I read to laugh, um, and yeah, also, I am only commenting on that because Rodney, your response to the commenter was also funny. Also, I still remember you writing your comments from NeNe from another show you were forced to watch (and that was YEARS ago), because that’s the first time (sadly), I actually pondered (and looked up) “sic.” ok, the end.
mookie staylock
April 17th, 2012
12:38 am
oh, it was back when she was talking about her husband’s business/financial stuff has nothing to do with her or something, anyway. um, ok bye yee!!!
ColonelJack
April 17th, 2012
5:41 am
I’m a regular viewer of Good Day Atlanta, and will definitely miss Mark. Just as I miss Suchita. But the only true constant in the universe is change, and it’s always fun to break in a new morning show team.
Just don’t lose Cheryl.
DRCH2
April 17th, 2012
6:02 am
I echo the comments of others. Since Suchita left, I primarily watch WSB and discovered MSNBC’s early show and Morning Joe. They ruined the chemistry on Fox5’s morning show. Good luck to you as you lose more viewers!! Idiots.Best of luck Mark, blessings to you and your sons.
B-Bro
April 17th, 2012
6:29 am
Good Luck
Billy
April 17th, 2012
6:34 am
Good for you, Mark. You’re a class act and FOX5 here in Atlanta are wrong in letting you go or not appreciating you, whatever the case. May you be blessed in your new job!
Phyllis
April 17th, 2012
7:20 am
I am very happy for Mark and his family, however, I certainly will miss him each morning. Hope my friends in Dallas know how lucky they are to have him.
Carpetbagger
April 17th, 2012
7:31 am
Delta… I’m ready to get gone as well!
Rob Ear
April 17th, 2012
7:31 am
Rusty the Bailiff Fan Club needs new members.
CKeeler
April 17th, 2012
7:45 am
I recently moved to DFW from Atlanta and deeply missed Good Day Atlanta; it’s good here but not the same… I’m looking forward to seeing Mark in the mornings!!! There are some big shoes it fill in the ATL… Now if we could just get Suchita out here!!!
Shel
April 17th, 2012
7:46 am
All the Best Mark! I will really miss you in the mornings.
Ernesto
April 17th, 2012
8:05 am
To say that Dallas is anything, close to the ATL, you must be on some good
Stuff , I’ve been to Dallas , and it looks smaller , than Buckhead !!
Also Flat and ugly , has maybe two hills and 100 trees , hope Mark likes it
In Tifton , with a Few Highrises !! what a joke !! The ATL is the Capital
of the South and The new Hollywood , Dallas is the Capital of north
Tejas !!!!
NYG Are Losers
April 17th, 2012
8:12 am
So the Huge NYG Fan is landing a job in Dallas. Will he convert???? How can he survive in America’s Team’s City?? Good luck in your endeavors. You are already missed.
Atlanta Mom
April 17th, 2012
8:22 am
I have and will not watch Good Day atlanta again, it’s only a stuffy morning show now, WOW how I miss the days of Mark Hays, Suchitha and Stacy Elgin it was a FANTASTIC show. Congratulations Mark we will truly miss you here in ATL!
Debra Mason
April 17th, 2012
8:24 am
Dallas is the real winner! I stopped watching when Mark was being replaced with Buck!
Best of luck to the Hayes family !
Eclecticdiva
April 17th, 2012
8:28 am
Congratulations to Mark on his new position! You and I moved to Atlanta around the same time, hate to see you go, but what a wonderful opportunity for you. The writing was on the wall when they took you off of the air at 7:00 am. Buck is ok, but not a morning host. Just saying…
@Cool Breeze from TX, I agree with you on the dream team of Mark, Suchita, Jeff, Cheryl, and Brett! They were so fun to watch that I would be late to work! They had great chemistry. I hope that the show finds another dream team because it isn’t working right now. I really stopped watching when they shortened Marks time and made the other changes. I watch the weather and traffic and turn the tv off. Cheryl, I think you look good. Don’t pay attention to the other junk.
@Rodney, I loved Brett on the show so it is nice to hear from him. What is he doing now?? I would love to the segments that he did, he made them seem interesting and fun. I miss him dressing up as cupid for Valentine’s Day!
Met Him Once
April 17th, 2012
8:38 am
I was on the show a few years back modeling some wedding gowns for a local vendor. Met him and he was warm and very professional. Great guy in person as well as on TV. He will be hard to replace!
Good luck Mark and continue to build your brand. You are one of a kind!
Michelle
April 17th, 2012
9:24 am
Dallas’ gain is definitely our loss. I miss seeing and hearing him in the mornings. It’s so blah now…
Mr. Laidback
April 17th, 2012
9:53 am
There’s always a hater in the midst!!
Congrats Mark Hayes progress is always good.
Early Cuyler
April 17th, 2012
10:27 am
Jennifer Valdez is the only reason to watch morning tv.
Gramma
April 17th, 2012
11:01 am
I noticed that Karen did not state that she was “filling in” for Mark and decided to surf the net to see what was going on. I thought he was out ill, or battling the pollen here in the ATL. Well, sad to say, I’m just learning that Mark has transferred his talents to Texas. He was such an intelligent, personable, jovial reporter. A BIG LOSS FOR FOX ATLANTA! Best of success my son. I miss you already.
TV Insider
April 17th, 2012
11:01 am
Sadly, Rodney can’t write about the behind-the-scenes and off-air attitude of Mark Hayes, and why he will NOT be missed by most people at Fox 5 – it would be politically incorrect. But it’s easy to see on his Facebook page.
notaracist
April 17th, 2012
11:31 am
The four that were there before,doing the morning show, Mark, Suchita,Cheryl and,the blonde guy who did the weather,(sorry I can not remember his name) to me seemed to have great chemistry. They played well off of each other and genuinely “seemed” to like each other, almost like they were kin. Now I don’t even bother.
The Truth
April 17th, 2012
12:49 pm
Joanne Feldman puts Jennifer Valdez to shame. Best move Fox 5 made was Joanne to mornings.
JD
April 17th, 2012
12:55 pm
Good luck brother Mark.
Brett Martin go away.
What a creepy little man.
Ick.
Maybe
April 17th, 2012
12:55 pm
I agree.. the show will never be the same. If the new management wanted Mark to stay.. he would still be there. They have no idea what they are doing — what comes around goes around. I will never watch Fox 5 again. Can’t stand the new morning show format, the new people are boring boring and its so obvious they are trying so hard like each other. I miss Mark, Suchita, Jeff and Stacey.
Susanna Butler
April 18th, 2012
6:30 am
Mark, and Jeff are 2 of 3 of my favorite men here in Ga. I am from Maryland and came here about 2 months ago to take care of 2 grandchildren. I look at fox 5 every morning and Mark and Jeff were the2 people I look for. Oh yeah by the way the 3rd man in my life is my grandson Jalen Johnson he is my #1. I am moving back to Maryland in June and will miss you both. Thank you
Pam
April 18th, 2012
10:29 am
Hey, what’s going on?? I’ve been gone from the ATL area for bout 4 weeks. I’m now back in town, and for the last week or so I have tune into the morning news at GoodDayAtlanta, looking for Mark (my favorite) and just learned that Mark is GONE!! Mark, I love you on the morning news and always LOVE your great energy and humor in the morning…and LOVE,LOVE that great SMILE!! I Will truly miss you. It feels as though a member of my family has left. May GOD continue too bless you and your family in DALLAS. That’s it, I’m MOVING TO DALLAS!! Missing u in ATL..
HotlantaQue
April 18th, 2012
8:30 pm
Mark Hayes helped many of us start our day off on the right foot! He and the old supporting cast (Sachita, Jeff, Brett) on the FOX 5 Morning Show and GD ATL. were AWESOME!!!!! I actually stopped watching after FOX 5 began with their on-air line-up changes:-( Obviously the decision makers don’t watch the show in the mornings? Anyway, good luck Mark in Dallas, as you deserve the best!!!!!
sandt
April 19th, 2012
6:38 am
good luck we are gonna miss your smiling face
Kimberly C
April 19th, 2012
10:14 am
Now Im leaving Alt,Ga and moving to Dallas.. Fox5 WILL never be the same…
thatgurl
April 20th, 2012
10:36 am
Wishing Mark and his family all the best although I will miss him sorely. He was just so funny and warm yet professional. For the person who said he’ll be back, the selfish part of me hopes he does return. I was hoping another Atlanta station would woo him but it’s not to be. Oh well….whether they know it or not Fox 5 had a winning team with Mark, Suchita, Jeff, and Cheryl. It’s too bad they let it slip through their fingers. I think I will try Channel 11 too.
Woody
April 20th, 2012
12:04 pm
Good Luck Mark, you are truly missed, but glad that you found something that you like. Can’t watch anymore now that you are gone. I loved you, Jeff and Suchita. I don’t watch anymore because the format is BORING!!!!!! If you decide to ever come back to the Atlanta market, the City would be lucky to have get you back. Rock on!!
Selena
April 23rd, 2012
2:54 pm
Mark, You were the reason I watched Good Day Atlanta. I hate to see you leave, but wish you success with your new endeavor.