CBS Austin Anchors Earn Top Honors at Texas Broadcast News Awards

Sports Director Bob Ballou and Meteorologist Avery Tomasco recognized for excellence in their fields.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fractured elements of a news broadcast studio, including cameras, monitors, and weather graphics, all broken down into abstract shapes and planes of color.The prestigious Texas Broadcast News Awards honor the state's top journalists, celebrating their commitment to informing and protecting local communities.Austin Today

CBS Austin's Sports Director Bob Ballou and Meteorologist Avery Tomasco were awarded top honors at the Texas Broadcast News Awards on Saturday night. Tomasco won in the large market Weather Anchor and Weathercast categories, while Ballou was recognized as the best Sports Anchor in the large market division.

Why it matters

The Texas Broadcast News Awards are a prestigious annual event that celebrates the best in TV and radio journalism across the state. For CBS Austin's anchors to be singled out for their outstanding work is a testament to the quality of the station's news coverage and its commitment to serving the local community.

The details

Tomasco's award-winning coverage focused on the July 4th weekend flooding that impacted the region, while Ballou was recognized for his exceptional sports reporting. Other CBS Austin finalists included Anchor Walt Macoborski and Producer Luca Melloni-Shiell.

  • The Texas Broadcast News Awards ceremony took place on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • Tomasco's award-winning coverage was for her work during the July 4th weekend flooding in 2025.

The players

Avery Tomasco

The meteorologist at CBS Austin who won in the large market Weather Anchor and Weathercast categories for her coverage of the July 4th weekend flooding in 2025.

Bob Ballou

The sports director at CBS Austin who was named the best Sports Anchor in the large market division at the Texas Broadcast News Awards.

Walt Macoborski

A news anchor at CBS Austin who was a finalist in the large market News Anchor and Specialty/Beat Reporting categories.

Luca Melloni-Shiell

A producer at CBS Austin who was a finalist along with a team of journalists in the Breaking News category for coverage of the August 2025 deadly Target shooting.

Texas Association of Broadcasters

The organization that hosts the annual Texas Broadcast News Awards to recognize excellence in TV and radio journalism across the state.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You never want accolades to come at the cost of lives in a natural disaster. In this case my coverage of the horrific July 4 weekend flooding earned me this humbling recognition.”

— Avery Tomasco, Meteorologist, CBS Austin

“This award will be a constant reminder of why I got into this business I the first place; educating the public about the power of Texas weather while doing everything I can to protect them from it. I'm incredibly thankful for having this platform at CBS Austin to do just that.”

— Avery Tomasco, Meteorologist, CBS Austin

“When you consider how many great sports anchors there are in the state of Texas, just to be nominated is humbling. To win is overwhelming.”

— Bob Ballou, Sports Director, CBS Austin

What’s next

The Texas Broadcast News Awards will continue to recognize excellence in journalism across the state, providing a platform to celebrate the hard work and dedication of local news teams like the one at CBS Austin.

The takeaway

This recognition of CBS Austin's anchors underscores the station's commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful journalism that informs and protects the local community. Their awards demonstrate the value of local news outlets in Texas and the important role they play in keeping residents informed and safe.