CN8 Cuts

[rpknfn0914]

CN8 lays off 40 from its news staff
By Gail Shister
INQUIRER TV COLUMNIST
In a shocker, more than 40 news staffers at CN8 in New Castle, Del., were laid off yesterday, effective Aug. 28, as part of Comcast's plan to move away from regional programming and establish a more national presence.

[*EDIT]

[*Post truncated for fair use violations of TOS]
[Please post a link for news article, full citation violates copyright]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[fred flintstone]

Meanwhile, other markets have local news channels like NY1 and LI12/NJ12. Not Philly. CN8 didn't fill the bill but it was better than nother. Now, there's nothing.

One more reason to love Comcast.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/index.jsp

http://www.dishtv.com/

 

[Jul]

Another news operation in the Philly market shuts down.

 

[odomski]

The only two that I don't feel bad for is Tilley. I'm not sure if Casella is still there (he was as of the summer of 2004..if he's still there, I don't feel bad for him either). I worked for those two fools, and they treated me like total garbage...basically because I wasn't a "yes man." However, they do have good people at CN8 News in Delaware. It's a real shame to see them kicked out into the street..while it's also a shame to see yet another news operation closed down. Good luck to the folks there.

 

[rch66]

Meanwhile, other markets have local news channels like NY1 and LI12/NJ12. Not Philly. CN8 didn't fill the bill but it was better than nother. Now, there's nothing.

One more reason to love Comcast.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/index.jsp

http://www.dishtv.com/

This does wind back to Comcast's strangehold of sports.

In parts of the NY market, Cablevision keeps these newschannels but its a loss leader, to keep the differentiation of local cable to the satellite providers that don't have the local news channels. Here, Comcast can ride alot solely the sports exclusivity with no need for other loss leaders. True, they have kept on technology and offer HDTV and lots of digital channels, but that's also generates more revenue. CN8 news didn't.

In DC, the ABC affiliate and the newschannel are co-owned, with the affiliate owner being local to the area. In order to carry the ABC affiliate, the cable co.'s have to carry the newschannel. But Philly - the big 4 are O&O and not truly local to have intention to start a local newschannel operation.

CN8's 10pm newscast didn't have measurable ratings (was lower than CH.17's news); it was mainly subscriber revenue supporting the newscast.

Maybe CBS will be more inclined to start a 57 newscast, with CN8 out of the 10pm news race, and with 57 carrying the best of UPN/WB as CW. Of course, CBS is too tied with that Dr.Phil rerun at 10.

 

[Jul]

The cuts are coming from the New Castle Delware studios, the place were the newscasts come from. Correction in today's Inquirer from the airticle at this link: http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/14934200.htm

An article in a preprinted section of today's Inquirer misstated the reason for laying off more than 40 news staffers at CN8. The cable programmer is shifting emphasis away from local news. New hires will create programming designed for viewers in CN8's entire 14-state viewing area. Most of these new positions will be in the Philadelphia and Delaware area.