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Layoffs at high profile TV stations

Raycom is known for being cheap, so the Stanton firing was not a shocker to me. But as good as the reputation is for Gannett, they have been hit hard by losses in their newspaper divisions. So they are not the aggressive TV company they once were. When their weekend sports guy Matt Berry left WLTX, they did not replace him. They are rumored to be cutting pay of longtime anchors, etc. So while I would love to believe WLTX will pounce on the poor decisions at WIS, I would doubt it seriously.
 
It will be interesting to see how the competitive landscape changes after Feb 17. WIS will return it's digital transmitter to channel 10---at only 9.2kw (and most high VHF digitals will be using 30kw or more--WNTV-DT in Greenville on channel 9 will using 102kw). Meanwhile, WOLO, on channel 8 will continue using 40KW, and WLTX one million on channel 17, both from taller towers than WIS. It seems obvious that WIS will loose a good bit of OTA coverage, even within the DMA! Meanwhile, Raycom has fired 7 more from the newsroom at WBTV, and also fired seven news people at WWBT in Richmond, where they now own or control 3 of 5 stations in the market, CBS, NBC and CW....
 
I think that article definitely hit the nail on the head. It is apparent that WIS is no longer the big dog that it used to be and they are definitely letting their competition pass them by.
 
And now WIS has lost a ship load of viewers in Lancaster County. Raycom refused to negoiate with Comporium Cable (they wanted monetary payment to be carried). Comporium decided to just drop them--though many of their market #150 newscasts will still be aired on a local cable channel. Meanwhile, Comporium has dropped WSPA in York and upper Lancaster County for the same reason. Comporium claims they will now have to pay the Charlotte stations "around $2.00" a month for carriage rights, and didn't feel their customers should have to pay even more for the duplicate programing of WSPA and WIS. I'm really going to miss WSPA, but I have to wonder how Media General could cut lose around 60,000 households when it doesn't cost them a penny to serve them.
 
With the digital switch over comming and the end of contracts for carrage rights you are going to be hearing more of this in different parts of the country. My personal feelings are I hope it comes back to bite the cable companies square in the a**. It's always about money and how much can we make who cares about serving the public interest or your area. Sorry if I sound kind of negtive it just seems there is never any good news anymore.
 
i don't think television news is what it used to be either. much like radio, television was king in a different era when we only had 3 or 4 channels. forget the impact of cable tv on broadcast. now you can stream whatever you want when you want it and get alerts to tell you it is there. i think television news operations are in a similar situation with live radio. if we hire and pay well the best talent and producers and put on a polished show, will the public care? will it generate enough revenue to justify the expense? i think corporately owned tv stations are also evaluating expenses. will the 1 person in the station with a tie on please put on a jacket and report to the automated set and listen in their IFB and repeat the information about the hurricane that is approaching.
 
So the only station in Chas that he hasn't worked at is CIV. I knonw Albritton had a bloodbath last week at many of their stations...I wonder if they'd make a play for him?

G
 
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