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Philadelphia TV/Dave Roberts To Retire

J

Jul

Guest
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today, Dave Roberts told his television family that he's ready to watch TV, rather than be on it. After 56 years in the business, and 31 memorable years at WPVI, the legendary broadcaster will retire in December. Roberts will co-host his final 6abc IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1 week, and his final Action News AccuWeather forecast on December 11th. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dave-roberts-to-retire-70413752.html
 
That's quite a long career for anyone, and I hope he has a good, long time to enjoy his retirement.
 
Now the question is. Did he retire because he is ready after these last few years of being semi-retired? Or after years of waiting, spending millions on a new building, and making less money in this recession, did 6abc have to force it?

We seen it at ch3, & 10. Ch6 however I don't think has, but they have certainly have been waiting since what was it 2003 when Tynan got promoted? They also recently let go long time general interest reporter Don Polec, so we know there's some belt tighting over there.
 
I was watching the 6 am broadcast this morning and I turned it on halfway into a Jim Gardner video-tribute to Dave Roberts. My first thought was that something tragic had happened to Dave! Thankfully it was just a retirement announcement. His last day is December 11th.

As far as being forced out I don't think that's the case here. When Tynan was "promoted" a few years back both her and Roberts did an interview with Philadelphia Magagzine. Roberts wanted to reduce his work load to spend more time at home, and stated that he was going to retire sometime in the next few years. He actually went beyond his own prediction by a couple years.

Great guy, great broadcaster, I hope he has many years left to enjoy his retirement.
 
I love the questions raised that someone was pushed out. He's in his 70s, has been doing this for 50+ years and just wants to retire. God bless him, I hope he enjoys it. May we all be so fortunate in our lives.
 
56 years with 31 of them at channel 6 (hey he's been doing Action News longer than many who post here have been breathing). That's quite a career. I'm happy for him and hope he has many years of enjoyment in his retirement.

I'm unhappy in another sense though. There seems to be far less "mature" newscasters on TV these days as the local newscasts especially have become shows, seeing that mature face on channel 6, that has reflected some stability in this fast moving always changing world, will be missed.

Of course, we still have Jim Gardner there at channel 6 to continue that stability, at least for today.
 
Mature now; a young buck when he arrived (as was Jim, as was Gary). They're not going to bring in folks close to retiring in an endless cycle, so letting the people who do come age on the air is just repeating a successful history. The 'next generation' they have in place is developing its own veteran status--Cecily, Rick, Monica....they've all been there for a good number of years now.
 
RyanHoward said:
Who will replace Dave on the 5 and 6 pm newscasts? My guess is either Adam Joseph or Tynan.
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I have a feeling Adam Joseph will be replacing him especially since he is fills in for Dave just about everytime he is off. It seems like 6 is slowly transitioning him into Dave's spot to make the change easier on viewers.
 
With Erica leaving, the better short-term bet may be to keep Adam on weekends/fill-in so that they don't end up with no one on weekends. Just have Cecily do all the evening shows, at least for now.
 
imhomerjay said:
With Erica leaving, the better short-term bet may be to keep Adam on weekends/fill-in so that they don't end up with no one on weekends. Just have Cecily do all the evening shows, at least for now.
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They could always put Karen Rogers on weekends and have Matt Pellman do her traffic reports in the morning when necessary.
 
imhomerjay said:
With Erica leaving, the better short-term bet may be to keep Adam on weekends/fill-in so that they don't end up with no one on weekends. Just have Cecily do all the evening shows, at least for now.
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Erica Grow leaving. When did this news broke?
 
They may well need to use Karen/Dave M. on weekends in the interim, but the issue was more not vacating both weekend mornings and nights right now. Keep Adam on weekend nights, and use the weekday guys on a fill in basis until you figure out what's next. Or find someone who wants a temp gig.
 
If Sally Anne Mosley is freelancing at Fox 29, does that mean that she is under contract with them, or is she free to sign a contract with WPVI, if that is what WPVI wants to do?
 
Wil said:
If Sally Anne Mosley is freelancing at Fox 29, does that mean that she is under contract with them, or is she free to sign a contract with WPVI, if that is what WPVI wants to do?
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She's free to sign anywhere. WPVI's history though would say they wouldn't rehire her though. They don't normally hire talent from other stations in the market nor do they rehire cast offs.
 
Indeed. Jeff S. is the only person I can think of who's come to them from another station in town. That said, though, management can always change direction.
 
And in Jeff's case, I think pvi knew Gary Papa wasn't gonna be on air much longer, and rushed to get another anchor. However with that said, they very well with Roberts & Grow leaving around the same time rush for a cheap replacement.

I still don't think Mosley will be back however. When at pvi she never really advanced at the station. She started on weekend weather, and was passed by in the peaking order by both David Murphy (started as weekend morning weather person, although overall he had more seniority when you count his reporting days) and Karen Rogers (started on Am Philadelphia/Live & then did weekend morning weather). She also had very few general assignment reports. Erica Grow for example has a few each week. Last, but not least she almost never filled in for Dave Roberts / Cecily Tynan. They use to always have Karen Rodgers or David Murphy fill in. Then when Adam Joseph came he would fill in. Even Erica Grow has fill in during the main 6 & 11 broadcasts many times.

Overall, even when she was there I always felt that she was the black sheep of the pvi weather pool. So I doubt she is someone they would seek out. However I could be wrong.
 
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