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The Ax Falls at WHAM TV

rocktv said:
They did not win at 11.

It was tied 13 and 8.
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If 13 and 8 were tied at 11pm then how does that bode for Channel 10?
Perhaps the management at 10 might give second thoughts about their 7pm newscast and instead concentrate more on revamping their 11pm news if they want to get out of third place.

I can't remember the last time that 10 came in third place, and I've been around the Rochester market as long as oxygen has been on Earth.

On the subject of layoffs at 13, someone wrote and told me that Cholanda Roberts is no longer with the station. Can anyone confirm this, and if so, was she part of the recent layoffs or did she just leave on her own?
 
Chalonda Roberts is getting married and moving back to her hometown of Providence, RI. She was not part of the layoffs.
 
SpinNY said:
Chalonda Roberts is getting married and moving back to her hometown of Providence, RI. She was not part of the layoffs.
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Oops sorry I misspelled her name. Congratulations to Ms. Roberts on her upcoming marriage.
 
Mark_Giardina said:
rocktv said:
They did not win at 11.

It was tied 13 and 8.
Click to expand...

If 13 and 8 were tied at 11pm then how does that bode for Channel 10?
Perhaps the management at 10 might give second thoughts about their 7pm newscast and instead concentrate more on revamping their 11pm news if they want to get out of third place.

I can't remember the last time that 10 came in third place, and I've been around the Rochester market as long as oxygen has been on Earth.

On the subject of layoffs at 13, someone wrote and told me that Cholanda Roberts is no longer with the station. Can anyone confirm this, and if so, was she part of the recent layoffs or did she just leave on her own?
Click to expand...



I know, I am very surprised that 10 is in last place at 11pm. I remember not too long ago they were in 1st place at 11pm. And like you, I have been in Rochester my whole life, and I remember when 10 was #1 overall in the 80s. I still say WHEC has much better news, content, and stability than WROC. CBS's lineup in primetime has got to be helping 8. But that's not to say WROC has not been trying, because they have been.
 
Fiume was told he'd be a producer or shown the door. They're still looking at more layoffs, possibly with buyouts. If I was still there, I'd be seriously looking for another job. I personally know of two key people that are THIS close to accepting jobs elsewhere because the working conditions and mandatory overtime are just way out of control. Looks like doing "more with less" is about to bite the new owners in the backside.
 
And just wait until non-compete clauses get abolished. Owners all over the state will be feeling that stinging pinch on their cheeks.
 
i hear rumor Don Alhart is be force in to retiring form 13 wham, Mike Price from Sister Station WSYR is retiring, after 46 years
 
dmott3 said:
i hear rumor Don Alhart is be force in to retiring form 13 wham, Mike Price from Sister Station WSYR is retiring, after 46 years
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From what I heard Alhart recently signed a new contract that will keep him employed at 13 for a few more years. Besides the new owners of WHAM TV would be nuts to get rid of Alhart. He's one of the main reasons people tune to that station to begin with. And now with Channel 8 reportedly tied with 13 at 11pm, do you think it would be a smart move to force out the main anchor?
 
You can't assume what happened to Mike Price will also happen to Don Alhart just because they've both been around forever.

Don Alhart is an anchor. He gets a lot of face time throughout the entire 6 and 11pm newscasts, delivering all sorts of news -- good or bad, and even ad-libbing in breaking news situations. Definitely a major cog in the machine.

Mike Price is a reporter who only does a 1:35 "Good News" fluff piece every night. Yes, that's a very long-running feature which is loved by many people, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not entirely necessary either. That 1:30 can easily be filled by other hard news, or some syndicated feature (for example, WSYR already runs Bloomberg in the morning and at noon, but not the evening). Compared to other stations, WSYR runs very few "network" packages, so this could be a spot to add another one.

Not to sound cruel, but Mike Price is a lot more replaceable than Don Alhart.
 
The Voice of Reason said:
One also has to feel bad for Susan Ashline. This is what her third broadcasting job in the Rochester market? First she worked for public TV, then went to WHAM radio, where she and another news person got the ax a few years ago, and then worked for 13 part-time. There isn't really any place for her to go now unless an opening occurs at Channel 8.
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Hi! Actually, I am (and have been) employed by Gannett for a while. 13WHAM called more than a year ago and asked if I wouldn't mind doing some fill-in work for them (this on top of my Gannett job). I was happy to (and loved it!). It was supposed to be a day here and there--maybe one per month. I really didn't think anyone would even notice me returning to air. But it evolved into at least one day a week, up to four. It was difficult for me to keep up that work load with 2 jobs. Just wanted to let you that it's not true that there "isn't really any place for (me) to go now", lol. Thanks for the concern, though!

I am editor of one of Gannett's specialty sites: www.RocMoms.com. I'd be honored if any of you came by to check it out. ;) And the Democrat & Chronicle will start publishing my column on Thursdays.

13WHAM was not my bread-n-butter, but if they asked for some help filling in again, I'd be happy to oblige. I couldn't say enough good things about the management there and all of the people who work there.
 
Oh and... Mark (hi Mark!), Jane's photo has not been on the 13WHAM web site forever. I did not like the photo they took of me for the web site, so I withheld my bio, knowing they couldn't put the photo up until they'd gotten the bio from me. I imagine either Jane didn't like her photo, or she never got one taken. But nothing to read into about the absent photo. Jane's not going anywhere! :)
 
SusanAshline said:
Oh and... Mark (hi Mark!), Jane's photo has not been on the 13WHAM web site forever. I did not like the photo they took of me for the web site, so I withheld my bio, knowing they couldn't put the photo up until they'd gotten the bio from me. I imagine either Jane didn't like her photo, or she never got one taken. But nothing to read into about the absent photo. Jane's not going anywhere! :)
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Hi Susan,

I am glad to read that you are working and things are well. Since I last saw you I've become a grandfather to two little girls. One age 3, the other born June 30th.

After reading about the exploits of the broadcasting world I think I made the right decision to get out of the business back in 2004; although I do work Saturday mornings for Bob Savage at WYSL. Bob, his wife, and the staff are great people and I love traveling to work Saturday mornings. WYSL reminds me of what radio used to be.

As for Jane I'm glad to read she is doing well. 13 would be crazy to get rid of her because she knows the market and has established good news contacts.

If you see any of the gang that remembers me, tell them I say 'hello'!

Giardina
 
[/quote]

.... And now with Channel 8 reportedly tied with 13 at 11pm, do you think it would be a smart move to force out the main anchor?


[/quote]

Yeah but if they're tumbling with this main anchor in the chair,...then maybe that's the reason to make a switch.

Maybe it's time for a change?

Maybe it's a case of "the old gray mare, just ain't what he used to be.." sorta deal....ya' know?

PLEASE ...I don't seek any bricks thrown my way,...just thinking out loud here.
 
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