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What The Heck Is Going On At WHCP??

J

Joseph_Gallant

Guest
First came reports that veteran news anchor Tom McGee had "resigned" from WHCP-30, the WB affiliate for parts of southeastern Ohio and West Virginia.

Then came reports that he was escorted out of the station by police!

Now (February 23rd, 7:10 P.M. EST), FTV Live is reporting on their homepage (I don't subscribe to it, so I wasn't able to read their article nor provide a link to it here) in big letters "News Department Shutdown", and showing the WHCP logo.

I did visit the WHCP website and discovered that their local news only started up this past November.

Does anyone in the area know what the heck is going on?? Did McGee's "dismissal" lead to the newsroom being shut down?? Could these things have all been a coincidence?? And why would their news department shut down just three-and-a-half months after it's first broadcasts??
 
When contract disputes go bad

> First came reports that veteran news anchor Tom McGee had
> "resigned" from WHCP-30, the WB affiliate for parts of
> southeastern Ohio and West Virginia.
>
> Then came reports that he was escorted out of the station by
> police!

He walked out over a contract (actually, medical benefits) dispute. He was escourted out of the WHCP building by Charleston Police. Apparently it wasn't the first time McGee has been arrested but he didn't give the cops any problems.

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/200602228/>Link: Charleston Daily Mail</a>

From the article:

<font color=red>"It appears to be a little ruckus in newsroom and tempers tend to flare in close situations," Hunt said. "I mean, eight officers showed up to remove a 58-year-old, 170-pound newsman. That's way unnecessary."

Hunt said he was optimistic McGee would be on the air for the 6 p.m. newscast. </font>
 
Re: When contract disputes go bad

Keith:

Thanks for the info. It answers one of my questions.

I'd still like to know if WHCP-30 in fact has closed or will close down their local news operation.
 
West Virginia's WHCP Drops Local News

Two days after the way anchor Tom McGee's termination was handled made news, West Virginia's WHCP-30 has indeed closed down it's local news operations. The plug was pulled yesterday afternoon (February 23rd).

These news articles on the websites of the Charleston (West Virginia) Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail provide an in-depth look at what happened.

All I can say is: Wow! (but in a negative way, considering that about 15 people lost their jobs)

Both articles hint that WHCP is in deep financial trouble. I don't know how many other people still work there, but however many or few that number is, they may also want to worry about their jobs. If WHCP, currently a WB affiliate, is left without an affiliation after the WB/UPN merger, could the station go off the air?? And if indeed WHCP does leave the air, could owner Charles Harker decide not to wait until the affiliation is yanked (if it is) and pull the plug sooner??
 
Re: West Virginia's WHCP Drops Local News

Did they do a farewell newscast? "This is our last newscast on WHCP. Thanks for watching all these weeks."? Something like that?

ixnay

(who's been to WV but only the Martinsburg/Harpers Ferry/Charles Town area.
 
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