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02-01-2008, 12:17 PM
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http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=659493
WTEN cuts staff before sweeps
TV station fires at least 10, including reporters, as critical ad period nears
By CHRIS CHURCHILL, Business writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
ALBANY -- Television station WTEN Ch. 10 on Tuesday slashed its staff, cutting on-air reporters and anchors just before the start of a key ratings period.
Anchor Alyssa Van Wie, sports director Brian Sinkoff, meteorologist Chris Gloninger and reporter John Craig were among those who lost their jobs at the ABC affiliate in Albany, according to people with knowledge of the layoffs.
It was unclear exactly how many jobs were lost at the station, but one person with information said 10 people had been dismissed and four open positions won't be filled. This person said a weekend morning show may also be cut.
"The long and short of it is my job was eliminated," said Sinkoff, sports director since 2005. "That's the nature of the business."
The move appears to be an attempt by Young Broadcasting Inc., the troubled New York City-based owner of WTEN, to quickly shave costs. The company, which owns 10 TV stations nationally, has cut jobs at its other stations, including KWQC in Davenport, Iowa, and WKRN in Nashville, Tenn.
"We all kind of knew the company was not doing so well," said one station employee whose job was cut Tuesday. "But I personally never saw something like this coming."
Several people with knowledge of the matter on Tuesday tied the company's difficulties to its 1999 purchase of KRON in San Francisco. The station had been an NBC affiliate, but the network, upset that Young's last-minute bid prevented it from buying KRON, pulled its affiliation shortly after the purchase. That left Young with a dramatically devalued station.
"The value of KRON fell by at least 50 percent after that," said Ed Dague, a former news anchor at WNYT Ch. 13 in Menands.
Young said earlier this month that it would sell KRON, the largest station it owns. KRON is an affiliate of the relatively obscure MyNetwork TV.
"It is purely a strategic economic decision," Vincent Young, chairman of the company, said in a statement.
Young and WTEN General Manager Rene LaSpina did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment on the local layoffs.
The job cuts stunned workers at other Capital Region television stations, particularly as they came right before the February ratings period. Ratings during the so-called sweeps period affect a station's advertising rates in subsequent months.
"The timing of this is extremely odd," said Bill Lambdin, a reporter at WNYT. "I think they're desperately trying to slash expenses."
On Tuesday, visitors to WTEN's Web site who clicked on the News10 Team link were told to "Please come back in a few days to check out our brand new 'Meet the NEWS10 Team' page!"
The link indicated it was last updated Jan. 21.
Churchill can be reached at 454-5442 or by e-mail at cchurchill@timesunion.com.
Staff writer Pete Dougherty contributed to this story.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=659493
WTEN cuts staff before sweeps
TV station fires at least 10, including reporters, as critical ad period nears
By CHRIS CHURCHILL, Business writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
ALBANY -- Television station WTEN Ch. 10 on Tuesday slashed its staff, cutting on-air reporters and anchors just before the start of a key ratings period.
Anchor Alyssa Van Wie, sports director Brian Sinkoff, meteorologist Chris Gloninger and reporter John Craig were among those who lost their jobs at the ABC affiliate in Albany, according to people with knowledge of the layoffs.
It was unclear exactly how many jobs were lost at the station, but one person with information said 10 people had been dismissed and four open positions won't be filled. This person said a weekend morning show may also be cut.
"The long and short of it is my job was eliminated," said Sinkoff, sports director since 2005. "That's the nature of the business."
The move appears to be an attempt by Young Broadcasting Inc., the troubled New York City-based owner of WTEN, to quickly shave costs. The company, which owns 10 TV stations nationally, has cut jobs at its other stations, including KWQC in Davenport, Iowa, and WKRN in Nashville, Tenn.
"We all kind of knew the company was not doing so well," said one station employee whose job was cut Tuesday. "But I personally never saw something like this coming."
Several people with knowledge of the matter on Tuesday tied the company's difficulties to its 1999 purchase of KRON in San Francisco. The station had been an NBC affiliate, but the network, upset that Young's last-minute bid prevented it from buying KRON, pulled its affiliation shortly after the purchase. That left Young with a dramatically devalued station.
"The value of KRON fell by at least 50 percent after that," said Ed Dague, a former news anchor at WNYT Ch. 13 in Menands.
Young said earlier this month that it would sell KRON, the largest station it owns. KRON is an affiliate of the relatively obscure MyNetwork TV.
"It is purely a strategic economic decision," Vincent Young, chairman of the company, said in a statement.
Young and WTEN General Manager Rene LaSpina did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment on the local layoffs.
The job cuts stunned workers at other Capital Region television stations, particularly as they came right before the February ratings period. Ratings during the so-called sweeps period affect a station's advertising rates in subsequent months.
"The timing of this is extremely odd," said Bill Lambdin, a reporter at WNYT. "I think they're desperately trying to slash expenses."
On Tuesday, visitors to WTEN's Web site who clicked on the News10 Team link were told to "Please come back in a few days to check out our brand new 'Meet the NEWS10 Team' page!"
The link indicated it was last updated Jan. 21.
Churchill can be reached at 454-5442 or by e-mail at cchurchill@timesunion.com.
Staff writer Pete Dougherty contributed to this story.