Three’s a crowd.
After 16 years of crowding the region’s television news scene, the news team at FOX 8/ABC 23 will bow out, again leaving the local market with just two TV news sources.
Peak Media of Pennsylvania, which owns the two Richland Township-based stations, announced Wednesday that, beginning Jan. 14, it will no longer produce its own local news shows.
FOX affiliate WWCP’s 10 p.m. nightly news will be produced by NBC affiliate WJAC of Upper Yoder Township. The show’s format will be cut from one hour to 35 minutes.
WJAC will simulcast its 11 p.m. news show on ABC affiliate WATM in place of its in-house nightly news.
With no news being produced by WWCP/WATM, only WJAC and WTAJ of Altoona will offer televised news coverage. Those were the same options available to residents in the Johnstown-Altoona-State College market prior to Jan. 6, 1992, when Fox 8 and ABC 23 began their news programs.
“We are excited about being the news supplier for three out of the four stations in the market,” said Dick Schrott, vice president and general manager of WJAC. “That’s certainly attractive.”
The move effectively eliminates about 15 jobs at the sister stations, both of which broadcast from along Scalp Avenue in Richland. All of the on-air talent and reporters will lose their jobs, and a handful of production employees also will be out of work.
Schrott said the move will result directly in three new positions, and he said WJAC also is seeking to fill two news jobs.
“Certainly, those folks are welcome to apply for the positions” and will be considered, he said. “Like anything else, we will hire the best.”
Frank Quitoni, president and general manager of WWCP and WATM, said it no longer was feasible for the company to produce its own news.
“We have lost millions of dollars,” he said. “Our news has been operating at a financial loss for years, a loss that is not sustainable. I don’t need to take that loss and be negative. The news staff did an outstanding job to create a top-quality program.”
News Director Jim Penna said Quitoni gathered the news and production members after the 11 p.m. broadcast Tuesday and told them.
“I don’t think the general staff had any indication,” he said. “This time of year, it’s certainly not something that is top of mind.”
Sherry Stalley has been with FOX 8 for 14 of its 16 years, serving as a reporter from 1992-99 and as anchor since 2001.
She said she was stunned by the announcement, considering that WWCP and WATM were posting their audiences in recent ratings.
“The feedback from the public had been wonderful,” Stalley said. “But with the way the market is, I shouldn’t have been surprised. It completely blindsided me.”
The employees being let go by WWCP and WATM will either receive a severance or have their remaining contracts honored. Quitoni said it was the least he could do for the stations’ “family.”
“It just tore my heart out,” Quitoni said.
Losing variety
Beginning Jan. 14, viewers
in the Greater Johnstown television market will have the following
late-night, local news shows:
• FOX 8’s 10 p.m. news broadcast, pared from one hour to 35 minutes, will be produced by WJAC.
• FOX 8’s sister station,
ABC affiliate WATM, will simulcast WJAC’s 11 p.m. news show.
• WTAJ’s 11 p.m. newscast
will be unaffected.
Local News
WJAC-TV announces plan to produce news for WWCP, WATM
- Local News
-
- District Deaths June 20, 2013
-
Firefighters respond to Munster Township house fire
Firefighters responded to a house fire at 10:22 p.m. Tuesday in the 900 block of Spinner Road in Munster Township. The Red Cross is assisting the family. The state police fire marshal has been called to investigate. Fire companies responding were Cresson, Loretto, Dauntless and Nanty Glo.
-
Senate plan would expand liquor sales
Republicans in the state Senate on Tuesday announced a plan that would replace the existing state store system by allowing beer distributors and businesses that sell six-packs to begin selling wine and liquor.
-
New medical facility coming to Meyersdale
A new state-of-the-art building for primary care physicians and specialists is expected to be opened at Conemaugh Health System’s Meyersdale Medical Center by the fall of 2014.
-
Windber Medical Center goal: Stay independent
Hospital leaders knew there were those in the audience who expected to hear an announcement that Windber Medical Center would close or merge with a larger system.
“What you heard, I hope, was just the opposite,” Chairman David Klementic said after the hospital’s annual community meeting on Tuesday. -
11th-hour pension reform push begins
The head of the union representing Pennsylvania public school teachers and Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget secretary are two of the speakers expected to testify today before a House panel examining pension reform.
-
Menoher project will create long detour
A well-traveled section of road connecting the city to Westmont will be closed for up to four months to correct frequent rock slide issues on the hillside above.
-
Thunderbash ready for large turnout
Motorcycle riders from across the country will invade Greenhouse Park this weekend for “Thunderbash.”
As many as 20,000 bikers are expected Thursday through Sunday to coincide with Thunder in the Valley in Johnstown. -
Windber resident faces trial in Richland beating
A Windber man will stand trial on charges that he beat another man after a night of drinking, then left him along a Richland Township road.
-
Paint Twp. recalling chief, other workers
Paint Township plans to bring the last of its laid-off workers, including the township police chief, back to work July 1.
- More Local News Headlines
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
