Allen Media stations dumping local weather segments

[SEWIGuy]

The Allen layoffs also include some local journalists at their TV stations. Gray TV recently did something similar in its small markets.

The local station I watch for local news in the morning is a Gray station. My favorite bits are when they go to their "Washington reporter" who probably spends two hours every morning answering the same scripted questions with the same scripted answers from anchors from accross the country.

And the random story from another Gray market in a completely different state that I guess the local producer found interesting.

For some of their markets, they may be given questions to ask to set up the reporter's recorded answer.  The largest markets may have it more personalized.

While I doubt the Quad Cities is one of their larger markets, they do banter back and forth with names beforehand so perhaps its more the latter than the former? I will pay closer attention next time.

[Scott5114]

The Allen layoffs also include some local journalists at their TV stations. Gray TV recently did something similar in its small markets.

The local station I watch for local news in the morning is a Gray station. My favorite bits are when they go to their "Washington reporter" who probably spends two hours every morning answering the same scripted questions with the same scripted answers from anchors from accross the country.

And the random story from another Gray market in a completely different state that I guess the local producer found interesting.

Assuming they don't have the Washington reporter record the answers once and then just splice that with the scripted local anchor questions, the way they used to do with local DJs "interviewing" musicians.

[ilpt4u]

The Allen layoffs also include some local journalists at their TV stations. Gray TV recently did something similar in its small markets.

The local station I watch for local news in the morning is a Gray station. My favorite bits are when they go to their "Washington reporter" who probably spends two hours every morning answering the same scripted questions with the same scripted answers from anchors from accross the country.

And the random story from another Gray market in a completely different state that I guess the local producer found interesting.

I'll probably switch to our market's Gray Television station, KFVS Cape Girardeau, once WSIL Carterville/Harrisburg gets rid of local weather for The Weather Channel crap.

Either that or WPSD Paducah, owned by Paxton media/owner of Paducah newspaper Paducah Sun Democrat

[WillWeaverRVA]

Allen Media has reversed the decision after overwhelming backlash.

https://www.wtva.com/news/local/wtva-parent-company-reverses-decision-severe-weather-authority-to-remain/article_62b9d4da-d9b4-11ef-9386-a7fc886aea62.html

[thenetwork]

Allen Media has reversed the decision after overwhelming backlash.

https://www.wtva.com/news/local/wtva-parent-company-reverses-decision-severe-weather-authority-to-remain/article_62b9d4da-d9b4-11ef-9386-a7fc886aea62.html

But will the other meteorologists that were already let go from Allen Media stations even dare go back to their old jobs???

[ilpt4u]

Allen Media has reversed the decision after overwhelming backlash.

https://www.wtva.com/news/local/wtva-parent-company-reverses-decision-severe-weather-authority-to-remain/article_62b9d4da-d9b4-11ef-9386-a7fc886aea62.html

Southern Illinois's Daily Egyptian newspaper is reporting WSIL's Weather Team is staying on at the station as well: https://dailyegyptian.com/120152/news/wsil-ownership-reverses-decision-to-axe-weather-department/

[Life in Paradise]

I'm guessing enough station managers as well as the local station advertisers made a fuss.  And if there is one group corporate will listen to, it is their good paying advertisers.  On the other hand, it will be interesting to see whether or not Allen Media does this on a case by case basis over the next few years.  That way there won't be as much publicity on the decision.

[dvferyance]

I am glad they did the right thing and revered their decision. But I can't beleive they would even consider doing something like this.

[ilpt4u]

2 out of 3 of WSIL's meteorologists quit anyway. Monday morning news today has a Weather Channel guy from Atlanta doing the weather. I bet this is how it is going forward.

WSIL's morning news is now the morning news girl reading intros for ABC-recorded national news segments and Weather Channel-produced weather segments. Hardly qualifies as local news at this point

[thenetwork]

2 out of 3 of WSIL's meteorologists quit anyway. Monday morning news today has a Weather Channel guy from Atlanta doing the weather. I bet this is how it is going forward.

WSIL's morning news is now the morning news girl reading intros for ABC-recorded national news segments and Weather Channel-produced weather segments. Hardly qualifies as local news at this point

A lot of the small market stations do that nowadays. 

[Bobby5280]

These local TV station ownership groups really need to double-check the "cost-saving" idea of outsourcing their local weather departments to The Weather Channel. That's in light of the federal government firing hundreds of people at the NOAA and National Weather Service right before the Spring storm season. They even laid off people at the Norman, OK office, which is one of the most important in the country.

[Road Hog]

The small market TV stations to the north of me mainly just rehash the 10 o'clock local news stories for their morning shows and occasionally will sprinkle in some prerecorded lifestylish interviews as well. To their credit, they do have an AM weather person who's up to date.

[SectorZ]

I wonder how many years of cord-cutting has caused this. We know how every single OTA station has gotten tons of extra money off retrans fees and now that money is drying up.

I'd be curious to see the financials involved.

[NWI_Irish96]

If you aren't going to have live, locally based weather reports on your news, and other stations in your area do, you might as well stop having newscasts. People aren't going to watch yours.