Buffalo News television critic Alan Pergament suggests Buffalo CBS affiliate WIVB, a station known for its stability, is “cutting expenses, letting popular, behind-the-scenes staffers leave, losing young aggressive reporters and destroying morale.”
WIVB’s recent moves come as ABC affiliate WKBW has invested in new talent and revamped newscasts:
In the last two years, Channel 4’s on-air departures have included Diana Fairbanks, Amelia Segal, Anthony Congi, Bryan Shaw, part-timer Dr. Peter Ostrow and Joe Arena and soon will include Ed Drantch and Rachel Kingston.
AdvertisementLaSpina also let go three longtime, behind-the-scenes staffers this week, including an executive assistant who worked at Channel 4 or 38 years under nine general managers and station managers.
This isn’t to suggest that Channel 4 has become Channel 7 yet. Not by a long shot. It still has several strong veteran staffers. But it appears to be making some of the same shortsighted, cost-cutting mistakes as Channel 7’s former owner at a time it should be much more concerned about Channel 7 as a competitor.