The names of those being laid off in the Meredith cuts are surfacing—and longtime Nashville, Tenn., anchor Alan Frio is among them.
The WSMV anchor was let go last Thursday as part of the 130 people laid off across Meredith’s local stations because of the financial impact of Covid-19.
“I found out in a brief phone call on my day off that I was no longer at Channel 4,” Frio told the Tennessean.
Frio did more than just anchor. He was also the station’s weekend managing editor, anchor and weekday reporter.
“I saved the company money by anchoring all of the weekend newscasts for three years,” Frio told the newspaper.
After 16 years at the company, Frio said he was let go over the phone. “I regret I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to the people I have enjoyed working with,” he said.
A corporate spokeswoman told the Tennessean that more than one person at the station was laid off, but declined to share more details.