Nashville Stations Stand Tall Amidst Recession

By Andrew Gauthier 

Broadcasting & Cable

Nashville isn’t exactly skating through the nation’s economic malaise. But general managers in the No. 29 DMA say the market is in relatively strong shape, thanks to a diverse economy that includes a substantial health-care industry, manufacturing and, of course, the entertainment business that gave Music City its nickname.

“People here are very positive about the economy,” says WSMV VP/General Manager Elden Hale. “We haven’t seen the flurry of layoffs that other markets have. It doesn’t seem to have affected us as deeply.”

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That’s not to say the Nashville stations aren’t feeling it; business is down around 20% from last year. ABC affiliate WKRN’s parent, Young Broadcasting, is selling its stations out of bankruptcy court to a consortium of banks; Gray Television will manage seven of them, including WKRN, after the deal closes. More…

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