A Meredith spokesperson has confirmed with TVSpy that Matthew Hilk is no longer news director and creative services director for Nashville NBC station WSMV.
Hilk started at the Meredith-owned station in 2006. He came from WTAE in Pittsburgh, Pa. where he was assistant news director.
According to Nashville Scene, which first reported the news, “A recent employee survey was apparently of some concern to management.”
Ultimately, though, TV news is a ratings-driven business, and throughout his tenure WSMV has lagged in ratings behind market leader NewsChannel 5 (WTVF). WSMV’s 6 p.m. broadcast made a run at ratings success last summer, winning the July period, but November and February ratings books found Channel 5 back on top.
Hilk’s LinkedIn bio says he’s been assistant ND at WCFT-WJSU in Birmingham, Ala., and a producer at WFTV in Orlando, Fla. He worked as a reporter at WHAS in Louisville, Ky., WCHS in Charleston, W.V. and WOAY in Oak Hill, W.V.