Chris Francis leaving KIRO 7; Chris Swanson laid-off

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• I can't believe Kiro let Chris Francis go! Are you kidding me? He was the best sportscasters of any channel. If he is going to channel 13 then so am I ! Why would you let him go? I can't believe it ! Shame on you, Kiro!

  • More than that: Chris is *back* at Fox 13. He used to work there when the station was branded as "Q13."

    • What year(s) do you claim Chris worked there when Q13? I was there 87-22 and never saw him.

      • Chris Francis was at Q13 at KOMO for a short time as a freelance anchor after he was let go from KIRO 7 in 2016. He went to the Bay Area and worked for the Pac-12 Network and another job before coming back to KIRO 7 in 2019. He was laid off 5 years later, then worked as a freelance reporter at Q13 again from September 2024 to January 2025. Francis now works for Straight Arrow News back in the midwest. Chris Swanson was the longtime sports producer and fill-in anchor at KIRO 7. He was laid off the same day that Chris Francis was. Swanson now works at Q13 (Fox 13 they call it now) as a sports reporter. He had previously worked at Northwest Cable News as a sports anchor when KING 5 used to run it as a 24-hour news channel. Lots of Chris names in this area for broadcasting.

      • I think he meant Chris Daniels. From the KOMO 4 bio:
        Daniels attended Washington State University before embarking on a career that has included positions at KING TV in Seattle, FOX 13 in Seattle, WZZM in Grand Rapids, Michigan and KIDK in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Daniels joined KOMO and Sinclair Broadcasting after nearly two decades at Seattle’s KING TV, most recently serving as the station’s Chief Reporter.

        Chris Francis on LinkedIn:

        Sports Director
        KIRO 7
        Aug 2019 - Jul 2024 5 years
        Seattle, WA
        Recently laid off after five years as Sports Director at KIRO 7. Successfully re-built the stations sports profile with daily live remotes and more than 40 half hour sports specials each year. Managed a three person department, overseeing all aspects of the stations daily and long term sports coverage, from planning to production to on-air presentation. Also developed and implemented more than a two dozen sales and promotional franchise segments that generated significant revenue for the…Show more

        Media Relations Consultant
        Francis Media Consulting
        Sep 2017 - Sep 2021 4 years 1 month
        Seattle, WA
        Leaning on more than three decades of media experience, advised and trained clients to navigate and leverage the media spotlight in order to better promote their brand.

        Freelance Sports Anchor
        Pac-12 Network
        Sep 2016 - Aug 2019 3 years
        San Francisco Bay Area
        Freelance sports anchor specializing in multiple daily halftime updates and reports. Responsible for writing and delivering on-air news and highlights for all PAC 12 conference teams and network channels.

        KIRO TV
        6 years 4 months
        Sports Anchor
        Oct 2009 - Jan 2016 6 years 4 months
        Seattle, WA
        Excelled as the only full time sports anchor at KIRO. Created a weekly half-hour Seahawks football show which ran for 11 seasons. Also produced and anchored daily weekend sports reports.
        News Reporter
        Oct 2009 - Jan 2016 6 years 4 months
        Seattle, WA
        In addition to weekend sports anchor duties also mastered the daily grind as a general assignment reporter. The dual role was a first at KIRO. Enthusiastically advanced original stories for broadcast, chased breaking news and met several daily deadlines.

        Sports Director
        WDJT CBS 58
        Jun 2006 - Sep 2009 3 years 4 months
        Milwaukee, WI
        Packers, Badgers, Brewers, Bucks! In charge of four person department that covered everything the Badger state's sports scene had to offer - Including the snow. Anchored main sportscasts five nights a week.

• I moved to the Peninsula a number of years ago from a major market area. In my opinion, Chris is the best sportscaster I’ve seen in many years. He and Morgan (weather) made me a devoted KIRO 7 fan. And, as an avid multi sports fan, I haven’t seen any indication that KIRO is interested in keeping sports fans. It will be near to impossible to replace Chris - so what say you, KIRO? Best of luck to you, Chris - if you join another station, that community will definitely be lucky to get you! Thanks for your excellent coverage, analysis & enthusiasm!

  BTW - no dis intended for the newscasters - they do their jobs well. But they don’t replace a sportscaster who is really knowledgeable about sports - can offer analysis, history, future projections about the full range of local teams.

• Chris Francis was the best sportscaster ever in Seattle history. I am a KIRO fan and follower and I am outraged by them letting Chris go. I love Monique and Gary Hatcher. Elle is doing a great job, but I believe Morgan can go and we prefer Nick, because he has grown up here.
  Anyways,, shame on you for letting Chris go !! I am beginning to hate your channel now. 😥😥

  • Nope. Glad he has moved on. The other three stations were much better than he and the new guy at Kiro is the bomb!! Kind of a jack-of-all-trades but very smooth delivery and is great on the sports as well as in the field and behind the desk.

• I often get the Chris's in the Seattle media mixed up.

• Chris, you brought me closer to being a sports fan than anyone else in 74 years. You had a great connection with your audience and a fun one with your coworkers. I miss you but wish you the best and hope you have fun in your future endeavors.
  Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

• Dang! I hope KIRO 7 would find the next sports director *and* the next *weekend* sports *anchor*.

• Chris I have been waiting for you at the press box door! I finally guessed the truth and am very sorry to hear it. I will not be watching ch7 any more, that’s for sure.
  All the very best in your future endeavors. You’re too young to retire!
  Susan

• Steve Raible @RaibleKIRO7 (on X.COM)
  Sorry to hear my friend. The business today is crazy. You are as good as there is out there and have no doubt there are still big things in your future. Keep the faith.