Sinclair “Hubbing” Operations

Norm Van Ness, WNWO-TV, Toledo, Ohio Channel 24’s longtime chief meteorologist, was brief and devoid of emotional sentiment in his farewell to the station and its viewers.

…The 48-year-old was among the first wave of drastic newsroom staff cuts — approximately 80 percent in all — as Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., parent company of WNWO, outsources the bulk of the station’s news operation to its CBS affiliate WSBT-TV, Channel 22, in South Bend, Ind –TVSPY

Hubbing, an ugly term, sounds slightly sexual, like screwing. I predict more of the same from Sinclair and other media groups in 2017. It is further consolidation of the dwindling talent at Sinclair and we will probably see it happen here in the Western region. Sinclair media in the West includes: KOMO/KUNS Seattle, KIMA/KUNW Yakima, KORX/KVVK Kennewick, KATU/KUNP Portland and stations in Boise, Eugene, Medford, Roseburg, Fresno, Bakersfield, Reno, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Sinclair also operates radio stations KOMO, KPLZ and KVI in Seattle. Cutbacks continue at Sinclair operations across the nation this week.

CLICK! the municipally owned and operated cable, internet and phone service provider in Tacoma, is getting into the heavily competitive “bundled services” offerings as home phone service declines across the nation. In fact, Qwest CENTURYLINK has cut more than 3,000 jobs in 2016 to lower its costs.

TEGNA Media President Dave Lougee challenged his stations to come up with new ideas for first-run shows that it could take group-wide — and possibly nationally.The station’s group WXIA Atlanta is developing a talk show with an African-American panel, while its WWL New Orleans is working on a “singing competition show. Is it time for KING 5 to revive ALMOST LIVE! again?
How about BINGO? Coded cards would be available at all Tegna stations nationwide. The first person to text BINGO and the winning card code to TEGNA wins a grab-bag of station promotional swag.