WPIX Drops Sports Dept., Camera Guys Next?

(via springhudson's flickr).

Is there trouble at WPIX? The news division at the local CW-affiliate, which we still like to think of as "New York's Movie Station," has had a rough year. On top of charges of ageism and clown attacks, disappearing newscasts and declining viewers, the station recently became the first local newscaster to drop its sports department. And, the Post reports, this may not be the end of the station's cost cutting. "There's no line that can't be crossed," one staffer told the paper.

It remains unclear how the station will cover sports going forward—though likely the anchors will just deliver scores now. And that's not all! The station is also reportedly trying to change union rules so that its on-location news shoots don't have a camera person riding with reporters—à la Time Warner's cheap-but-indispensable NY1. If they get the change, WPIX would be the first local broadcaster to do so. A spokesman for Tribune, the company that owns the station, has yet to respond to our request for comment. At least VD Vampire Diaries isn't going anywhere?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Garth Johnston in News on January 17, 2011 2:32 PM

Comments [rss]

Rammy

Why are 95% of the stories covered by the local NYC news shows at 10 and 11 about friggin' Jersey? Power lines in Manalapan! Bear spotted in Trenton!

Didn't like 5 teenagers get shot in Brooklyn yesterday - tell me about that?

whitecastlerock

they should fire the "traffic" and "weather" folks as well. WPIX news is horrendous.

ANGRYGOD11

The local 10 or 11 PM news used to be a cash cow for most stations as the costs were low and they kept all the money. Did the economics change, like newspapers, so quickly or is WPIX just mismanaged?
I really don't know why people watch it anymore. I can get news faster on the Internet and don't want to wait 50 minutes for the weather and sports.

TheRealCannibal

They need to go back to playing the 2 Maurys, 2 Jerrys, and 2 Judge Mathis weekday block. They could have all my blood if they asked for it.

gaelic47

Over at Fox 5, they do their local news with robo-cameras. So where there used to be 4 or 5 camera operators and a few "utility guys" to handle the wires (technically, they're called gaffers), there's one or two people operating the cameras from a board that resembles a sound board. I think Channel 11 may be next, if they haven't already moved to robo-cameras.

drew_o

To paraphrase Spinal Tap: New York is not really a sports town.

Stevennnn

Thanks for using my picture Gothamist!!!!

Inconcievable de Impublishable

I smell timid management. Really not unusual in the local television station business.

LazyNanny

What a shame, that used to be a quality broadcast. Last couple of years though they've been on a downward spiral.

SeasTooFarToReach

Yikes! Agree with LazyNanny. The 10 o'clock news is almost unwatchable! Don't know who they're trying to appeal to with the new format.

I usually just watch the Morning News and they added a new guy that I don't like that much. I miss Johnny. :(

(Anything is better than Good Day New York on Fox, though)