Submitted by pete fuentes last modified Thu, 06/04/2009 - 3:20pm
Last week two long time San Diego News people signed off the air. Weatherman Loren Nancarrow, and Carol Lebeau’s last broadcast came at a time when many local stations are cutting staffs. KGTV let the two veteran news people go. They had logged more than 25 years on the air in San Diego.
Maturity, accolades, and experience don’t seem to be important to tv station managers. Most consider themselves lucky to have a job and are struggling to keep their stations afloat. So management is doing the unthinkable, letting high profile talent go. (One of my past blogs dealt with the pending retiement of Carol Lebeau.)
I remember an awards night in L.A. a few years back. Loren Nancarrow was honored with a Golden Mike. The San Diego weatherman had just captured the prize for best weathercaster. He had just whipped every station in L.A. in that category to win. I thought it was impressive, because San Diego is a smaller market compared to L.A. The tv stations in the Los Angeles market had bigger budgets, and higher priced talent. I made a point to tune in to KGTV, and watch Loren. He came across really natural, solid, and professional. He quickly became my favorite weatherman in San Diego. I’m sad to see him leave after about 30 years on the air. He says he’s dedicating his life to new ventures, and passions like gardening, and the environment.
From New York, to L.A. and in between tv stations are unloading high priced talent. These are folks who are legends in the industry, Len Berman in New York, George Michael in D.C. and KNBC in Los Angeles just cut its major anchor. Viewer comments range from outrage, to relief. Some viewers are happy to see older broadcasters retire, or see them forced out. A majority of them side with the anchors calling the tv stations cheap, and short sighted.
In the past 5 years we’ve seen a replacement for every major anchor in San Diego. The only acceptation being KNSD NBC 7/39. Their anchors (Marty, and Susan) are still intact. It’s funny that these are the very same stations which pay consultants thousands of dollars to conduct research, and help guide the stations. That research has shown viewers gravitate towards familiar faces and people they know. Most of those laid off newscasters are winding up on KUSI, a station that’s reaped the benefit from castaways. KUSI is the number one newscast at 10 pm. That station is building a following while others are sinking.
