Layoffs, New Weatherman at WRCB Chattanooga
WRCB is eliminating eight positions over the next few months.
By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/27/2008 8:32:00 AM
Chattanooga, Tenn., news power WRCB is eliminating eight positions over the next few months, citing technological developments that allow the station’s production needs to be carried out with fewer bodies.
The staff reductions do not include anchors, reporters or producers.
“We’re reorganizing our maintenance and production departments in recognition of the fact that so much broadcasting equipment has become computerized,” president and general manager Tom Tolar said. “The long and the short of it is that there will be eight positions eliminated over the next couple of months.”
Tolar said the reductions would include attrition, early retirement and layoffs.
WRCB is a strong NBC affiliate that is owned by Indiana-based Sarkes Tarzian. The staff reductions were first reported in The Chattanoogan.
WRCB also announced that it was hiring former WTVC Chattanooga chief meteorologist Neal Pascal to take the place of weekend weatherman Brian Travers, whose contract was not renewed. Travers will remain on the air until Pascal’s start date has been determined. Pascal will begin at some point before the fall season.
Pascal left WTVC after facing federal mortgage-fraud charges, to which he pleaded guilty in December 2006. “He made a mistake, a big mistake,” Tolar said. “But he admitted it, he cooperated with the authorities, he apologized repeatedly and he got his life back together.”
Pascal thanked Tolar and the rest of the WRCB crew in a statement for having “graciously given me a second chance.”
ABC affiliate WTVC, which is owned by Freedom Broadcasting, has been making gains on WRCB.
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New here so what did he do, thatwas so bad that he should not be on tv?
Sue Johnson - 6/17/2009 8:18:03 PM EDT -
We are disappointed that WRCB would put Neal Pascal on the air again.
It sends the wrong message: that convicted felons who have some community stature can go on as if nothing ever happened. Yes, he admitted guilt but you must remember that his celebrity as a TV personality likely contributed to his ability to deceive and defraud his victims.
Viewers develop loyalty to the faces & personalities to whom we turn for news and weather reports. When those personalities betray their audience, the public, and the victims of their crimes, they should be removed from the public view.
There are many instances of national on-air personalities in both radio & TV who have been removed from the fields of broadcasting or sportscasting for much lesser offenses.
We feel that WRCB has betrayed their viewing audience. This man does not have the respect of the community. He will not help your ratings. He will, in fact, hurt your ratings.
And you betrayed Brian Travers, as it appears that he is gone because you wanted Neal Pascal. You should have kept the younger man and molded him into someone the community could grow to know, respect, and rely upon.
We purposely turn the channel when Mr. Pascal appears on the screen; we could or could not come back to your network to watch later programming. You know, as do we, that many viewers watch network & syndicated shows following the news & weather. You will lose in those ratings too.
Brenda Rayburn - 8/11/2008 5:39:00 PM EDT
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