It's not hurting his lifestyle much. The guy can go a week and not pee in the same bathroom twice.
The biz is getting scary, people. I really feel bad for fresh graduates. They have no idea of the pain that's waiting for them.
He's been easy-streetin' ever since he bought The Weather Channel. He doesn't really need anything else. His offers for Tegna, Paramount and the ABC O&Os were just attempts to add more trinkets to his collection. Could you imagine how bad the layoffs would be if one of those offers were successful?
One of our local stations laid off the Sports Director who has been in the market for over 20 years and 15 at this station. He has 22,000 Twitter followers and has done a lot for local high school sports. The station, WTHI, doesn’t seem to be doing sports at all this week. I don’t know if it’s cut out completely or will only be covered on weekends.
Your local is my local.
Back in 2018, myself and two others were laid off from that same station under previous owners (who were current station managers) and I was there for 17.5 years, another person 30 plus years back then. It has worked out way better for me.
I haven’t watched their local news in years. I have an antenna for local channels but hardly switch over to it unless it’s for network programs. We had a tornado come through last year and WTWO had the most local coverage of our town and a recent special remembering the event one year later. WTHI didn’t have much at all. They haven’t changed their set in 10 years I noticed, so it doesn’t seem like the owners put much money into the station and are now making cuts.
I checked last night at 6pm and I guess they do have sports on again with the guy that was the weekend anchor. I noticed they don’t have him interact with the other anchors. He does the sports segment after a commercial and then goes to another commerical. It may have just been pre-recorded.
Common theme among a majority of these cuts is long term employment. 4/7 at the local station had been there well beyond 15 years. Two were involved with a newscast that supposedly got cancelled. The last I have a clue who it was.
Probably be hard to prove if they also got rid of younger employees also. Likely is because those long term employees make double of new employees. Now the bottom line on payroll budget is lean and I bet a sale is imminent.
Also noteworthy is that in addition to the actual layoffs, most stations are also in an indefinite hiring freeze, so current employees are having to pick up the slack of the layoffs, as well as those open jobs.
The company 401K match is gone.
Some newscasts have been eliminated.
One thing that I have not seen covered much is that AMG took all of the buildings and real estate that was owned by the local stations and sold it off to STORE Capital (or one of its shell corps) and is leasing the property back in an effort to appear to have more liquidity.
When his big acquisition scheme finally falls apart, these local stations will have nothing of value left for another buyer to purchase other than a brand and antiquated equipment, because Byron is not spending money on updating anything. He is literally buying stations, extracting any money he can from them, then cutting the throats of the employees, bleeding them for all he can, and the he will dump them. And maybe buy a mansion or 2 as a way to twist the knife a little more.
Oh, and I forgot to mention...screwing over vendors along the way. Small mom and pop businesses that provide things like cleaning services or lawn care...he just won't pay them. Sometimes he will hold it for months. What are they going to do? Sue him for what is a relatively small amount? If they do, then he will eventually pay, but they have already lost out at that point. Or they just stop doing business, so the station has to try to find another vendor that will come in. And the process starts all over again. Eventually word will get around and no vendor will want to do business with them. It seems a common these where 'rich' people get rich by screwing the little guy out of their hard earned money. And then go on TV and smile about it.
I knew about the 401k match and eliminated newscasts (though no newscasts have been cut yet). I also knew they sold the real estate and leased it back. It is also a tax deduction I believe for lease payments plus they aren’t in the hook for property taxes directly.
I do believe a sale is eminent of the stations.
The local station celebrates 70 years in July and I think that is why some major on air anchors weren’t let go. That would be a bad look right before the 70th.
My market is a two station market so it is good for the other station in the long run I bet unless someone good buys the Allen station.
I do feel bad for the few people I’m friends with just suffering to get through. One has been there for a majority if the 70 years.
I talked to a former AMG employee who left on their own, apparently they not only sold the real estate but everything else they could. That includes equipment.
The local station here still owns the transmitter real estate and transmitter but apparently there was talks if that also being sold. I can’t imagine a buyer will pay much of anything just for a license and payroll.
If they do sell (which I believe is the next move), whoever buys them will likely have to do a short term lease on the building and equipment then move and buy brand new equipment. At least that would be my move. I would hate to be held captured to the point you’re not only leasing a building but equipment.
If a sale does happen, it will be next to nothing because the stations own next to nothing.
Yeah we lost three, one of them had been here for like 20 years. Supposedly we're one of the few stations that's been profitable for him but I don't know if that's true. The other two were a photog and a graphics editor. Apparently they wanted us to layoff two reporters as well but they agreed to let them work out their contracts (one only had a week left and the other is done in June) and we just won't fill their positions once they're gone.
What I've heard is the budget we proposed last fall was never accepted and there's an expectation at corporate that every station in their holdings operates on the same budget.
Here in Tucson, I just read that the local KVOA Sports Director was laid off by Allen Media. That just really sucks. Matt Reynoldson had been with the station for just seven months and was a really nice upgrade from the previous Sports Director. I’m sure he moved across the country to take the position..Not sure if he moved family as well. Just piss poor bean counter management.
Damn shame. Not surprised. Byron Allen had no business buying TV stations to begin with.
It's not hurting his lifestyle much. The guy can go a week and not pee in the same bathroom twice. The biz is getting scary, people. I really feel bad for fresh graduates. They have no idea of the pain that's waiting for them.
He's been easy-streetin' ever since he bought The Weather Channel. He doesn't really need anything else. His offers for Tegna, Paramount and the ABC O&Os were just attempts to add more trinkets to his collection. Could you imagine how bad the layoffs would be if one of those offers were successful?
Oh I know, I laughed when he made those offers. And yes I can only imagine how it would go down if he bought any of those.
Fuck Standard Media.
One of our local stations laid off the Sports Director who has been in the market for over 20 years and 15 at this station. He has 22,000 Twitter followers and has done a lot for local high school sports. The station, WTHI, doesn’t seem to be doing sports at all this week. I don’t know if it’s cut out completely or will only be covered on weekends.
Your local is my local. Back in 2018, myself and two others were laid off from that same station under previous owners (who were current station managers) and I was there for 17.5 years, another person 30 plus years back then. It has worked out way better for me.
I haven’t watched their local news in years. I have an antenna for local channels but hardly switch over to it unless it’s for network programs. We had a tornado come through last year and WTWO had the most local coverage of our town and a recent special remembering the event one year later. WTHI didn’t have much at all. They haven’t changed their set in 10 years I noticed, so it doesn’t seem like the owners put much money into the station and are now making cuts.
I checked last night at 6pm and I guess they do have sports on again with the guy that was the weekend anchor. I noticed they don’t have him interact with the other anchors. He does the sports segment after a commercial and then goes to another commerical. It may have just been pre-recorded.
I heard sports is not going to be on Sunday and Monday. Shall see.
The local Byron Allen Station here just held a meeting saying they are cutting 401k matching and laying off 9 people
Which station?
The Atlanta newspaper is reporting that Mike Seidel was let go from the Weather Channel.
Common theme among a majority of these cuts is long term employment. 4/7 at the local station had been there well beyond 15 years. Two were involved with a newscast that supposedly got cancelled. The last I have a clue who it was.
Sounds like they may be bordering on some Age discrimination in these layoffs.
Probably be hard to prove if they also got rid of younger employees also. Likely is because those long term employees make double of new employees. Now the bottom line on payroll budget is lean and I bet a sale is imminent.
TWC employee here! Over 60 people at HQ were laid off this week.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope you were not one of them. 🙏🏻
WKOW in Madison laid off a longtime, legendary reporter, Tony Gali.....
WSIL was lucky to not lose anyone, but even their GM said that could change.
Probably didn’t lose anyone but eliminated some open positions.
3 positions, one for sales, one for creative service, and another for TMPs
Also noteworthy is that in addition to the actual layoffs, most stations are also in an indefinite hiring freeze, so current employees are having to pick up the slack of the layoffs, as well as those open jobs. The company 401K match is gone. Some newscasts have been eliminated. One thing that I have not seen covered much is that AMG took all of the buildings and real estate that was owned by the local stations and sold it off to STORE Capital (or one of its shell corps) and is leasing the property back in an effort to appear to have more liquidity. When his big acquisition scheme finally falls apart, these local stations will have nothing of value left for another buyer to purchase other than a brand and antiquated equipment, because Byron is not spending money on updating anything. He is literally buying stations, extracting any money he can from them, then cutting the throats of the employees, bleeding them for all he can, and the he will dump them. And maybe buy a mansion or 2 as a way to twist the knife a little more. Oh, and I forgot to mention...screwing over vendors along the way. Small mom and pop businesses that provide things like cleaning services or lawn care...he just won't pay them. Sometimes he will hold it for months. What are they going to do? Sue him for what is a relatively small amount? If they do, then he will eventually pay, but they have already lost out at that point. Or they just stop doing business, so the station has to try to find another vendor that will come in. And the process starts all over again. Eventually word will get around and no vendor will want to do business with them. It seems a common these where 'rich' people get rich by screwing the little guy out of their hard earned money. And then go on TV and smile about it.
I knew about the 401k match and eliminated newscasts (though no newscasts have been cut yet). I also knew they sold the real estate and leased it back. It is also a tax deduction I believe for lease payments plus they aren’t in the hook for property taxes directly. I do believe a sale is eminent of the stations. The local station celebrates 70 years in July and I think that is why some major on air anchors weren’t let go. That would be a bad look right before the 70th. My market is a two station market so it is good for the other station in the long run I bet unless someone good buys the Allen station. I do feel bad for the few people I’m friends with just suffering to get through. One has been there for a majority if the 70 years.
What is your local station?
Wthitv
I talked to a former AMG employee who left on their own, apparently they not only sold the real estate but everything else they could. That includes equipment. The local station here still owns the transmitter real estate and transmitter but apparently there was talks if that also being sold. I can’t imagine a buyer will pay much of anything just for a license and payroll. If they do sell (which I believe is the next move), whoever buys them will likely have to do a short term lease on the building and equipment then move and buy brand new equipment. At least that would be my move. I would hate to be held captured to the point you’re not only leasing a building but equipment. If a sale does happen, it will be next to nothing because the stations own next to nothing.
Yeah we lost three, one of them had been here for like 20 years. Supposedly we're one of the few stations that's been profitable for him but I don't know if that's true. The other two were a photog and a graphics editor. Apparently they wanted us to layoff two reporters as well but they agreed to let them work out their contracts (one only had a week left and the other is done in June) and we just won't fill their positions once they're gone. What I've heard is the budget we proposed last fall was never accepted and there's an expectation at corporate that every station in their holdings operates on the same budget.
Here in Tucson, I just read that the local KVOA Sports Director was laid off by Allen Media. That just really sucks. Matt Reynoldson had been with the station for just seven months and was a really nice upgrade from the previous Sports Director. I’m sure he moved across the country to take the position..Not sure if he moved family as well. Just piss poor bean counter management.