Watch Out for the Falling Axe at KATV
Received several tips like this one today: 4 employees have been fired since Wednesday,including 2 with a combined 64 years service.(The Hot Springs Bureau Chief and the Director of Creative Services.) The other employees fired include a producer and a member of the Promotions department.
It is unknown if any additional layoffs/firings will take place.
posted by ATN @ 8:32 PM
37 comments
37 Comments:
The total is 6 with 5 more jobs not being filled.
Sandy, do you have a lawyer yet?
What a nice employer KATV sounds like. I'm so glad I don't work there. It's a loser establishment ran by losers.
KATV wants those hog games pretty badly, let the nasty bidding war begin
This is retarded. I know to not ever work for KATV. I'm tired of these stations layoff off people for the almighty dollar.
What about the possibility of offering these people buyouts or early retirement packages? Were these people fired for lack of performance or laid off? There's a big difference.
Sorry to hear that Sandy. You were dedicated and they treat you like that. Not too much surpises me anymore.
Sandy had been there 30 years. Carol 34 years. It's as if this was designed to obliterate morale.
I suspect they've succeeded.
Retirement packages? In local TV? Kidding right?
Did I hear correctly on Daybreak that they were giving one of their morning show talent a big send-off amidst all this? The girls were talking about what dresses they wore to the party and how it was a big ol' time.
I do understand cost-cutting measures for the sake of a company. It's a cold hard reality of any business. But couple the party with what I've heard was a total lack of respect for a couple of employees who've given you 30+ years of their lives, and I kind of agree with many of the other posters here.
KATV unfortuantely has a track record of doing this to people who've given them decades of service. Word to current staff, don't plan on a career.
Yep big party at Loca Luna last night for Harper. Food was free with a cash bar in the private party room. Yeah, let's fire a bunch of people, but hey let's spend over 5 grand to have a party for Harper. Gotta love the spirit of Arkansas.
Why did Jason leave anyway? We never got the real story.
Jason is going to host an outdoors show on Fox Sports
> a member of the Promotions department
So is there anything left of the Promotions department? Didn't they all quit or get fired?
Shame on KATV! What men won't do for money...does not good work and loyalty count anymore?
Can anyone say union?
Naw, the employees still won't do it.
KARK is the only station in Little Rock to not layoff anyone during these hard economic times. KTHV, KATV & KLRT has all had budget cuts... except for KARK.
$5,000 grand for the Harper party?
Puh-leeze. The room and food was provided by owner Mark Abernathy, a regular on GMA and a big fan of Harper's. The party was planned a week before news of any layoffs. No one will argue that others losing their jobs sucks, and a send-off should be held for them as well. But to cancel another deserving employee's farewell party would have been wrong.
To 1:54 - the reason that KARK hasn't had any cut backs is because no one wants to work there in the first place. How can you fire anyone when you have a bare bones staff anyway?
For a place that no one wants to work there sure isn't much turnover. I'm not talking about talent either. Those positions turnover a lot anyway.
Just so long as they don't get rid of Kristin "The Piston" Fisher! She's the hottie!!!
So were these layoffs or firings? There's a big difference.
I work at KARK and I can tell you it's a great place. In fact, a lot of channel 7 employees have learned that firsthand. They seem quite happy now.
I can't believe they let Sandy King go. He has worked hard for KATV for 30 years. This is the thanks he gets? I understand the need to make cuts especially considering the way channel 7 is sliding in ratings and in revenue. But, when there are others in that building not pulling their weight and still receiving a check, that's just wrong! Sandy, best of luck. You deserve better than channel 7!
One way to solve a morale problem is to fire all of the unhappy people.
Any chance Renee Shapiro could be next?
one way to slve the morale problem is hire Meredith Mitchell. She make everyone happy!!!
Does anyone know who the person is or why they constantly write about Meredith Mitchell?
To 2:20 p.m.
I'm sure they don't know, but she needs to talk KTHV into doing all of her telecasts from Oaklawn Park, where she'll fit right in!
Let's face it... It's time for Randy and Dale to go.
"So were these layoffs or firings?"
They were layoffs, but assuming the economy was the real reason for the cuts, Monday's news from Wall Street is making it look like they won't be getting called back anytime soon.
I haven't heard that any of the terminations were for cause. I doubt that many of those let go are holding their breaths for a call back.
And let's face it. It isn't just the economy, although that certainly doesn't help things. Local TV is a dying medium.
It's a shame really, as I rather liked to watch local programming. I'm sure something will evolve on the Internet to take its place, but it probably won't involve many of the same people. Too little imagination and not enough guts on management's part to experiment with the new medium.
Could it be get rid of some highly paid employees with long tenure and tons of raises, benefits, etc in order to get that money for the hog games or is the tower costing a little bit more than what was budgeted?
"It's a shame really, as I rather liked to watch local programming."
Please give us an example of what local programming you are speaking of.
News, weather and sports would be a nice start :D
The morning and noon shows are a pale ghost of the type of programming that was once an important part of a TV stations schedule.
And don't forget Bozo!
When I was young, you could actually watch local variety shows. I even remember a local comedy show from about 20-30 years ago. It was dreadful, but interesting none-the-less. Given a chance, it could have grown into something a more general audience might have liked. Mystery Science Theater 3000 started at a local TV station, in Minnesota? I can't remember.
Dale tells the department heads he wants the layoffs done by the end of the day and he spends the rest of the day out of the office. Classy.
Early in December he'll take all the mangers out for a day of drinking and eating in Limos. I'm guessing that due to the cuts he'll ask all of them to discretly leave at different times in different times and meet up at the party location. That way the people uninvited will not be jealous.
Yep, times are tough but Dale keeps on partying. i wonder how much the station will spend on his farewell bash.
I can't believe Carol made it this long. Everytime there was a hint of cuts over the last ten years he's wanted to get rid of her.
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