Bob CollinsThe round of layoffs that struck CBS television stations around the country hit the Twin Cities today.
“Paul Douglas is no longer with the station,” WCCO spokesperson Kiki Rosatti told me this afternoon. Earlier this week, anchor John Reger was let go in a “restructuring” that has hit local CBS stations across the country hard. About 8 persons were let go on WCCO’s television side and the company is offering “a limited number of buyouts” to staff members.
Earlier this week, stations in New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco announced layoffs, including local big names.
In Boston, for example, long-time sports personality Bob Lobel was let go. In analyzing the situation, the Boston Globe said the layoffs mark the “end of the celebrity broadcaster in local television.”
“We are still committed to this community,” said WCCO spokesperson Rosatti, who blamed the layoffs on a “down economy.”
CBS Corp. reported a 14.6% decline in its fourth-quarter earnings. The broadcasting division has set a 1 percent workforce reduction.
(Update: By way of comments, Minnesota Monitor has Douglas’ farewell memo)
Update 4/7 10:32 a.m. – See follow-up discussion post.
