Great Recession did in print. I think this upcoming one takes out local TV news.

It's interesting to watch a show or listen to a radio program and figure who is watching/listening. Or depressing. I don't know.

 

The local stations in my city already have more or less killed off their sports departments, all while seemingly hiring 2-3 more weather people. Guess it makes sense: Covering sports is expensive, covering weather isn't. And I'm guessing few people rely on their local 11 pm newscast for their sports highlights anymore.

 

“And now the weather report:
¡Ay, caramba! Is it cold or hot?”

 

All the Boston stations have at least two full-time sports people. Of course, they all have more than two weather people as well.

 

6 is pretty cold to me.

 

Only one station in my market (mid-size) has a dedicated sports desk any more -- the CBS affiliate.

 

WPIX tv in NYC has vastly expanded its local news under new owner Nexstar over the past two years. It's added hours to its weekday mornings newscasts, started a 4 pm weekday newscast, started weekend morning newscasts and established a Sunday morning political talk show. Nexstar has made a very substantial investment in local tv news here. Will all this survive in an economic downturn? I hope so.

 

I'm thinking a lot of it depends on market size. I live in the Salinas-Monterey market, which is No. 124, and has just one full-time sports person, at the NBC/ABC stations (ABC on a digital subchannel). The weekend anchor voices over highlights, save for the occasional big events like Pebble Beach. The CBS station ignores sports, while the Fox station imports its news from KTVU. The Sunday night wrapup show has been a godsend most times when I've had the late shift.