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ABC 7 Cancels 11am News for WCL


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I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but these changes scream cost cutting moves. If you really think about it, WLS has too many anchors on weekdays. Even KABC in recent years has adjusted/eliminated some of their anchors schedules. While these moves may not be popular, there is no doubt that there is some pressure from above to cut costs. If either Linda and or Sylvia leave ABC 7, it's almost certain that they'll get picked up by another station in town.

 

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After 24 years, nearly 21 of those at 11(:30), Sylvia Perez has been fired from WLS. As her contract was set to expire in September, the station released her early. CircleSeven and I have been discussing the possibility all morning long, as the writing on the wall has been getting clearer. Between several online sources (one of which being Sylvia's Facebook) letting the news being known, I'll post it here...

 

http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/5694-wls-tv-releases-anchor-reporter-sylvia-perez

 

Frankly, it's a damn shame that it had to end this way, but in some regard, I do understand the station's move. Even with her Healthbeat duties and occasional fill-in status, it probably wasn't in the station's best interest to keep her at her current salary. I've always liked Sylvia, she, like most others at the station has the unique ability to sit with anyone at the desk and have instant chemistry. If she goes somewhere else, hopefully in-town, I have no doubt that she'll fit right in.

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After 24 years, nearly 21 of those at 11(:30), Sylvia Perez has been fired from WLS. As her contract was set to expire in September, the station released her early. CircleSeven and I have been discussing the possibility all morning long, as the writing on the wall has been getting clearer. Between several online sources (one of which being Sylvia's Facebook) letting the news being known, I'll post it here...

 

http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/5694-wls-tv-releases-anchor-reporter-sylvia-perez

 

Frankly, it's a damn shame that it had to end this way, but in some regard, I do understand the station's move. Even with her Healthbeat duties and occasional fill-in status, it probably wasn't in the station's best interest to keep her at her current salary. I've always liked Sylvia, she, like most others at the station has the unique ability to sit with anyone at the desk and have instant chemistry. If she goes somewhere else, hopefully in-town, I have no doubt that she'll fit right in.

 

Was she even given an opportunity to say good bye to the viewers? if not, then that's really messed up. 24 years with a station and that's the thanks you get.
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24 years and she isn't given a chance to say Hi, Bye, or kiss my ass. Something wen't bad for her to leave now rather than September.

 

With that said, nothing and no one is safe. Come September that could be changed station that everyone has been speculating would come eventually. It looks like history means nothing so don't be surprised if you beloved elements of the show are gone like Sylvia...Say bye to the News Theme. I have a feeling.

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Disney has been ordering all of its divisions to cut costs. ESPN is one of the divisions that's been hard hit - several hundred employees have been cut. Keep in mind that ESPN is worth forty billion dollars, or almost half of Disney's total net worth.

 

It looks like these cuts are expanding to the O&Os, unfortunately. I have no doubt that Sylvia Perez's firing is directly related to the corporate wide staff reductions.

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Sorry, but a wasted 500th...

 

 

After 24 years, nearly 21 of those at 11(:30), Sylvia Perez has been fired from WLS. As her contract was set to expire in September, the station released her early. CircleSeven and I have been discussing the possibility all morning long, as the writing on the wall has been getting clearer. Between several online sources (one of which being Sylvia's Facebook) letting the news being known, I'll post it here...

 

http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/5694-wls-tv-releases-anchor-reporter-sylvia-perez

 

Frankly, it's a damn shame that it had to end this way, but in some regard, I do understand the station's move. Even with her Healthbeat duties and occasional fill-in status, it probably wasn't in the station's best interest to keep her at her current salary. I've always liked Sylvia, she, like most others at the station has the unique ability to sit with anyone at the desk and have instant chemistry. If she goes somewhere else, hopefully in-town, I have no doubt that she'll fit right in.

 

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Kind of surprised Linda wasn't the one to go being as she's probably closer to retirement. WLS didn't handle Sylvia's departure very well. Also, I still think cutting the news in half was a better solution. They could've also cut the 4pm news in half, put Jeopardy at 4:30, and Inside Edition at 11:30, making room for WCL.

 

Lastly, any chance Sylvia ends up at WBBM or WFLD?

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I always assumed that stations airing their own newscast was a cheaper decision than paying for the rights of a syndicated program. Was WCL not rating well? Why pay for Live with Kelly and Mike if you're having to cut down on your news output to cut cost?

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I always assumed that stations airing their own newscast was a cheaper decision than paying for the rights of a syndicated program. Was WCL not rating well? Why pay for Live with Kelly and Mike if you're having to cut down on your news output to cut cost?

 

The problem was that WCL was doing well for WLS; very well. The whole reason for the Kelly and Michael move to WLS was because the ABC O&Os as an entire group decided to renew the show.

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Kind of surprised Linda wasn't the one to go being as she's probably closer to retirement. WLS didn't handle Sylvia's departure very well. Also, I still think cutting the news in half was a better solution. They could've also cut the 4pm news in half, put Jeopardy at 4:30, and Inside Edition at 11:30, making room for WCL.

 

Lastly, any chance Sylvia ends up at WBBM or WFLD?

 

You know, the only viable option I thought of was WBBM. I could see them going with a female team at 11am when Harry Porterfield leaves or retires (or worse). I can't see her on WMAQ or WFLD AT ALL. WGN? Anything is possible. Frankly, I think she'll stay out of the spotlight for a while. Let's be honest, this firing (no matter how it was handled) is a big slap in the face to Sylvia. It must hurt knowing that in such a personality-driven presentation like ABC7's, your firing basically says that you're the weakest link.

 

On the idea of Linda leaving, this kinda reminds me of the Sue Simmons firing. Many were critical of Chuck Scarborough for not leaving in solidarity with Sue, so it leaves me to wonder if Linda would've done the same thing, or even taken the fall and called it a career, leaving Sylvia the 4 o'clock news. But who knows?

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You know, the only viable option I thought of was WBBM. I could see them going with a female team at 11am when Harry Porterfield leaves or retires (or worse). I can't see her on WMAQ or WFLD AT ALL. WGN? Anything is possible. Frankly, I think she'll stay out of the spotlight for a while. Let's be honest, this firing (no matter how it was handled) is a big slap in the face to Sylvia. It must hurt knowing that in such a personality-driven presentation like ABC7's, your firing basically says that you're the weakest link.

 

On the idea of Linda leaving, this kinda reminds me of the Sue Simmons firing. Many were critical of Chuck Scarborough for not leaving in solidarity with Sue, so it leaves me to wonder if Linda would've done the same thing, or even taken the fall and called it a career, leaving Sylvia the 4 o'clock news. But who knows?

 

WBBM would likely be the only station open to the idea of adding Perez. WMAQ is in a 'grooming people for the future' phase, WGN has enough (or too many imo) people and WFLD isn't going to spend the cash. WLS should really be ashamed at this entire situation.

 

Nearly everyone that was fired from WFLD over the past 4-5 yrs. got a chance to say goodbye and the market leader couldn't show any type of common courtesy to someone who has spent 20+ yrs there??? I wouldn't be surprised if Linda, Jerry, Theresa Gutierrez, Charles Thomas and others are forced into early retirement by years end.

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I just don't know where to begin. This is really depressing.

 

I mean she wasn't a Johnny-come-lately person who came just a few days ago. She spent close to a quarter of a century, nearly half her naturally-born life at the same spot. She was one of the crown jewels of the Channel 7 news team. This doesn't make any damn sense.

24994J and I did talk privately before CRM posted the inevitability Friday afternoon. But before that, in the early morning hours Friday, I read a blog where the poster, who heard from inside sources, that she was indeed fired. As we all know, rumors were swarming after the announcement of the cancellation of the 20 year midday newscast for Windy City Live at 11am on Thursday. At that time I felt that it would be better to wait for the other sources to confirm the news, since it wasn’t publicly announced and I felt this blog wasn’t concrete enough. But when it became more clearer at the 11am show when the 11:30 re-open was used on the top of the hour, and when both Linda & Judy didn't acknowleged that Sylvia was off, and 24994J, stating the comments from Sylvia's personal Facebook page, I knew it was inevitable.

 

Now I really regret for not watching the 11am show on Thursday. I even bet you she was willing to get ready for the 4pm show. What I did see after 2:30pm was the 2nd 4pm tease (that typically air after the 11am news) that featured Linda, but Kathy would anchor the 4, 5 & 6pm shows that day. But like I stated before, I didn't think she even knew that it would be her last day even after the end of the 11am show on Thursday.

 

What I told 24994J through PM on Friday was, my theory was if Sylvia did get fired on Thursday, Linda might've been too emotional or too distraught to even do the 4pm show on Thursday, and/or maybe she was there with Sylvia to console her. It made me think if Linda had to do the 4pm show and she became uncontrollably emotional, then we probably would've sense an outcome even faster. But then that would’ve been worst for Linda. I mean you look at Sylvia who’s been there for 24 years. And then you look at Linda, she's been at the station, stretching three decades. I feel that it if it was the other way around and if they'd announced that Linda would get the ax or both of them, would’ve been a whole different outcome, as more loyal viewers would've been strongly outraged.

I bet you if the station canned WCL and fired most of that force, Sylvia would've stayed. But then we have to think, What Idler is going to do next? What stuff he’s going to pull under his sleeve? It appears that he care more for a show (which I think the show will tank after the 11am move on September 9) that may not be there for the longhaul, then saving the longtime midday news show that reached two decades, even if it is the lowest-rated news show on their lineup. If they did care about local, they would’ve placed Live! on at 11am, and keep WCL at the 9am timeslot. But it was obviously a ‘do what the corporate master tell you to do’ mantra, because the other O&Os have Live on that timeslot after GMA. ABC needs to tend to Katie Couric's ailing (that’s what I said) show (which the network killed its 3pm hour to accommodate it to that affiliates). Many station execs are unsure if the show will last past 2014. And what ABC is going to do to replace Couric if that show tanks? Any other replacement syndicated show would probably tank too. Stations are not going to add a 3pm newscast, with they already aired news on at 4pm. If Couric does goes away, ABC Daytime is basically doomed.

 

I feel extremely saddened and feel very sorry for Sylvia, and it’s really sad to see her go. And I'm hopeful she can recover from all of this and she will bounce back and find a new venture someday. It probably won’t be that hard for her to find a new position elsewhere, either on television or in a different field. But this just proves that no one at any television position is immune to any cutbacks. NBC, CBS & Fox have done several cutbacks in recent years. ABC hasn’t gone toward many of those, though very minimal. I understand the station has to follow their protocol to keep things classified when anyone loses employment, and I understand that any company that have seen deficits and such would have to cutback, and sometimes across the board. But by handling it the way they did with Sylvia was completely disgraceful in every sort of level. They could’ve let her said her thanks and goodbyes to her loyal viewers and such. But did she ever given that opportunity? Hell No! Like I stated, she didn't even know (I mean without any sort of warning) that this would've been her last day.

 

But the real devastating & depressing part about this is that hearing (according to the blog) that she was escorted out the door by security guards. I mean, what kind of shit is that?! Absolutely, no loyalty. And a lack of respect. That’s almost like the same equivalent as someone literally physically throwing you out the door and into these streets, like someone is evicting you. This had to be a traumatizing moment in her life. She shouldn’t been treated that way. And no one should get that kind of treatment when they get terminated from their place of employment. It made me think that Idler planned this all along, like clockwork, and Sylvia didn’t know what going to happen. It would've been better if she would've just had a phone call and would've save all the hype, humility & embarrassment. Who else is going to get the same treatment? Let's say if a male personality get the boot, do they have to get twice the amount of security guards to escort him out? And it don't have to be channel 7, it could be any news establishment in the nation at this point. I don't understand why that is necessary to escort a fired employee by security personnel.

 

Some of y’all saying, "I’m not blaming Idler". "Oh, give him a chance". He just got here almost a year ago. Since his arrival, it’s been nothing but negativity. He’s got rid of the longtime CSD and brought one of his people from his former station to replace him. He got rid of a local program (not completely), and he has done nothing but trying to meddle with the historical overtones, the traditions and the characteristics that makes it the hallmark of the station. And if he continues with this route, he will drive more viewers away, and one of the other stations in town will replace channel 7 as the #1 station. I hope he’s feels happy for what he have orchestrated on Thursday, because he should be ashamed of himself. And I still think this is only the beginning. Like I said, he probably have more surprises that would end up crippling the hallmarks of the station. This is only the calm before the really big storm.

 

But as of now, I’m already calling it, y'all. John Idler is the NEW Joe Ahern of this market. And I don’t care what anyone says at this point. Anything that he does from here on out is no good in my book. He's only their to go through the motions and play by Rebecca Campbell's book. He's basically gradually trying to transform WLS from an original charm into a clone of another O&O.

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People, do you even know that Silvia was cut without saying goodbye or maybe she was told she has until September and she said she was leaving "today."

 

 

 

 

But the real devastating & depressing part about this is that hearing (according to the blog) that she was escorted out the door by security guards. I mean, what kind of shit is that?! Absolutely, no loyalty.

 

He's basically gradually trying to transform WLS from an original charm into a clone of another O&O.

All that is, is a rumor, and there is no confirmation that actually happened. And I honestly think you are blowing this out of proportion.

 

 

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I think people here wait for some sort of change just to have something to talk about and blow things up that don't mean anything besides what was changed.

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People, do you even know that Silvia was cut without saying goodbye or maybe she was told she has until September and she said she was leaving "today."

 

All that is, is a rumor, and there is no confirmation that actually happened. And I honestly think you are blowing this out of proportion.

 

 

I think people here wait for some sort of change just to have something to talk about and blow things up that don't mean anything besides what was changed.

 

 

I tend to agree.

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People, do you even know that Silvia was cut without saying goodbye or maybe she was told she has until September and she said she was leaving "today."

 

 

 

 

All that is, is a rumor, and there is no confirmation that actually happened. And I honestly think you are blowing this out of proportion.

 

 

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I think people here wait for some sort of change just to have something to talk about and blow things up that don't mean anything besides what was changed.

 

 

 

 

 

I tend to agree.

 

It's not unheard of for an employee to be escorted out of the building when they are let go, even if they are the most nicest person in the world. It's nothing against the employee, it very well could be company policy. Also, there could be a variety of reasons why Sylvia did not get to say good bye, at this point only a select few know why she left early and why she did not say good bye.
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there could be a variety of reasons why Sylvia did not get to say good bye, at this point only a select few know why she left early and why she did not say good bye.

 

I agree and I don't know why some people on here are trying to "guess," because thats all they are doing.
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Anytime that an anchor leaves without a proper send off its almost like natural instinct for the public to believe that they were mistreated. As stated before the decision to not have a proper goodbye could have totally been Sylvia's. None the less ABC 7 has had one of the most stable news teams I've ever seen. Sad to see someone as incredible as Sylvia go! The whole entire ABC 7 News team is incredible, but the true weak link should have been the first one to go if this was for budgetary reasons and that to me would be Ms. Cheryl Burton!

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All that is, is a rumor, and there is no confirmation that actually happened. And I honestly think you are blowing this out of proportion.

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I think people here wait for some sort of change just to have something to talk about and blow things up that don't mean anything besides what was changed.

So let's say it is a rumor, and we take it with a grain of salt. But let's say it really did happen, and the way it did, then hell no I'm not taking it out of proportion. No one should be treated that way when they exit. I don't care if its an office job, or a construction site or fast food joint. No one should be treated that way. NO ONE!!!

 

As for what I said about Idler, I'm not got to recant. I meant every word that I said. And y'all can say I'm blowing it out of proportion or I'm over-exaggerating. But I'm already calling it as it is. In fact about it, I've been called it. I'm not going to tip-toe through the tulips, or sugar code it. I call a spade a spade. He's the new Joe Ahern of the market, and he's probably going to be worst then Ahern. So anything Idler does, is not good in my book. He hasn't done anything good over the past year he's been here, he won't change the status quo. So take it for what it's worth, and you can take that to the cleaners too.

 

But I also have to blame Rebecca Campbell for appointing his ass, as the new GM of Channel 7 in the first place. Maybe former O&O President and MCTYW co-creator Walter Liss should've stayed at his post a little longer.

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So let's say it is a rumor, and we take it with a grain of salt. But let's say it really did happen, and the way it did, then hell no I'm not taking it out of proportion. No one should be treated that way when they exit. I don't care if its an office job, or a construction site or fast food joint. No one should be treated that way. NO ONE!!!

 

As for what I said about Idler, I'm not got to recant. I meant every word that I said. And y'all can say I'm blowing it out of proportion or I'm over-exaggerating. But I'm already calling it as it is. In fact about it, I've been called it. I'm not going to tip-toe through the tulips, or sugar code it. I call a spade a spade. He's the new Joe Ahern of the market, and he's probably going to be worst then Ahern. So anything Idler does, is not good in my book. He hasn't done anything good over the past year he's been here, he won't change the status quo. So take it for what it's worth, and you can take that to the cleaners too.

 

But I also have to blame Rebecca Campbell for appointing his ass, as the new GM of Channel 7 in the first place. Maybe former O&O President and MCTYW co-creator Walter Liss should've stayed at his post a little longer.

 

 

It's understandable that viewers will/are upset at what Idler is doing right now, but we have to realize that the changes being mad are because they feel that they are needed. As HulkieD mentioned in a previous post, all ABC O&O's are being ordered to cut expenses. Idler is doing what Rebeca Campbell and her bosses want him to do. While changes/decisions are upsetting, the fact of the matter was that eventually WLS was going to have to make these decisions. As that blog post mentioned, Sylvia's contract was up in September, it was just the luck of the draw. Had Ron Magers/Lynda Yu/Hosea Sanders contract(s) been up soon, then they would have gotten the boot. Also, I have to point out that the ABC O&O's are moving towards the youth movement, look at KABC, they have hired quite a few reporters in the last year or two and they are all very young. What I don't see happening is ABC replacing every single older anchor/reporter, instead they bring in younger reporters and let them season so that when the older staff retire/leave, the young one's will be prepared to step into those roles. Certainly it's sad that Sylvia left after so many years, but she will land on her feet again.
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So let's say it is a rumor, and we take it with a grain of salt. But let's say it really did happen, and the way it did, then hell no I'm not taking it out of proportion. No one should be treated that way when they exit. I don't care if its an office job, or a construction site or fast food joint. No one should be treated that way. NO ONE!!!

 

 

And since that is a rumor, and should be taken with a grain of salt, what if she was making a big scene in the newsroom, yelling and screaming everywhere? That can be taken as seriously as this rumor and that could be what happened, its called a RUMOR for a reason.
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And since that is a rumor, and should be taken with a grain of salt, what if she was making a big scene in the newsroom, yelling and screaming everywhere? That can be taken as seriously as this rumor and that could be what happened, its called a RUMOR for a reason.

And this is called a discussion thread for a reason. Chill out. What's the big deal if we speculate? Isn't 80% of what's discussed on these boards speculation and opinion anyway? No need to get upset and have a hissy fit. Last time I checked free speech is still part of the First Amendment.

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And since that is a rumor, and should be taken with a grain of salt, what if she was making a big scene in the newsroom, yelling and screaming everywhere? That can be taken as seriously as this rumor and that could be what happened, its called a RUMOR for a reason.

And that's what I said earlier. If it was a male personality got fired, do they have to have twice as much security guards for him, because some would fear that he would go berserk on someone, or break property while he exits? Did they do that with Porterfield, or Kevin Roy, or even Diann Burns in 2003?

 

Well we won't ever know what happened before and at or led toward her departure and how she'd departed. But it won't stop me for saying how disloyal Idler and company was with the handling of Sylvia's departure. She should not have been treated the way she has been treated. And I'm not going to recant what I said, either. So take it for what its worth.

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