And then there was one…
One remaining local newscast remains in Central Oregon as of today, that being the folks over at KTVZ now that KOHD, the local ABC affiliate, has announced today that it will no longer produce a news program.
In a statement this morning on the KOHD website, KOHD General Manager Jerry Upham announced that tonight’s 11 p.m. broadcast will be the last for the station, which took to the air in September of 2007. Upham cited the station’s low Nielson ratings combined with the ongoing recession as reasons for the station to drop its broadcasts.
But KOHD will keep a crew on here in Bend to report pieces that will appear frequently on the station, likely interspersed in the newscast of Eugene-based KEZI. The website will also remain and feature local content, according to Upham.
Also, Dancing With the Stars fans will rest easy knowing that the KOHD shakeup will not affect ABC programming.
We first reported on an upcoming shakeup at KOHD in August when Daniel Pearson wrote a feature story in which Upham acknowledged the station was having trouble (like many local businesses) in the local economy. But the station insisted that there was no indication that they would be changing course. Industry experts in the story, however, predicted otherwise. Give it a read.
This article appears in Mar 4-10, 2010.
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Read Upham’s release a little more closely Mike:
However, a news team will remain at KOHD, providing solid local coverage for the Bend market with news and weather updates – both on-air and online – throughout the day. These updates will air more frequently than the current long form shows, including reports every half hour in the morning, weather updates every hour during the day, and news updates again in the evening at 5, 6 and 7pm. At 11pm there will be a 10 minute broadcast that will give viewers all the day’s local news, weather and sports.
Sounds like KOHD will continue to broadcast local news content, but in a MUCH smaller fashion, in the form of news cut-ins instead of newscasts. There’s nothing in there that says KEZI’s content will show up in any form on KOHD.
Mike, I think you’re being a little midleading in your article, compared to the facts outlined by KOHD. Take another look at the station’s release:
However, a news team will remain at KOHD, providing solid local coverage for the Bend market with news and weather updates – both on-air and online – throughout the day. These updates will air more frequently than the current long form shows, including reports every half hour in the morning, weather updates every hour during the day, and news updates again in the evening at 5, 6 and 7pm. At 11pm there will be a 10 minute broadcast that will give viewers all the day’s local news, weather and sports.
KOHD will still produce news cut-ins for the station, as opposed to full newscasts. The thing I question about your article is this statement:
But KOHD will keep a crew on here in Bend to report pieces that will appear frequently on the station, likely interspersed in the newscast of Eugene-based KEZI. The website will also remain and feature local content, according to Upham.
Thus far, it seems Upham has said nothing about KOHD’s content, being “interspersed in the newscasts of Eugene-based KEZI.” It appears at this point, from KOHD’s statement, that KEZI’s content will have NOTHING to do with any broadcasts on KOHD in Bend. However, KOHD content, from time to time has always been re-used in KEZI and KDRV’s newscasts. Just as I know I’ve seen plenty of KEZI and KDRV packages aired on KOHD’s airwaves, at least with the station’s local anchors presenting them.
UPDATE: I received the KEZI aspect from a tipster, hence the “likely” qualifier, but this hasn’t been confirmed.
Guy, please note the strikeout.
Sorry to hear this because KOHD had a better and more professional staff (for the most part) than KTVZ (the station of silliness). Perhaps KTVZ should consider offering position to some of the KOHD team.