The upcoming consolidation of local TV stations WEHT-ABC25 and WTVW-Local7 will include job losses.
Multiple sources have confirmed that all of WEHT's department heads were told last week that their positions will be terminated when Nexstar Broadcasting takes over ownership of the station from Gilmore Broadcasting Corp., which has owned WEHT since 1964.
The list of those in management who will no longer be employed includes longtime general manager Doug Padgett; Mike Riley, WEHT's station manager and general sales manager; and Mark Glover, news director.
In addition, as of Monday morning, several staffers both on-air and behind the scenes have been given notice, including photographers, directors, producers and editors, including Rachel Powers, producer of the 4 p.m. newscast, and Jason Pumo, who produces the station's 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts. Reporter and weekend sports anchor Sean Clark-Weis, "Daybreak" co-anchor Whitney Ray, reporter Nick LaGrange and sports director Mark McVicar are among those who will not be retained.
As of this afternoon, news anchors Jordan Vandenberge, Shelley Kirk and Brad Byrd have been told that they will remain with WEHT, along with meteorologists Wayne Hart and David Heckard.
A Nexstar spokesman would not comment on the layoffs, which are effective Nov. 30.
Nexstar announced on Aug. 8 that it had entered into an agreement to purchase WEHT for $18.5 million. At the same time, it announced the sale of WTVW, which it has owned since December 2003, to Mission Broadcasting for $6.7 million. Both transactions were approved by the Federal Communications Commission on Oct. 12, and upon the close of the transactions, Nexstar will operate WTVW on Mission's behalf under the terms of a shared services agreement.