Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Warning: Local news shakeup ahead

A big news anchor shakeup is in the works at Chicago's TV news stations. The ball got rolling last week when Mark Supplesa abruptly left WFLD-TV after rejecting a contract offer. In Feder's column today, he put in all in perspective, with several high-profile names involved in play:

- Diann Burns of WBBM-Channel 2 may lose her 10 p.m. anchor slot this summer. The decision to pay her $10 million over five years didn't exactly work out in the ratings or the bottom line.

- Allison Payne of WGN-Channel 9, who is currently sidelined because of a series of mini-strokes.

- Warner Saunders of WMAQ-Channel 5, whose rumors of retirement is swirling around more frequently.

Others though, may be looking to make high-profile moves:

- Patrick Elwood, who currently anchors WFLD's noon newscast.

- Anna Davlantes, a weekend news anchor at WMAQ, who could be in line for a new deal.

-Anchor seats at WBBM (with the death of morning anchor Randy Salerno) and WMAQ (a weekend morning anchor seat is vacant after the promotion of Rob Elgas to weekday mornings) are now wide open.

- Amy Jacobson, a reporter who isn't mentioned in the article, but the former WMAQ news anchor is playing the Garry Meier card - waiting around for the best offer, no matter how long it takes.

As they say in TV land - Stay tuned.

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