Re: Channel 13 to slash weekend news

[Dib9@aol.com]

I don't disagree with the major points of Chris's analysis, but I would like 
to point out that WCSH does not do a full scale weekend morning newscast like 
WGME did.  I think the audience and income for such a show is marginal and I 
always wondered why they bothered to do it.  I would not consider 
cancellation of that program as a major loss of commitment to news, but 
elimination of the noon news certainly is.

It should also be pointed out that all the weekend and wekkday morning news 
shows on WCSH are simulcast on WLBZ Bangor.  This has been the case for many 
years and results in a major cost savings for the company.  I usually watch 
WCSH news during the week but switch to WGME on the weekend because I don't 
care about car accidents in Bangor and footage of Brewer High School football 
games.  Sinclair is not the first company to let the beancounters effect the 
news department.  The beloved local ownership of WCSH and WLBZ did it for 
years.

Dan Billings
Bowdoinham, Maine

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