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Crazy time at this Seattle TV?




It's a strange time at KING 5 these days.  I mean we see News Director Julie Wolfe just assigned regional/corporate responsibilities; Chief Met Mike Everett leaves and, immediately as reported here, Parella Lewis, ex-Seattle, is hired as his replacement; Chris Cashman joins Evening to replace Jim Dever (or Kim Holcomb take your pick); an Evening producer of 25 years tenure is leaving right after Joe Suttner is promoted to EP of Evening as well as New Day; the station has just become part of a major streaming expansion plan from corporate's new news honcho who was dumped at CBS brass, and they don't even have their own KONG fireworks show mentioned in a web story or listed on the cable grid. 

Is this just timing thing?  A typice TV turnover thing?  Or have some folks have had just about enough at the dwindling salaries?   You be the judge.  The old gray lady ain't what she used to be, no matter how many congrats the young GM hands out on social.    

Comments

  1. IDC9July 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM

    It is a rather turbulent time at KING to be sure, but at least it's not because of budget cuts, contract buyouts, and layoffs. Things should begin to settle out soon.

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  2. Wayne LJuly 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM

    I wish I believed you were right, but they have crashed marketing, moved six ND's to Regionals, started weather hubbing around the country (and I think more of that will occur), have multiple troubled stations like WKYC in Cleveland and WCNC in Charlotte and WTLV and WTIC in Jacksonville, WTIC in Hartford and others, and they don't seem to have plans except streaming. I think the new CEO has pnly just begun with his actions. It will become a war of attrition. I truly think they want to be sold. Just my opinion, trying read tea leaves.

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    Replies
    1. IDC9July 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM

      I was referring specifically to KING and the things you mentioned in your original post, but you are correct about their parent company. Tegna is definitely going through turmoil right now, and its not likely to settle out anytime soon. And even if things do settle out at KING in the near term, they could boil right back up with whatever Tegna decides it wants to do next.

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