The slow death of newspapers continues, and now the local media circuits are facing a crisis of budgetary constraints and viewership reductions.. One news station in Northeastern Pennsylvania has taken action: They fired 14 news staffpersons and replaced all the newscasts with syndicated shows!

WYOU's owner Dennis Thatcher released an uplifting statement after the sudden demise of the news affilate: "The viewers have spoken, letting us know that WYOU is the station they rely on for entertainment and we are confident the station's already solid line up will be bolstered with the addition of entertainment and news magazine programming including Judge Joe Brown, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight which will replace the station's locally-produced news programming"

Replacing news for Access Hollywood.. the viewers wanted it?

Blame the viewers!!

MORE>> Other media outlets learned late Friday that the WYOU venture was going to suddenly have its life support plug pulled.. The SCRANTON TIMES reported last evening that a staff meeting came Friday afternoon at 2pm where 14 full time employees were notified of layoffs..

Nexstar Broadcasting predicts savings of $900,000 by axing the news shows on the CBS station..

The Northeast PA news blog Beale's Bites has an in-depth posting on the changes at the news station.. Beale's Bites reports, "

Beale's Bites has learned the layoffs are not limited to WYOU. Some WBRE employees were also laid off to make way for WYOU employees with seniority. As for on-air employees, Eric Deabill will move to WBRE and stay there. A source says some others, who were not named, will stay temporarily, and then be let go. Another source says some WYOU producers walked out the door after today's announcement, and left behind unfinished newscasts

Watching the news station lately has been a little tough.. They have had some awkward moments taking phone calls over the past few months.. they dedicated most of their broadcasts to focus on one specific issue..
Recent attempts to garner more viewers by grabbing some personailities didn't work.. Viewers still watch WNEP-16 in big numbers..

Derry Bird, Debbie Dunleavy and Barry Finn.. where did you go!?...WYOU needed a hero.

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