How much does it cost to run a local news show?
It costs upwards of $700,000 a year to operate news in a local market. I started our news program in 1988 [and closed it last year] after years of losing money. Thirty years ago, you could run a newscast with one to three people in a small market. One would do news and the weather, one would do sports, and you’d have one technician. You can’t do that anymore. We have to look as good and be as competitive as what people are used to watching on cable and satellite. Now, you need seven or eight people just from the technical standpoint. Even in the smallest news departments, you need 7 to 11 editorial people in addition to that. As much as we want to put on local news — we feel it’s an obligation — it’s massively expensive. It’s the difference between our station staying on air or going out of business. That doesn’t mean some day as the economy improves and as the station continues to grow, we won’t reintroduce local news. But in the present circumstances, it’s an impossible dream. Q: S
