No More TV Sports Anchors in Providence?

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Jeff Derderian, GoLocalProv Media Critic

No more local TV Sports Anchors?

With the Final Four on the minds of many people this week – the question being posed here couldn’t have better timing. Could there ever be a day where say Frank Carpano at Channel 10 or Ken Bell at Channel 6 are blown out of their gigs to save money and time during a news cast? Considering what happened in the number 1 TV market in the country recently it’s a topic worth looking at.

Sports Bye Bye in Big Apple

Recently, the Fox station in New York City decided it would be a good move to put sports at the end of the newscast – meaning anchors throw it to the sports guy/gal and he or she closes out the show. No more anchor chit chat or making the sports anchor part of the broadcast. It is clearly a move to minimize the impact of sports. WPIX TV also in New York City is getting rid of sports all together and now the news anchors will read the scores and talk over video highlights of a Yankees game or a Knicks game. This is no small thing in a place like NYC where sports teams bring out fans, celebrities and everyone in between. The moves in New York are designed to save costs – one less sports anchor means X dollars comes gets added to the bottom line. Plus it saves money by getting rid of behind the scenes people associated with the sports department.

Is Providence Far Behind?

Stations everywhere, including here, are facing tougher times. Advertising dollars are harder to get and keep. So, the question is would Channel 10 or Channel 6 or Channel 12 blow out their sports department to save some cash? One of the strongest advocates to KEEP sports talent comes from a station where you might think the argument to cut costs would be embraced. Channel 6, as you may know, recently went through receivership and now has a new owner. Consistently 3rd place in a 3-way ratings race has been the fate handed to Channel 6 over the years. But General Manager, Steve Doerr says comparing New York City, where a lot sports content is available in many different forms, to Rhode Island is not even close. “In New England, the level of interest in college and professional sports is very, very high. In my opinion there is certainly a need to devote full time resources to it. But in other markets, not so much. It is no longer a “one size fits all” question – sports: yes or no? If sports is important in particular market and sports content is important to viewers, it gets attention.” Said Doerr.

Doerr, who has managed much bigger news organizations than Channel 6 including his days as a top news executive for NBC, knows the value of keeping sports local. When asked if he could ever envision a day where a guy like Ken Bell was not on the air, Doerr offered a perspective that shows blowing up your sports department would be bad, bad idea in RI. “Ken Bell is about a lot more than sports. He is, literally, a Hall of Fame local anchor. Yes, his area of content is sports, but his presence on the set and in the community bring value to our organization that goes way beyond highlights and scores.”

Channel 12 Says Sports Is Here To Stay

GoLocal also checked with Channel 12 News Director, Joe Abouzeid, who said in this town, people care passionately about local sports and local personalities who bring them the scores and highlights and more each night. “It's tough to predict any part of the future but I do not envision that here. Our sports journalists do it all from anchoring to producing to shooting. That kind of flexibility is necessary on the modern newsroom.” Said Abouzeid. Channel 12 says it’s also committed to sports from the pros to high school teams and the stories that make good teams great.

It cannot be debated that highlighting those great stories really goes behind the score of any game. It’s going out and meeting the coaches, the players, and bringing to life stories of achievement on and off the field. We need more programming and content to showcase our local sports talent. Not less. So, New York, with all its glitz and glamour can go its own way when it comes to covering sports.

Here at GoLocal, albeit a shameless plug, we too have made a commitment as well to go beyond the wins and losses with our “GAME ON” content section. This is where we profile local high school players, coaches, and games through engaging videography and interviews. For example, sharing stories from players who made it from Rhode Island to the NCAA.

And for so many reasons that’s much more important than who won whatever game last night read by a news anchor who might not know the difference between a shooting guard and a linebacker.

Jeff Derderian is a former television news reporter and anchor both in Providence and Boston. He is one of the founders of the Station Education Fund. He can be reached at [email protected]