One Out, One Staying In at 19 Broadcast Plaza (But Moving Up)

We have a pair of stories that broke yesterday from 635 West Seventh Street. One is an exit, and one is just a move up...

McCoy Out: We start with the exit of short-time Andy Furman producer JC McCoy, fired abruptly yesterday from WQRT-AM 1160/Florence's newest (and only) local show.

John Kiesewetter picks up the story here:

McCoy tells (Kiesewetter) his bosses said it was a “corporate decision,” and they refused to give him a reason for the firing. “They said, ‘We can’t say anything.’” They were only paying him $150 a week to produce/co-host “The Furman Factor” (5-7 p.m.), plus he was doing some sales for the station too.

McCoy told Kiese that he's looking at legal options, even though Ohio law says that no reason is necessary for termination of a contract. He's already retained an attorney, and that WQRT (and probably their owners, Christian Broadcasting System Ltd. out of Flint, Michigan) will get a letter asking why he was terminated after just two weeks on air (plus another week off air).

Ackermann Moves Up the Ladder: And now for the one staying, but moving up, as WXIX-TV 19/Newport looks for a new news director... but this follows a promotion as opposed to a termination, as Kiese also reported yesterday.

Steve Ackermann has been WXIX's news director for 5 years, had been doing double duty, serving as both the local ND and a regional news manager for WXIX parent Raycom. The regional position covered, in addition to WXIX, stations in Cleveland, Toledo, Louisville, Evansville, Cape Girardeau, MO, and Jonesboro, AR.

Raycom announced his promotion to Regional News Director yesterday, which will see Ackermann continue to be based in Cincinnati and (we assume) out of 19 Broadcast Plaza. As it goes, announcing the local ND opening now will attract news managers who will be available in June, after the critical May sweeps end.

Under Ackermann, while they've seen several key talent depart (Jack Atherton, Valerie Abati, and Dan Hoard for example, the first two of which are now at WLWT-TV 5/Cincinnati), they've also gained Steve Horstmeyer and launched their 6 and 6:30 PM newscasts. It will be interesting to see who they bring in... and what the hire may mean in the future for WXIX's ratings, which are solid in the mornings and at 10 PM (but not as good at 6 or 6:30 PM)...