Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek

Get your copy of the Director's Cut Blog "History of WKYC." You'll learn more about the station's history from our sign on Halloween night in 1948 to the most recent transformation of Gannett Broadcasting to TEGNA at the end of June 2015. Available HERE: http://bit.ly/1NoFj8v

McLEAN, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) said today that it has chosen TEGNA as the name for the new Broadcasting and Digital company. Gannett is in the process of creating two publicly traded companies: one exclusively focused on its Broadcasting and Digital businesses, and the other on its Publishing business and affiliated digital assets. TEGNA will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TGNA. “We are pleased to announce the name of our new Broadcasting and Digital company, which combines one of the largest, most geographically diverse broadcasters in the U.S. with incredibly strong marketing solutions organizations,” said Gracia Martore, Gannett president and CEO. “TEGNA is a nod to the more than 100 year-old history of Gannett. While always reminding us where we came from, the new name also shows our innovative spirit and commitment to being a forward-looking company that empowers people, businesses and communities to grow and thrive.” TEGNA’s trusted por...

WKYC announced on Tuesday the station will begin carrying a new digital subchannel on WKYC 3.2 called the "Justice Network" beginning in January. The new network will launch as a partnership between WKYC's parent company, Gannett Broadcasting, and other television executives. The new network will immediately reach a third of the nation's television audience at launch with the power of Gannett's 46 television stations. Justice Network will replace our existing weather radar on 3.2 and some children's programming right after the first of the year. WKYC Station Manager Micki Byrnes, says the station is working hard on other options to bring viewers the weather information they depend on that keep you "Weather Ready" at all times. Here is more information from today's announcement... Veteran television executives are joining forces to launch Justice Network, a free over-the-air multicast network with carriage on MSO’s, featuring gripping st...

It's an event where WKYC and Gannett-owned media properties across the country team up to make our communities better. Hundreds of employees and volunteers work together to make a difference. Learn more in the highlights below. You can also find out how you can join in to MAKE A DIFFERENCE! This year, Make A Difference Day takes place on Oct. 25th. Always held on the fourth Saturday of October, it is the nation's largest day of volunteering. USA WEEKEND Magazine conceived the idea more than 20 years ago and has mobilized millions of people across the U.S. for this National Day of Doing Good. Pitching in to spread the word are the 46 TV stations and hundreds of newspapers owned by Gannett, plus longstanding partners Points of Light and Newman's Own. As the Gannett-owned media property in the Cleveland market, WKYC takes the lead here in organizing local activities. We partner with BVU, The Center for Nonprofit Excellence to offer a variety of activities on Make a Diff...

Special to the Director's Cut Blog Carl Icahn By Gary Strauss, USA Today Activist investor Carl Icahn has taken a stake in Gannett, saying the TV and newspaper company that publishes USA TODAY (and part company of WKYC-TV), is undervalued. Icahn has amassed a stake in Gannett, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing Thursday. The filing says Gannett shares are undervalued and that value could be created by splitting the companies print and broadcasting divisions -- a move Gannett CEO Gracia Martore already announced  Aug. 5. The 13D filing says Icahn plans to "have discussions" with Gannett's management and board of directors "relating to the planned separation, corporate governance, capitalization and capital allocation." Gannett shares were up 6.3% to $36.20 in after-hours trading, when the filing was disclosed. Icahn was not available for comment. A spokeswoman said Icahn says the 13D-filing "speaks for itself."

Gannett Headquarters in McLean, Virginia Here's part of today's exciting announcement from Gannett, owner of WKYC-TV... McLean, VA, August 5, 2014 – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) today announced its plan to create two publicly traded companies with scale: one exclusively focused on its Broadcasting and Digital businesses, and the other on its Publishing business.  The planned separation of the Publishing business will be implemented through a tax-free distribution of Gannett’s Publishing assets to shareholders. The transaction will create two focused companies with increased opportunities to grow organically across all businesses as well as pursue strategic acquisitions. Gannett has also signed a definitive agreement to acquire full ownership of Cars.com, one of the leading digital companies in the automotive space. Under the agreement, Gannett will acquire the 73% interest it does not already own in Classified Ventures LLC, which owns Cars.com, for $1.8 billion in ca...

WKYC's parent company, Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire six of London Broadcasting Company’s television stations in Texas for $215 million in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition includes KCEN (NBC) in Waco-Temple-Bryan, KYTX (CBS) in Tyler-Longview, KIII (ABC) in Corpus Christi, KBMT (ABC) and its digital sub-channel KJAC (NBC) in Beaumont-Port Arthur, KXVA (FOX) in Abilene-Sweetwater and KIDY (FOX) in San Angelo. The purchase of these stations further deepens Gannett’s broadcasting presence in the high-growth state of Texas without any overlap of Gannett’s current local broadcast and publishing portfolio. Gracia Martore, president and chief executive officer of Gannett, said, “The addition of these stations will expand Gannett’s reach into some of the fastest growing markets in the nation and furthers our successful transformation into a diversified multi-media company. With more than 70% of London Broadcasting’s...

McLEAN, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. (parent company of WKYC-TV) announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Belo Corp. for $13.75 per share in cash, in addition to the assumption of $715 million of outstanding debt, for a total transaction value of $2.2 billion.  The combination with Belo nearly doubles Gannett’s broadcast portfolio and creates the largest independent station group of major network affiliates in the top 25 markets, including stations to be serviced by Gannett under shared services and similar arrangements. Gannett now reaches approximately one-third of all television households in America. It also significantly expands the company’s geographic reach and revenue diversity. Gannett will become the #1 CBS affiliate group, the #4 ABC affiliate group, and will expand its already #1 NBC affiliate group position. Gracia Martore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gannett, said, “We are thrilled to combine these two storied media c...

McLEAN, VA and DALLAS, TX – JUNE 13, 2013 – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) and Belo Corp. (NYSE: BLC) jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Gannett will acquire all outstanding shares of Belo for $13.75 per share in cash, or approximately $1.5 billion, plus the assumption of $715 million in existing debt for an enterprise value of approximately $2.2 billion. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, represents a 28.1 percent premium to the closing price of Belo common stock on June 12, 2013. The combination creates a broadcast “Super Group,” catapulting Gannett into the nation’s fourth-largest owner of major network affiliates reaching nearly a third of all U.S. households.  The acquisition nearly doubles Gannett’s current broadcast portfolio from 23 to 43 stations, including stations to be serviced by Gannett through shared services or similar sharing arrangements. Upo...

By Frank Macek WKYC is honored to announce the station is the recipient of a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for large market in region seven for our breaking news coverage of the tragic events in Chardon last year. "Channel 3 was recognized as an indispensable source of emergency information during the height of the crisis," says News Director Brennan Donnellan. "The station's sensitivity to the tragedy was also recognized by the community in the following hours and days under the newsroom leadership of former WKYC News Director Rita Andolsen," he added. Andolsen is currently the station's Director of Advocacy and Community Initiatives. WKYC parent company, Gannett Broadcasting, received a total of 45 regional 2013 Edward R. Murrow awards highlighting the excellence in journalism across all of our local broadcast stations. Gannett CEO Gracia C. Martore explained, "This is the company’s best p...

Gannett Co., Inc., the parent of WKYC-TV, has announced it acquired Rovion, a Boston-based, rich-media advertising company, which is owned by Local Corporation. Rovion’s primary product, Ad Composer, includes a self-service technology platform that enables the full development and deployment of rich media and mobile HTML5 ads without requiring coding expertise. Advertisers and agencies are increasingly demanding mobile rich media ad solutions and self-service ad creation tools, and the Rovion acquisition will enable Gannett’s PointRoll, a leading provider of digital marketing solutions and technology, to expand their mobile and self-service platform capabilities. Rovion will be part of the Gannett Digital organization under PointRoll, with all Gannett divisions leveraging the Rovion platform capabilities. Click to watch more about what the company does:

Gannett, parent company of WKYC-TV, announced today that it has acquired Mobestream Media, maker of the Key Ring consumer rewards mobile platform (“Key Ring”) available on all major smartphones. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. More than five million users have downloaded the free Key Ring app to scan and store existing loyalty cards, join new rewards programs and get mobile coupons and other promotional offers delivered to their smartphones. With Key Ring, consumers have a simple solution to access their digital coupons, digitize their loyalty cards, join new loyalty programs, manage their accounts online and share their cards and offers through their social networks and email. Consumers also receive location-based mobile coupons and other promotional offers. “Mobile coupons are a fast-growing segment of the national and local marketing sector. Key Ring has led the way with consumer adoption of its smartphone app and developed key relationships with small and mid-s...

WKYC's parent company, Gannett, announced on Thursday that is has decided to end its company-wide website, MomsLikeMe.com , as of Friday, October 14th. According to Gannett executives Bob Dickey, Dave Lougee and David Payne in a note to employees, the company has decided to end the project as it concentrates on other digital platforms. On the MomsLikeMe.com Cleveland website, the following announcement was made by site manager Jacquie Chakirelis thanking participants of our local site. "I am sadden by the news and want you to know that I appreciate all the kind words and encouragement that I have received from my colleagues and friends. Mostly, I want you all to know that the support and friendship that has been developed within this community of local moms has been amazing! I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it's launch and to help it grow. As a mom of four children, I know that you have the hardest job in the world and to be in a position...

Craig Dubow, Gannett Chairman/CEO McLean, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. announced today that chairman and chief executive officer Craig A. Dubow will take a leave of absence to address continuing issues relating to prior medical conditions. Gracia C. Martore, president and chief operating officer, will serve as principal executive officer during his absence as she did during a prior medical leave in 2009. Duncan M. McFarland, presiding director, said: “We wish Craig well during this difficult personal time. The Board has confidence in Gracia and our very capable management team to run the day to day operations of the Company, and we believe Gannett won’t miss a beat at this important juncture.” “I believe Gannett is in very good hands as we continue to transform the Company and position it for a successful future,” said Dubow. Gannett is the parent company of WKYC-TV.

McLEAN, Virginia – Gannett Co., Inc. (parent of WKYC-Tv) announced Wednesday HighSchoolSports.net is launching hyper-local, co-branded high school sports microsites across its network of more than 100 local media web sites, plus national high school sports pages on USATODAY.com. HighSchoolSports.net is a subsidiary of Gannett and part of the Gannett Digital Network. Leveraging the depth and breadth of Gannett’s sports content for consumers and advertisers, the HighSchoolSports.net microsites are expected to collectively reach approximately 9.4 million unique monthly visitors. Consumers continue to access Gannett’s trusted local high school sports coverage through local Gannett-owned media web sites, with each site’s microsite enhanced with HighSchoolSports.net content. " HighSchoolSports.net is a strong brand in the high-school athlete community. We are combining the news gathering assets of our newspapers and television stations with the technology and school relatio...

Reuters is reporting this afternoon that parent company of WKYC, Gannett Co., has been downgraded to "junk status". ----- NEW YORK, March 2 (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's on Monday cut Gannett Co's (GCI.N) ratings to junk status, citing worsening prospects for ad spending at the largest U.S. newspaper chain. S&P also warned that some lenders could recover only a negligible amount of their investment if the company defaults. Gannett's rating had been in danger of slipping to junk since the publisher of USA Today posted a 36 percent decline in ad revenue in the fourth quarter. A downgrade to junk status can significantly increase a company's borrowing costs. Gannett's bonds fell significantly after the downgrade. Its 6.375 percent notes due in 2012 fell to about 62 cents on the dollar, down about 2.5 cents, according to MarketAxess. Ad spending is expected to decline further this year in both Gannett's newspaper and broadcasting businesses, S&...

NEW YORK -- Gannett is requiring employees at its newspapers in Ohio and throughout the country to take unpaid, week-long furloughs. The northern Virginia-based newspaper publisher says the move could help minimize further layoffs amid a severe downturn in advertising. Gannett had several rounds of layoffs last year. In Ohio, the company owns The Cincinnati Enquirer and 10 newspapers in central Ohio cities. Employees must take the furloughs during the first quarter. Union-covered employees will be asked to participate, and layoffs are possible if they refuse. Gannett owns 85 U.S. daily newspapers, including USA Today, and 23 TV stations (including WKYC). It has more than 40,000 employees. USA Today also has declared a one-year freeze on wages, effective Feb. 1. Source: The Associated Press

McLEAN, Virginia -- Ken Paulson, editor of the nation's largest newspaper, told staff in a memo Sunday evening that USA Today plans to cut about 20 newsroom jobs early next month. USA Today is owned by WKYC parent company Gannett. That's almost a 5 percent cut from a newsroom that employs about 450. The newspaper cut about 45 newsroom jobs last November, and other papers owned by its parent, McLean, Va.-based Gannett Co., endured two rounds of layoffs this year, in August and October. The newspaper industry is struggling, not just because of the weak economy but also from a years-long decline in circulation and the migration of advertising dollars to the Internet. Gannett stock closed at $7.29 on Monday, up 15.35% Source: The Asssociated Press

Several interesting pieces of information have crossed the Director's Cut Blog's desk over the weekend. NBC Reshuffles Wednesday lineup NBC will revamp its primetime Wednesday schedule to focus entirely on crime dramas. Starting November 5, Knight Rider remains at 8p while Life gets a chance to rejuvenate by moving into the 9p time period and Law & Order will re-launch in the 10p slot. Lipstick Jungle will then switch to Friday nights. Additionally, NBC pushed back the debut of Momma's Boys to December 16 following the season finale of The Biggest Loser; the next week Momma's Boys will air on Monday nights at 9p in the Heroes time slot once it concludes its season. Momma's Boys was originally slated to debut on November 12. NBC & WKYC Election Night Coverage NBC and MSNBC will both broadcast from its Rockefeller Plaza headquarters on election night. In addition, NBC announced plans to add new features such as superimposing a huge U.S. map on the Rockefeller ...

Gannett (parent company of WKYC) and Tribune Company announced Wednesday that Gannett has acquired an additional 10 percent stake in CareerBuilder from Tribune for $135 million. The acquisition gives Gannett a 50.8 percent controlling interest in CareerBuilder, the U.S.'s largest online job site. "CareerBuilder is a terrific company, with great growth potential that just keeps delivering more for Gannett and our partners," said Craig Dubow, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI). "We were delighted when the opportunity arose to acquire more of the company while maintaining a good, solid relationship with our partners." "We are committed to CareerBuilder and want the team there to continue to do what they do best: grow the company, bring in revenues and deliver the best customer service in the jobs space. We don’t expect any major changes," Dubow said. "This transaction offers us an excellent opportunity to...