Toledo

WEYI has hired Neille Giffune as assistant news director.

In April, WEYI’s owner, Barrington Broadcasting, tapped news director Kathy Reynolds to oversee sister station WNWO in Toledo, in addition to leading the news department at the Flint NBC-affiliate.  Giffune will assist Reynolds as she splits time between both stations.

“Neille Giffune is a competitor,” said Becky Butcher, president and CEO of WEYI and WBSF, announcing the hiring.  “She understands effective leadership and isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and pitch in to get the job done.” Read more

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A new weekday morning newscast will premiere on Toledo Fox-affiliate WUPW June 11, according to the Toledo Blade.

WUPW recently merged with CBS-affiliate WTOL as part of a shared services agreement in Toledo. The hour-long newscast will feature an anchor new to Toledo and existing WTOL-WUPW personnel, according to the Blade.

WPUW will also transition to high definition ahead of the newscast’s premiere next month.

Toledo’s WTOL announced this week that anchor Melissa Voetsch is taking another medical leave due to a heart condition.

Voetsch, who anchors the morning and 9 a.m. newscasts at the Toledo CBS-affiliate, began having health problems in November after she had a virus that severely lowered the functionality of her heart, according to the station.

“We wanted to let you know that she’s going to be taking an extended break from WTOL to make sure she’s 100 percent healthy,” Chris Vickers told viewers on Tuesday. “The good news is she does continue to improve every day and this break is exactly what her doctors think she needs to fully recover.” Read more

Toledo NBC-affiliate WNWO has hired Will Kunkel as its new sports director.

Kunkel comes to WNWO from KVRR, the Fox-affiliate in Fargo, ND.

“Will exudes tremendous leadership qualities. His commitment to local coverage on-air and online will raise our game,” WNWO news director Amulya Raghuveer said, announcing the move.

A graduate of Medill, Kunkel is replacing Eric Haubert at WNWO. His first day is set for June 4. Read more

Gary Yoder has been named vice president and general manager of WALA-WFNA, the LIN Media duopoly in Mobile. His appointment is effective immediately.

Yoder has been vice president and general manager of WUPW since 2009. WUPW, the Toledo Fox-affiliate, merged with WTOL, the CBS-affiliate in the market, last month. Prior to his appointment as VP-GM, he served as the station’s general sales manager.

“Gary is an accomplished broadcast executive who brings a forward-thinking approach to multiplatform news, sales and promotions,” Scott Blumenthal, LIN Media’s EVP for television, said in a statement. “He also has a genuine, heartfelt commitment to meeting the needs of our viewers and advertisers.” Read more

The shared services agreement between Toledo CBS-affiliate WTOL and Fox-affiliate WUPW is expected to become official today, according to the Toledo Blade. Under the terms of the agreement, WTOL will handle WUPW’s news programming.

Beginning Monday, the combined six evening newscasts will be a mix of on-air talent from both stations. Management and sales personnel from WUPW have moved into the WTOL building, but the two teams will remain separate, the Blade reports. Read more

Kathy Reynolds, who last June was named news director at WEYI in Flint, has been tapped to oversee the news department at Barrington Broadcasting sister station WNWO in Toledo.

In her new role as regional news director, Reynolds will split time between Michigan and Ohio.

“Kathy has proven that she has a strong sense of how a newscast should look, and feel,” Barrington president and CEO Becky Butcher said today in an email announcing the move.

WEYI is now searching for an assistant news director to help Reynolds when she is in Toledo. Read more

WTVG chief meteorologist Stan Stachak announced his retirement this week, and the Toledo ABC-affiliate has tapped morning meteorologist Jay Berschback as his successor.

“The goal is to continue to build on the proud tradition of coverage that Stan has built at the station,” WTVG executive news director Brian Trauring said.  “We are thrilled to have such an experienced and personable meteorologist already on staff that is able to succeed Stan.  These are big shoes to fill but Jay is the perfect person to lead our weather coverage.”

WTVG also announced that current weekend weathercaster “Blizzard” Bill Spencer would replace Berschback on the station’s weekday morning newscasts. Read more

The FCC has approved the sale of WUPW, bringing the Toledo Fox-affiliate one step closer to an expected round of layoffs.

The Toledo Blade reports that the $22 million deal for WUPW between LIN Media, the station’s current owner, and American Spirit Media was approved on Monday.  Attached to the deal is a shared services agreement with Raycom Media, which owns the market’s CBS-affiliate, WTOL.

As WUPW’s new owner pools its resources with WTOL, as many as 63 people could lose their jobs.  A formal announcement about the shared services agreement is expected next week.

Toledo Fox-affiliate WUPW will reportedly lay off 63 employees when the station changes ownership this spring.

The Toledo Blade reports that Ohio state officials have been informed of planned layoffs at WUPW when a deal for the station between American Spirit Media and LIN Media is finalized in the coming months.

American Spirit, a Charlotte-based company run by Thomas Henson, who owns a handful of stations across the country, is buying WUPW from LIN for $22 million.  LIN has owned and operated the station since 2002. Read more