Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 08, 2008 at 10:45:51:
In Reply to: Mark Suppelsa joins WGN-TV, WGN Newscasts expanded posted by chicagomedia.org on July 07, 2008 at 12:18:51:
News at 9
With Mark Suppelsa onboard, WGN expands news programs
Chicago television's news wars heated up Monday with official word of a key talent hire and major expansion plans at WGN-Channel 9.
Confirming a report here last month, bosses of the Tribune Co.-owned station announced the hiring of Mark Suppelsa as principal news anchor.
Starting later this month, he will succeed Steve Sanders as 9 p.m. weekday anchor alongside Allison Payne. Suppelsa and Payne also will anchor a new half-hour newscast at 5:30 p.m. weekdays, starting in September.
Terms of Suppelsa's six-year, no-cut deal, negotiated by agents Todd and Brian Musburger, were not disclosed.
Sanders also agreed to a new four-year deal, negotiated by agent Joel Weisman, to anchor an expanded, 90-minute midday newscast, airing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting in September.
Tom Negovan, who has been anchoring the noon news hour with Micah Materre, will shift to full-time reporting and double as backup anchor on all newscasts.
"More local news throughout the day has been our objective for some time now," said Tom Ehlmann, vice president and general manager of Channel 9. "Our current newscasts are well-established with viewers, all ranking No. 1 in the ratings in the morning, at noon and at 9. This truly allows us to expand from a position of strength."
Ehlmann's announcement Monday came on the same day Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 expanded its local morning news output to five hours.
Channel 32 was Suppelsa's home for five years until he chose to leave last March. He previously spent 10 years at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.
(Feder)