Posted by chicagomedia.org on February 04, 2009 at 15:57:50:
WGN-TV, CLTV to integrate operations
by Phil Rosenthal | Chicago Tribune
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Chicago-area cable news channel CLTV and sister station WGN-Ch. 9 will integrate their business and television operations at the broadcast outlet's Northwest side facility by this summer, parent Tribune Co. announced today.
The impact of this long-discussed combination on staffing at the two operations was not immediately clear.
Channel 9 is currently a union newsroom; CLTV is not. Eileen Willenborg, Chicago executive director for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, said that union's current contract with WGN calls for CLTV reporters and anchors to come into the collective bargaining unit with such a move. But negotiations for a new contract are to begin soon.
"This is a golden opportunity to expand our position as the breaking news leader in Chicago, to broaden our reach and develop new programming and advertising opportunities," Ed Wilson, Tribune Co.'s chief revenue officer and president of Tribune Broadcasting, said in the announcement. "This also will strengthen our overall broadcasting business in Chicago."
A round-the-clock news and information channel launched in 1993 as an extension of Tribune Co.'s Chicago Tribune available to Chicago-area Comcast cable subscribers, CLTV will remain a stand-alone channel even after it relocates from Oak Brook to WGN's long-time Chicago facility at 2501 W. Bradley Place.
"We're looking forward to collaborating with our sister station on all fronts," Marty Wilke, WGN-TV vice president and general manager, said in the release. "This gives us a competitive advantage over the other television news operations in town and benefits viewers and advertisers, as well. We can't wait to get started."
From a business standpoint, the company was promoting the move as providing advertisers a one-stop opportunity to buy time on both CLTV and WGN.
"This is great news all around -- our team is excited about our future and the many opportunities for growth," CLTV General Manager Steve Farber said in a statement.
Other Tribune Co. operations at the Oak Brook facility also will be relocated, a company spokesman said.