Posted by chicagomedia.org on March 10, 2008 at 15:45:30:
A Robert Feder Exclusive.:
In a local television bombshell, Mark Suppelsa ended his five-year run Monday at WFLD-Channel 32, leaving the Fox-owned station scrambling to replace its main news anchor.
Suppelsa, 45, who has been anchoring Channel 32's marquee 9 p.m. weekday newscast alongside Robin Robinson since he succeeded Walter Jacobson in September 2004, chose not to accept a four-year contract renewal offer from the station. His current agreement expires March 17, but it's uncertain whether he'll finish up his final week on the air.
"I wish to thank Fox for their impressive and generous offer, which I have respectfully declined," Suppelsa said.
"I have spent five productive and important years at WFLD, and I cannot say enough about the tremendous support and dedication so many people gave to me while I was there. While not an easy decision, I feel it is the appropriate one."
While Suppelsa emphasized that he was not making a "retirement announcement," he and his agents, Todd and Brian Musburger, declined to discuss his next move.
"We fully support Mark's decision," said Brian Musburger. "Mark has always been in demand throughout his career, and we do not expect that to change."
Sources said it was likely that Suppelsa would wait out the next 90 days ??? a period during which Fox would still retain the right to match any other offers ??? before announcing a new affiliation.
Pat Mullen, vice president and general manager of Channel 32, said he would have nothing to say until later in the day. "I'm running into a conference call and I can't even comment now," he said in a brief telephone exchange.
Suppelsa joined Channel 32 in March 2003 after 10 years at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.
He grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from Lincoln-Way Central High School and Marquette University before working at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis and WFRV-TV in Green Bay, WIs.