Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 31, 2009 at 11:26:47:
Why did Davlantes walk away with no job offer?
July 31, 2009
LEWIS LAZARE Media & Marketing columnist
In the wake of Anna Davlantes' sudden exit from NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 on Thursday, speculation immediately turned to what might be next for the former weekend news anchor and general assignment reporter. Some observers expressed shock that Davlantes would turn down a new contract at WMAQ without another firm job offer in hand. But Davlantes' agent, Steve Mandell, said his client is pursing "several possible options."
Informed sources say Davlantes was pulling in $200,000 a year, but any new contract probably would have been for less. Almost all talent inking new contracts in recent months at TV and radio stations in Chicago and other markets have taken pay cuts -- sometimes significant cuts. Mandell wouldn't talk about whether his client was offered less money, but he did say "it wasn't about the money at WMAQ."
By all accounts, Davlantes was one of WMAQ's brightest news talents. Some who know her well describe her as aggressive and concerned about what she was being paid. Davlantes was pushing for a more visible anchor role than the weekend anchor slot she held.
"She really wanted an anchor job on the 10 p.m. newscast," said one source, who also suggested that Davlantes' expectations were out of sync with the reality of what she could have hoped for at WMAQ.
"Obviously, management at WMAQ is willing to let some of their big-name talents walk away now," said the source, referring to 10 p.m. anchor heir apparent Bob Sirott, who abruptly departed last month, and now Davlantes.
Sirott turned down a rewritten contract that offered him less of a payout, and WMAQ took him off the air. Sirott is considering his options while WMAQ continues to pay him.
Davlantes has the talent and ambition to potentially land a network news job, those who have worked with her say. Several sources speculated that she might be eyeing Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, despite that station's less than stellar reputation and poor showing in the news ratings. Sources say WFLD News Director Carol Fowler had wooed Davlantes when Fowler ran the news department at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2.
Another intriguing scenario would pair Davlantes and Sirott, both represented by Mandell, as a package to sell to Channel 2 as potential 10 p.m. anchors. In recent days, WBBM executives have suggested they might be amenable to bringing in new on-air talent if the new hires were a good fit strategically. WBBM is looking at ways to boost its low 10 p.m. news ratings.
Davlantes' secondary gig also is in question. She hosted several segments of "Rewind," a WTTW-Channel 11 talk show, last winter. A WTTW spokeswoman says the future of "Rewind" is unclear while the station seeks funding for the show, which featured Davlantes talking with Chicagoans about the news of the day. "Davlantes was wonderful to work with," the WTTW spokeswoman said.