The CBS Buyouts

Years and years of experience walked out the door on Friday at a number of CBS stations.

Friday was “buyout day” at CBS, which basically meant that If your age plus years of service was equal to or greater than 80, staffers were eligible for the buyout.

A number of those staffers saw the writing on the wall and decided to accept the buyouts, knowing that the alternative could be much worse. So, they decided to take the “voluntary” buyout.

Almost 20 people at KDKA in Pittsburgh decided to accept the buyout, including longtime Weatherman Jon Burnett.

Burnett spent 42 years at the station.

Jon Burnett

“I have been blessed to work, not only on fun stories and fun events, but with fun people. Great people. This has been my second family,” said Burnett. “I don’t think I deserved it. I don’t think I’ve been talented enough to be what I’ve been, where I’ve been, but I’m here, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of the ride.”

KCBS Political Reporter Dave Bryan also signed off on Friday.

“It’s something I never thought would happen. When you just work every day, you’re never thinking this day would come,” Bryan told his KCBS colleagues.

CBS hopes that they will save enough money with the people accepting the buyouts, there more cuts will not need to be made.

Stay tuned….