The Allen Media Mess (Updated)

Back in September, FTVLive told you that Scripps-owned KATC (Lafayette) Anchors Marcelle Fontenot & Jim Hummel were getting kicked to the curb as part of the Scripps cuts.

Before anyone else, FTVLive wrote, “Don’t be surprised if you see the pair cross the street to Allen Media’s KADN.”

Well, that is exactly what happened.

Allen Media’s KADN hired the two and hoped that it would bring a ratings bonanza to the station.

It did not. (Update: KADN’s News Director Jim Parker tells FTVLive that the ratings have increased with the addition of Fontenot and Hummel).

Now, Allen Media has started making their own cuts, but guess who was not cut?

Marcelle Fontenot & Jim Hummel.

The two high-paid Anchors got to stay, but others who have worked at the station for years have been laid off. (Parker tells FTVLive that those laid off are part-timers with 2 years of experience or less).

“It's very crappy they have these two wayward anchors who likely make north of 100k a year each and people who make $39k a year are getting laid off. These anchors were supposed to turn ratings around, and the change has barely been noticeable. It's pathetic,” said a station employee to FTVLive. (Parker adds that while he will not give salary information. the 100K figure is not accurate).

The insider tells FTVLive that Production has been cut to the bare bone.