Like We Said...
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On Friday morning, FTVLive reported FIRST and EXCLUSIVELY that the axe was going to swing at WXXA in Albany, NY.
We wrote "Not sure what the total body count will be, but FTVLive hears that Morning Weather Anchor Jason Caterina is one of the names is on the hit list."
Well, we hate to say we told you so (actually we love saying that) but it went down just as we said.
The Albany Times Union writes that WXXA, which merged its news operation with that of WTEN, laid off meteorologist Jason Caterina and reporter Steve Flamisch on Friday.
As many as 20 people may have lost their jobs Friday, sources said. That's in addition to 10 earlier layoffs at WXXA Fox23.
WTEN General Manager Andy Alford confirmed that WXXA "did do a reduction of force" on Friday, but declined to "comment on specifics of staff reductions."
The last newscast from WXXA's Corporate Circle studios would be at 10 p.m. Friday, he said.
Starting Saturday, all newscasts will be produced at WTEN's studios and broadcast in HD.
Caterina posted the following note on his Facebook page about the job loss: "I've really enjoyed bringing you the weather and more every weekday morning for the past few years, but this morning I became the latest victim of the shrinking staff due to the joint services agreement between FOX and WTEN and my job has been cut. So this morning's show was, sadly, my last."
Flamisch also was laid off Friday, a source said.
Alford said he does not anticipate further layoffs.
"It is really the conclusion of the transition of the shared services agreement," he said of Friday's layoffs.
