It's never a good thing when the News Director and the Assistant ND are scaled in the middle of the ratings book.

But that is exactly what appears to have happened at New England Cable News.

The station has confirmed that News Director Nannette Hobson and Assistant News Director Bob Keating will no longer employed there. But, NECN is not commenting on why they are gone?

“We will immediately begin a nationwide search for a new news director for NECN,” general manager Michael St. Peters said in an email to employees.

He said “other news managers” would fill in until replacements are hired.

A statement yesterday from NBC Universal, which owns NECN, said Hobson and Keating were “leaving NECN effective today.

“We are grateful for their contributions to the station and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”

Keating joined NECN in 2001 and became assistant news director in 2008. Hobson was hired by NECN in 2012. Hobson and Keating could not be reached for comment.

H/T Boston Herald