Pushed Out in Charlotte
Longtime WCNC Anchor Dave Wagner has been told that his contract is not being renewed and that his services are no longer needed.
Wagner has been the franchise anchor at WCNC since 2008.
His departure comes as Gannett is making changes to build audience for its Charlotte newscasts, which have long run a distant third to market leaders WSOC and WBTV.
The May book was the nail in the coffin for for Wagner.
In the May ratings sweeps, WCNC’s 6 p.m. newscast attracted only 15 percent of local news viewers in the time slot; WSOC’s No. 1 newscast commanded 50 percent.
WCNC began advertising on industry job sites for a new anchor last month, saying it would consider candidates with as little as three years anchoring or reporting experience.