LA CROSSE — Allen Media, which owns four TV stations in Wisconsin, reportedly had significant layoffs this week at its northern Wisconsin stations.
According to a social media post from Vicki Markussen, former CEO of the LA Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, eight people were let go from WXOW in La Crosse with six staff members remaining.
News Director Sean Dwyer and longtime anchor Davie Solie were among the cuts, according to Markussen.
In a message to viewers, WXOW anchor Heather Armstrong acknowledged the changes at 19 News.
“Thank you for your patience as we make this transition. Rest assured, we’re still here and committed to bringing you the local news you want to see,” she said.
Markussen said she’s heard from insiders that the weekend newscast will no longer be locally produced. Limited weekend La Crosse news will be produced and sent to WKOW in Madison for a statewide weekend show, she suspects.
Weekdays there will be two minutes of local sports a day.
In April, Allen Media layed off at least four on-air journalists at its flagship Wisconsin station, WKOW, including an anchor, senior reporter, sports reporter and meteorologist.
Since then, another sports staffer and meteorologist have left the station.
There also are reports that WAOW in La Crosse and WQOW in Eau Claire also had layoffs.
(Loss of local news a blow for Wausau)
(Edwards, other staffers out at WQOW)
In May, Allen Media Group, the company owned by TV mogul Byron Allen, announced it was beginning a significant round of layoffs affecting all divisions of the business.
“Allen Media Group is making strategic changes to better position the company for growth that will result in expense and workforce reductions across all divisions of the company,” a spokesperson said in a statement to The LA Times.
In 2021, the four Wisconsin stations were sold by longtime owner Quincy media to Gray Television, which then sold them to Allen Media for a reported $380 million in cash.
Allen Media, which owns and operates local television stations in twelve markets, also owns 12 networks including The Weather Channel and the free-streaming service Local Now. Allen Media Group was founded by Byron Allen in 1993.
