WSEE / WICU merger: losing diversity on the local airwaves?

Over the past few weeks, rumors have turned into reality as WSEE carried its final newscast at 1220 Peach Street on Thursday night. A move by WSEE to the WICU building on State street meant job losses for all behind the scenes people as well as some on air talent including Raychel Vendetti, Charles Santini and Jennifer Mobilia. With the merger, this will mean that Erie will no longer have three news gathering organizations since WSEE and WICU will share news resources as a way to save money. In addition, WSEE will carry a 7pm newscast instead of a 6pm newscast in the near future as well as re air a 10pm newscast at 11pm that will be carried live on CW affiliate WBEP. The concept of at 10pm newscast to rival “Fox 66 News at Ten” is a good one for Erie. However, do you think many people will watch an hour old newscast on WSEE at 11pm when they can watch WICU or WJET live at 11. Can 7pm news work against “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy”? Both very successful game shows which now air on WSEE will move to WICU from 7-8pm. Sadly, the flavor of local news on TV is being watered down by economics.