WPIX - PIX11 News

[TVNewsLover 862]

2 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

Kaity has legacy status, and she on the weekend she ain’t going anywhere unless she retires.

Pretty sure John and Craig were both there for at least 20 years to consider them legacy status. That legacy status didn’t help them keep their job.

[GraphicsMan 350]

9 hours ago, TVNewsLover said:

Pretty sure John and Craig were both there for at least 20 years to consider them legacy status. That legacy status didn’t help them keep their job.

Legacy I’m the market then. Were John and Craig at different stations in NY before PIX? no.

[TVNewsLover 862]

18 minutes ago, GraphicsMan said:

Legacy I’m the market then. Were John and Craig at different stations in NY before PIX? no.

Incorrect. John worked at WNBC prior to joining WPIX the first time. Craig worked at WNYW prior to joining WPIX. 
 

Regardless, what makes you think Nexstar cares about legacy anchors? Take a look at what’s happening at their stations across the nation.

Edited April 17 by TVNewsLover

[TheRolyPoly 3563]

1 hour ago, TVNewsLover said:

Regardless, what makes you think Nexstar cares about legacy anchors? Take a look at what’s happening at their stations across the nation.

 

They don't. Except for Kaity Tong at WPIX, Eric Spillman at KTLA, a handful at WGN and others, nobody is safe, and even then those folks still may not be safe from Nexstar's upcoming cuts.

[MorningNews 1722]

What exactly is their long term strategy here? 1 anchor for the entire evening slate of newscasts? 

[MediaZone4K 2697]

On 4/16/2026 at 12:02 PM, GraphicsMan said:

Kaity has legacy status, and she on the weekend she ain’t going anywhere unless she retires.

Legacy means nothing in the penny pinching era, especially at Nexstar. God forbid Kaity and Mr G might be on the chopping block next.

 

Speculation but WNBC's Chuck Scarbourough's 50 anniversary came around in March 2024 and I recall Andrew Siff clarifying that is was a celebration not a retirement, but then Chuck retires just a few months later in December? I'm not sure that was fully his choice.  

 

Dana Tyler and Maurice Dubois were both axed from CBS/WCBS.

 

Anyone is expendable these days. 

 

Edited April 21 by MediaZone4K

[FiveNews 488]

Legacy means nothing. Ask Mark Kriski at KTLA.

[l_miro 245]

6 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

Legacy means nothing in the penny pinching era, especially at Nexstar. God forbid Kaity and Mr G might be on the chopping block next.

 

Speculation but WNBC's Chuck Scarbourough's 50 anniversary came around in March 2024 and i recall Andrew Siff clarifying that is was a celebration  not a retirement, but then Chuck retires just a few months later in December? Im not sure that was fully his choice.  

 

Dana Tyler and Maurice Dubois were both axed from CBS/WCBS.

 

Anyone is expendable these days. 

 

 

imo the penny pinching era started in 2008. NBC got Sue Simmons retired abruptly in 2012

 

That reminds me. In the late 2000s I saw some WTVJ news anchor contracts when staff were leaking to sfltv all kinds of mess. Even back then certain achors were making ~$500K in just salary alone, I'm sure 20 years later a $1.5 mil salary for top 4 news anchor isn't rare, add to that bonuses, FICA, 401K matches, benefits etc. In market #1 that would be higher. I don't know about Chuck, but most of these people just show up to read the news and don't do anything else.

 

with 50-60% of station revenue is from retrans fees, which depend on people paying for cable/YoutubeTV not actually watching the newscasts, why not ... ahem ... chuck out uncle Chuck? Pun intended.

 

[MediaZone4K 2697]

On 4/17/2026 at 2:06 PM, l_miro said:

 

imo the penny pinching era started in 2008. NBC got Sue Simmons retired abruptly in 2012

 

That reminds me. In the late 2000s I saw some WTVJ news anchor contracts when staff were leaking to sfltv all kinds of mess. Even back then certain achors were making ~$500K in just salary alone, I'm sure 20 years later a $1.5 mil salary for top 4 news anchor isn't rare, add to that bonuses, FICA, 401K matches, benefits etc. In market #1 that would be higher. I don't know about Chuck, but most of these people just show up to read the news and don't do anything else.

 

with 50-60% of station revenue is from retrans fees, which depend on people paying for cable/YoutubeTV not actually watching the newscasts, why not ... ahem ... chuck out uncle Chuck? Pun intended.

 

And I don't mean to hate on anybody's paycheck. Companies are greedy (they pay some MMJs minimum wage), so I don't blame top talent for milking companies for all their worth. $300K + anchor salaries however are getting harder to justify in the era of sinking viewership -- especially when producers and reporters do all the work on the local level. Accordingly, I understand Scripps elevating MMJ salaries and making the anchors do more than read, but eliminating the position isn't the solution IMO. High paid anchors better start turning stories (if they aren't already) or doing anything they can to contribute further to newsrooms to TRY and extend their shelf life. 

Edited April 21 by MediaZone4K

[Newsjunker95 34]

On 4/16/2026 at 12:02 PM, GraphicsMan said:

Kaity has legacy status, and she on the weekend she ain’t going anywhere unless she retires.

It will take time for her to retire. She has been doing weekends since late 2011 with a small week nightstand in 2016 for the defunct 6:30 p.m. with Brenda, which was a disappointment that it was canceled in 9th September 2016 respectively.

[GraphicsMan 350]

On 4/21/2026 at 1:20 AM, Newsjunker95 said:

It will take time for her to retire. She has been doing weekends since late 2011 with a small week nightstand in 2016 for the defunct 6:30 p.m. with Brenda, which was a disappointment that it was canceled in 9th September 2016 respectively.

She not going anywhere, the station could burn down to the ground and she’ll still anchor the weekend newscasts.

[MisterBill 131]

Alecia Reid has surfaced on the PIX11 Morning News. She was part of the big layoff at CBS2. She's got a page on their website.

 

 

 

On 4/22/2026 at 9:27 PM, GraphicsMan said:

She not going anywhere, the station could burn down to the ground and she’ll still anchor the weekend newscasts.

 

They're actually running a commercial for her anchoring the weekend news now.

Edited May 17 by MisterBill

[Telly Genick 0]

Derrick Waller, formerly of WCBS (and before that, WABC) has resurfaced on PIX 11.

[MediaZone4K 2697]

Congrats but Nexstar is not quite the safest place to land if you're worried about layoffs

[PhotogNews 9]

On 7/1/2026 at 10:10 PM, Telly Genick said:

Derrick Waller, formerly of WCBS (and before that, WABC) has resurfaced on PIX 11.

He also spent some time (freelance?) at WTTG in DC.

[Nynewsguy7 36]

4 hours ago, PhotogNews said:

He also spent some time (freelance?) at WTTG in DC.

This is why if you ever get a job at WABC you don’t leave. You deal with the shitty hours for a few years, and then you move to better ones. 
 

Derick Waller and Janice Yu both made demands which ended up not boding well for their careers. Waller wanted off mornings and Yu demanded the weekend morning anchor spot.  
 

Lesson to all - don’t bite off the hand that feeds you. You do your time, and if you do your job well, you will get a better shift. It might not be anchor, but it will be something other than early mornings. 

[MediaZone4K 2697]

On 7/4/2026 at 4:30 PM, Nynewsguy7 said:

This is why if you ever get a job at WABC you don’t leave. You deal with the shitty hours for a few years, and then you move to better ones. 
 

Derick Waller and Janice Yu both made demands which ended up not boding well for their careers. Waller wanted off mornings and Yu demanded the weekend morning anchor spot.  
 

Lesson to all - don’t bite off the hand that feeds you. You do your time, and if you do your job well, you will get a better shift. It might not be anchor, but it will be something other than early mornings. 

It was interesting when I saw him work mornings at WCBS knowing he left WABC because that shift.  

 

I can't blame the guy, there's nothing natural about waking up at 2 AM, and studies show it's harmful to the human body.

 

Plus, the difficulty with a station like WABC is that they have so much senior talent who never leave, so you may never get off of a shift. Marcus Solis (if I'm correct) is still, working weekend mornings ---- it could  be his choice. Joe Torres (and up until a few years ago Sandra Bookman) is still on weekends (could be his/their choice). 

 

Leaving WABC might be just what someone has to do to get a better position, being that their talent stays put. Unfortunately in Waller's case it didn't work out for him. He was better off an AM reporter at Disney than Nexstar & Paramount.

Edited 1 hour ago by MediaZone4K

[IceManNYR 249]

PIX11 preempted New York Living to cover the building with 2 columns that buckled on East 42nd street.
Dan and Vanessa are on.

[abc7 Man 79]

Just now, IceManNYR said:

PIX11 preempted New York Living to cover the building with 2 columns that buckled on East 42nd street.
Dan and Vanessa are on.

They are full coverage on this. Everyone else is sticking to regular programming. I guess they are across the street and part of the story.

[NYNewsCoverage 337]

Henry Rossoff reports on X that the Daily News Building was also ordered to evacuate, forcing WPIX off the air. He said they are re-grouping and will resume coverage when they are able to. I believe they stopped at 11am.

[NowBergen 930]

11 minutes ago, NYNewsCoverage said:

Henry Rossoff reports on X that the Daily News Building was also ordered to evacuate, forcing WPIX off the air. He said they are re-grouping and will resume coverage when they are able to. I believe they stopped at 11am.

They are simulcasting NewsNation instead. 

[newsman123 144]

21 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

It was interesting when I saw him work mornings at WCBS knowing he left WABC because that shift.  

 

I can't blame the guy, there's nothing natural about waking up at 2 AM, and studies show it's harmful to the human body.

 

Plus, the difficulty with a station like WABC is that they have so much senior talent who never leave, so you may never get off of a shift. Marcus Solis (if I'm correct) is still, working weekend mornings ---- it could  be his choice. Joe Torres and up until a few years ago Sandra Bookman is still on weekends (could be his/their choice). 

 

Leaving WABC might be just what someone has to do to get a better position, being that their talent stays put. Unfortunately in Waller's case it didn't work out for him. He was better off an AM reporter at Disney than Nexstar & Paramount.

I was gonna same the same.

I know Derick. He’s a good guy. But what a stupid move. Not to mention pay.

He was likely making 200K plus after a few years at 7. The new reporter opening at WPIX, pays 150. 
So #1 station to #4 station with a pay cut. And he is good. He deserved better. They are hiring kids these days, far less talented. 

Side question for WPIX insiders:

 

why did the station layoff all those reporters this spring, just to hire new ones? People like Waller cant be THAT much cheaper, no?  Like Anthony Dilo couldnt have been that much more expensive? 

[MediaZone4K 2697]

It's always interesting to watch news stations function when they have no studio access.

 

One reporter said PIX  was having  trouble getting things on air so his photographer had to film images off of his phone. 

What an active summer it has been for the New York City news cycle! Yet again we have another case of a New York City news station left homeless after an incident, WCBS after Covid, WABC after that fire.

 

The big questions: when will the building in question be stabilized and when will WPIX regain access to their facilities. 

Edited 1 hour ago by MediaZone4K

[PhotogNews 9]

Looks like they are doing a lots of hard punch between reporters, I guess they might remote access to the switcher from the field.

 

With limited access , apparently they cannot put up other graphics, roll videos and such, and somehow they had trouble to bring up audio when toss to another reporter.

Edited 45 minutes ago by PhotogNews

[PhotogNews 9]

CNN has a piece on how WPIX anchoring from the field:

 

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/us/live-news/nyc-pfizer-building-evacuations?post-id=cmraujpjk00003b6r75mw2mw3

 

 When reports first came in about an unstable building in Midtown Manhattan, the local TV station PIX11 was in the best position to cover the news, because its studio is directly across the street.

But the station was ultimately too close to the story; it had to halt live coverage when authorities evacuated its building around 11:15 a.m. ET.

“It was a very orderly evacuation,” morning anchor Dan Mannarino said on air.

PIX11 simulcast the NewsNation cable channel for about an hour until it was able to resume what Mannarino called a “barebones” live local broadcast.

The station sent reporters outside and narrated the emergency response as it unfolded. Mannarino anchored from the middle of Second Avenue, which is closed to traffic, and said thousands of New Yorkers have been evacuated from the area due to safety concerns.

By early afternoon, the station had cobbled together an anchor location for its shows on the street, with multiple staffers holding lights and cameras. A makeshift control room was being run out of the back of an SUV.