Sweeps period and medical leave

[panewswatcher69 28]

In over thirty years of watching local TV news, something occurred in the TV market I live in that I've never read about or seen before. During a sweeps period, what happens when a full-time on-air weekday evening personality needs to go on a medical leave? In the market I live in, a retired personality was only brought back during sweeps and was finished on Wednesday night. I believe this was a rare one-time only case but what has been done in other markets when this happens?

[rkolsen 1684]

In 2015 Rod Daniels of WBAL was on extended family leave and then used up his vacation days before his retirement and consequently it seemed was out for months at a time. They continued using Stan Stovall who was filling in for him anyway and was the "heir" apparent so it wasn't that much of a difference. Their roster is pretty deep, experienced and has been here for years so it was no big deal. They continued to win the sweeps period regardless of anchor.

 

I can't think of any extended absences at WJZ but they would likely manage well as their 4PM and 5PM team frequently file reports in studio for the 6 & 11PM newscasts.

 

Now WMAR and WBFF only have one team covering their late afternoon and evening newscasts. I'm not sure how it would be handled.