jero23 105 Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 Due to the bad economy we are see that number of stations have grounded their news helicopters via partnering with another station in their market (NBC O&Os and Fox O&Os) or some other market news-gathering agreement. However, there are others like the Local TV Fox stations like KDVR, WDAF-TV have flat out refused to renew their contracts on their helicopters and laying off the reporters/helicopter pilots. So what's happening in your market with news stations?
PTVNews 196 Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 I've noticed much less use of helicopters.
Ntropolis 599 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 WVEC is no longer using theirs, all after getting it a new paint job for the first time. They leased it from HeloAir. WAVY still uses their chopper (which they own), but not using it as much as they used to.
TennTV1983 807 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 WREG in Memphis no longer has a news helicopter. Curiously enough, their old chopper is now being used by WMC, and has been rebranded as Chopper 5.
tmmontgomery 0 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 The ABC affiliate here in Birmingham (WCFT/WBMA/WJSU) has not used their heli in a very long time. It's name, painted on the side as "AirLink 33/40" is still there, but the station outsources the chopper. I believe they pay per use. They very rarely used it anyway. I didn't even have a camera mounted on it. It was just a regular chopper, and they would stick a photographer in it. I don't even think it has the capability to go live anymore. For some reason though, they still use it in their open. [YT][/YT]
RGSJenkins 435 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 KUTV in Salt Lake City (a former CBS O&O) grounded their chopper (helicopter) for a different type chopper (motorcycle) called "Chopper 2." http://connect2utah.com/content/fulltext/?cid=41458
PitCleTV 9 Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 WKYC, WEWS and WJW, all in Cleveland, have grounded their choppers. But I think WOIO still uses their chopper once and a while.
eyewitness_news 5 Posted October 22, 2009 Posted October 22, 2009 WTNH in Connecticut grounded "Chopper 8."
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