Bill Ratliff leaving News Channel 8, Media General reports loss
April 17, 2009 at 9:35 am by Wayne GarciaDamn, the only thing that made the WFLA morning show bearable, Bill Ratliff, is leaving the station, TBO.com reports:
After more than 27 years at WFLA, Channel 8, news anchor Bill Ratliff is leaving the station in June, station officials announced today.
“It’s been a great ride but the economy did me in,” said Ratliff, who has been on the News Channel 8 morning newscasts for 20 years.
Ratliff said he was offered a new contract for fewer hours and much less pay.
“I decided that it made more sense financially to leave now and take a severance package,” he said.
Who will say, “Oh yeah” when Gayle Guyardo goes off during Gasparilla Parade coverage? Who will wear the boots with the furrrrr??
Here’s a look back at a WFLA morning show promo with a younger Ratliff:
And more bad earnings for News Channel 8 parent Media General after the jump:
Media General, which owns The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and WFLA, Channel 8, says it lost $21.3 million, or 96 cents per share, in the January-March period. That compares with a loss of $20.3 million, or 92 cents per share, a year earlier.
The company says its loss included $4.5 million, or 20 cents per share, in severance costs.
It says revenue fell 18 percent to $159 million.
