Sure looks that way with the latest hire-aways to other stations.
Can’t help but think there must be more to it than just people leaving because they are. But then again Miami and Boston’s 7 aren’t known for being too eager to keep their talent around.
Meanwhile Brian Andrews will start November 1st with Beatriz Canals following December 1st
SunSentinel
WSVN’s talent pool is deep
WSVN’s talent pool is deep
Published
If you work at WSVN-Ch. 7 these days and haven’t been offered a job at WFOR-Ch. 4, you have to be wondering what’s wrong with you.
Within the past month, WFOR has hired a couple of high-profile Channel 7 news people, Brian Andrews and Beatriz Canals. When they arrive — six-month no-compete clauses will bench both until late fall — their reports will be introduced by a familiar face. WFOR’s lead male anchor, Robb Hanrahan, was in New York for about seven years, but many viewers remember him from his days at WSVN. WFOR news director Shannon High-Bassalik broke in at WSVN, too, after graduating from the University of Miami. Several behind-the-scenes WFOR personnel also are WSVN alumni.
Before Rick Sanchez left WSVN for a fling in New York, only to return to South Florida at WTVJ-Ch. 6, WFOR approached him about the possibility of jumping stations. In fairness, WFOR wasn’t the only station to pursue Sanchez or even the most aggressive. WPLG-Ch. 10 went after Sanchez with the ardor that Yankees owner George Steinbrenner brings to the pursuit of all-star ball players.
WSVN is understandably trying to put a positive spin on the personnel raids, which, if nothing else, have to be disruptive. “Stations around the country use WSVN as a talent pool. This is nothing new. It’s pretty much business as usual for us,” said Alice Jacobs, WSVN vice president of news.
Self-serving? Sure. But true. After NBC lured Sanchez north for its cable stations, it returned to take his former partner, Laurie Jennings. Shepard Smith, one of Fox News Channel’s heavyweights, was also plucked from WSVN.
Love it or hate it, it’s foolhardy not to acknowledge WSVN’s leadership role in local news — if not always in the ratings, certainly in the way news is covered. There is a vibrancy and excitement about WSVN news that connects with viewers. That’s why the others have tried to emulate it, to the chagrin of many news purists.
Andrews, who’ll anchor and report, says he made the move because he senses the same energy and enthusiasm percolating at his new station. “People love to rip WSVN,” Andrews said. “But guess what? They watch. I think that’s what WFOR is about to become.”
Andrews must respect High-Bassalik; he’s going back to work for her even though she suspended him once at WSVN. Andrews was covering a burglar dubbed Spiderman because he broke into high rises. In editing his report, he didn’t notice someone in the background giving the camera a one-fingered salute. It got on the air, and Andrews got some involuntary time off.
Andrews says he took the WFOR job because he felt it represented a forward career move. Canals, however, was best of friends with her former and soon-to-be new boss. Since High-Bassalik moved across town five years ago, the two had often talked of finding a way to work together again, Canals said. With her WSVN contract about to run out — her last day is scheduled to be May 27 — they were able to make it happen.
“My agent was pushing for me to go to New York or Los Angeles but I didn’t even look at those opportunities,” Canals said. “Miami is home for me. I’ve been here since I was 2.” (She was born in New Jersey). “This was the perfect fit.” She expects that she will be primarily an anchor but she’ll also continue to do some reporting.
It would seem two such big-name hires would have WFOR’s incumbents wondering where they stand. High-Bassalik concedes this, and says she has taken steps to diminish any anxieties. “I’ve met with all my people and told them how [bringing in Andrews and Canals] affects them or doesn’t.”
She also appreciates that some viewers will see the hires as part of a copycat syndrome. “Perception is part of it. That does go into your thinking,” she acknowledged. “But we’re not out to be WSVN.”
It will be an interesting challenge to convince viewers that perception is not reality.
Tom Jicha can be reached at tjicha@sun-sentinel.com.
