update 19:32 PST: so Chris in comments points out that Randy Price had signed a 7-year contract not long ago. Based on Google searches turns out that he did, toward the end of 2006 early 2007. What is a lot more interesting though, as I mentioned below about what some have described as an “internal struggle” by some employees to get WHDH out of the flash and trash comes this tip sent to BTVN from an insider:
As Randy saw 7NEWS slipping away in the ratings, he stood up for what’s right in journalism. And usually, that angered Linda Miele, the station’s News Director. He saw WBZ’s success at being smart, not sensational. He pushed for similar content and smarter presentation at 7NEWS. He knew his viewers weren’t idiots. I don’t know if that’s the reason for his departure, but it certainly did not help his case.
There is a way to be flashy and not trashy. There’s smart, sophisticated sexy and then there’s big ‘ol whore in town down by the river “sexy”. Somehow we’re guessing based on WHDH’s ratings that Boston prefers smart and sophisticated by WBZ.
BTVN.net reports that Randy Price main co-anchor at WHDH, WSVN’s siter station in Boston, quit abruptly on Friday. Station PR has confirmed. Supposedly official announcement will be made by Sunbeam on Monday.
All we know is that he went in Friday and walked out without anchoring that day. According to BTVN.net he “stormed out of the station despite a request to stay until April”. BTVN.net says they’ll probably have more details from him next week.
Randy Price has been the lead anchor at WHDH since 1998 and is considered to be one of the most popular news anchors in Boston.
For those that follow things, you probably noticed WHDH looking more and more like WSVN. Problem is they’ve also gone from an untouched #1 at 11pm to ending up second and third, and in some instances 4th. Getting beat by the Fox affiliate and even WBZ which was a perennial third for a long time.
I keep hearing from people that there’s an “internal struggle” by many staff to pry the station away from that hyper, tabloid, nonsense direction they’ve been headed to in recent years. Who knows if this was part of it.
I’d speculate that either the station decided to let him go at the end of his contract, as undoubtedly he was well compensated, or the fall out was over what they pass off as news in their newscasts of which he is the face that delivers said nonsense to viewers.
BTVN – Randy Price Out At 7
I believe BTVN reported he signed a 7-YEAR contract last year or the year before…so his contract was most likely not up.
Definitely a sad day here in Mass. Now there’s no reason to watch WHDH at all, IMO. Good for Randy if he did stick up for his beliefs.
Cue the music:
Will Sunbeam promote from within?
Will someone move up?
Will someone move to?
These questions and more-loom large.
Matt Lorch now number 1 guy?
They removed Matt Lorch recently from the 10pm newscast on CW56, if that means anything
It’s a very sad day up here! Randy was the man at 7. Last night 2 scantly clad females anchored the news….. and they’re not letting him have a final broadcast to say good bye to the viewers, what a shame…. watch the ratings slide fast.
Following the same path as RD Sahl possibly.
hope adam williams takes over
Matt Lorch will be promoted to the anchor slot, I guarantee it. They’ve been grooming him for a while. This was their plan all along…. take Matt off the 10 while they appear to “hip up” the 10pm broadcast with 2 women at the desk, keep him on the early evening shows while they decide when to take Randy out and give Matt the slot. It’s the same thing they did when Pete Bouchard took over for Todd Gross. They took Todd into the office and told him the same thing, that they wanted to move ‘in a different direction’.