Pappas Telecasting ended news programming this week in Reno on its KREN-TV (Ch. 27, CW) and KAZR-CA (Ch. 46, Tu Visión). The final newscasts aired on Monday. The company said elimination of the news operation was partly the result of the impending sale of some Pappas Telecasting properties and partly because the stations didn’t see adequate advertising revenues to justify the expense of the news division.
"We have been proud at KREN and KAZR to be a part of several important milestones in Reno and in the broadcasting industry. KREN/KAZR is one of the first truly bilingual newsrooms in the United States. KREN was one of the first stations in the country to implement a community journalism website, Community Correspondent, a place where citizens can post their own video, pictures and community news." said Harry J. Pappas, Chairman and CEO of Pappas Telecasting.
19 employees were displaced by the newsroom shutdown. Pappas said where possible they are being relocated to the group’s stations in other markets with news operations.
