Indianapolis, IN
WRTV’s new owner promised more news. It fired the staff. | Opinion
Circle City Broadcasting promised to serve the public, then gutted a newsroom after the federal government gave it a pass to violate an antimonopoly law.
What’s going on in Indy TV news? Layoffs, mergers and consolidation
After completing its acquisition of WRTV, Circle City Broadcasting has laid off what’s reported to be a significant share of the station’s staff.
Circle City Broadcasting, the parent company of WISH-TV and WNDY-TV, closed on a deal to buy WRTV for $83 million earlier this week. The deal went through after the federal government gave it a pass to violate an antimonopoly rule, claiming it would serve the public interest.
Mass layoffs at WRTV immediately followed. That’s bad for local journalism and is not in the public interest of Indianapolis viewers.
Circle City can’t blame finances for the layoffs
Immediately after Circle City Broadcasting purchased WRTV, former staff members reported on social media that they were fired along with a large portion of the WRTV staff.
Kyle Mounce, a meteorologist, said “the staff at WRTV was shown the door today.” Chief Meteorologist Todd Klaassen confirmed “essentially the entire staff was let go.” Nico Pennisi, a downtown Indianapolis community reporter, and Nicole Griffin, an anchor, both confirmed on social media it was their last day at WRTV.
There’s no doubt that broadcast media is facing a crisis of shrinking ratings. That has led to financial issues, consolidation and layoffs in the past.
However, Circle City Broadcasting made it very clear in FCC filings one of its main reasons for purchasing WRTV was to use the ABC affiliate to access advertising revenue. WRTV is also a higher-ranked station in the Indianapolis media market than Circle City Broadcasting’s own WISH-TV or WNDY-TV.
If the station has higher ratings and more access to advertising revenue, there’s no legitimate financial reason for laying off staff.
If around a dozen physical and digital print media publications can find ways to innovate and sustain themselves in Indianapolis, despite technological advancements and without treating their employees like indentured servants, so can broadcast media.
Circle City Broadcasting’s anticompetitive behavior
In Circle City Broadcasting’s case, the consolidation and mass layoffs reflect a troubling pattern.
The company has forced WISH-TV employees to sign wildly restrictive non-compete clauses, banning them from working in nearly any form of media — including social media and podcasts — for a year after leaving the station.
While such clauses are legal for now, they aren’t moral or consistent with free-market economics. The Indiana General Assembly recently invalidated similar types of agreements between hospitals and physicians.
The exchange between Circle City Broadcasting and E.W. Scripps, the former owner of WRTV, furthered both companies’ efforts to secure local media monopolies.
E.W. Scripps sold WRTV to help fund the reacquisition of 23 ION-affiliated stations it divested in 2021 to comply with FCC ownership rules. The company said it will “seek waivers from the FCC to the extent such rules are still in effect.”
Local news monopolies aren’t in the public interest
Circle City Broadcasting said it is committed “to investing the resulting increased revenue into the Stations to deliver even greater local news, sports, and public affairs programming.”
The company’s actions contradict that commitment. Circle City Broadcasting may as well have just bought the naming rights to the station or secured an affiliation agreement with another large media company.
That could have helped grow local journalism. Instead, a part of it was destroyed.
Dujuan McCoy, owner of Circle City Broadcasting, in a statement responding to a post I made on X claimed “following our initial transition, WRTV-ABC will increase to more than 30 hours of live local news and entertainment programming per week — distinct and separate from the 90 hours of WISH-TV’s content that we currently air.”
That would be seven more hours per week than WRTV was broadcasting before, according to McCoy — but it’s not consistent with immediately laying off the station’s staff, and it’s unclear how he plans to deliver on that promise with a decimated newsroom. More newscasting doesn’t equate to more original local journalism.
The work of journalists — discovering new information, elevating community voices and bringing attention to hyperlocal issues that would otherwise not be heard — cannot be replaced.
Contact Jacob Stewart at 317-444-4683 or jacob.stewart@indystar.com. Follow him on X, Instagram and TikTok.
Indianapolis, IN
NFL Trade Rumor: Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers emerge as top landing spots for $4M Cleveland Browns’ QB
The Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has found his name regularly among trade speculations as the team reportedly received calls from rivals about him. Though the Cleveland Browns are seemingly not looking to trade him soon, the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have emerged as potential landing spots.
Which teams are interested in Shedeur Sanders?
Over the last three weeks, as ESPN insiders confirmed that the Cleveland Browns have been speaking to team about Shedeur Sanders, the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccanners have been linked to him.
What are insiders saying about the rumors?
Recently, NFL insider Michael Moraitis of the Big Lead noted in a recent report, “The Cardinals figured to go into the 2026 season with Jacoby Brissett as their starter, but the veteran is holding out and now his future is uncertain. General manager Monti Ossenfort is on the hot seat and cannot afford to turn the ball over to Gardner Minshew, and there’s no telling when Carson Beck will be ready. Sanders is no sure thing, but he at least offers the upside Minshew doesn’t, and the starting experience Beck doesn’t have.” NFL insider Michael Moraitis of the Big Lead added, “The Bucs and Baker Mayfield are in a contract standoff, and while the veteran is not going to hold out, he will be a free agent in 2027 if nothing changes. If Mayfield isn’t re-signed, the Bucs would be in the market for a new starting quarterback without any semblance of a potential long-term solution on the roster behind Mayfield.”
Contract details and salary cap implications
The rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is currently on a 4-year, $4.647 million rookie contract with the team.For the team that trades for him, Shedeur Sanders would have a $1.005 million base salary in 2026.As per reports, trading Shedeur Sanders would instantly clear $781,310 in immediate 2026 cap space for the Cleveland Browns as the team takes a $335,535 dead cap hit from his accelerated signing bonus.
How will the trade affect the teams?
For the Indianapolis Colts, trading for Shedeur Sanders remains very affordable as he could be a $1.005 million insurance policy to push or backup Anthony Richardson.For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, trading for Shedeur Sanders makes him a low cost backup quarterback ready to become the starter if Baker Mayfield leaves.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says a shooting investigation was underway after a 16-year-old boy was found shot on Indy’s north side Wednesday morning.
Online police reports show the call for a person shot came in in the 900 block of East 64th Street around 7:23 a.m. That’s in the Meridian-Kessler area, just west of the Monon Trail.
When officers arrived, they found the teen suffering a gunshot wound.
IMPD says he was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Officials also noted the teen has been “uncooperative” with investigators at the scene.
It was unclear if there were any suspects or what may have led up to the shooting.
This is a developing story.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Residents of Indianapolis’s near north side have a chance to help shape the future of their neighborhood.
Crossroads AME Church is hosting two community listening sessions to gather input on revitalizing the 32nd Street and Capitol Avenue corridor in the Crown Hill neighborhood.
The first session is 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, 3266 N. Meridian St. A second session is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at the same location.
“We as a congregation do not want to undertake that initiative without getting input from the community,” said Reverend Jerry E. Davis III of Crossroads AME Church.
The corridor, located two blocks west of the Children’s Museum, has long been identified as an area in need of resources. Davis said the church’s research and conversations with community leaders have already surfaced concerns about access to food and pharmacy services. The area has been described by some as both a food desert and a pharmacy desert — a situation that worsened when a CVS near 38th Street and Illinois Street was replaced by a car wash.
“There is one less resource where perhaps within walking distance we can get the pharmaceutical needs that we have satisfied,” Davis said.
The July 14 session is designed as an open forum, with no limits placed on what residents can raise. Davis said the church wants to hear ideas that go beyond what research has already uncovered.
“We want to hear even beyond the numbers,” he said.
The July 30 session will give attendees a chance to return and prioritize the ideas and needs shared at the first gathering. Davis called the two sessions a “both and” opportunity, encouraging residents to attend both.
Both sessions offer in-person and virtual participation options. A free dinner will be provided at both in-person gatherings.
For more information, contact Crossroads AME Church.
-
Los Angeles, Ca12 minutes agoRemains of murder victim identified as missing Southern California millionaire
-
Detroit, MI36 minutes ago4Warn Weather Alert: Wildfire smoke leading to ‘unhealthy’ air quality in Metro Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA48 minutes agoSan Francisco fishermen recount harrowing rescue after boat capsizes near Alcatraz
-
Dallas, TX54 minutes agoTimothée Chalamet ‘Starstruck’ by Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoWives of detained men allege inhumane conditions at federal detention center in Miami
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoDriver charged in Norwood pedestrian crash that left man seriously injured
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoBoys, 12 and 14, arrested in deadly shooting in Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood
-
Seattle, WA1 hour agoOutreach groups respond to the reported relocation cycle of Ballard’s homeless population
