KOIN: Nibble Nibble Like a Mouse...

Submitted by LynnS on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 7:54pm.

Who is nibbling on KOIN's house? Apparently owner New Vision. No, not new staff cutbacks; good luck finding anyone else to cut. No, not new technology; that would require money. This time, it's the building.

At a staff meeting this week, GM Chris Sehring announced that architects were coming to re-evaluate the station's space needs and that up to an entire floor might be vacated and sold back to the building for a one-time cash payment. The KOIN lease is something like $1 a year for 99 years currently; once that space is given up, it'd be hell to get it back. But hey! What's a little more strip-mining of an already-stripped out station?

Meanwhile, the sales staff is doing its best to pitch in on the space consolidation effort. Two top salesmen have quit in the last month, one moving to KATU and one, Ron Massey, opening his own agency. Rumor has it sales commissions were recently re-formulated to the sales staff's detriment.

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Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 9:22pm.

It would make a better parking garage than TV station ..... And probably more profitable that way too. Gianola would make a great parking attendant, imagine!

Submitted by TALPDX on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 9:46pm.

I REALLY feel sorry for the KOIN staff. If it's not one thing, it's another. How can you create any enthusiasm for your operation when your parent company seems to hold zero interest in your mission to be good stewards of the public airwaves? Seems crazy.

Pretty soon, they’ll be doing product placement on the set and selling ad space on the sides of KOIN News 6 news vehicles. They’ll look like a Tri-Met bus driving down the street, with placards from one end to the other.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 8:33pm.

maybe they could find a use for the 2nd floor garage finally... the garage to nowhere. Wonder how they wold divide the space? Betcha the lobby level and the front half of the 2nd floor. 3rd floor has to stay the same, don't see why they would move the primary infrastructure of the station.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 1:16pm.

I think selling floor space back to the building is a sad and short-sighted move...

If the lease prevents KOIN from sub-letting their own space, I wonder if anyone suggested donating excess office space to a worthy non-profit organization. The market rate of the donation would be a big tax deduction for years to come. A few walls, a new doorway - easy to do, and suddenly KOIN has a community partnership, something to feel good about and promote when useful.
-DVR

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 2:28pm.

Pretty sad, actually. Yet another lie told to KOIN employees by yet another owner. When New Vision came along they were "broadcasters" like us. And they had plans for moving up, and understood that employees had been badly beaten up by first Emmis, and then Motecito. Or so they said.

Then...nothing really happened. Everything remained the same. But we busted our asses during sweeps, and low and behold got some damned good ratings for the company. And what's the reward? More blood to be squeezed out of the stone, and now we're likely to be further driven into the dungeon and crammed in like sardines.

When Chris Sering has to give these statements with a smile on his face, I have to wonder how he feels? Does he really think the employees believe that somehow, some way, something good will come out of it? Especially in any objective eye, New Vision has shown themselves to be just another strip and flip, looking to make short-term profits for greedy shareholders.

Submitted by pdxcess on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 7:44pm.

What KOIN's newsroom is doing is amazing. Anyone who's in the business, or even people who see the crews in the field, know that 6 is vastly outgunned. For them to win the 11PM in the last book was impressive. It was the direct result of everyone in the basement working their asses off. Even the competitors see that.
But, I hear there are grumblings because the brass there seems to be repeating SJL's pattern. KATU now has their chief Engineer. Two top salespeople just quit. The KOINers who survived, and are helping the place stay afloat, are rewarded with....more work and greater demands.
At some point, the rubber band breaks.
New Vision might just be bringing back an Old Nightmare.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 5:35am.

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