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Newscast to end

By ERIC DEGGANS
Published March 8, 2006

Officials at Tampa WB affiliate WTTA-Ch. 38 said Tuesday they will dissolve the station's news department and discontinue its 10 p.m. newscast on March 31, confirming a longstanding local rumor. The change will affect 18 to 20 staffers at the station, owned by Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, said WTTA general manager Julie Nelson.

Nelson blamed ratings dips in the WB's prime time shows for decreasing the viewership funneled into their low-watched 10 p.m. newscast. The program was established in August 2003 as part of Sinclair's "News Central" concept, where nearly half the newscast was provided by Sinclair's headquarters in Hunt Valley, Md.

Though Sinclair has closed or farmed out news operations at other stations, Nelson said the company remains committed to local news broadcasts.

[Last modified March 8, 2006, 01:41:06]