Viewers of WAGM-TV in Presque Isle will see fewer locally produced newscasts next week when programming changes take effect.
The local broadcaster will rely on its Bangor counterpart, WABI, to produce a morning news program, but will continue to produce its own evening news at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., WAGM announced Thursday on social media.
The move appears to be part of companywide cuts by Atlanta-based Gray Media, which owns both Maine outlets and stations in 113 other markets across the country. It is not clear if any jobs will be lost at the Presque Isle station. WAGM is Aroostook County and western New Brunswick’s only network television station. The change means County residents will need to depend on a station 160 miles away for much of their morning coverage.
“WAGM and WABI will continue its mission of providing local news, weather and sports coverage,” WAGM stated on social media. “The team will bring you an extended morning news starting at 4:30 a.m. that will broadcast from WABI studios in Bangor, and will include news and weather from Aroostook County.”
Multiple attempts to reach WAGM General Manager Kelly Landeen for comment about the change on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
WABI General Manager Kim Lee said she had no immediate comment on the collaboration.
Several news outlets around the country reported on the moves by Gray Media, which included workforce cuts and fewer newscasts. The company focused the cuts at small-market stations, including layoffs at WYMT of Hazard, Kentucky, according to a Nov. 4 report from Mountain Top Media of Pikeville, Kentucky.
Gray confirmed a cost-saving plan on Friday that included newsroom consolidation and layoffs, according to a Saturday report from Matthew Keys of TheDesk.net, which covers media and technology.
Newsrooms in Minnesota will collaborate in an arrangement similar to WAGM and WABI, advertising trade publication AdWeek stated on Nov. 4. KEYC of Mankato, after losing several news staff, will get its local news from counterpart KTTC of Rochester, about 83 miles away.
Multiple calls to Gray Media for comment were not returned.
