FTVLive
patreon
It Has Gotten Bad in Cleveland
🕑 Added 2025-12-30 06:00:07 +0000 UTC
If you have worked in TV news long enough, you likely have some interesting stories about some of the buildings you worked in.
I worked at a station in the West Palm Beach market, where one of the edit booths was located in the attic of the station. When you went up to edit, you had to walkout a 90 degree angle as the ceiling was only a few feet high.
People hit their head so often on one 2X4 that they signed their name after banging their melon. This was the days before people decided to sue at the drop of a hat. So, you just signed your name, kept a paper towel on your head until it stopped bleeding and continued to work.
The staff working at Gray's WOIO in Cleveland have it much worse. They have gone without heat and hot water for several weeks, before the water issue was finally resolved. The heat is still a problem. Employees are at their desks either with space heaters or blankets on. The health department has been in the building a couple times.
One insider says that there is a serious mold problem throughout the station. They're located in the basement so, naturally, when there's a heavy rain or a leak somewhere you know where the water goes.
"The parking garage that has cement chunks falling onto cars, and a neighborhood that doesn't seem safe to walk out in," said an insider to FTVLive.
Gray has been promising them a new building almost since they bought the place but it doesn't seem like they'll be going anywhere until at least 2027.
"Of course, that's not stopping Gray from buying up more station groups. It's no wonder employees feel like Gray doesn't care and so many are looking to move on as soon as their contracts are up," said the insider. Who added, "Employees are fed up and scared."
Comments
Jeramy Rosenberg
However the Nexstar / Tegna deal shakes out, WOIO is probably going to end up in a much better place soon enough. My guess is they end up at WKYC’s vacated palace just blocks away. They’ve had it rough for years at Reserve Square, but I think it’ll get better soon, and I bet upper management is counting on it.
