WDIV poaching Flint weather talent

[sinklair]

WDIV Chief Met Ben Bailey announced at 1am Sunday on-air (after the Olympics) that he’s leaving the Detroit powerhouse.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/ ... 530185001/

Now let the rumor mill begin…

Many people are saying 25-66 meteorologists Ahmad Bajjey (who used to intern at WDIV) and Leslie Toldo (who used to forecast for channel 50) are contenders for the opening, though not likely for the Chief position.

Ahmad just signed a new contract and he’s have a large buyout. But I’m sure Graham Media could afford it.

Sure, Channel 4… poach our best talent. But not our inept newsroom management. Come on! Neille Ann wouldn’t even need to move since she still doesn’t even live in the Flint DMA. Absolutely ridiculous.

[audiophile]

The Tri's are the talent farm for Detroit.

[Deleted User 15555]

WDIV Chief Met Ben Bailey announced at 1am Sunday on-air (after the Olympics) that he’s leaving the Detroit powerhouse.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/ ... 530185001/

Now let the rumor mill begin…

Many people are saying 25-66 meteorologists Ahmad Bajjey (who used to intern at WDIV) and Leslie Toldo (who used to forecast for channel 50) are contenders for the opening, though not likely for the Chief position.

Ahmad just signed a new contract and he’s have a large buyout. But I’m sure Graham Media could afford it.

Sure, Channel 4… poach our best talent. But not our inept newsroom management. Come on! Neille Ann wouldn’t even need to move since she still doesn’t even live in the Flint DMA. Absolutely ridiculous.

Ahmad is more than deserving but can we really call Buzzboard opinions actual credible rumor mill?

Ahmad and Leslie would be more than able, and there’s a few from the other stations that could be capable on a non-chief/weekend slot (Burkhart, Sugden at 12, Easlick at 5).

[sinklair]

Easlick yes. But Brad and Christina aren’t yet ready for the big leagues — good people without a doubt.

[organman95]

Ahmad won't leave 25, at least anytime soon. He has invested too much to walk away right now.

[sinklair]

As the “Million Dollar Man” says… everyone has a price.

Ahmad and Paul Gross are buddies. Ahmad’s family is in the Detroit area. WDIV is literally his dream job.

What does he owe 25-66? Nothing. They went cheap on his contract and dragged their feet for nearly a year before naming him Chief Met, despite making him do the work. No one — including Ahmad — likes or respects Leslie, but the In Over Her Head News Director won’t let Ahmad get rid of her to build his own team.

Yeah, Ahmad has a lot keeping him here.

[whitebalance]

Leslie should go to Local 4. She has the experience and has worked in Detroit before. Ahmad seems happy to have a viewer audience of 60 Trump supporters.

[Matt]

Detroit is a significant upgrade over Flint/tri-shitholes. Why is this even a thread?

[Realist]

Detroit is a significant upgrade over Flint/tri-shitholes. Why is this even a thread?

So nice you think so highly of your hometown areas…

[Matt]

Detroit is a significant upgrade over Flint/tri-shitholes. Why is this even a thread?

So nice you think so highly of your hometown areas…

18 years full-time was enough. Of course there is some nostalgia, but I can't imagine living in that area without family considerations.

[sinklair]

There are very nice communities, like Grand Blanc, Davison and Frankenmuth to live. Not that 25-66 management would know… since the In Over Her Head News Director lives near Novi… the ASSistant GM/Promotions Director and the HR Director/Party Planner live in Lapeer.

[Matt]

There are very nice communities, like Grand Blanc, Davison and Frankenmuth to live. Not that 25-66 management would know… since the In Over Her Head News Director lives near Novi… the ASSistant GM/Promotions Director and the HR Director/Party Planner live in Lapeer.

Novi is better than any of those options.

[sinklair]

That’s fine if the community you’re supposed to be serving is in Oakland County. However, the In Over Her Head News Director requires her staff to live in the TV market, but not her. It’s hard to cover Flint-Saginaw news when you don’t know the community or watch our newscasts and those of our competitors. There’s a reason we’re in dead last place… and it’s not because of the reporters, photographers, producers, directors, master control ops. Crappy morale always starts at the top.

[MasterB]

I'm surprised that master controls haven't been hub to another Sinclair TV station?