Statement: NFL Legend Deion Sanders To Host Tubi Talk Show, ABC News Hit By Layoffs
willie matlawa - sabc
Broadcast: Willie Matlawa, the former SABC News Sepedi news reader, has died aged 67 due to a long illness. Willie Matlawa retired from the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) in 2023 after serving four decades with the company.
The SABC expressed, “[We are] deeply saddened by the passing of William 'Bra Willie' Matlawa. His immense contribution to the entertainment industry will forever be remembered. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Matlawa family, friends and family.”
Jericka Duncan will now anchor both weekend editions of CBS Weekend News. Since 2020, Duncan has anchored the Sunday edition of the newscast. With the departure of Adriana Diaz (who hosted the Saturday program and now co-hosts CBS Mornings Plus alongside Tony Dokoupil), Duncan has been appointed to anchor the Saturday and Sunday programs.
President of newsgathering and editorial for CBS News and Stations Adrienne Roark wrote in a memo to staffers that Duncan “is often one of the first reporters on the scene when news breaks.” Roark stated, “Reporting those stories is never easy, but in every situation, Jericka forges real connections with the people and communities she covers — in moments of tragedy and triumph — allowing them to share their experiences authentically.”
KMGH Denver ABC affiliate welcomes Anusha Roy as a morning anchor. Over the years, Roy built her reputation as a trusted voice in local news after working in various cities and broadcast stations in Washington, Idaho, and Texas. Viewers can expect a fresh perspective as Roy’s passion for journalism on diverse topics is presented through seamless transitions.
“I’ve always had just incredible respect for the Denver7 team. There’s a lot of thoughtfulness into how the station covers the news,” she said. “It’s just an honor to be able to join the team, and I am humbled and excited to be able to join as one of the anchors.”
“What I most appreciate about Anusha is her tenacity. She doesn’t back down from a challenge and isn’t afraid to tackle a story other journalists might be intimidated by,” Denver7 senior news director Megan Jurgemeyer said. “And while Anusha is an extremely talented anchor, who brings empathy and kindness to difficult stories, she’s a reporter first, focused on getting answers for the community she serves and elevating voices that might not otherwise be heard.”
KSTP’s Chris Reece has been promoted to weekday evening meteorologist, a component of his new contract that prolongs his stay with the station. Reece joined KSTP (5 Eyewitness News) in 2022 as a weekend meteorologist. Beginning in late October, Reece will be on air Monday through Friday at 5, 6, and 10 P.M. for 5 Eyewitness News, Nightcast, and Eyewitness News at 9 on 45TV.
“Two years ago, a popular Twin Cities newspaper posted my picture with the headline ‘KSTP-TV’s new weather forecaster may be a little too excited about Minnesota winters,’” Reece said. "They couldn’t have been more wrong. I wasn’t excited enough!”
“To the weekend and morning viewers I’ve grown to love having fun with these last few years, I hope you’ll join me in the evenings for more of that same fun!" Reece said. “I do not take on this role lightly, but with great reverence for those who’ve gone before me and the viewership I will serve.”
“Despite feeling confident, qualified, and fully prepared, I found myself asking the same question… Who am I?" said Reece. “But I know that on good weather days, bad weather days, and, the worst weather days, God will be with me.”
9News anchor Jacob Tobey has been appointed TV play-by-play announcer for the San Antonio Spurs. Tobey has worked at 9News since 2020 and served as a play-by-play announcer for various networks including Fox Sports and Pac-12 Network. Tobey joined commentator Sean Elliot in the Spurs broadcast booth and debuted on October 7th as the NBA preseason kicked off.
“I am so excited, humbled, and blessed to live out my childhood dream by joining a first-class organization,” Tobey said. “I love the NBA and I cannot wait to be part of the Spurs family! Let’s get to work, San Antonio!”
“We're thrilled to welcome Jacob to the Spurs family,” said Mike Kickirillo, Spurs Senior Director of Broadcast. “His passion for the game, combined with his broadcast experience and holistic sports knowledge, make him a perfect fit for our team. We're confident that Spurs fans will quickly embrace Jacob's energy and insightful commentary.”
ABC News and ABC-owned stations underwent a round of layoffs in early October, impacting about 75 employees. The layoffs were split between both divisions and did not affect national or local programming teams. Much of the industry has seen job cuts in recent months including CBS News (when its parent company Paramount Global cut 15% of its workforce).
Almin Karamehmedovic, president of ABC News, wrote in a memo to employees this morning that “across the various ranks of ABC News, a limited number of our colleagues are being impacted by staff reductions. As you know, this has been happening across the broader company and the industry at large in recent weeks and months. For us, it means shaping a team that embraces the new media landscape and evolves along with it, which we must do to continue serving our viewers.”
In his note to employees, Chad Matthews (president of ABC Owned Television Stations) wrote, “It’s no secret that our industry is undergoing a transformation unlike any other, and we’re seeing headlines every day about streamlining across every major media company. While we’re not immune to the pressures facing this business today, we have been – and will continue to be – strategic with decisions about our organization’s future.”
KMSP Minneapolis welcomes to the team morning anchor Chenue Her. He will start his position in October, joining co-anchor Hannah Flood on Fox 9 Morning from 4:30 to 6:00 A.M. Her comes from WOI Des Moines, where he worked as a morning anchor. Before his time at WOI, Her was a reporter for WXIA Atlanta, WVEC Norfolk, and KEZI Eugene (Oregon).
“We've been big Chenue fans from afar for years now, ever since he started next door in Iowa,” said KMSP vice president and news director Kelly Bishop-Huffman. “On the air and behind the scenes, he just has this incredible 'X-factor.' We couldn't be happier that he's coming home to the Twin Cities and joining our family as well as being back with his.”
“Coming home and joining the Fox 9 team is a full circle moment for me,” said Chenue Her. “As a proud Minnesota native and a Hmong son of east St. Paul, it's the greatest honor of my career to join the most iconic morning newscast in Minnesota made up of journalists I've looked up to. As refugees, my parents have been loyal to Fox 9 Morning News for a long time to keep them informed daily and now Fox 9 becomes a part of their family's story forever.”
ABC-owned Chicago station WLS has named Nneka Nwosu as vice president of marketing. She succeeds David Lee, who became vice president of brand and marketing at WCBS New York. Since 2022, Nwosu has been assistant news director at WLS, overseeing the I-Team investigative unit. She created the streaming series Facing the Facts after collaborating with the ABC Television Network on investigations across the ABC stations. Before joining WLS, Nwosu was executive producer of Chronicle at the Hearst-owned station WCVB Boston. She was also a reporter for WTNH New Haven, Connecticut.
“Nneka is an inspirational leader whose creativity and strategic vision make her an ideal choice for this role,” WLS general manager John Idler said. “We are excited about her next chapter at our station and look forward to seeing her impact on ABC7’s marketing efforts.”
Shams Charania - facebook
Cable: Former ESPN anchor and popular commentator Jemele Hill launched a sports newsmagazine program, Above the Fold. The TNT Sports program, hosted by Hill, debuted on October 22nd and has been marked as part of the evening lineup on TruTV. The 60-minute program features a rotating lineup of guest stars who Hill engages in discussions and debates on the latest news surrounding some of the biggest sports stories of the week. TNT Sports and Uninterrupted developed the program. Warner Brothers Discovery launched the programming block TNT Sports on TruTV in early October with plans to fill the schedule with live sports, movies, unscripted competition series, and original series.
“I’m very excited to be working with TNT Sports and Uninterrupted on a project that centers sports journalism and compelling storytelling,” said Hill, in a statement. “The sports media landscape is constantly evolving, but there is always room for nuance, depth, and perspective.”
“Jemele is an influential voice within the sports community and has a unique lens,” said TNT Sports chief content officer Craig Barry. “We are looking forward to building a platform to share meaningful and compelling perspectives with our fans.”
ESPN has hired NBA Insider Shams Charania. He will work as an NBA insider as he did with The Athletic. Though Charania announced his hiring on social media platform X, ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show confirmed the news on-air. The NBA 2024-2025 regular season tipped off on October 22nd.
“I am honored to join ESPN as the company’s Senior NBA Insider,” Charania wrote today. “I can’t wait to be part of an incredible group of colleagues at ESPN and serve the sports audience worldwide.”
NBC News' long-running program Dateline welcomes Blayne Alexander to the team. Alexander is returning from maternity leave and joining a team of correspondents on the program. Lester Holt anchors the Dateline introduction weekly.
“Blayne Alexander is an outstanding journalist who brings depth and perspective to every story she tells. Her ability to navigate complex topics has been evident throughout her career,” said Liz Cole (senior executive producer of Dateline) and Paul Ryan (Dateline executive producer) in a statement. “We’re thrilled to officially welcome her to the Dateline family.”
Deion Sanders
Streaming: NFL legend Deion Sanders will host Tubi’s first original talk series We Got Time Today. Sanders will host the series with former Entertainment Tonight host Rocsi Diaz. Jesse Collins Entertainment will produce the series with 20 weekly, hour-long episodes each Tuesday. Sanders and Diaz will cover news, culture, entertainment, and sports. The series will also feature interviews and celebrity guests.
“I’m stepping into the studio to have real conversations with people from all walks of life,” said Sanders. “This show is about tapping into the culture. We’re going to laugh, debate, inspire, and most importantly, we got time to talk life into our viewers while keeping things 100. I couldn’t do this with anyone else except for the Rocsi Diaz, who I’m sure will keep me on my toes, and of course my friends over at Tubi, who I’ve been a big fan of for a long time now.”
“At Tubi, we’re committed to delivering engaging content that resonates with viewers by reflecting the diversity of our audience,” stated Tubi’s chief content officer Adam Lewinson. “We Got Time Today rejuvenates the traditional talk show format with a loose energy that showcases Deion’s dynamic personality along with his stellar chemistry with Rocsi. This mix of real talk with the pulse of pop culture is very much on brand for Tubi and we expect it will surely spark conversation.”
