Now they've gone to a new name "Newscentral" with the pitch "News That's Central To Your Life". As much as I like to watch news to be informed it's not central to my life. Prunes are more central to my life then newscentral (actuality I hate prunes). It just seems they're going further in the wrong direction. The only time I ever see anything from them is the health segment and that I watch on there website.

Sad, but it doesn't really surprise me at all. KCBS has unwatchable news, and KCAL is only slightly better because of eye candy. There's a reason why KTLA has the #1 morning show--better chemistry and eye candy. At CBS, Vera Jimenez has let herself slowly go to the point where Suzanne Rico looks beter than her now, Paul Johnson looks totally out of his element at KNBC, and KTTV's "Good Day" program is just annoying. KCBS news is going to have to implode before they get better.

I'm not an Angeleno, but knew Jennifer Davis from her stint with then-CBS-owned-KUTV, Salt Lake City. Does anyone know what's become of her since she got the boot at CBS/LA?

Who watches the news anymore? It is scripted, and force fed agendas. Then the teaser for "what's next" which they finally give 30 seconds to at the end of the broadcast. The only time the news is enjoyable is with a high speed chase!

Eric

Last year it was the layoff of on air news talent which i'm still ticked off about. A couple of months ago Rick Chambers another likeable talent, and people being let go from KNX/KFWB.

Now 97.1 KLSX has abandoned the talk radio format and after 5pm today Tom Leykis said goodbye and the station became a top 40 station. CBS did this for financial reasons but it also proves that CBS is going down hill and I have a feeling when Jay Leno starts his 10pm show on NBC CBS is gonna go down more.

steven

Couldn't agree with you more.

jennifer sabih is probably the most talented news person there is both when it comes to finding the "silver lining" of any "cloud"ie finding what is positive about a less than positive story, and certanly the best& most knowledgable regarding yoga, energy healing, energy psychology, meditation, integrated medicine, complimentary/vibrational medicine, etc, to the point where the worlds top scientists & researchers in these fields, have wanted her to cover the most important breakthroughs, before anyone else does, do to her knowledge & understanding of these fields.
the same can be said for many dozens of our worlds best regarding environmental solutions.
whoever picks her up here in los angeles, will have acces to the best solutions, to our most important challenges, because jen is so much better, than any other reporter/anchor than any one else anybodies found so far in this country.
her following is huge & influential because shes earned this respect.
it would be the best score channel 5 could make, because the worlds best would come to you & wait in line, to allow sabih to break the stories.I know, because Im very familliar with these scientists & related principles

Anne and Harold (as all anchors in LA) were making over $1 million a year. They retired. Hope they saved up.
As for the rest, good luck, you'll need it.

Wow. There goes the only 2 people on CBS2 news left worth watching. Who did they leave there in charge? Stupid. No wonder our local CBS2 news is always the least favorite local news channel in LA.

Laura Diaz is among the classiest news anchors in Los Angeles.

Greene and Martin unfortunately became, through no fault of their own, second-tier anchors drawing first-tier salaries. It will be pretty hard to replace their level of professionalism--and that goes for Sabih, Garza et al. They'll all be missed. Maybe KCBS/KCAL will learn what the LA Times can't seem to learn--that you don't make a media outlet more successful by shrinking it. You save money but lose more audience. Eric thank you for calling this to viewers' attention.

Jennifer Sabih and Jennifer Davis are wonderful, hard working, brilliant field reporters out there in the drenches early mornings and late nights, at fires and earthquakes and all the non-glamourous stories... It is a big loss there.
I would love to see a network pick up both of these girls.
Ann Martin...ding dong the witch is dead.
she is rude, demeaning, unprofessional and tired. ask anyone who has ever worked with her....

Like Everyone else, I was shocked to see who CBS2 let go. Harold and Ann were part of the Channel 7 Dream Team which John Severino brought over. Jennifer Davis was part of a new Dream Team being built at CBS2. Unfortunately all the dreams were shattered. Maybe Jennifer can be picked up at KTLA. She would be a perfect fit in the Channel 5 AM Team. She is GREAT!!!!

But hopefully all 3 end up back on local TV in some capacity. They are all too well respected to not be involved in some news event programming.

I can't believe that KCBS/KCAL would get rid ot two class acts like Harold Greene and Ann Martin. They should've gotten rid of that plastic mannequin Laura Diaz, and Barbie, otherwise known as Mary Beth Mcdade....jeez...

Reading about these layoffs saddened me greatly. I worked for CBS for 36 years and beginning in 1986 when Larry Tisch bought the company, I spent most of the succeeding years fighting for the meager staff I had left after three successive "purges" left me with 18 and then 13 people to do work that 45 had done previously. This decrease in staff drastically changed the way we did out job, which was to read scripts for all the network shows, negotiate changes with producers for violent, sexual, language and other objectionable content, attend tapings to assure that policy was implemented, and a myriad of other time and detail-sensitive tasks. Over time, the viewers noticed a distinct difference in the quality and content of the programming, which declined markedly from the time when television was considered "a guest in viewers' homes" and behaved accordingly. Firings of people like Imus and Opie and Anthony were not based on "doing the right thing," but on expediency and on promoting the illusion of corporate responsibility. In recent years, viewers have gotten the attention of the FCC and Congress, but nothing will ever change because of the powerful lobbies broadcasters have and the reluctance of Congress to do anything but "posture" so that they will ensure their re-election. In all the hearings I've seen, they never ask the right questions and no one can tell me they don't know what those are. The die has been cast for some time now, and the broadcast television landscape will continue to erode.

The recent layoffs in News only reflect the desire to enhance the bottom line and they ignore the fact that viewers' trust is embodied in these talented long-time correspondents and anchors. And then the 7-8-figure-a-year guys wonder why the audience is fleeing in droves to cable and other outlets. As Murrow said, "...it's now just wires in a box."

Letting Ann, Harold, Jennifer, and Jaime go is a terrible mistake. I heard Ann was going to retire. I hope not. It's alwayt the bottom line that counts in business. Maybe some of the people that made these decisions should volunteer to step down so CBS can save a few more $$.

Sorry to see so much talent wasted. Those who remain are trying to portray these firings as ageism or the simple mathematics of profit and loss. It is not. These firings and those around the nation are the result of FCC deregulation, unchecked consolidation and short-sighted greed.

Very sad about Harold and Ann. Sure would definitely make KTLA # 1 in Los Angeles if you guys could pick them up. Your line-up now is good. Harold and Ann would make you guys GREAT.
Watch you every day. Love ya!

Eric

Thank you for writing this blog. I've been a longtime KCAL/CBS viewer an i'm not surprised they did this because this has been happening since the early part of 2006 but i'm shocked at who they let go. My response to the CBS/KCAL Layoffs (in the words of KISS Gene Simmons) "ARE YOU GUYS ON CRACK"

I feel the same way with everyone else about Ann Martin and Harold Greene.

John thanks for your comment about Jennifer Sabih she's my favorite reporter too, everything you said about her is true. I remember when she came to KCAL in the 90's she had a short hair cut. Lot of people have autographs of there favorite entertainers and people. I only have two one from Robert Lamm of Chicago and the other one from her.

Jennifer Davis also a great reporter and great personality.

Jaime Garza the same thing.

My opinion enough cannot be said about these people. I haven't watched CBS2/KCAL9 since this came out.

I've been watching KTLA and KABC a bit more since this came out and you guys would be fools not to pick these people up.

Im really disappointed by the ousting of Jennifer Sabih. She was my favorite in local newscasts. Personality, sincerity, honsety, great smile and voice etc. I disliked it when they made her dye her hair blond but lately it was almot back to the orginial auburn.
Hopefully another local station will pick her up.

Not Ann and Harold! I met them when they had their morning show on KABC way back in the eighties. Both classy and great news anchors! Hopefully LA will not lose them, we need such trusted and familiar faces on our evening news.

Say it isn't so!! What is happening over at KCAL and CBS? I've followed Ann Martin since before she had kids, Harold Greene when he had that mustache, once upon a time over at KABC. Please don't tell us next that Pat Harvey will be let go..and don't you be getting any ideas Mr. Spillman you'll be going anywhere anytime soon..your fans won't allow it!

Harold Greene and Ann Martin have been together a very long time. I remember watching them on a morning show when I had my daughter in 1983. They almost feel like "family". I hope they each find something in the L.A. area otherwise I'll miss them terribly.

Jennifer Davis is the best reporter on KCAL 9. I'll certainly miss her informative work.

That is so sad to see what is going on over at CBS. I too would like to see Ann at KTLA, we watch her every evening BUT would she be desperate enough to put up with the garbage at KTLA right now?? I don’t think so, not with the idiots running it now. Speaking of Anchors/Reporters…where has Bill Smith been??

Ann Martin would be a great replacement for Michaela. She has class, looks, smarts and isn't rude.

C'mon KTLA step up to the plate and do something right.

Bring Ann on for the morning news and dump Michaela.

I remember many years ago when Ann Martin was on Eyewitness News and they sent Ann Martin to fill in for Good Morning America in New York - she was brilliant! Hey! Come on KTLA...Ann Martin?? Good Morning America?? Morning Show??? I see a way to save the fiasco that is KTLA in the Morning!!!! Ann Martin has always been and will always be my favorite female news anchor!

I thought Harold Greene & Ann Martin were excellent. Bad times for them and their families. L.A. viewers lose too!

My God! Harold and Ann were let go? They are some of the most legendary news anchors LA has ever seen. I hope someone at KTLA try to lure both of them into this station. They have to!!!

We watched tonight, as usual. Wanted to see what would happen at 6pm. Neither Greene nor Martin showed up. Majors sat in for them. And no one announced any change in the lineup. Even went to their website. Nothing.

CBS is a favorite evening news channel in our home. Greene, Martin, Garza and Sabhi will be missed. We didn't know the others.

Is all this tied to the ever-increasing price of gas?

Thanks for the head's up, Eric.

Sure would like to see KTLA get Ann Martin. She's always been a favorite in our household since she was on Eyewitness News years ago!