As CBS Cuts a Hundred Mill from its Budget, KPIX Staffers More Nervous Than Ever; Possible Targets include Bastida; Martin and Hackney Too; 415 Media Thursday Open

   AT ALL CBS PROPERTIES THERE ARE NERVOUS PEOPLE.

WHY?

Try this on for size.

Rumors have been rampant that not only will CBS cut over $100 Million but that the bulk of the cuts will hit its O an O stations, including its Bay Area outlet, KPIX.

Which is got PIX staffers flooding the region with resumes and well-known anchors and reporters in the twilight of their career looking at being forced out or offered buyouts that has become the norm in an industry where the bottom line, like others, is at the forefront.

I talked to a PIX staffer who was blunt:
"We're feeling it here, totally and it's been this way for the past few weeks; it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of who and when."

And who might be on the list?

*It's a longshot but not out of the question: Ken Bastida. Bastida is making close to $500K and although the face of the station, his Q rating has eroded; his performance is teetering and his newscast are no longer watchable. Bastida could be told to go and "retire" with a nice buyout, we'll see, but his leaving isn't such a longshot anymore.

*Allen Martin: another fairly high-paid anchor (but nowhere near Bastida) who doesn't move the meter nor make any waves while on the air. Martin gets about $300K annually and isn't considered anything even remotely valuable. A younger, cheaper, guy (or woman) from Fresno would be far more prudent if CBS had its way.

*Brian Hackney: Hackney has never been a favorite of mine but he still has fans. At nearly $300K a year the Bay Area TV News veteran is nearing middle age and might be too expensive for Black Rock accountants and again, like Bastida, I wouldn't be shocked if he was sent packing.

*We'll be monitoring as always.

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