Business & Tech
Fios1 News Shutting Down; 150 To Lose Jobs
The hyperlocal news network recently celebrated its 10th anniversary on the air.
RYE BROOK, NY – Fios1 News will shut down on Nov. 16 after Verizon declined to renew a 10-year contract with Rye Brook-based Regional News Network (RNN), which produces Fios1 content.
Peter Kramer, of the Rockland/Westchester Journal News, broke the news Sunday evening.
"Barring a change in direction from Verizon, RNN News will cease providing news programming for Verizon’s Fios1 News network at 12:01 a.m. on November 16, 2019," RNN's President of News Richard French III wrote in a letter to employees that was obtained by the Journal News. "This means your employment will permanently end on November 15, 2019."
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About 150 people will lose their jobs at Fios1, which covers hyperlocal news in the Hudson Valley, New Jersey and on Long Island. The network recently celebrated its 10th anniversary on the air.
French, who is also an Emmy-Award winning news talk show host, called the end of the network "a disturbing turning point in the news industry" as those seeking hyperlocal cable news in most of the region will be left with only Altice's News 12.
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FiOS1 will always hold a special place in my heart as my first reporting job. sad to hear they’re shutting down. Some amazing hard-working people are now out of jobs. The stories that matter within communities are covered by local journalists. LOCAL JOURNALISM MATTERS! pic.twitter.com/0ugjh1hyZ2
— Dan Mannarino (@DanMannarino) August 19, 2019
"Even our main cable competitor, News 12, is a shadow of what it once was because of the draconian layoffs Altice implemented when it took over," French told the Journal News.
The news of Fios1's demise certainly isn't being celebrated at News 12, at least not publicly.
"Competition is good in the news business but you never want to see your competitors disappear," Andrew Ehinger, a consumer investigations and technology reporter at News 12 Long Island wrote on Twitter Sunday evening. "Fios1 News was a quality operation with good journalists who cared about the community. I’m sorry to see them get shuttered by Verizon. They will be missed."
Disturbed by Verizon's plans to shut down #FiOS1News, a great source of local news & a blow to the already struggling local news landscape. I encourage all NYers to support local journalism – it’s more important now than ever.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 19, 2019
Read the full story at lohud.com: https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/2019/08/18/verizon-shutter-fios-1-news-costing-150-jobs/2029818001/
And if you happen to be looking to hire talented award-winning journalists, swing by LinkedIn and check out those with Fios1 next to their names.
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