Tegna’s WKYC television station in Cleveland, Ohio, has announced the cancellation of its sponsored lifestyle talk show, “Good Company,” as part of a company-wide restructuring. The show, which premiered in 2005, will end its nearly 20-year run in mid-January 2025.
This decision is directly linked to Tegna’s previously announced plan to consolidate its local marketing teams into regional hubs. This restructuring will unfortunately result in job losses at WKYC, although the exact number remains undisclosed. Further layoffs are also anticipated across Tegna’s other stations nationwide.
“Good Company,” hosted by Katherine Boyd and Joe Cronauer, primarily features advertiser-sponsored segments and currently airs at noon. The station has not yet revealed what will replace the show or whether the timeslot will continue to feature locally produced content.
Shows like “Good Company” have traditionally provided local stations with an alternative avenue for advertising partners to reach consumers. Advertisers typically purchase individual segments or larger ad packages in exchange for product placement within a talk show format. These shows are often relatively inexpensive to produce and can be profitable even with modest ratings, though the specific financial details of “Good Company” have not been released.
However, the declining viewership of linear television presents a significant challenge for these types of programs. Broadcasting companies are experiencing widespread budget cuts as they navigate economic uncertainty, rising costs, and shrinking traditional audiences. The absence of significant election-related advertising and Olympic broadcasting revenue in 2025 will further exacerbate these challenges for many networks, including WKYC and its parent company, Tegna.