Tegna’s WKYC television station in Cleveland, Ohio, has announced the cancellation of its long-running sponsored lifestyle talk show, “Good Company.” The show, which has aired for nearly 20 years, will conclude its run in mid-January 2025. This decision is directly linked to Tegna’s previously announced restructuring of its local marketing teams into regional hubs. This restructuring will unfortunately lead to job losses at WKYC, although the exact number remains undisclosed. Tegna is also planning broader layoffs across its other stations.
“Good Company,” hosted by Katherine Boyd and Joe Cronauer, primarily features advertiser-sponsored segments and currently airs at noon. The station hasn’t revealed what will replace the show or whether the timeslot will continue to feature locally produced programming. The show’s cancellation highlights the evolving landscape of local television advertising.
Such shows have traditionally provided an effective alternative for advertisers seeking to reach consumers. Advertisers typically pay for individual segments or as part of a larger package, gaining prominent placement in a talk show format. These programs were often cost-effective to produce and could achieve success even with moderate ratings, although the specific financial details of “Good Company” haven’t been released. However, with the ongoing decline in linear television viewership, the future of such programs faces increased challenges.
The decision comes amidst a broader trend of significant cuts within the broadcasting industry as 2024 ends and 2025 begins. Broadcasters are grappling with economic uncertainty, rising costs, and shrinking traditional audiences. The absence of significant election spending and Olympic broadcasts in 2025 also poses further challenges, particularly for NBC and its affiliates, including WKYC. While 2024 saw relative strength for Tegna due to political advertising and (for NBC stations) Olympic revenue, the financial outlook for many media outlets remains uncertain.