WTVC Cuts Salaries

Freedom Communications, Inc., the parent company of WTVC-TV NewsChannel 9, announced today an across-the-board 5% reduction in base pay for employees at all levels of the company. The reduction will be effective July 13.

"We are facing the challenge of a general economic situation that experts say will continue to remain weak for many months to come," said Burl Osborne, Freedom Communications CEO. "In this very difficult climate we need to continue to reduce expenses, and we determined that the fairest way to accomplish this with the minimum impact on operations is the action we are announcing today."

"This is a painful but necessary step as we continue the transformation of our company while delivering our valuable products and services to our customers, advertisers and communities," Mr. Osborne added. "Our goal is maintaining a healthy business with a combination of cost initiatives and a focus on revenue while we weather the economic storm."

Mr. Osborne said that continuation of a company-wide furlough program instituted during the previous quarter had been considered. But it was decided that the action announced today was the best way to reduce both uncertainty on the part of company employees and the impact on operations caused by furloughs.