News 13 drops two popular anchorwomen
News 13 is parting company with anchors Jackie Brockington and Marla Weech, two of the most familiar faces in the Orlando TV market.
Charter Communications, the owner of News 13, had no comment, a company spokeswoman said Friday.
But Weech and Brockington will be with the cable news channel through the end of their contracts in May, sources said.
“I’m good,” Brockington said Friday about the news. “I’ve had a fantastic career in television. I’m blessed.”
Weech, a University of Central Florida graduate, had no comment. She joined News 13 in 2011. She logged nearly 20 years at ABC affiliate WFTV-Channel 9, where she and Bob Opsahl formed a popular anchor team.
She was demoted in 2003 after ratings fell, and she left WFTV in 2005.
But she has shown resiliency in the market. In 2006, Weech joined CBS affiliate WKMG-Channel 6. She worked there for more than two years but lost her job during the recession.
She freelanced before joining News 13 and making another comeback.
Brockington became a News 13 anchor in 2001. She was the second African-American journalist to hold a top anchor spot in the Central Florida TV market when she worked for NBC affiliate WESH-Channel 2 from from 1986 to 1989. (Annetta Wilson was the first at Channel 6 in 1980.)
Brockington thanked the people of Central Florida for welcoming her into their homes for so long and put her news in philosophical terms: “Life changes.”
News 13 gained a new parent company last year in Charter Communications, which has been reducing staff to cut costs. The TV industry has noted reductions at other Charter stations, such as cable news channel NY1 in New York City, where there have been layoffs.
Fans showed their support for the veteran anchors in Facebook comments.
“They may be reducing costs, but if they get rid of the good talent, nobody will be watching. Very stupid and shortsighted move,” wrote Dennis Salmon of Orlando.
“Both were great to work with, and they were part of the community,” wrote former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary.
When News 13 started in 1997, the Orlando Sentinel and Time Warner Communications were the owners. Orlando Sentinel Communications Co. sold its interest in the channel to Bright House Networks in late 2003.