By Dan Murphy
Two weeks ago, Verizon announced that it planned to terminate its local newscast for Westchester and surrounding counties in the metropolitan region. Fios News will cease operations Nov. 16.
Verizon’s news channel is produced by Regional News Network. Local, county and congressional democrats from Westchester gathered last week to call for Verizon to reconsider. RNN has produced the local news program Fios1 News for Verizon for the past decade. More than 150 local jobs are on the line if Verizon terminates its contract with RNN.
“Local news is the driving force behind an informed public, robust civic engagement, and a healthy democracy,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “If we lose Fios 1, one of only two hyper-local cable news outlets in the area, millions of residents in Long Island and Westchester will be left with a single source of local coverage. There are also 150 hardworking employees with strong ties to the community whose lives are being impacted. We should be fighting for more local news, not less.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer added: “This decision hurts Westchester County residents on two fronts. First, the loss of roughly 150 jobs. In real world terms, that is 150 individuals and families who must search for new employment in order to continue to have a roof over their head or food on their table come November. Secondly, the loss of Fios1 News means Westchester residents will only have one source for hyper-local TV news. In a county of nearly 1 million diverse residents, many important stories may be left untold.”
Congressmember Eliot Engel said Verizon’s decision to end its relationship with Fios1 would and have a damaging effect on the local economy. “My colleagues and I have already written to Verizon urging them to reconsider this move and we remain hopeful that a new agreement can be reached,” he said.
State Se. Shelley Mayer added: “Verizon should reconsider its decision to terminate its partnership with RNN and canceling one of the few local TV programming options residents have in Westchester and Long Island. We know that robust, community-driven local news coverage has a significant impact on knowledge of current events and civic engagement, and Verizon must acknowledge its civic responsibility. There are over 150 people doing this important work with RNN who have strong ties to the community and nuanced knowledge of local issues.”
Some elected officials called Verizon’s decision to terminate its FIOS News another example of corporate greed.
“When telecommunications companies want exclusive access to our municipalities for their service, or they want to put up a cell tower in our neighborhoods, they have a legal responsibility to invest in our local news coverage,” said State Sen. Pete Harckham. “This decision by Verizon to close FIOS1 and contract News 12 for their hyper local news will severely impact coverage in the Hudson Valley north of I-287. I call on Verizon to rethink this ill-conceived plan – or the next time they want exclusive access to one of our communities or want to put up a cell tower, people will remember.”
State Sen. David Carlucci added: ”Verizon placed corporate greed above workers, and it is wrong. News professionals who have dedicated their lives to informing the public are being treated as disposable. Local news is important to our communities and covers the issues that impact our residents. Verizon should have done the right thing and renewed their contract with RNN.”
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi said local news is at the core of maintaining community civic engagement in local government and ensuring residents are informed of issues that directly impact their lives. “I firmly stand with my fellow elected officials and call on Regional President Anthony A. Lewis to renew Verizon’s partnership with Rye Brook’s RNN network, and continue to provide the high-quality local news coverage residents deserve,” she said.
Assemblymember Steve Otis added: “It is very important that Verizon changes course and renews their partnership with RNN. Westchester needs coverage from experienced and seasoned journalists who know our communities and provide knowledgeable reporting based on years of work. Quality local coverage is vital to the civic and governmental life of the people we represent. Retaining the RNN team for Fios News makes sense for everyone.”
Assemblymember Tom Abinanti said Verizon should not be able to abdicate its responsibility as a state-authorized cable network to keep communities informed about local news. “Each network should provide independent, original, in-depth news coverage,” he said. “Knowledge is power and without local news coverage, our residents are powerless to influence local government decisions.”
Assemblymember David Buchwald added: “Verizon is making a mistake in eliminating the Fios1 News service without providing any assurance that this won’t result in significant reductions in local news reporting. Westchester and the lower Hudson Valley need multiple, independent and experienced voices in local journalism. Local news coverage helps connect us with local governments, school districts and community organizations and Fios1 News would surely be missed.”
Westchester County Legislator Nancy Barr said that not only will valuable local jobs be lost if the RNN contract is not renewed, but the community will lose a media outlet that has provided local news for the past 10 years.
“A free press is critical to our democracy, where the government is accountable to the people,” she said. “Local press organizations like RNN keep our community informed about local government, local news, and community events – which are not typically covered by the regional or national press perspective. I sincerely hope Verizon will have a change of heart and renew their contract.”
You may recognize RNN from its own cable channel that appears on both FIOS and on Comcast. RNN Chairman Richard French hosts a news-talk show every weeknight on RNN that features Westchester elected officials, journalists and political strategists.
But for those of us who have continued to contract with Cablevision over the years to provide cable TV services, News 12 has been our local TV news source. And, as is the case with most local media sources, the quality of hyper-local news from News 12 has continued to decline, with less news about Westchester, and more news about Orange and Dutchess counties, and more national news coverage, which is not what we watch News 12 for.
Ten years ago, News 12 was at the top of its game, with Jeannie Rose leading the coverage. Rose departed from News 12 several years ago, and recently has been with FIOS news.
I never watched FIOS news and I don’t know how many FIOS subscribers there are in Westchester County, but the news recently that Verizon had contracted with Altice (who bought Cablevision’s stations in Westchester and Nassau and Suffolk counties) to provide News 12 to their subscribers left many asking: What’s the big deal with FIOS News closing?
Two former local reporters, Phil Reisman and Matt Richter, said as much on their recent WVOX show. Both have firsthand knowledge of the Westchester media scene, and while all of us want more news coverage and more media competition, and don’t want our colleagues in the media to lose their jobs, what is the difference in how the estimated 75,000 Fios customers get their local news if it’s News 12 or FIOS news?
Richard French gave Westchester his answer to this question when he said: “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. Our resulting exit from the market is a disturbing turning point in the news industry, as there will only be one option available for consumers of hyper-local television news in the regions we serve. Coverage of critical community needs, breaking news, to be there for major weather events, town halls on pressing issues and the ilk. The vanishing presence to cover local news with multiple voices should concern everyone.”
Verizon Fios has 6 million customers in nine states. Cablevision subscribers in Westchester are also not available.
