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Philly.com

CBS Station Sends Three Key News Personalities Packing

Jul 1, 2015  •  Post A Comment

A CBS-owned TV station in one of the nation’s top markets fired three on-air news personalities Tuesday. Philly.com reports that KYW-TV, the network’s Philadelphia O&O, let go Beasley Reece, Kathy Orr and Chris May.

The report notes that the station, known locally as CBS3, is under new management.

May has been anchoring the station’s “Eyewitness News” report.

“A source close to the station informed me Tuesday that the station’s new general manager has been on a mission to ‘turn things around’ because of unsatisfactory ratings, and that people are being let go left and right,” Jenny DeHuff writes in the article. “A spokeswoman at Channel 3 confirmed for me that May, weatherwoman Kathy Orr and lead sports anchor Beasley Reece are no longer with the station.”

Reece is a nine-year NFL veteran who played defensive back for the Cowboys, Giants and Buccaneers in the 1970s and 1980s.

Philadelphia is the nation’s No. 4 designated market area.

KYW-TV_CBS_3

45 Comments

  1. Wow. This is really poor writing.
    The station has a new GM.
    Reece was the sports DIRECTOR.
    May was the news ANCHOR.
    Orr was the CHIEF METEOROLOGIST.
    Does this writer know anything about TV news?

    • The essence of the article is right, and it’s pretty clear that “new management” includes the new GM. You’re picking on the author because they gave a “Sports Director” title to the guy who reads the sports news? Methinks you worry about titles too much.

  2. So sad. Please do not let Carol Erickson or Kate Bilo go, they are terrific.

  3. seen this happen all the time this is how it will go down new manager comes in he fires people in turn 5-8 months later he gets caned for his mismanagement of people happens ALL THE time trust me this new guy will NOT be working here in a year form now

  4. I think it is a shame, that “new management” didn’t try first to bring in new ideas.

  5. Poor decisions made to uproot the heart of the show. Hope these 3 fine news people land better positions. Shame on new management.

  6. Letting Kathy Orr go — What were you thinking????

    Kathy Orr and Kate Bilo are the best weather team.

  7. Are you out of your mind? We are extremely disappointed at such a decision. You let go the heart and soul of your team.

  8. Why Kathy Orr? She was the reason I watched your news programs. What a shame.

  9. Why Kathy Orr? She was the reason I watched your news programs, What a shame.

  10. Kathy Orr ! really! She was the main reason I watched. EXCELLENT METEOROLOGIST. Orr at the shore was a great segment. I’m switching channels!

  11. Kathy Orr was a great asset to the news team. Big error letting her go. Who is the new guy in charge????
    Looked foward to her Orr at the shore each week.I hope one of the other local stations scoop her up fast.
    Again big mistake kyw

  12. I am definitely switching Chanels,I thought Chris May was very trustworthy, esepecially after getting rid of Larry M.,who was a disgrace. chris May & Kathy Orr have a lot of class & very good at what they do. you don’t fire people of this caliber.

  13. A dumb move by a new gm hope you don’t last long in your job I’m sure you won’t . You are going after rating how about new ideas like not repeating the same story 4 times in a half hour. But I’m sure you thought of that already. I too am switching stations. Don’t the real high ups interview for the gm job if they do doesn’t say say to much for them.
    See ya

  14. An absolute shock. Chris, Kathy and Beasley were the main reasons why my wife and I watched CBS3. We’ll see how long this new GM lasts. Stupid move.

  15. What a bad and poorly orchestrated move, leeting Kathy Orr and Beasley go. Obviously, new management doesn’t have a clue to what a fantastic meteorologist Kathy Orr was. Lost my family and we’ll be returning to Channel 6. Kathy will be greatly missed bad news

  16. Kathy Orr has been a Philadelphia benchmark for good heart and soul, earnest weather reporting not only for NBC where I first noticed her but on KYW. I would watch the repeat of the 11 o’clock broadcast at 2amlots and always enjoyed Kathy. Hope she pocketed a lot of money while she was on Channel 3 and can enjoy her home now and her family. She deserves the best and she deserved BETTER on KYW. Noreason to keep watching now. Channel 3 has no family values.

  17. it will be a pleasure to see the termination notice of this new GM
    Kath Orr was the main reason I watched channel 3.
    Back to fox or channel 6

  18. I was heartbroken at the news. Have watched KYW since 1961. Now its time
    to say goodbye. I will miss Kathy, Beasley (Emmy winners) and Chris. Kate
    Bilo is too tutorial for me. Sorry to hear Carol is gone too.
    Will have to find a new station, maybe follow Bob Kelly to Fox 29.

  19. What??? I thought they were on vacation and it seemed kind of long. So I did a search and discovered this abomination of a decision by someone who really doesn’t know this city, it’s people and their fierce loyalty. I’m gonna miss Chris, Kathy, Beas and Carol. The worst news items,extreme weather and sports disappointments were always easier to take watching them. I’m not a fan of any other TV news, but I already switched, even in the mornings.Ukee is a great guy, he deserved to get promoted in a better way. And for you mr. kennedy, you were worried about Third place? You just took the EXPRESS to the SUB-BASEMENT!

    • I also was thinking that Kathy and the rest were on some kind of special assignment or vacation until I finally thought to myself somethings up and now I find this. I hope the best for them all. And mr kennedy…SeeYA, remember what goes around come around….

  20. I too have been a victim of management shake down and know what karma can do. Not sure how some people get to have the power to make such poor decisions. I enjoyed the chemistry that came across the TV screen, now I listen to radio or check on line for the news,. Goodbye channel 3 – CBS.

  21. Loved Kathy so much! Sorry that she is gone. I will look around to find out where she turns up. I also loved that Washington with his crew in the morning, they clicked well together. I am very sorry for the change.

  22. Goodbye to Channel 3. I’m lovin’ Channel 6!!!

  23. Cathy Orr was superb – especially Orr at the shore. After 30 years with Ch 3, our families are switching to Ch 6. Shame on you Mr. new GM.

  24. Have already switched to Fox29. Only watched CBS3 for the news. Kathy, Chris and Beasley were good at their reporting. If they find jobs in the Phila. market I will switch to see them.

  25. Vic the expert should have written the article. Bottom line, we got the drift. Very unhappy with these changes, will join Bob Kelly and team at Fox29. Why didn’t they fire that snotty weekend new girl who was nasty to Carol Erickson Mr. or Mrs. hotshot GM.

  26. THE NEWS WEEKEND REPORTER WHO NAME I COULD NOT RECALL FROM MY PREVIOUS EMAIL, IS NICOLE BREWER, SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED AFTER HER SNOTTY REMARKS TO CAROL; ERICKSON ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS. I GUESS GOOD LOOKS GET YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT. CAROL ERRICKSON ALSO HAS DEPARTED. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO CW PHILLY CHANNEL 57. THIER PROGRAMMING REALLY STINKS.

  27. Not happy at all with the decisions that were made for CBS3. Carol Erickson was such a wonderful person who’s personality came across as “true”. GM has made too may poor decisions beginning with Bob Kelly. Not sure what channel I will watch but tired of looking at “pretty girls” in tight dresses, as an educator, that would not count as our ‘business attire’ for dress code in my school district.

  28. I turn on ukee and the gang everymorning cause my husband leaves for work at5am. And at 5 pm i look forward to my people. Hey ASS HOLE YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WATCH THE NEWS CAUSE WE LIKE OUR PEOPLE…..YOU FUCKED UP. I NOW WATCH CHANNEL 6. YOU YHINK CHANE IS GOOD, YOU BETTER FIND NEW OCCUPATION CAUSE YOU SUCK AT YOURS DUDE. YOU DONT MESS WITH PEOPLES MORNING AND EVENING NEWS . LOVE UKEE BUT HE SUCKS IN EVENING… YOU LOOSING MY ENTIRE FAMILY OF 37 CHANNEL 3 NEWS WATCHERS…WE NOT WITH FOX…ASSHOLE JUST OVERPAID FUC,KIN LOOSER

  29. I am so disappointed knowing ….Kathy Orr will not be reporting the weather. She brought sunshine to her viewers every day. I will miss her and hope to find her on another station that will appreciate her expertise, and her lovely fashion style…always looking so glam.

  30. What were you thinking?? I was just starting to get past the Bob Kelly saga.Im thinking huge mistake!!

  31. Goodbye channel 3 and hello channel 29. I (and many of my friends and family)only watched CBS because of ORR. She did an excellent weather and special event repiorting, and i couldn’t believe she was gone when CBS fired her. Now I watch her every night on Fox, and wish her much luck. Perhaps they will treat her better than CBS did and will recognize they have a diamond in the rough. CBS, you made a huge error getting rid of her.

  32. K Orr and fox here i come. Is cbs 3 .Poor ratings, Just wait.

  33. Katy Orr really are you people just crazy. I no longer watch channel 3 news, i am done with you.

  34. The shake up stinks! New manager Brian Kennedy must think he is a real lady’s man. He let 3 great people go,Kathy,Chris,and Beasley. He has hired bimbos in their place. I have switched to Fox with Bob Kelly and Kathy Orr. Appears he wants all women. STUPID!!!

  35. To new management, what goes around, comes around, you’ll get yours too

  36. I was watching ABC then changed to watch Chris Mays what a disappointment . MSNBC revamped also they got rid of The Cylce, Now with Alex Wagner. ED Schulz. Al Sharpton time changed to Sunday mornings it must be in the air. I’m back to ABC. What is amazing the new is on from 12:00-1:00 4:00-500 5:00-6:00 6:00-700 than 11:00-11:30 they repeat the same new unless there’s breaking news it does get repetitive.

  37. I know I’m not the only viewer you lost Brian Kennedy.
    How’s your ratings now!? Feeling like your going to lose your job soon? How’s it feel?

    Three of the elite anchors which make this station are gone! . ( Bob, Carol and Kathy )
    Replaced my inexperience, catty and simply flat anchors that can’t hold a candle to the way in which to capture a audience.
    Nichole who, Kate why and Erica what’s her name? You are a joke and I know your ratings are down. You owe the people of Philadelphia a big expression of sorrow. I’m mean want was it there age ?
    Brian Kennedy you need to go! Your a power craving mongrel!

  38. I used to like watching this affiliate station for morning news. But between the women’s unprofessional wardrobe (hooker garments and hair extensions), moving the consumer reporter to anchor desk (ugh!!) and the producer adding cheesy segments like “Dream Drives?” No thanks – will enjoy another cup of coffee while bird watching.

  39. brien, are you still here? your 11:00pm news is not news but a variety show. eye candy does not replace substantive news. the “I wan to know” segment or whatever you call it sucks. bilo, dean and the sports guy have no personality.
    tried watching after you canned my favorites. but chemisty is gone. pacing sucks. gone to 6abc. bye, bye.

  40. I was always a channel 6 action news viewer until major winter storm in Jan when Kate Bilo kept everyone calm and stayed all day with the viewers, since then I love the 5. 6. 10 and 11 news team. I also think Kate Bilo has a great sense of humor and is very intelligent along with Ukee and Jessica Dean. I don’t watch enough morning or afternoon news so the evening news is my go to. They make it fun to watch, but also give you important news straight up. I am proud to call CBSphilly #family…keep up the good work guys!!

  41. Boo-hoo-hooo.So what!!! Other stations should do the same thing and clean house.Is it necessary to have
    2 to 3 WEATHER READERS on the same program at the same time.Herb Clark did fine all by himself all
    those years.Did any of these no talent hacks find a cure for cancer? Or pull someone from a burning building?What’s wrong with you people?These clowns are not heroes,stars or celebrities.Oh,they kept me
    informed during a bad blizzard…get the hell out of here.Were you going somewhere at the time?Get a damn
    life…Orr is just an annoying blabbermouth with a Helen Keller makeup job.I turned the volume off during the
    St.Patrick’s parade because she would not shut the hell up and should have had a rag shoved in her mouth.
    Boring slag…More stations should do the same,throw these zeroes in the unemployment line.Let them see how some of the other half of the population lives.

  42. I was reading some of your comments, bahahahaha!!!!! You people need to go back to school! Did any of you ever hear of exclamation points or question marks or maybe even a comma? I could barely f**kin understand what you were writing. Bahahahaha!!!! You’re all a bunch of f**kin idiots!!!!! Gosh, no wonder this country is going down the f**kin toilet!!!!! God help us!!!

  43. How come that channel 62-3 never comes in right without failing every day they seem to have great shows on that I prefer to watch. Especially decorating the homes or even selling homes I usually don’t miss those shows but sometimes have to.

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