Villarreal out; LaPoint to mornings
Pittsburgh:
Musical meteorologists will be played yet again at WPXI in the coming weeks. Just as Julie Bologna returned from Texas, Krista Villarreal is headed back. The decision is personal, not that of the station as some might have guessed, but couldn't have come at a more convenient time. news director Corrie Harding was in the process of trying to figure out how to make a 5-person weather team happen. Villarreal's husband took a new job in Dallas and has been back in the area since October with the couple's infant daughter. Meanwhile, Villarreal does not have a new TV job lined up in Dallas. Her departure is scheduled for December 12.
Back at 11... Mike LaPoint will be moved to mornings and Noon but will lose the title of Chief Meteorologist. That role will belong to Bologna - a move that has been speculated since her return. She will be responsible for the evening broadcasts. Scott Harbaugh, who will be losing his Weather Plus duties when the channel ends later in the month, will do more work on PCNC.
Meanwhile, the question remains. How have the anchor changes affected the ratings? The PG says, "not much."
Readers’ Forum
Sorry to hear that Krista is leaving. But she is most likely going to something and some place better than Pittsburgh. Good for her. I won’t be watching WPXI any more for the weather, because I choose to watch and listen to someone who can actually pronounce the words and I guess you have to go to WTAE or KDKA now.
Kelly - December 11, 2008 at 1:57 pm