KTVF Channel 11 and KXDF Channel 13, known together as NewsCenter Fairbanks, are collectively owned by Gray TV/Gray Media, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Gray bought the Fairbanks stations in 2017.
On November 8, the company announced to its shareholders, a plan to cut expenses, consolidating some its stations and lay off workers.
It is unclear if the downsizing at Gray TV means some local jobs will be lost. Reporters for KTVF and KXDF say they have been told not to comment, and to refer any media questions to Kevin Latek, Gray’s Chief Legal and Development Officer, who did not return calls or emails.
However, NewsCenter Fairbanks news anchors let the public know about the change in their goodbyes over the weekend.
“Before we go, I would like to take a moment to thank our loyal and amazing viewers in the community,” said Stephanie Woodard, who has worked as a reporter and anchor on and off since 2010.
“I say goodbye to the evening news desk tonight and thank you to Fairbanks because you truly are the Golden Heart City that I have grown to love.”
Some small segments of Fairbanks news will now be delivered as part of a newscast from Anchorage. Gray TV also owns KTUU, and KAUU, which call themselves Alaska's News Source.
Skyler Lewis included that in his goodbye over the weekend.
“As you may have heard, NewsCenter Fairbanks is joining forces with Alaska's News Source, our sister station in Anchorage, to bring you news from across Alaska,” Lewis said.
Starting this week, KTVF and KXDF will air news as Alaska's News Source instead of NewsCenter Fairbanks. It means there will be no more local news or sports anchors, like Alex Bengel or Alex Johnson.
“It has been an absolute honor and a privilege to present your local news every night. Thank you so much for choosing NewsCenter Fairbanks as your source for news,” said Bengel.
“It’s time for me to sign off of Sports for the final time. To the friends I've made at the games I've been at, thank you for the memories made. I always appreciate it. Um, I've gotten to cover some amazing events that before I came up here, I'd never even heard of. Whether that be the YQA at 52 Below or the Midnight Sun game," said Johnson.
And that'll do it for the final Middle of the Bench Sports Report tonight. Thank you so much for tuning in everyone.”
Calls to the General Managers of KTVF/KXDF or the Anchorage TV stations were not returned on Friday or over the weekend.
