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Empire Sports Network Shuts Down (The Future Of TNA Xplosion In Buffalo)
Courtesy: www.wgrz.com
What had been suspected for months came crashing down Wednesday afternoon for Empire Sports Network employees.
They were fired. The network of 14 years was shut down.
"The sad part is all these people, your team, aren't going to be your team anymore," said former Empire anchor Josh Mora.
Mora said layoffs at Empire began more than one year ago, and Adelphia Executives warned them in recent weeks that time was running out.
Adelphia authorities said the decision came down to money.
"The (Empire) network itself has been losing millions of dollars over the last couple of years," said Tom Haywood, Adelphia Area Vice President. "We had to make a decision."
The decision includes airing taped programs on Empire until March 7th, when the NFL Network will take over the channel.
Should the NHL lockout be resolved, Sabres games will be seen on the Madison Square Garden Network.
The announcement to fold Empire comes in the same week that Adelphia announced rate hikes of 4% to 8%, depending on where customers live.
Asked why there shouldn't be a rate decrease with the loss of the Sabres games and now Empire, Haywood said their operating costs continue to increase, and he said "We're replacing Empire with a really popular network, NFL, so we're replacing it and we have to pay for that additional programming."
Asked if the combination of the rate hike, closure of Empire, and bankrupt Adelphia's own uncertain future will affect negotiations with Buffalo to renew the cable company's lease at the end of this year, Haywood said they remain dedicated to Western New York, and pointed to millions of dollars invested in technology and additional channels.
Adelphia is working on severance packages for the 36 Empire employees affecting by the shut-down.
"A lot of hard work went into making Empire what it was, and it was difficult today," said Chrisanne Bellas, former Senior Producer and employee of 14 years.
This truly was a sad and bittersweet day for myself, having interned at Empire in the spring of 2003 -- just two years ago. Going from one day when you know that you would be starting as a production assistant at the end of your tenure (and being able to start on my professional career in the Broadcasting industry) to seeing several of your fellow friends (almost 3/4 of the staff) fired was very surreal in itself. This was something I would not wish on any of my worst enemies. An altering experience to say the very least.
Not to mention having former Empire Sports Network personalities Howard Simon & Josh Mora on past editions of the show, providing great analysis of both sports and professional wrestling (such as Brian Urlacher's appearance in TNA).
As many of you fans in the Buffalo & WNY know, this also had a "trickle-down" effect already last spring, when WNSA (107.7 FM) ceased operations as well (after being bought out), which included the No DQ show to stop airing on those airwaves. So not only did this affect me personally, but Chris Halen, Tom Galley, Ivan The Impaler, and many others.
From speaking to management at TNA and several other sources, it appears that TNA Xplosion will stay on the Adelphia Cable Access station in its usual weekend time slots (check local listings).
Total Nonstop Action has a committment to this area and providing WNY wrestling fans with the opportunity to see its television.
We will continue to follow this story as more develops. But, as they say, you can only beat a dead horse so many times.
As Joe Dirt says: "You gotta keep on keepin' on." Let's all follow his advice here.
We, here at The Mayhem, wish all the crew at Empire(from past to present, from production to on-air personalities) nothing but the best in the future.
