Rick Semmler has been laid off from Allen Media’s Terre Haute, Indiana CBS station WTHI.
Semmler was the sports director at the station. He started working there in 2009 after working at NBC affiliate WTWO.
Sources told TVSpy Allen Media has been planning layoffs at its stations and Semmler has confirmed to the Tribune-Star that he was part of layoffs conducted by WTHI owner, Allen Media Group.
“I was completely blind-sided. I had no idea. I was taking my kids to school and I got a call that I needed to come in for a meeting. I knew something was wrong. My general manager, Todd Weber and [news director] Susie Dinkel and said corporate was eliminating my position. Obviously it was tough news to hear,” Semmler told the Tribune-Star.
Semmler said he was one of several laid off at WTHI, but he wasn’t aware or at liberty to say more.
WE reached out to Allen Media to find out more. We’ll update when we hear back.
“My general manager was in tears. He brought me there. I didn’t apply for that job. He came after me,” Semmler said.
Semmler was especially hard-working in the local high school scene, where he gained a following beyond the contours of WTHI’s broadcast area.
Semmler has over 22,000 followers on Twitter, for example. He said he was proud to cover the 50-plus schools in the Wabash Valley that WTHI counted as part of its coverage area.
“I walked out of there knowing that for 21 years I gave this area everything I had. You never want to leave anything and was I ready to leave? No, but I was at peace knowing I tried to give every school and athlete a chance,” Semmler said.
Semmler isn’t sure what the future holds.
“We’re exploring everything from staying here to moving out of the area,” Semmler said. “I honestly don’t know if I’ll do TV anymore. I want to explore every route in sports and see what it gives me.”