Just days after news that Petry Media had lost Journal Broadcast to Katz Television comes reports that LIN Media is taking its rep business elsewhere. No offfical word yet from Petry or LIN.
Petry Sustains Another Blow: LIN Leaves
Petry Media has lost its largest client, LIN Media, triggering talk that the the 82-year-old rep firm may close its doors, according to well-placed sources.
The sources did not say where LIN is taking its business. LIN, which operates 43 stations in 23 markets, first signed on with Petry in 1971.
Neither Petry nor LIN returned calls and emails seeking comment.
Reports of LIN Media’s loss follows the news Monday that another longtime Petry client, the Journal Broadcast Group, had jumped to Katz Television.
Petry’s only other major client is Hubbard Broadcasting, which has been with the firm since 1932, according to the Petry website. Even if Hubbard sticks with Petry, sources say, it may not be enough to sustain the firm.
Things started coming apart for Petry in 2008. As the economy began its big downturn, Petry started shedding clients at an alarming rate.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
The big blow came in April 2008 when Gannett, then its largest client, defected to CoxReps. The following February, the company announced what many felt was inevitable in the wake of the Gannett loss. It merged its two operating units — Petry Television and Blair — into one, dropping the Blair brand.
Comments (6)
alicia farmer says:
November 20, 2013 at 8:17 am
Turn off the lights. It’s over for Petry. Lin and Journal represented 90% of their billing.
kendra campbell says:
November 20, 2013 at 8:33 am
RIP for a once great rep. Tom Burchill and Tim McAuliff drove a stake through its heart. Earl Jones was a complete joke.. Doug Fierro finished the job. A classic case of hubris and incompetence.
Roger Lyons says:
November 20, 2013 at 10:28 am
Don’t forget Sandy Brown.
Lynn Tilton didn’t understand the media sales business.
Steve Ingram says:
November 20, 2013 at 9:04 am
Hats off to Val Napolitano for keeping Petry going this long. He is a great human being.
Roger Lyons says:
November 20, 2013 at 10:21 am
Hubbard’s radio stations are already with Katz, so sooner than later, expect a Katz press release that they got their TV’s as well.
Linda Porto says:
May 23, 2014 at 11:55 am
Once again, management will gather the remaining employees to hear the old “we have to do more with less” speech. By now they might as well just put it on video and post it on YouTube.