Fresno, CA—RealLocalTV.com has been sounding the warning for some time—the dismantling of the local news right before our eyes.  

There is more evidence of this difficult change. Two TV news icons were sent packing right before Valentine’s Day 2009. KSEE released long-time sports anchor Alexan Balekian and veteran weatherman Jim Guy with little fanfare and a lot of shock.

The departures are the latest indicators of tough economic times for the news industry. The economy (or lack of) has hit the once-lucrative news business hard. A week before the KSEE shock, Fresno’s legendary newspaper experienced another rattle. The Fresno Bee reported huge losses and more cutbacks ahead.

Both are examples of reduced advertising revenues and increased competition. Newspapers and local TV newscasts have been under assault by increased Internet options. That e-transition, along with the current economic downturn, has created the dismantling of conventional news.

See the kind of thing that made Balekian a favorite in local sports coverage. Click on his picture on the RLTV.com home page and see the bet that made him famous.