David Lindquist

david.lindquist@indystar.com

Meteorologist Pamela Gardner wrapped up a three-year stint in Indianapolis TV Saturday night, when she appeared on WISH-8 for the last time.

Gardner, a Lawrence North High School and Ball State University graduate, will start a new job at CBS affiliate WBZ-4 in Boston on Dec. 8.

On Jan. 1, WISH will lose its CBS affiliation to WTTV-4. WISH plans to add four hours of newscasts every weekday, increasing from five to nine hours.

According to Nielsen Media Research estimates for October, WISH ranks second in local news ratings. For 11 p.m. weekday telecasts, WTHR-13 leads the way with a 7.2 rating, followed by WISH (4.2), WRTV-6 (2.7) and WXIN-59 (1.8).

When switching from WISH to WTTV, CBS sent a message to all of the network's affiliates, according to industry observers: Pay what we're asking for the right to broadcast "Big Bang Theory," "NCIS" and other popular shows.

LIN Media, the company that owns WISH, had been renegotiating its affiliation contract with CBS but apparently was unwilling to ante up for "program fees," in the terminology of CBS President Leslie Moonves.

In some ways, the new WTTV will resemble the 1990s version of WISH. Recently announced hires at WTTV include news anchor Debby Knox (a WISH fixture from 1980 until her retirement in 2013) and meteorologist Chris Wright (who worked at WISH from 1996 until 1999, as well as at WTHR from 1999 to 2013).

Gardner arrived at WISH in November 2011 after three years at WTHI-10 in Terre Haute.

In other Indianapolis media news, long-running radio personalities Jay Rio and Joey "Deuce" Agan are exiting jobs.

>> Rio, afternoon host for WHHH-96.3, announced his departure Friday. Known for his "12 Days of Christmas" charity efforts, Rio started his tenure at WHHH in August 2004.

>> Deuce, afternoon host for WOLT-103.3, has been off the air since mid-October. The Speedway High School alum was a mainstay at the station, known as X103 until a branding change to Alt 103.3 this summer, for 12 years.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.











