General Manager Sam Rosenwasser to retire from Channel 10

   On the heels of a year that saw the station's weatherman of nearly 30 years pass away, the start of high-definition news broadcasts, the implementation of a new brand name and a number of high-profile staff departures, Sam Rosenwasser has announced he will retire at the end of 2008 as president and general manager of Tampa Bay area CBS affiliate WTSP-Ch. 10.

Rosenwasser, 55, has led WTSP for seven years, with a total 35 years' experience in the TV industry. He wasn't sure what he might do next; WTSP owner Gannett Broadcasting is expected to name a new general manager soon, and Rosenwasser likely will help with the transition.

"The time was right for me," noted Rosenwasser, saying the move was his decision, though he knows some may speculate otherwise. "What people may think . . . there's nothing you can do about that."

  WTSP has faced a significant amount of change this year, beginning with the start of high-definition news broadcasts in January and longtime forecaster Dick Fletcher's death after a stroke in February.

In the following months, Chicago forecaster Tammie Souza was hired as Fletcher's successor, forecasters Randy Rauch and Anna Allen were let go, longtime weekend anchor Jennifer Howe was discharged and the station's brand name was changed to 10 Connects -- with retooled newscast names and a host of initiatives aimed at building new links to viewers.

Still, Rosenwasser points to the station's conversion to high-definition and the expansion of its newsroom as some of his biggest accomplishments. "You never feel as if you've gotten everything done, but we've done a lot," he said. "If you feel like there's nothing left to do, you're not doing your job."

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Comments

[William]

The station is one step away from getting back to where it was about three or so years ago. I work here and we have all watched the decline of WTSP-TV before our own eyes. Sam lost his direction along the way but is only half the problem. (Really not a bad guy) The station has gone from competitive in the ratings to a straight out loser.

The news director of WTSP is the real problem and boat anchor that is sinking this ship. Everyone I work with (if honest) will tell you that the ND has be taking the station down almost since his arrival. His need to fire some 7 talented people over the past three years, redecorate a perfectly good newsroom(wasting funds) and spread panic in the building, has nearly destroyed the image and look of the station. He is simply over his head in this position.

He is now banking on the prayer that viewers would rather get their news over the internet and not through a thing once known as a tv. Welcome to something called 10 connect. He can not compete with the other stations with normal broadcast and he hopes you and your family will sit down in front of the computer, wait for stories to load, and click on a banner ad.

Once a change is made in his department, WTSP-TV may be able to make a comeback.

This is an honest, truthful and inside view from someone that has worked here for over 8 years. This is not meant to be mean but to simply point out that channel 10 is need of some serious change.

In television news you hear about the on-air changes, the set changes, the logo changes, the web changes. But few are honest about the management changes that need to be made in order for this company to survive.

It's no different than the car companies that have been building cars that get poor mileage. Managment in the car business and WTSP-TV have lead their people and viewers down the wrong road.

William
(named changed to protect in innocent)

[Eric Deggans]

Did you read the item? The picture is right next to a paragraph talking about his death.

[me]

Why are you showing Dick Fletcher's photo?

[David]

Slammin' Sam Rosenwasser leaves -- wait for it -- "on his own".

Oh. Ok.

What's next? Castro leaving Cuba? Herpes leaving simplex?

This guy sets the Gold Standard on the Unintentional Comedy Scale.

Could MSM actually stand for Move Sheeple Move? Get this rotten trash out to the street --- BFI will be here in the morning, I hope!

[so long sucker]

How's the 10 Connects thing working out? New ratings still suck I bet? Time to fire yourself.

So, like what's the importance of this PR blabbery?

[Kevin]

He deserves the same lack of respect he showed Jennifer Howe in the manner he discharged her.