Anchor Away

My friend Johnny Diaz of the Boston Globe filed this story about the abrupt departure of Randy Price, the nation's first openly gay news anchor:

Price, who had a contract with WHDH until 2012, said he had a meeting Thursday with Ed Ansin, who owns WHDH and sister station WLVI-TV (Channel 56), about his future at the station. "He's a guy I have been loyal to and dedicated to for a dozen years. When he says to me, we need to move in different directions, I respect that," said Price, who helped WHDH dominate the 11 p.m. news in ratings over the last decade. In the past year, the station has slipped to third place at 11 p.m. in total viewers and key demographics. WBZ-TV (Channel 4) has been leading at 11 p.m. in both.

Of his departure, Price said "Does it hurt? Of course, it does." He added: "I will soon be into my next chapter. It's a little too soon [to say] what that will be. I am confident with the fact that I will have another exciting and stimulating chapter."

Diaz had written a happier piece on Price less than two years ago.