News Director Ertz No Longer With Kstw

KSTW, which has seen its share of tumult in recent months, is making another change. News director Fred Ertz is no longer with the station.

Ertz, who came to KSTW in July 1995, says he heard the news yesterday.

"I've never been through anything like this. I've never been fired before," he said. "I honestly don't know the reasons."

KSTW is declining to comment, stating only that Ertz is no longer with the company.

Ertz came to KSTW, which consistently ranks fourth in local newscasts, from Channel 11's sibling station, KTVT in Dallas, where he was assistant news director. He developed new newscasts as KTVT became a CBS affiliate.

KSTW became Seattle's CBS affiliate in March 1995 in a power play by owner Gaylord Entertainment Co. involving KTVT.

While at KSTW, Ertz oversaw many changes, including moving the early-evening news from a half hour at 6 to an hour at 5, then to 4 p.m.; the move of the hourlong morning newscast from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and the replacement of evening co-anchor Don Porter with Dale Schornack.

KSTW had recently been showing signs of improvement in the ratings. In the May sweeps, KSTW's 11 p.m. half-hour newscast came in third, beating KIRO.

"I think you need a little more time than a year (to turn the ratings situation around). What we've been through in the newsroom is pretty dramatic - a lot of changes. . . . When you have a great staff that works real hard and puts together a product that's competitive, and we still don't have people watching us - that's the greatest frustration," Ertz said.