The Place With More Chicks - Channel 3 Phoenix gets rid of its men

It's slogan used to be the place with more news, but local pundits tagged it the "Place With More Chicks." Channel 3 TV Phoenix even had a billboard touting 50 to 100 women, no men. Now they've gotten rid of all the men on the morning newscast, except for the helicopter guy. He's next. This from the Phoenix Business Journal:

“Good Morning Arizona” personalities Brad Perry and Dan Davis were let go Wednesday by KTVK-TV Channel 3, according to local media sources and individuals close to the station.

KTVK parent company Belo Corp. would not confirm the move or provide specific information on how many other employees were let go from the Phoenix station.

KTVK President and General Manager Nick Nicholson (A MAN - FIRE HIM!) did not return calls for comment.

“Belo is not providing details regarding the reduction in force,” said spokeswoman Jill Matthews. “We do not release personal information of those individuals who may be impacted.”

Perry joined KTVK in February 1998 as the weatherman for “Good Morning Arizona,” where he did remote weather broadcasts live from locations across the Valley. Before moving to Phoenix, he was a freelance correspondent for Chicago’s WGN-TV, where he did “Around Town” segments for the station’s morning show. He also worked as a correspondent for WTTW-TV Channel 11 (Wild Chicago).

Davis, who won an Emmy as an anchor on “Good Morning Arizona,” had been with the station for almost 27 years. He was inducted into the Emmy Silver Circle for his long career, which began in 1977 at KNAZ-TV Channel 2 in Flagstaff. He also has hosted KTVK’s “Brainstorm,” an educational science show for children.

Perry’s and Davis’ profiles still are accessible on the station’s Web site. Typically, that type of information is immediately removed.

Early Wednesday morning, Dallas-based Belo announced it was cutting 150 positions throughout the company, suspending its 401(k) matching contributions, and reducing the salaries of employees in the management compensation program by 5 percent.

Belo (NYSE: BLC) said the measures will take effect in mid-April.

The cost-cutting moves will cut Belo’s cash operating expenses by about 10 percent in 2009, said Dunia Shive, the company’s president and CEO.

Belo also operates KTVK’s Phoenix sister station, KASW-TV Channel 6. The company would not release any information on how the cuts might impact KASW.