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Sportscaster Mike Raita let go at Birmingham TV station ABC 33/40
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:40 pm
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:40 pm
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quote:
Sportscaster Mike Raita and newscaster Linda Mays, both of whom have been in the Birmingham TV market since the late 1980s, have been let go at ABC 33/40, AL.com has learned. "Yesterday (Wednesday) was my last day," Raita told AL.com this morning. "They did not renew my contract, which is up at the end of the month." Mays' contract also was not renewed, according to reliable sources. Raita, who was the sports director and anchor at ABC 33/40, has been with the station since it came on the air in 1996. Previously, he worked at WBRC/Channel 6.
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Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:42 pm to biggsc
Trump's America? Thanks Obama?
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:44 pm to biggsc
Any idea why?
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:44 pm to Triple Daves
He may startup this again
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:45 pm to Tuscaloosa
Must be going to Auburn
Posted on 1/12/17 at 3:50 pm to biggsc
How the heck do you can the sports director for the top news station in Bham?
I enjoyed his nightly sports show on WABM 68. Is that show gone too?
I enjoyed his nightly sports show on WABM 68. Is that show gone too?
Posted on 1/12/17 at 4:00 pm to biggsc
quote:
Must be going to Auburn
I doubt that, he is the biggest bama homer on TV around here.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 4:11 pm to biggsc
Raita has been off a lot over the past few years due to his battle with cancer. Im not sure how that is going or if it had anything to do with it. I wish him well in whatever he does next. He always made me laugh.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 4:18 pm to MrLarson
He hates Bama
Posted on 1/12/17 at 4:19 pm to biggsc
another one bites the REC dust
Posted on 1/12/17 at 4:41 pm to WestCoastAg
Pretty sure it was because of cutbacks at the station. He was there from the startup in 96 so he probably had a pretty big contract. NBC 13 would be foolish not to hire him as I literally can't name one sports guy from that station from the past 10 years.
He'll always be cool to me for being on the tarmac when Fran got off the plane in College Station. Fran looked incredibly pissed that a Birmingham guy was the first person he saw.
He'll always be cool to me for being on the tarmac when Fran got off the plane in College Station. Fran looked incredibly pissed that a Birmingham guy was the first person he saw.
This post was edited on 1/12/17 at 4:47 pm
Posted on 1/12/17 at 4:46 pm to BluesDriver
quote:
I doubt that, he is the biggest bama homer on TV around here.
That would be Jim Dunaway.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 5:17 pm to Ssubba
quote:
That would be Jim Dunaway.
Truth. I'm not sure who downvoted this.
I think he's the only Birmingham tv sports guy that went to Bama.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 7:30 pm to Chazzy McRamzee
I notice that THE ZONE wasn't on last night. I wonder if it will be canceled? 
Posted on 1/12/17 at 8:12 pm to Chazzy McRamzee
quote:
Truth. I'm not sure who downvoted this.
I think he's the only Birmingham tv sports guy that went to Bama.
I thought I remember hearing he went to Troy?
Regardless, he is a gigantic dumb arse rube who loves him some Tide foobaw.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 8:17 pm to Foy
Ohio University.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 8:31 pm to biggsc
I haven't watched much local news in the past few years, but I can't imagine Birmingham local news without seeing him and Linda Mays.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 8:46 pm to biggsc
My guess is that it's a budget decision. You can hire new people a lot cheaper than people who have been there 30 years.
Posted on 1/12/17 at 9:02 pm to kywildcatfanone
So question for the Bham older guys. It says 33/40 went on air in 1996. What was before that? Was there a different ABC affiliate? Im pretty sure I've seen where WBRC hasn't always been Fox. Was there just no ABC channel at all in Birmingham prior to that? Or was there still ABC but instead of local news they played national news or something? I was 5 so I don't recall
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