Deborah Sherman, a colorful character when she was part of the investigative team at Channel 9, is no longer with the station.
The prize-winning KUSA reporter’s contract was not renewed. Sherman was released last week over what insiders term a personnel issue.
A memo from management to the 9News staff did not elaborate and KUSA news director Patti Dennis declined to comment Monday, saying, “We’re not going to comment on people who are leaving or have left the station.”
Sherman is said to have great contacts but not the easiest professional temperament.
Sherman did not return calls for comment.
KUSA recently hired a young investigative reporter, Jeremy Jojola, from KOB in Albuquerque. An opening to replace Sherman will be posted.
November sweeps race.
Meanwhile, with only two nights left in the cutthroat November sweeps ratings race, used by local stations to set TV ad rates for coming months, KUSA remains the leader at 10 p.m. despite the prime-time nosedive of its network, NBC.
The molting Peacock has failed to launch a single major hit in its last hour of prime time, as a lead-in to late news, putting affiliates like Channel 9 at a disadvantage when the late newscast rolls around.
NBC is averaging 6.9 million viewers in prime time this season, fourth behind CBS, Fox and ABC — and nearly 2 million behind third-place ABC, according to the Nielsen Co.
Back in the “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” “ER” heyday of “must see TV,” in 1996-97, more than 15 million people watched NBC every weeknight. And KUSA regularly drew 40 shares, or 40 percent, of the viewing audience.
Denver’s 10 p.m. news, the most lucrative for local stations, remains a dogfight.
For the 2011 November sweeps so far (with no upsets expected over the next couple of nights), among adults 25-54, Monday through Sunday at 10 p.m.:
Channel 9 leads with a 4.2 rating and 13 share.
Channel 4 is second with a 2.4 rating, 7 share. Channel 7 is a close third with a 2.1 rating, 6 share.
A more complete breakdown of Denver’s TV viewing habits and ratings trends will be available next week.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
Editor’s note: This story was updated on June 26, 2020, to remove information that would not have met current standards of publication.
