Other
•
Valley News Anchor Out, Sports Coverage Cut
## Valley News Live Shakes Up Staffing, Cuts Back on Sports Coverage
FARGO, N.D. – Valley News Live (VNL) is undergoing significant changes, with the departure of a key anchor and a major reduction in its sports coverage. Justin Betti, the evening co-anchor alongside Stacie Van Dyke, announced on LinkedIn that his contract will not be renewed, effective December 2025. Betti, who joined VNL in December 2021, is actively seeking new opportunities in news anchoring or management, potentially within Gray Media, VNL's parent company. While Betti declined further comment, VNL's parent company, Gray Media, is advertising for a replacement, seeking an "upbeat and talented" news anchor/reporter.
The station's sports department has also experienced a significant downsizing. Sports director Devin Fry transitioned to a different role within VNL in May, and sports reporter Eric Moon left the station earlier this month. While initial rumors suggested the complete elimination of the sports department, Gray Media is advertising for a part-time, hybrid position combining weekend sports anchoring and weekday news reporting. This contrasts sharply with VNL's past, when the combined KVLY-TV and KXJB-TV signals employed a sports staff of five full-time employees. Sources suggest that General Manager Ike Walker, who reportedly has a dislike for sports, played a role in these changes. Walker did not respond to requests for comment.
This reduction leaves VNL with drastically reduced sports coverage compared to its competitors. KVRR-TV employs two full-time sports reporters, while WDAY-TV, holding the Bison and state high school tournament contracts, has four. The shift reflects a broader trend in local news, where sports coverage is often cut back in favor of news and weather, which tend to attract higher viewership. The decline in traditional television viewership, with streaming surpassing cable and network viewership in May 2025, further contributes to these changes. While VNL will retain some sports coverage, its significantly reduced scope marks a departure from its past legacy of comprehensive local sports reporting.
FARGO, N.D. – Valley News Live (VNL) is undergoing significant changes, with the departure of a key anchor and a major reduction in its sports coverage. Justin Betti, the evening co-anchor alongside Stacie Van Dyke, announced on LinkedIn that his contract will not be renewed, effective December 2025. Betti, who joined VNL in December 2021, is actively seeking new opportunities in news anchoring or management, potentially within Gray Media, VNL's parent company. While Betti declined further comment, VNL's parent company, Gray Media, is advertising for a replacement, seeking an "upbeat and talented" news anchor/reporter.
The station's sports department has also experienced a significant downsizing. Sports director Devin Fry transitioned to a different role within VNL in May, and sports reporter Eric Moon left the station earlier this month. While initial rumors suggested the complete elimination of the sports department, Gray Media is advertising for a part-time, hybrid position combining weekend sports anchoring and weekday news reporting. This contrasts sharply with VNL's past, when the combined KVLY-TV and KXJB-TV signals employed a sports staff of five full-time employees. Sources suggest that General Manager Ike Walker, who reportedly has a dislike for sports, played a role in these changes. Walker did not respond to requests for comment.
This reduction leaves VNL with drastically reduced sports coverage compared to its competitors. KVRR-TV employs two full-time sports reporters, while WDAY-TV, holding the Bison and state high school tournament contracts, has four. The shift reflects a broader trend in local news, where sports coverage is often cut back in favor of news and weather, which tend to attract higher viewership. The decline in traditional television viewership, with streaming surpassing cable and network viewership in May 2025, further contributes to these changes. While VNL will retain some sports coverage, its significantly reduced scope marks a departure from its past legacy of comprehensive local sports reporting.
