KTLA Layoffs Send Shockwaves Through LA—Who’s Affected and What’s Next for the Iconic News Station

KTLA viewers woke up to a thinner on-air roster this week after parent company Nexstar Media Group executed sweeping cost-cutting layoffs that removed several of Los Angeles’ most familiar TV faces. The KTLA layoffs claim longtime midday anchors Glen Walker and Lu Parker as well as veteran meteorologist and eight-time Emmy winner Mark Kriski, the last original host from “KTLA Morning News”. Why the KTLA layoffs happened Nexstar, the nation’s largest local-TV owner, is slashing payroll across multiple major-market stations as traditional broadcast viewership erodes and ad dollars migrate to streaming platforms. Company insiders say the reductions are meant to streamline operations ahead of Nexstar’s pending $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, a deal that would vastly expand its station footprint and regulatory scrutiny. Who was let go at KTLA • Mark Kriski – weather anchor since 1991, beloved for his humorous forecasts • Glen Walker – joined KTLA in 2010, co-anchored late-morning and midday newscasts • Lu Parker – Miss USA 1994, KTLA anchor since 2005, community advocate Similar pink slips hit sister stations WGN-TV Chicago and WPIX New York the same day, underscoring the breadth of Nexstar’s restructuring strategy. Union backlash intensifies SAG-AFTRA, which represents many of the affected journalists, blasted the KTLA layoffs as “eroding the resources and talent that local communities rely on for trusted news,” arguing that media consolidation endangers newsroom diversity and public-interest journalism. The union also accused Nexstar of pushing to curtail severance and of resisting organizing efforts at other stations. What it means for Los Angeles viewers 1. Fewer familiar faces: KTLA mornings—long a ratings powerhouse—lose decades of institutional memory, potentially altering viewer loyalty. 2. Schedule shuffles: Management has yet to announce permanent replacements, but interim anchors are expected to rotate while executives evaluate staffing. 3. Competitive shake-up: Rival stations KABC, KNBC and KCBS could court displaced talent or lure disaffected viewers seeking continuity. Bigger trend in local TV The KTLA layoffs mirror a growing pattern in 2026: broadcasters trimming veteran, higher-paid talent to offset shrinking linear revenue. From the Washington Post’s newsroom cuts to Paramount’s 1,000-person purge, legacy media is racing to realign costs with digital realities. Analysts warn that aggressive belt-tightening may save dollars short-term but risks diluting the unique local content that differentiates broadcasters from streaming giants. What’s next Regulators reviewing the Nexstar-Tegna merger will likely scrutinize how widespread staff reductions impact local-news obligations. Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA is signaling a tougher stance in ongoing contract talks, raising the prospect of labor actions if more journalists are axed. For Southern California viewers, the story isn’t just about who reads the news—it’s about whether their trusted neighborhood coverage can survive another round of corporate consolidation.