Posted by chicagomedia.org on May 28, 2009 at 07:19:17:
ABC 7 loses its voice after 19-year run
RON ROLLAND | Station goes with younger, L.A.-based 'sound'
May 28, 2009
BY LEWIS LAZARE Sun-Times Columnist
Another long run -- 19 years to be exact -- comes to an end Friday, when ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 parts ways with its familiar voiceover announcer Ron Rolland, who worked for the city's No. 1-rated TV station as a contract employee.
To anyone who is a regular WLS viewer, Rolland's voice is instantly recognizable -- having been used for countless newscast promos over the years. WLS General Manager Emily Barr and vice president of programming and creative services Tom Hebel have decided to replace Rolland, 58, and his "sound identity" with a younger, Los Angeles-based voiceover talent, Roger Rose. He has also done voiceover work for the ABC network. Rose will transmit his WLS voiceovers from his L.A. studio. Rose, a former usher for the "Oprah Winfrey Show," is the son of the late Chicago radio personality Sondra Gair.
Understandably, Rolland, who has done voiceover work for several of the city's radio and television stations and for hundreds of television commercials since he was 15, would have preferred to carry on at WLS for a while longer. But Rolland said he has the utmost admiration for Barr and her team at WLS and respects their decision.
"This is another way we continue to tweak our product," a WLS spokeswoman said. Still, Rolland, who did the voiceovers for the CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 newscasts fronted by the legendary anchors Walter Jacobson and Bill Kurtis, thinks many WLS viewers will notice the change, and, at least for a while, possibly feel a bit disoriented.
(Chicago Sun-Times)