Antkowiak to leave KDKA-TV anchor post

This story was corrected at 8 p.m. March 4, 2006. Information in the story was incorrect.

Longtime KDKA-TV news anchor Jennifer Antkowiak is walking away from the station to work with a fitness entrepreneur who was a regular guest on her morning talk show.

Antkowiak told KDKA officials Wednesday night that she was resigning to take a job with Leslie Sansone, owner of Walk Productions Co., based in New Castle, Lawrence County.

"She's so familiar with the business end. I'm familiar with the media end. We're going to learn from each other," said Antkowiak, who joined KDKA in 1993. "I think it's going to be a perfect partnership."

Antkowiak, an Oil City native who hosted the hour-long morning talk show "Pittsburgh Today Live" and co-anchored the station's 5 p.m. news, can leave 60 days after giving notice under her contract, said KDKA General Manager Chris Pike.

"She has an interest in leaving earlier," he said. "Based on our scheduling needs, we'll see what we can do to accommodate that."

Antkowiak will serve as executive director of promotions, marketing and multimedia with Walk Productions, which will be housed in a 10,000-square-foot production studio being built in New Castle.

Sansone appeared monthly on "Pittsburgh Today Live" for about a year, promoting her diet program, In-Home Walking. Sansone has produced 80 in-home walking videos and authored three books, including "Walk Away the Pounds."

"I guess (Antkowiak) took that walking-away thing seriously," Pike said. "It's a great opportunity for her. ... We hope she makes the most of it."

The move will enable Antkowiak to spend more time with her husband and five children, a major factor in her decision to leave KDKA, she said.

"I have missed things with my children in this job. I've tried not to, but as the nature of this news business gets more and more competitive, people are needed here more," Antkowiak said. "I was willing to do that and continue to try to make that work, but, when presented with this opportunity, it was too good to pass up."

Antkowiak leaves having helped KDKA's 5 p.m. newscast top local ratings in January and February, Pike said.

"I'm sick to my stomach," 5 p.m. co-anchor Ken Rice said jokingly. "I do hate Leslie Sansone. She's a home wrecker for breaking up Jen and me. She needs to be stopped."

"I said, 'That's the nicest thing you can say to me,'" Sansone said with a laugh. "That's the sweetest compliment he can give Jennifer."

KDKA has not begun a search to replace Antkowiak, Pike said. He was unsure whether the station would promote from within or hire someone.

"Would they fill exactly the role Jennifer had• It's too early to tell," Pike said. "I think it's likely we won't have completed the search by the time she leaves."