Belo lays off 15 total from KING5, KONG and Northwest Cable News

Fifteen employees were laid off from KING-TV, KONG-TV and Northwest Cable News today.

The employees worked in different departments, including news, local programming, sales and engineering. No on-air talent was laid off.

Ray Heacox, president and general manager for the three stations, said the layoffs were the result of economic conditions: With consumers spending less, companies aren't advertising as much.

The fifteen employees represent about 5 percent of the workforce at all three stations.

The layoffs are part of the 150 positions parent company A.H. Belo Corp. said it was cutting nationwide. Belo announced earlier this month it was also suspending its 401(k) matching contribution for all employees and instituting a 5 percent salary reduction for those in the company's management-compensation programs.

Earlier this year, eight Seattle employees were laid off from Northwest Cable News and three others were let go with the closure of the station's Portland bureau, though two of those three were rehired by Belo-owned stations in Seattle and Portland.