COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.: Fox affiliate KXRM-TV in central Colorado added a 6:30 newscast to the schedule this month. the affiliate, owned by Barrington Broadcasting, added a 30-minute broadcast following one already established at 6 p.m. The new broadcast was launched Sept. 16, and according to KXRM, is the area’s only local news at that time slot. The idea is to catch commuters who can’t make it home for the 6 o’clock news.
The stations 9 p.m. news anchors, Joe Cole and Stephanie Pytlinksi, are handing the 6:30 duties now as well. The station also has a morning news show that airs from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays, and was given props by the Colorado Broadcasters Association.
KXRM said the new 30-minute broadcast “features local and national news, evening breaking news, previews of the late night news when necessary, and on-air guests as news topics call for special appearances.”
More local news strategies:
August 27, 2009: “WNBC-TV Hawks its New News Model”
WNBC-TV is trying to cut an edge in the broadcast business with a remodeled newscast and a seriously overhauled Web site. The station is replacing its traditional 5 p.m. newscast, dubbed “Live at Five” for nearly three decades, for something more akin to “Entertainment Tonight.”
August 25, 2009: “Two Stations Add News”
Two TV stations are adding more local news to the line-up. KIAH-TV, the Tribune-owned CW in Houston, is adding an hour of news in late afternoon. Orlando’s WESH-TV added a 10 p.m. newscast.
July 13, 2009: “WQED-TV Cuts Staff”
Pennsylvania public broadcaster WQED-TV has cut staff in response to the state’s budget crisis. WQED Multimedia Pittsburgh issued a statement saying that nine people were laid off and two unfilled jobs were scrapped.
July 1, 2009: “Florida Station Cuts Staff, Upgrades Newscast”
Events collided at WTVT-TV in Florida this week when jobs were cut just as the station launched its local news in high definition.
June 19, 2009: “WHYY Dumps Local News”
WHYY-TV, a PBS affiliate serving Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, is doing away with a local newscast that it’s run for 46 years.
June 19, 2009: “WNBC Replaces Newscast with Fashioncast”
WNBC-TV is replacing its 5 p.m. newscast with an entertainment show targeting women.
April 28, 2009: “KWKT-TV Scales Back Newscast”
KWKT-TV, the Fox affiliate in this Central Texas community cut its 9 p.m. half-hour newscast down to a few minutes.
April 22, 2009: “WTVT-TV Gets Up at 4:30 a.m.”
Folks at the Florida Fox O&O WTVT-TV are getting up a bit earlier these days. The station decided to expand it’s local morning newscast by 30 minutes, starting it at 4:30 a.m. rather than 5 a.m. “Good Day Tampa Bay” will run for four-and-a-half hours starting Monday.
