Will A West Coast WNT Be Worth It?

Last week, “rival news executives scoffed at ABC’s plan to have a West Coast newscast, saying it would be expensive and that on most nights the update would be minimal,” Michele Greppi reports.

“‘If you don’t really staff up, it’s a good way to burn out your staff,’ said one news executive. But he added that if just once ABC is able to get a big story on the air for the West Coast that its rivals don’t have, the other networks might be forced to follow.”

EP Jon Banner says: “There is some cost in terms of manpower, but I think the concern that we had is being able to provide a live broadcast to the West Coast, and the costs are manageable.”

> Also: Associated Press: “Time and experience will tell whether the innovation is groundbreaking or a gimmick…”