Evansville, Indiana is about to get a new newscast.
TVSpy reported in May, viewers of WEVV will see anchors Chris Cerenelli and Amanda Decker along with chief meteorologist Chad Evans and sports director Andrew Keesee when the CBS affiliate launches its first newscast in 14 years next Monday.
The Evansville Courier & Press reports the CBS affiliate has been rehearsing for the big launch at its downtown studios.
Launching a news team from the ground up is no simple task, WEVV officials said. They also face an audience that may have already found names and faces they trust in the Tri-State market.
Decker isn’t worried.
“What I’ve always found is having a good personality and coming across like you could be friends with any one of those viewers is what will eventually make them like you and they’ll like you forever,” she said.
“It does take time to build that relationship, but it’s something we’ll build over time.”
Cernelli shares a similar sentiment.
“It’s tough when you are starting up and you’re brand new going up against the likes of Randy Moore and Brad Byrd and people who are institutions,” he said.
“ … But I’ve been lucky where I’ve worked in a lot of markets and people have taken to me. If I can follow the same formula, hopefully it will be the same case.”
News Director Warren Korff, an Evansville native and news industry veteran, knows there are hurdles his team needs to overcome.
“This market is a place of habit and we need to get them to break that habit and it’s a bit of a challenge,” Korff said.
“Just give us a chance. We know you’re going to have to break habits you’ve had a long time. Give us a chance. Look at what we have to offer. If you like it, stick with us. If you don’t, go back to what you were watching before.”
Broadcast times Monday through Friday: 4:30-7 a.m., both channels; 7-9 a.m., Fox; 12-12:30 p.m., CBS; 5-5:30 p.m., CBS; 6-6:30 p.m., CBS; 9-10 p.m., Fox; and 10-10:35 p.m., CBS. Weekend broadcasts are 9-10 p.m. on Fox and 10-10:35 p.m. on CBS.