Two years after scrapping its 5 p.m. newscast in favor of the local lifestyle show “LX New York,” WNBC has decided to return news to the timeslot. In September, the station will debut a new, one-hour newscast in the spot that previously held the station’s iconic “Live at Five” brand for nearly three decades.
“NBC 4 believes in local news, and we are making that investment with the addition of the 5 p.m. newscast,” general manager Michael Jack told the Daily News in announcing the programming shift. “Our station has an important responsibility to deliver critical local news and information to our viewers, and the 5 p.m. will help us do that.”
The introduction of “LX New York,” which has since been rebranded “New York Live,” was part of a larger rescaling effort that led to layoffs and tension in the newsroom. The return of a 5 p.m. newscast should give the WNBC news team a welcome jolt of confidence in the direction of the station.
WNBC plans to move “New York Live” to 3 p.m.