Atlanta stations balanced two major stories — the President’s fifth State of the Union address and a winter storm blanketing the Deep South — during primetime Tuesday night.
CBS affiliate WGCL stayed in local coverage until immediately before the President was announced, opting out of Scott Pelley’s national broadcast until 9:14 p.m. The station kept up a lower-third with school closings and other weather-related information during the speech. Scott Light and Stephany Fisher took over with storm coverage at the conclusion of the CBS special report around 10:45 p.m.
NBC affiliate WXIA took Brian Williams’ national coverage on its main channel beginning at 9pmET. The station kept up a banner informing viewers that storm coverage continued on its subchannel. WXIA went back to local coverage at 10:50 p.m., with Brenda Wood and Jeff Hullinger anchoring.
Fox owned WAGA broadcast Shepard Smith’s report beginning at 9pmET. Cynne Simpson and Russ Spencer took over with local coverage at the conclusion of Smith’s national broadcast at 10:44 p.m.
ABC affiliate WSB also took ABC’s national coverage with Diane Sawyer and and George Stephanopoulos beginning at 9pmET. Justin Farmer and Jovita Moore took over at 10:42 p.m., immediately after the conclusion of the GOP response.