NBC announced this morning it would launch WBTS, dubbed NBC Boston, on January 1, 2017.
The network released a programming lineup, including anchor assignments for weekday and weekend newscasts, including Phil Lipof and
Shannon Mulaire, who will co-anchor at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weeknights. The station will go over the air on low power channel 8, but will depend on cable and satellite for coverage. On most cable providers NBC Boston will be on Channel 10. Comcast, which owns NBC Boston, is the major player in the market. WHDH Channel 7, which has been Boston’s NBC affiliate since Jan. 2, 1995, will go independent in the New Year and add several hours of news.
The NBC Boston website and a mobile app will launch November 10, along with a “Countdown to NBC Boston” channel for over-the-air viewers. The station will also produce New Year’s Eve coverage live from Copley Square.
Here’s the full programming lineup as released today by NBC:
NBC Boston’s local news lineup will feature some of the top journalists in the region including:
NBC Boston Today (4:30-7AM)
Nick Emmons, anchor
Melody Mendez, anchor
Matt Noyes, chief meteorologist
Natasha Verma, traffic anchor
Latoyia Edwards, breaking news anchorNBC Boston Now (Noon)
Brian Shactman, anchor
Latoyia Edwards, anchor
Michael Page, meteorologistNBC Boston at 4 (4PM)
Joy Lim Nakrin, anchor
Shannon Mulaire, anchor
Pete Bouchard, meteorologistNBC Boston at 5 (5PM)
Chris Emma, anchor
Audrey Asistio, anchor
Pete Bouchard, meteorologistNBC Boston at 6 (6PM) and NBC Boston Tonight (11PM)
Phil Lipof, anchor
Shannon Mulaire, anchor
Pete Bouchard, meteorologist
Raul Martinez, sports anchorNBC Boston at 7 (7PM)
Phil Lipof, anchor
Joy Lim Nakrin, anchor
Pete Bouchard, meteorologist
Raul Martinez, sports anchorWeekend Morning News Team
Jeff Saperstone, anchor
Desiree Wiley, anchor
Jackie Layer, meteorologistWeekend Evening News Team
Kristy Lee, anchor
Frank Holland, anchor
Chris Gloninger, meteorologistNBC Boston’s weather coverage will include the largest weather team in the region along with an exclusive 10-day forecast, the SkyRanger helicopter, Weather Warrior storm chaser and the unprecedented state-of-the-art StormRanger, a fleet of mobile weather radar vehicles with a live Doppler radar that are exclusive to NBC and Telemundo-owned stations.
“NBC Boston Responds,” a 24/7 consumer unit, will respond to every email and call the station receives from consumers with complaints from across the region. There will also be a dedicated investigative reporting unit called “The Investigators.”
NBC Boston will premiere an all new daily lifestyle program called “The Hub Today” which will air Monday through Friday at 12:30PM and focus on the top fashion, food and travel stories of the day. Each Sunday morning “This is New England,” a new public affairs program, will feature a panel of newsmakers from around the region discussing local issues.