Nexstar owned Des Moines ABC affiliate WOI just got a million dollar makeover.
The station says starting January 5, viewers can expect to see new branding, a full high-definition broadcast airing from a new state-of-the-art facility and some new anchors.
“It’s no secret that the station has struggled over the years for multiple reasons, and we’re ready to bulldoze that image,” WOI news director April Samp told The Des Moines Register. “If people give us a chance, I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
Among the changes viewers will see will be a new anchor line up. Jack Miller will anchor the weekday evening 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. newscasts. He comes from News 13 in Orlando, Fla. Stephanie Angleson will move from her morning anchor slot to join Miller as co-anchor alongside longtime chief meteorologist Brad Edwards and new sports director Jon Schaeffer.
The station has re-named its morning show Good Morning Iowa which will feature anchors Sabrina Ahmed and new anchor Elias Johnson, who comes from Reno’s KRNV. They will be joined by the station’s chief political correspondent Amanda Krenz.
Samp told TVSpy, the station got a complete overhaul after Nexstar brought her in along with new GM Jon Skorburg. She said the station group wanted WOI to become a “leading news station in Central Iowa.”
Samp said the investment in the station included, “master control upgrades, a new set, new graphics, new music, a brand new newsroom of the future to integrate a digital first mentality, new control room with state-of-the-art Ross Expression and switcher, new cameras, new touchscreen monitors. New Live U backpacks. New cameras. New Avid editors. iNews software integration. New desks, news computers, new plants.” Though, she added, she bought the plants.
Nexstar bought Des Moines ABC affiliate WOI from Capital Communications in September 2013.