WPIX, Channel 11 in New York is quietly preparing for the launch of another newscast, possibly at 6:30 p.m. According to Richard Huff of the New York Daily News, though, details are still a bit sketchy…
“We’re launching an early newscast this fall,” a spokeswoman confirmed yesterday. “The time, format and content have not yet been finalized.”
The show, expected in September, will replace syndicated reruns. More important, even if it’s not very successful on the ratings front, the new show can save Ch. 11 money and possibly generate some at a time when every station is dealing with advertising issues.
No matter what the motive, it should be taken as a positive sign that a station is adding news at a time when others are pulling back. Chatter about Ch. 11’s new show is heating up just as the local-news marketplace is going through some dramatic changes and facing even more. More…