EVANSVILLE —It's official: Nexstar Broadcasting will revive the Eyewitness News brand for newscasts on both Local 7 WTVW and the newly-rechristened WEHT Local beginning Thursday, the company said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.
The new brand, which was last used by WTVW in the Tri-State before its 1995 affiliation switch to Fox, has been brought back as part of the consolidation of both stations' news operations following Nexstar's purchase of WEHT from Gilmore Broadcasting Corp.
"Our Tri-State viewers are directly affected by the events that occur in their communities and neighborhoods and Eyewitness News will provide greater content, interactivity, and depth tailored to their needs and interests," said Mike Smith, vice-president and general manager of Nexstar's Evansville operations. "The Eyewitness News mission is focused on delivering the most relevant, compelling and informative local news that touches the daily lives of our viewers. Local 7 WTVW and WEHT Local will offer over 47 hours of locally produced weekly news, or eight more hours of local news programming than all other stations serving the Tri-State community combined."
Nexstar is making what the company calls "significant upgrades" to the news and broadcast facilities at WEHT's Henderson studios, where both stations will be headquartered, including a new set, new graphics and a full complement of enhanced weather technology. Starting on Thursday morning, newscasts will be broadcast from a temporary set while construction of the all-new permanent set for Eyewitness News is being completed.
Eyewitness News Daybreak will lead off the new newscasts, anchored by WTVW's former evening anchor team, Randy Moore and Julie Dolan. Daybreak will run from 5 to 7 a.m. each weekday morning on WEHT Local, followed by an additional hour (7-8 a.m.) on Local 7. Meteorologist Ron Rhodes will provide the weather forecast.
Then, from 8 to 9 a.m., Dolan will anchor Local 7 Lifestyles with Stefanie Martinez. Dolan will also anchor the renamed Eyewitness News at Noon on Local 7.
In the evenings, WEHT's anchors take over. Shelley Kirk will anchor Eyewitness News First at 4:00 on WEHT Local. She will be joined by Brad Byrd at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Byrd will anchor the new Eyewitness News at 6:30 and 9 p.m. on Local 7 solo. WEHT chief meteorologist Wayne Hart will forecast the weather on both stations' evening newscasts.
WTVW's Drew Amman will provide sports coverage during the weeknight newscasts.
On weekends, the stations will again alternate newscasts. WEHT Local will have 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts on Saturdays and a 10 p.m. newscast on Sundays; Local 7 will have a 6:30 and 9 p.m. newscast on Saturdays, along with hour-long 6 and 9 p.m. newscasts on Sundays.
"We are offering Evansville viewers, as well as web and mobile users, the most choices to access in-depth, local news programming throughout the day and evening delivered on two television stations by the largest team of experienced journalists ever united in a market this size," Smith explained. "Our intention is to be the best possible resource for local news in the community, and we welcome feedback from our viewers and advertisers on our unprecedented news and programming initiatives."
Local programming, which has seen a new emphasis at WTVW since its relaunch as Local 7 in July, will continue. Local sporting events will be broadcast on Friday nights as the Local 7 Sports Live Game of the Week. Also continuing without change are Sunday night programs My Hometown and the Oakland City University Academic Challenge.