Nexstar Broadcasting's purchase of WEHT-NEWS 25 and the move of Local 7 WTVW's operations to Henderson is leading to big news changes for both stations.
The stations' newscasts will be known by a new name and the brand most often advanced by sources close to the situation is Eyewitness News, which was last used by WTVW before Channel 7 switched affiliations from ABC to Fox in late 1995.
So, who will anchor the new Eyewitness News, if that is indeed what it will be called?
WTVW's Randy Moore and Julie Dolan will move from weeknights to mornings, anchoring with meteorologist Ron Rhodes on what's currently known as NEWS 25 Daybreak, according to two sources close to the situation who didn't want to be identified. Brad Byrd, Shelley Kirk and NEWS 25 chief meteorologist Wayne Hart will be the evening anchor team, with Local 7's Drew Amman handling sports duties.
Breaking the evening newscasts down further, Shelley Kirk will anchor the 4 p.m. newscast solo. Brad Byrd will anchor with her at 5, 6 and 10 p.m., and will anchor the 6:30 and 9 p.m. newscasts on his own.
It's not yet clear who will anchor on weekends, nor is the complete makeup of the reporting staff known, although there is word that current NEWS 25 weekend anchor David Shepherd and Daybreak anchor Jordan Vandenberge will be among the stations' reporters.
And while it's not yet certain if Local 7 will still have its morning or noon newscasts, it is known that the station will still air evening news, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. NEWS 25 which may be known as Local 25, according to some sources will air news at 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m., as it now does.
The temporary news set that has been under construction in NEWS 25's newsroom is nearly complete. It'll be used beginning Dec. 1 one week from Thursday when the new newscasts go live for the first time. No timetable has been released for the permanent set's completion.
Efforts were made to reach Local 7's vice-president and general manager, Mike Smith, and news director, Bob Walters for comment on the changes; however, neither has yet responded.