FIRST ON THE BLOG: We have more small changes to tell you about, both good and bad this time.
First, its Savannah where WTOC 11 has quietly expanded its 4:00 p.m. weekday newscast to an hour with an extra half-hour at 4:30. WTOC Channel 11 – THE News at 4:30 is the new newscast that airs on weekdays from 4:30-5:00 p.m. and, just like the 4:00 p.m. news, is the ONLY newscast on at that timeslot in the market. The newscast replaces Right This Minute which was shoved to WTOC’s overnight schedule at 1:35 a.m.
Next, we go to West Tennessee where WJKT 16 no longer airs any local news at all. They were simulcasts of former sister station WLMT 30 (CW) Memphis’ newscasts, which itself are produced by WATN 24 (ABC). But now that WATN and WLMT are owned by TEGNA while WJKT is still owned by Nexstar Media Group, the station can no longer air the former’s newscasts which were weekday mornings from 7:00-8:00 a.m. and every night from 9:00-10:00 p.m. Those newscasts have since been replaced by syndicated programming.
This means that there are no more local news after 7:00 a.m. in West Tennessee and also leaves WNBJ 39 (NBC/CW/MNT)’s half-hour weeknight 9:00 p.m. newscast on its second subchannel, West Tennessee’s CW 39, as the ONLY primetime newscast left in the market (unless you have local cable in the area and receive Memphis locals).
Other than this, there are no other major additions or expansions to report on at this time.
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