KRIV Finally Ends all Speculation. NEWS @ 5 and 5:30

[bhratbrat 423]

DAVID BARRON

New weekday newscast expands local options

Half-hour segments will compete with local and national shows

 

By BARRON

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KRIV (Channel 26) will launch weekday afternoon newscasts at 5 and 5:30 p.m., beginning Aug. 18, giving Houston viewers a fourth English-language newscast option at 5 and their only local option opposite the network newscasts at 5:30.

 

Mike Barajas and Melinda Spaulding will anchor alongside meteorologist Jim Siebert. Melissa Wilson, Barajas' co-anchor at 9 p.m., will contribute health-related segments, and both shows will include updates on Houston drive-time traffic, said D'Artagnan Bebel, the station's vice president and general manager.

 

"If you're in the business of local broadcasting, you're in the business of local origination," Bebel said. "I said when I came to this market in 2000 that I wanted to expand the newscast whenever and wherever it made sense. We've expanded our early newscast, and this is another delivery on that promise."

 

Kathy Williams, the station's news director, said each broadcast will focus on the news of the day plus what she described as innovative traffic coverage, a "showcase franchise" element for each half-hour along the lines of Wilson's Healthworks segments and elements adapted from the station's weekday afternoon news Webcast.

 

"Our staff is ready for this," Williams said. "The Webcast has given us a focus on the afternoon and energized people, and we're excited to add this newscast to our schedule."

 

Rather than scheduling the newscast as a single hourlong show, Bebel said the two half-hour segments will make it clear to viewers that they haven't missed the major stories of the day if they miss the 5 p.m. show. It also emphasizes, he said, that Channel 26 will air local news opposite the ABC, NBC and CBS national newscasts at 5:30 p.m.

 

"We think it's critical to show in the listings that (the 5:30 p.m. show) is the only local game in town," he said.

 

Both half-hours will be programmed to appeal to female viewers, who make up a larger percentage of the viewing audience in late afternoon. Neither show will have a regularly scheduled sports segment.

 

Bebel said he selected 5 to 6 p.m. rather than 6 to 7 p.m. for the newscasts, which will replace reruns of The Simpsons and Malcolm in the Middle, to reserve the 6 p.m. hour for entertainment programs leading into prime time.

 

While Wilson spends the afternoon working on health segments, Spaulding, who was a finalist last year for the morning news anchor position that went to Sibila Vargas, will join Barajas as the afternoon anchor.

 

"Melinda did a great job for us during the (morning show) search, and we think she's a tremendous talent," Bebel said. "This is an opportunity to develop that strength."

 

While the fate of the afternoon Webcast at MyFoxHouston.com is up in the air, Williams said the daily show helped prepare staff members to transition into the new afternoon newscast.

 

"We had to re-create our way of doing business when we added the Web site and Webcast," she said. "We've settled into a routine, and we've already re-created the wheel to be ready for this moment."

 

Channel 26 becomes the 20th Fox-owned station, including stations in Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, to air afternoon news. The additional newscasts also will provide the potential for additional advertising revenue with the approach of the 2008 elections.

 

KTRK (Channel 13) had Houston's top-rated newscast at 5 p.m. during the May ratings book with a 5.5 Nielsen household rating, followed by KHOU (Channel 11) at 4.2 and KPRC (Channel 2) at 2.8. Univison's KXLN (Channel 45) had a 3.8 average during May.

 

Channel 13 also led during May at 5:30 p.m. with a 6.3 rating for World News Tonight, followed by 4.2 on Channel 11 for the CBS Evening News and 2.8 on Channel 2 for NBC Nightly News. Univision's weeknight news averaged 3.6 on Channel 45.

[nbc9houston 21]

It's about time that KRIV had an early evening newscast.

[5Viewer 1]

It would be interesting if WFLD also did this. I think it is a good idea except for the fact that they don't have sports. But, there probably isn't a reason to have sports, so they don't have it at 5 and 5:30.

[rtmclaug 54]

Good for them. KRIV finally gets competitive in the afternoons. Hopefully, the Judge Judy lead-in will help them boost up the ratings.

[CircleSeven 1945]

I'm very happy that FOX26 is joining the early evening news race in H-town. And also August 18th is a very appropriate time to start it as so they don't have to rush things for the July books.

 

Now I just hope they'll keep the Simpsons @ 6pm.

[jdcnow 14]

It's about time that KRIV had an early evening newscast.

 

Yep, really about time.

 

Good for them. KRIV finally gets competitive in the afternoons. Hopefully, the Judge Judy lead-in will help them boost up the ratings.

 

Oh, it will. Judge Judy works as a lead-in at KDFW.

[bhratbrat 423]

And they will keep the Simpsons @ 6:30 which is where they have had it since I remember along time ago

[mbhcity 3]

With all the FOX OnO's having 5pm newscasts/HD/new sets, I wonder, when will KTTV finally have a 5pm/6pm newscast, HD, and a new set. KTTV's set has been used since 2000.