‘The Now’: Newsy Talk With A Social Slant

Station group E.W. Scripps today is launching its live 4 p.m. news-talk show The Now on ABC affiliate KMGH Denver and NBC affiliate KSHB Kansas City, Mo. with plans to roll out the show to six more Scripps stations over the next couple of months.

The Now is a combination of news, lifestyle information and entertainment stories with a focus on topics that are trending on social media networks. The content will be include viral videos, breaking news stories, content from Scripps stations and websites, original local content and national content that will originate from KMGH.

“It’s a locally produced show with national coordination,” says Bob Sullivan, VP of programming at E.W. Scripps. “The show is about stories of interest in each market. Today, that could be a follow up to the World Cup in those markets as well as stories originating from those markets.”

The Now’s national host is Anne MacNamara formerly of LIN’s NBC affiliate WAVY Norfolk, Va. Each station also will have its own host.

“Denver’s main job is to aggregate content from Scripps’ assets and to be the national eyes and ears for stories that are trending,” says Sullivan. “If a national story breaks leading up to the show, the local stations have a resource to update [viewers on] developments on that story.”

The Now is replacing syndicated programs like Warner Bros. Ellen and two Scripps station newscasts.

Scripps the past few years has been shifting its focus from nationally syndicated shows to original programming. In 2012, it replaced CBS Television Distribution’s game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy in several markets with game show Let’s Ask America, which MGM Domestic Television Distribution distributes, and newsy talk show The List.

Scripps is also a partner with station groups Cox and Raycom on video clip show Right This Minute, which is cleared in 85% of TV homes.

The Now is produced and distributed by Scripps.