WJLA Expands Government Matters On Cable

On June 13, Sinclair-owned ABC affiliate WJLA Washington (DMA 7) will increase its Sunday morning Government Matters to weeknights, airing live Monday-Friday at 8 p.m. on co-owned NewsChannel 8, then re-airing at 11 p.m. 

The weekly Government Matters Sunday program will continue to air at 10:30 a.m. on WJLA. The program will be hosted by veteran broadcaster Francis Rose who has covered the federal marketplace on both radio and TV for over a decade. 

In addition, the station will launch companion website GovMatters.tv, an online information resource pertinent to the business of government. 

“Government Matters is dedicated to providing nonpartisan facts and analysis to federal managers, contractors, and those supporting the federal community in our area,” said WJLA General Manager Dan Mellon. “By expanding to weeknights we feel we can better serve this important audience.”

“This expansion will also allow Government Matters to highlight more challenges and success stories within the federal community, and provide a daily outlet for both government and industry to share their outlook with the federal marketplace,” said Government Matters Creator and Executive Producer George Jackson.

WJLA said it will grow its marketing and advertising solutions focused on the federal community.  The station recently hired new Director of Federal Sales and Operations John Meyer, one of the primary architects behind WTOP-FM Washington’s Federal News Radio brand.

“With the large concentration of federal employees and contractors in the area, it is extremely effective to use a mass medium like television to reach this ‘niche’ market,” said Meyer.  “With our unparalleled collection of messaging assets, we have the ability to offer unique solutions to the marketplace.”