WBRZ Launches New Primetime Newscast

Manship family-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La., will launch an early-evening newscast, giving viewers an hour heads up on the next day’s changing weather pattern, investigative reports, breaking news and sports features about area athletes.

WBRZ News 2 at Nine launched Friday, Sept. 3, on subchannel WBRZ Plus, which the station calls the region’s only free, over-the-air and streaming news channel featuring scheduled newscasts, VSiN sports betting shows, breaking news as it happens and original programming produced by WBRZ or local partners.

Originally scheduled to launch later in September, WBRZ News 2 at Nine began with a special, 30-minute breaking news report on Saturday, ahead of Hurricane Ida’s landfall and it will start its regular, weeknight schedule Friday to help viewers navigate a weekend of storm recovery.

“Habits have been forever changed in the last 18 months, first with the coronavirus and now by weather disasters in Louisiana. WBRZ News 2 at Nine allows us to connect with our viewers earlier, at a time that’s more convenient,” Trey Schmaltz, WBRZ’s news director said.

WBRZ News 2 at Nine airs Monday-Friday nights on WBRZ Plus. The newscast is anchored by Baton Rouge television veteran Sylvia Weatherspoon and features investigative journalist Michael Shingleton, weather reports by Chief Meteorologist Dr. Josh Eachus and sports stories presented by sports director Michael Cauble. WBRZ Chief Investigator Chris Nakamoto will contribute reports along with the station’s team of journalists. Ashely Fruge will report on issues that could complicate the morning drive.

Nighttime reports from Falon Brown and breaking news reporter Johnston von Springer will complement WBRZ’s award-winning coverage during WBRZ News 2 at Nine.

“WBRZ has a long history of innovating the local television landscape and our commitment to local broadcasting is only getting stronger. Developing this new newscast is part of WBRZ and my family’s legacy in Baton Rouge,” said the station’s chief operating officer, Jake Manship.

WBRZ expanded its news team and created new positions to produce the added newscast.

WBRZ Plus is on Cox 11, Eatel 2 over the air on WBRZ 2.2, and on connected TV apps. WBRZ Plus is also available on the free WBRZ news app for smartphones.