WJAR Providence Adding More Local News at 4 P.M.
Sinclair Broadcast Group’s NBC affiliate WJAR Providence, R.I., is introducing a new hour of news at 4 p.m. beginning Tuesday, Sept. 6. That time slot was previously occupied by the syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show.
NBC 10 News at 4 will be anchored by Tamara Sacharczyk, joined by breaking news anchor Leanna Faulk and chief meteorologist Mark Searles. Along with the region’s most experienced reporters, the show will also feature segments from political anchor Gene Valicenti, consumer advocate Emily Volz, and health reporter Barbara Morse.
“We are thrilled to bring WJAR’s top-rated news and talent to 4 p.m. With more families working from home and keeping non-traditional schedules, we are adapting to meet their needs,” said Scott Isaacs, news director. “The 4 p.m. newscast will bring them the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic, plus we’ll help viewers save money, live healthier, and know what’s going on in our community.”
“The show will feature I-Team reporters going ‘Inside the Investigation,’ along with interactive segments designed to let viewers take part in the day’s news coverage,” Isaacs added.
Viewers know Tamara Sacharczyk for her problem solving and exposing wasteful spending in her “On Your Dime” reports on WJAR. Leanna Faulk joins from sister station KRNV Reno, Nev. She will bring breaking news to viewers as it happens from the Live Alert Desk.
Comments (1)
Former Producer says:
August 24, 2022 at 3:28 pm
You could play a game of bingo with these “adding more local news” announcements.
Someone says they’re “thrilled” to add more news? Check.
Someone says they’re “meet[ing] the needs” of the audience? Check.
Someone says this brand-new newscast will have “the latest breaking news, weather and traffic?” Check.
Why don’t we just acknowledge why so many more TV stations are rushing to add local news? It’s all about the money. It’s ALWAYS about the money. Syndicated programming is expensive. Local TV newscasts are, in comparison, not expensive. More local programming on the schedule means more space to sell advertising, especially during election years where candidates spend freely. And yes, we are in one of those years.
I’m sure WJAR and Sinclair are more “thrilled” about the opportunities for additional revenue than they are about bringing their “top-rated news and talent” to another hour of the day. Besides, if the 4 pm newscast “will bring [viewers] the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic,” then what do the other newscasts do?