New 24/7 NewsNet Designed For TV Stations

First, they launched a 24/7 local news channel covering northern Michigan. Then, they were hired to help build another news network airing on five TV stations in Nebraska. Now, that team is taking its model national with the launch of NewsNet — a 24/7 news channel without pundits, panels or shout shows, built from the ground up with over-the-air broadcasters in mind.

“In recent years, we’ve heard more and more complaints about existing 24/7 national news channels,” said Eric Wotila, president of NewsNet, which is scheduled to launch late this year. “At the same time, we’ve received constant compliments about the straight-to the-facts, no-nonsense and commentary-free local news coverage we provide on MI News 26, our 24/7 local news channel in northern Michigan. So, we thought, ‘Why not take this model national?’”

Launching a new network has been a long process, which began with a Kickstarter campaign under the network’s working title, LNN. Feedback from that campaign reinforced the demand for a 24/7 news channel focused on scripted headlines rather than talk and opinion, and now, the team behind NewsNet is expanding its existing studio facilities in Michigan and recruiting affiliates as it prepares for the launch of the new network.

“The key to NewsNet’s success will be our affiliates,” Wotila said, “and we’re currently reaching out to stations across the country who are interested in bringing quality news programming to their markets by carrying NewsNet on one of their subchannels.”

In addition to providing a 24/7 network feed with room for affiliates to insert their own local advertising — and even their own local newsbreaks, if they desire, NewsNet aims to make it easy for small stations to get into the local news business, as well. The network is offering its affiliates an “optional, turnkey local news production service for a small fraction of the cost of building their own news operation.”

“In addition to providing national news to stations across the country, we want to bring the success of our existing 24/7 local news channels to other stations,” Wotila said, “and by offering turnkey production of local news cut-ins airing on local NewsNet affiliates, we hope to do just that.”

Stations interested in becoming NewsNet affiliates can email [email protected] to learn more. The network will also have a presence at April’s NAB Show, and will be available to meet with stations interested in affiliation throughout the conference.