New Morning Show, News Team At WDBD

Jackson Broadcasting’s Fox affiliate WDBD Jackson, Miss. (DMA 90), welcomed in a new high-definition local morning talk show and a new 9 p.m. news team.

Fox40 & Friends is a locally produced two-hour weekday morning show that the station says is the first new morning show on broadcast television in the market in more than 20 years.

When introducing the new 7 a.m. concept, WDBD President-GM Marc Jaromin said: “In a time when local morning television has started to look the same, our goal is to showcase all the local personality, wonderful color and hospitality this beautiful southern capital has to offer.”

Focused on the happenings and positive aspects of life in the Central Mississippi area, Fox 40 & Friends airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.  and is hosted by CE Huffman, Lindsey Slater and Laura Britt. Commenting on the premier, WDBD News Director Stan Sanders said: “Fox 40 & Friends is not a morning newscast.  We will have the latest headlines, traffic and weather, but once we have that handled; what happens next is up to the local master chefs, fitness experts, medical specialists and local community leaders. Fox 40 & Friends is a local show for local stories and local people. The all new Fox40 & Friends set even includes a fully functional kitchen and the show will feature live cooking demonstrations by both local professional chefs and enthusiastic southern homemakers.”

“At a time when the local television industry is consolidating services, reducing staff and formatting local newscasts, we are proud to be growing our local staff, adding local programming and turning the cameras back on our proud local communities,” added WDBD President Marc Jaromin.

The station also introduced the addition of anchor Trei Johnson and Chief Meteorologist Dave Roberts to the Fox40News at 9 team.

Johnson steps into evening anchor role from Orlando, Fla., and Roberts returns to Jackson after a several years with WJTV in the 1990’s.

In addition to the new anchor team, Fox 40 News at 9 is also introducing a new local weather focused, and faster paced Top 9 @ 9 news approach. News Director Sanders said: “The new 9 p.m. newscast immediately gives viewers a first look at local weather and the top nine stories of the day from across central Mississippi and beyond.”