WISH Indianapolis Expands Its Morning News

Beginning July 13, Media General’s CW affiliate WISH Indianapolis (DMA 27) will expand its Daybreak newscast to five hours per day, airing from 4 to 9 a.m.

“Mornings are the fastest growing news daypart, and one of the most important times of a day for viewers,” said Les Vann, WISH president-GM.  “This additional expansion allows us to further enhance our commitment to local news, better preparing viewers for their day ahead.”

In January 2015, WISH expanded local news by more than 20 hours per week after losing its CBS network affiliation, with more than half those hours in morning time periods.  As part of an across-the-board news staffing increase, WISH made investments to morning news, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, doubling its live morning reporting staff. 

The station said WISH was No. 1 in morning news during the May 2015 Nielsen ratings period.  Its Daybreak at 5 a.m. was rated first in both adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, growing both ratings and share, over February 2015 and May 2014.

Daybreak at 5:30 a.m. was also rated No. 1 in adults 18-49, and grew over February, the station said.

On June 12, Daybreak was awarded Media General’s D. Tennant Bryan journalism award for Outstanding Morning Newscast.