WKTV Announces Changes To Anchor Lineup

Following the retirement announcement of long-time news anchor Bill Worden, Smith Media NBC affiliate WKTV Utica, N.Y. (DMA 172), has announced its new anchor lineup, taking effect later this month, according to WKTV Station Manager-News Director Steve McMurray.

Don Shipman, anchor of NewsChannel 2 at Daybreak and NewsChannel 2 at Sunrise, will become the new anchor of NewsChannel 2 at 10:00 on the CW11 and NewsChannel 2 at 11:00. In addition, he will co-anchor the Live at Five Newshour with Kristen Copeland.

Jason Powles, WKTV’s sports director since 1998, will take over for Shipman as the morning anchor alongside Jenel Boston.

Mike Levin, weekend sports anchor will take over as sports director, replacing Powles.

WKTV Assistant News Director Dave Dellecese will become the permanent anchor of NewsChannel 2 at Noon. Dellecese has been filling in on the broadcast since late September.

McMurray also announced that Nicole Pitt is the new weekend anchor at WKTV. Pitt, a Boonville native, joined the station in 2010, and has been anchoring the weekend evening shows since late August.

As part of the anchor changes, McMurray will now co-anchor NewsChannel 2 at 6:00 with Kristen Copeland. McMurray and Copeland first joined forces on the Live at Five Newshour in 2007.

The changes will be phased in over the next few weeks, with all anchors in their new roles by Dec. 3.