NewsNation (WGN America)

Last updated

NewsNation
NewsNation Logo.jpg
Also known as
  • News Nation (alternate spelling)
  • NewsNation Now (digital platforms)
Genre News program
Current affairs
Created byJennifer Lyons
Sean Compton
Sandy Pudar
Presented byWeekdays:
Ashleigh Banfield (March 1, 2021)
Joe Donlon (2020–present)
Marni Hughes (2020–present)
Rob Nelson (2020–present)
Albert Ramon (2020–present)
Weekends:
Rudabeh Shahbazi (2020–present)
Nichole Berlie (2020–present)
Aaron Nolan (2020–present)
Gerard Jebaily (2020–present)
(for other staff, see section)
Theme music composer Stephen Arnold Music
Opening theme"NewsNation"
Ending themeSame as opening
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes121 (As of December 30, 2020)
Production
Production locations WGN-TV Studios, Chicago
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time180 minutes
Production company Nexstar Media Group
Release
Original network WGN America
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Original releaseSeptember 1, 2020 (2020-09-01) –
present
External links
Website

NewsNation is a nightly American television news program on WGN America, which premiered nationally on September 1, 2020. Broadcast live from Chicago, the three-hour-long program utilizes the journalistic resources of the 110 television news operations throughout the United States that are operated under WGN America corporate parent Nexstar Media Group. [1] [2]

Contents

The broadcast is designed as an alternative to the opinion-based programs on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel during the 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time slot. (As with those programs, NewsNation offers a same-night rebroadcast from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. ET, in order to align the program with the prime time period in the Pacific Time Zone.) The program combines reporting from five national correspondents and repackaged content from local Nexstar stations. [3]

History

The genesis of the project was in October 2019, when Nexstar management commissioned viewer research that showed that people were dissatisfied with opinion-based programming on the cable news channels. [4] CNN, which had previously shown straight news programming during the evening, moved into liberal-leaning [5] personality-based programming under the leadership of Jeff Zucker, [6] while MSNBC (which gravitated toward liberal opinion/talk programs beginning in 2008), conservative-leaning Fox News [5] and One America News Network (the latter two networks have both used conservative talk shows) to anchor their prime time shows since the May 2004 cancellation of The News with Brian Williams and the Fox Report 's relegation to a weekend-only telecast in October 2013.

Originally codenamed Project Neutral, on January 15, 2020, Nexstar announced the program, four months after the company closed on an acquisition of Tribune Media that encompassed much of the latter's broadcast and digital assets (including WGN America, which was the lone wholly owned property among Tribune's cable television assets and remains so as a Nexstar property), and greatly expanded Nexstar's broadcasting portfolio in the 50 largest U.S. television markets (adding stations in such major cities as Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Houston).

The program was developed by Perry Sook and Sean Compton and under management of Jennifer Lyons, who was reassigned by Nexstar from her role as news director at its Chicago station WGN-TV to serve as WGN America's vice president of news, [7] [8] with the assistance of WGN America Executive Vice President Sean Compton. Former Fox News Channel chief and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bill Shine was brought on as a consultant. [9] NewsNation is the first national news effort to use WGN America as a platform since the channel—then operating as WGN-TV's superstation feed under the ownership of former parent Tribune—carried the similarly formatted Independent Network News from its premiere in June 1980 until the Tribune-distributed syndicated newscast ended in June 1990. [10] [11]

Upon its September 2020 premiere, NewsNation replaced acquired entertainment programming and movies that WGN America used to occupy prime time and early late-night timeslots. Because the program replaced syndicated programming that was scheduled to have their contracts expire or have their allotted timeslots reduced within the WGN America schedule, the cost of developing NewsNation and hiring personnel for the program is neutral to Nexstar. [12]

The program was developed amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States [13] and launched just before the 2020 United States presidential election. Nexstar hired "rhetoricians" to monitor the language used to describe events for neutrality, and is also providing significant weather coverage, which is, for the most part, not currently readily available on cable television (except for hurricanes and other major severe weather events, particularly as The Weather Channel currently shows weather-related entertainment and documentary programs in prime time, and all-weather-focused WeatherNation TV and AccuWeather Network have relatively limited pay television distribution). [14]

Nexstar spent $20 million to build the operation, including a complete renovation of the WGN-TV studio facility in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. [15] NewsNation's studio was built inside Studio 3, which was previously occupied by defunct regional cable news channel Chicagoland Television; the program's newsroom was built above WGN-TV's local newsroom, in space formerly occupied by sister AM radio station WGN. [6] The company also spent $100 million in advertising for the September 2020 launch, [16] including a 28-minute behind-the-scenes program which was uploaded on WGN America's YouTube and Facebook platforms on August 17, 2020, and aired commercial-free on WGN America and on Nexstar stations during the weekend of August 29.

To prevent preconceived viewer impressions based on their past work, Compton and Lyons hired journalists with experience rooted mainly in local television news to be part of the program's in-house staff of anchors, correspondents and meteorologists. Compton told the Los Angeles Times in June 2020, “We just hired local journalists who have not been at opinionated networks because let’s face it, the big three news channels are all opinionated — two on the left, one on the right. We want them to come from local stations which tend to report facts and let you come to your own opinion.” [17] By its launch, NewsNation hired 150 people in Chicago and bureaus in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Dallas. [18] The program also uses reporting from local Nexstar stations. Nexstar required that its local stations withhold breaking news footage from competing networks in order to give NewsNation right of first coverage; the move led CNN to terminate a video sharing agreement that granted Nexstar's 197 stations access to content from its CNN Newsource video wire service. [19]

Over the first month, ratings reached approximately 100,000 viewers per night, approximately in line with the viewership of syndicated reruns and first-run programming that had previously occupied the timeslot. [20] However, average ratings—factoring drop-offs from first-week sampling—fell below 100,000 viewers for its second and third hours following its premiere week. [19] The program saw a ratings high for anchor Joe Donlon's September 22, 2020, interview with President Donald Trump, which peaked at 218,000 viewers for the 8:00 p.m. ET hour, before falling to 54,000 viewers for that night's third hour. [21] Ratings in the 25-54 demographic prized by advertisers have been especially low, with an average of 15,000 viewers, less than one-sixth of the amount thought to be successful. [22]

Effective March 1, 2021, the final hour of NewsNation will be branded Banfield as veteran journalist Ashleigh Banfield will host an interview program under the NewsNation banner. [23] The WGN America network will be re-branded as NewsNation and include new programming: NewsNation Early Edition which will be hosted by Nichole Berlie at 6 p.m. ET, and The Donlon Report , anchored by Joe Donlon at 7 p.m. ET. The two-hour NewsNation broadcast will be renamed NewsNationPrime. [24]

Digital content

The digital platform, which provides supplemental content to that which is featured on the television broadcast, is branded as NewsNation Now. The platform's app includes audio updates—consisting of news summaries (similar to the top-of-the-hour national summaries played on affiliates of syndicated radio news providers) and single-story segments—produced by Nexstar-owned news/talk radio station WGN in Chicago, which dropped its decades-long ABC News Radio affiliation amid NewsNation's launch. [25]

To promote the newscast, WGN America offered viewers unrestricted access to the livestream of the program's live broadcast and rebroadcast in 2020; following the promotional period, the program is only be accessible via provider login to subscribers who receive WGN America through cable, satellite and wireline-style IPTV providers. Already on AT&T TV Now, WGN America was added to most virtual MVPD services in January 2021, including YouTube TV, [26] Sling TV, [27] Hulu [28] and FuboTV. [29] In late September 2020, select Nexstar-run MyNetworkTV and independent stations—such as WMYT-TV/Charlotte and KAUT-TV/Oklahoma City—began offering preview simulcasts of the first hour of NewsNation.

On-air staff

Notable current on-air talent

Notable former on-air talent

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References

  1. ↑ "Nexstar Media to Launch Prime-Time National Newscast on WGN America, Cable Network Reaching 75 Million U.S. Households". Nexstar Media Group, Inc. January 15, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  2. ↑ Channick, Robert. "Chicago cable network WGN America changing its name to NewsNation, going all-in on news". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Steve. "Review: In debut 'NewsNation' on WGN America promises balance, delivers convention". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ "The Making of NewsNation | NewsNation Now - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Which Way Does Your News Lean? - Media Bias". College of the Mainland . Texas City, Texas. December 2, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Channick, Robert. "WGN America to launch 'News Nation' on Tuesday, aiming to transform the house that Bozo built into the next CNN". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ Cynthia Littleton (January 15, 2020). "Nexstar to Launch National Primetime Newscast on WGN America". Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  8. ↑ "WGN America Announces Anchor Teams and Correspondents for Prime-Time National Newscast "News Nation" Launching September 1". Nexstar Media Group, Inc. June 2, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  9. ↑ "'Consultant' Bill Shine casts Fox shadow over 'NewsNation' - Robert Feder". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  10. ↑ Lillian Rizzo (January 15, 2020). "WGN America Enters Cable-TV News Arena, Promising No Opinions". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  11. ↑ Robert Channick (January 15, 2020). "Nexstar to launch national prime-time newscast on cable network WGN America out of Chicago as alternative to Fox and CNN". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. ↑ Miller, Mark (January 15, 2020). "Nexstar To Air Primetime WGN America News". TV News Check. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  13. ↑ August 2020, Jon Lafayette 24. "Nexstar's 'News Nation' Ready for Opening Night". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Robservations: WGN America planning to launch 'News Nation' Sept. 1". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  15. ↑ Johnson, Ted; Johnson, Ted (September 1, 2020). "WGN America Launches Primetime Newscast With A Promise: Just The Facts". Deadline. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  16. ↑ Feder, Robert (August 25, 2020). "WGN America's 'News Nation' gets ready to make primetime history". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  17. ↑ Stephen Battaglio (June 2, 2020). "A cable alternative to CNN? WGN America prepares for national newscast in a crowded market". Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles Times Communications LLC . Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Nexstar Media Group, Inc. | Launching September 1". Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  19. 1 2 Robert Feder (September 10, 2020). "Robservations: 'News Nation' edict costs Nexstar stations access to CNN video". RobertFeder.com.
  20. ↑ Channick, Robert. "WGN America's 'News Nation,' which launched this month to tepid ratings, lands an interview with President Trump. 'This puts us in the big time.'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  21. ↑ Robert Feder (September 24, 2020). "Robservations: Tribune Publishing apologizes for phony phishing expedition". RobertFeder.com.
  22. ↑ "WGN America adds Ashleigh Banfield talk show as 'NewsNation' struggles to find audience". Los Angeles Times. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Award-winning journalist Ashleigh Banfield to host nightly talk show on WGN America". NewsNation Now. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  24. ↑ "WGN America will change its name to NewsNation, moving to compete with CNN, Fox, MSNBC". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  25. ↑ Feder, Robert (July 9, 2020). "Robservations: The Drive's Bob Stroud on Radio Hall of Fame ballot". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  26. ↑ "NewsNation, WGN America coming to YouTube TV in January 2021". NewsNation Now. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  27. ↑ "NewsNation, WGN America joins Sling TV in 2021 as Nexstar Media Group and Dish Network reach multi-year deal". NewsNation Now. December 25, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  28. ↑ "NewsNation, WGN America joins Hulu in 2021". NewsNation Now. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  29. ↑ "NewsNation, WGN America coming to fuboTV in January 2021". NewsNation Now. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  30. ↑ "WGN America to rebrand as NewsNation with launch of new shows in March". NewsNation Now. January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  31. ↑ "On the Move: June 25". www.adweek.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  32. ↑ "WGN's Joe Donlon named weeknight anchor for Nexstar's 'News Nation' - Robert Feder". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  33. ↑ "A full circle career with Nancy Loo | The News Director's Office". KTLA. August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Albert Ramon hired for launch of new national newscast on WGN". Media Moves. June 11, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  35. ↑ "NewsNation reporter Michael Shure in Pennsylvania: The number of absentee Democratic voters and day-of Republican voters is evident". WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own. November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  36. ↑ Observer, Dick Mason The. "LHS grad to become anchor for new national news show". The Observer. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  37. ↑ Feder, Robert (June 24, 2020). "Robservations: WGN Radio's Ji Suk Yi moving to 'News Nation'". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  38. ↑ Feder, Robert (February 15, 2021). "Robservations: Time's up for Dean Reynolds as 'NewsNation' correspondent - Robert Feder". www.robertfeder.com. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
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