WNBC hawks new news model

Television Broadcast has an interesting article on the shakeup that’s coming to New York City’s WNBC-TV this fall.

The station is readying for the fall debut of “LX New York,” a lifestyle and entertainment show that will replace the longtime staple “Live at Five.”

“Our host team is ready to deliver some of the wittiest, funniest and smartest takes on all New York happenings, while taking viewers closer to some of the most interesting people and places in New York,” Hertzan is quoted saying at NBCNewYork.com.

Analysts, meanwhile, note that the shift is a sign that local media outlets are an acknowledgment that the local news model is dead.

“The reality is consumer interest is waning by the day, implying more drastic changes are needed; the question becomes will anyone follow NBC’s lead? While NBC will stick with its ‘traditional’ 6 p.m. newscast, as well as its existing 11 p.m. newscast, we suspect success — in both viewers and demos — with its new 5 p.m. programming could lead to further changes in other dayparts over the next 12 to 18 months, not to mention expanding the strategy to other markets,” writes Rich Greenfield of Pali Capital.

No word yet on what kind of set WNBC will use for the new set, though it seems the new newsroom set that debuted earlier this year may not be well suited for this type of program.

Advertisement