Broadcasters Boost Afternoon News in Bid To Thwart Streaming Rivals
variety.comBrian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThinking about a job in broadcast news? The two top spots have long been co-anchoring one of the nation’s big morning programs or leading the evening newscasts.
These days, there appears to be room for a third.Each weekday at 1 p.m. on ABC, Amy Robach. T.J. Holmes and Dr. Jennifer Ashton host an afternoon hour of news that seems to be gaining traction. “GMA3: What You Need to Know,” originally launched as an entertainment-focused extension of the Disney network’s “Good Morning America,” but it has evolved.
On Monday, the trio opened their hour with a look at how monkeypox is affecting children as well as flooding in the southwest.
But there is also room for stories that are less dire: Actor Colman Domingo paid a visit last week, and Fridays feature a segment devoted to faith. “What we have found is that viewers really are hungry for news in the afternoon,” says Cat McKenzie, executive producer of “GMA3,” in an interview. “They want to know what is happening, They want that update from what was happening in the morning, or they want to just dive deep into certain topics.”In September, NBC looks to expand the field.
Read more on variety.com