Fox to Air National Morning News Show
Wednesday, July 19, 2006; Page C07
Fox is rolling out a morning news program in January to air on 25 of the network's stations around the country, including Washington's WTTG (Channel 5).
The program, which is not yet titled, will air at 9 a.m. in this market following the local "Fox Morning News" and will be hosted by Fox News Channel's Mike Jerrick and Juliet Huddy live from New York. The duo currently hosts FNC's "DaySide" but will leave that show in the fall.
"This is a newscast that will be entertaining -- or you can say it's an entertainment show that will be newsy," said Dennis Swanson, Fox Television Stations' president of station operations, in a phone interview. "I think it probably falls in the latter category."
In this market, the show will go up against two other news shows: a one-hour local newscast on WUSA (Channel 9) and the last hour of NBC's "Today" show on WRC (Channel 4). It will also face "Live With Regis and Kelly" on WJLA (Channel 7).
The announcement comes during an expansion of news operations affecting many of the 35 Fox-owned stations, which last year came under the control of Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes. Channel 5 is launching an 11 p.m. newscast July 31 to be anchored by Brian Bolter.
Under the leadership of Ailes, Fox has also been developing a consistent look for all of its stations. Earlier this summer, Channel 5 introduced a new set and graphics for its newscasts, a look that resembles other Fox stations as well as Fox News Channel.
"We just think it gives a much more contemporary look, but there is a continuity of the look and that's a goal as well," Swanson said.
-- John Maynard
