TV

WTSP to stop airing news at 5 p.m.

© St. Petersburg Times
published January 21, 2003

WTSP-Ch. 10 will not air a 5 p.m. news broadcast for the first time in 13 years under plans announced Monday, in which the CBS affiliate would move its Life Around the Bay newscast to 4 p.m. and place hit syndicated talk show Dr. Phil at 5 p.m. weekdays.

The changes, scheduled to begin March 3 (after February's sweeps ratings period), are intended to shake up their schedule -- offering viewers a newsier show at 4 p.m. and a nonnews alternative when all other area TV stations are doing newscasts, said Lane Michaelsen, WTSP news director.

"We spent a lot of time asking, "Why do we always do a 5 o'clock news?' Often, the answer was, "Because we always have,"' Michaelsen said. "That doesn't serve the viewers."

Still, WTSP tried a more traditional, half-hour newscast at 4 p.m. in 1997 that barely lasted a year. Conventional TV wisdom often holds that news viewers aren't home to see newscasts until later in the evening, culminating with a flagship 6 p.m. program that serves as a local station's showcase broadcast.

Phil Metlin, news director at rival WTVT-Ch. 13, concluded WTSP had given up on attracting viewers at 5 p.m. with news. "It's a serious time to be giving up a 5 p.m. newscast," Metlin said. "We have our viewers and, hopefully, we'll get more viewers now."

WTSP debuted Life Around the Bay in October as a more informal broadcast, presenting a mix of news headlines and feature stories on a show that crossed a conventional local news program with a Today show-style approach.

Michaelsen said the change (which includes moving the syndicated game show The Weakest Link to Dr. Phil's current timeslot at 10 a.m. weekdays) fits their philosophy of offering viewers news and information when they might not find it elsewhere -- denying the charge that WTSP is moving away from news coverage.

"We're offering a good program of news and information at a time when people can watch it," the news director said. "We're trying to create options for viewers."

WTSP and the St. Petersburg Times share news and features under a partnership agreement.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright