FOX 43
WBIR-TV
South TV News has learned Knoxville NBC affiliate and Gannett-owned WBIR will begin a partnership with the market’s FOX affiliate that includes expanded newscasts and a transition to high definition for both stations.
Raycom station WTNZ, better known as FOX 43 to east Tennessee residents, will get an expanded 10 p.m. newscast and morning news from 7 to 9 a.m. (times Eastern).
In addition, the transition to HD should be completed by April, according to a news release on WBIR.com:
The expansion of the 10:00 p.m. weeknight news on Fox 43 to one hour will happen later in the spring, as will the addition of the two-hour weekday morning newscast beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Fox 43. The Fox 43 weekend 10:00 p.m. news will be a half hour newscast.
WBIR will also continue to produce the same amount of local content on Channel 10, soon bringing the total amount of local news produced by 10News to nine hours on weekdays.
No word yet on if this consolidation will result in additional hirings (or even layoffs). We’ll keep you posted!
South TV News 