One of Western New York’s more familiar faces is returning to the local TV news scene, in a move that could jolt Nexstar-owned WIVB-4 and The E.W. Scripps Co.‘s WKBW-7 just as both stations are seemingly gaining momentum in Buffalo.
Scott Levin, who departed TEGNA‘s NBC-affiliated WGRZ-2 following the May 2017 Sweeps for a role at West Herr Auto Group, is coming back to the station to co-anchor its 5pm, 6pm and 11pm newscasts.
Levin will be back on WGRZ’s 2 On Your Side in September, the station announced through Levin on Thursday.
Why is he returning to a station that is expecting the departure of veteran morning anchor John Beard, a former KTTV-11 and KNBC-4 in Los Angeles anchor?
It has nothing to do with potential challenges from a rejuvenated WKBW, the ABC affiliate, where former CTV news anchor Ashley Rowe has gotten notice, most recently for an exclusive interview with Buffalo Bills co-owner Kim Pegula regarding the team’s stadium plans.
It also has little to do with a probable emergence of CBS-affiliated WIVB as the local news leader, with veteran anchor Don Postles becoming the Dean of Western N.Y. news anchors.
Local events that grabbed his attention made him realize that he wasn’t done as a newsman.
“After the recent triple tornado event in the southtowns, I quickly realized that my heart for news, especially breaking news and reporting the stories of Western New Yorkers was still pumping hard, very hard, and I knew the WGRZ newsroom was where I really needed to be,” Levin said in an article on WGRZ’s website. “As much as we all want to plan our lives, God has a way of surprising you with unexpected twists and turns, and His plan is always the perfect plan. I’m looking forward to joining my colleagues once again at WGRZ and the single best news team in Western New York.”
WGRZ President/GM Jim Toellner added, “We are thrilled to have Scott returning to his journalistic passions at 2 On Your Side. His love of Western New York, along with his acute and discerning perspective on the stories we tell made him an enduring viewer favorite.”
