Nexstar and New Age in news deal

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Nexstar Broadcasting Group and New Age Media announced that WBRE-TV, the Nexstar owned NBC affiliate, will produce a daily 10:00 pm newscast for WOLF-TV the New Age-owned Fox affiliate, beginning January 1st, 2010. Both stations serve the Wilkes Barre/Scranton market. The new arrangement will end WOLF’s deal with Local TV LLC’s WNEP-TV (ABC), which has produced the 10:00 pm newscast for WOLF since it began in 1991. Under the deal with Nexstar, the newscast will expand from a half hour to a full hour.


“Nexstar Broadcasting has a successful, long-term track record of providing news services for other television stations across multiple markets and we look forward to supporting New Age Media and delivering superior news programming to FOX56 and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton market starting in 2010.  This agreement acknowledges WBRE’s market-leading news gathering and award winning team of anchors and reporters.  We have the experience to produce and deliver a fresh and compelling product for Fox56’s viewers while simultaneously expanding WBRE’s brand awareness in the Wilkes Barre/Scranton market,” said Louis Abitabilo, VP/GM of WBRE-TV.

“We are thrilled to be able to capitalize on the strength of the WBRE news team and to develop a new one hour format that can take advantage of the excellent FOX lead in programming.  This arrangement is an important step in FOX56’s strategy to provide our Northeast Pennsylvania viewers and advertisers with a fresh take on local news, while delivering FOX branded news programming that reflect viewers’ lifestyles.  We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Nexstar,” said Jon Cadman, General Manager of WOLF-TV.