Raycom’s WFLX-TV (Fox) West Palm Beach has been having its local newscasts produced by Scripps’ WPTV-TV (ABC) since the start of this year. Now they are adding the market’s first 4:00 pm newscast.
“Fox 29 News First at 4:00” will air on WFLX every weekday afternoon from 4:00 to 4:30, providing viewers in the West Palm Beach market with a real-time look at the events affecting residents from the Palm Beaches through the Treasure Coast, the partners announced.
When the new program launches, it will be the market’s only 4:00 newscast. In addition to traditional news and weather updates, it also will include viewer-generated content via social media Web sites. Fox 29 News First at 4:00 is the first newscast WFLX has ever offered outside of the morning and late-evening timeslots.
“This has been a year of dramatic change for WFLX viewers,” said John Heislman, the station’s vice president and general manager. “Eight months ago we began offering our viewers the experience and expertise of the region’s top-rated news team, and now we get to expand our dedication to high-quality local news by giving our audience the market’s initial roundup of the day’s events. First, fast, credible and quotable – this newscast is going to set the tone for every evening’s coverage.”
The incremental programming is the latest development in the relationship between the Raycom and Scripps stations. Since January WPTV has produced newscasts from 7:00 to 9:00 am weekdays, and 10:00 to 11:00 pm to air on WFLX seven nights a week.
