Nexstar Media Group’s upstart cable news channel NewsNation is expanding its schedule to include news and commentary programming around-the-clock during the work week.
Starting next Monday, NewsNation will offer a new daily news block from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific Time), to include new live news shows that offer a glimpse at the daily headlines from across the country and around the world.
“I couldn’t be more proud of what we have accomplished in just a little over two and half years,” Sean Compton, the president of Nexstar Networks, said in a statement. “NewsNation’s growth has been fueled by exceptional talent with stellar reputations for high-quality journalism, and by viewers hungry for unbiased news reporting. Becoming a 24-hour news network Monday through Friday positions us well to keep growing our audience by providing them with consistently meaningful news coverage.”
The revamped schedule will mark the first time NewsNation has offered news and related programming during the week, without syndicated re-runs of dramas and comedies that were holdovers from the channel’s time as WGN America. Some of that programming is expected to continue on the weekends, according to a person familiar with the move.
“From the start, our mission has been to inform and enlighten our viewers with balanced news programming and we will continue to do so with this added block,” Michael Corn, the president of news at NewsNation, said on Tuesday. “Over time, we’ve built trust with our audience and with this expansion, I think we can capitalize on the swiftly evolving broadcast news landscape. Viewer trust is at the center of everything we do, and viewer demand for this expanded block is strong.”
NewsNation offers an impressive roster of network and cable news talent, including former CNN commentator Chris Cuomo, ex-ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas, former MSNBC anchor and reporter Ashleigh Banfield and current ABC News legal analyst Dan Abrams. Despite its top-tier talent, NewsNation has lagged far behind in the cable news ratings, and is often bested by conservative-oriented commentary channel Newsmax.
NewsNation’s plan to offer 24-hour news and current events programming during the week was first revealed in a statement offered by outgoing executive John Ferracane, as reported by The Desk last week. Ferracane was in charge of NewsNation’s live programming, and is leaving the company to spend more time with his family in Los Angeles.
