CBS 46 (WGCL-TV) is bringing back a noon news program on Monday Sept. 15 after dumping it three years ago.
At the time, in a press release, then news director Eric Ludgood (now at Fox 5) said CBS 46 management chose to drop the noon newscast because they believe people mid-days are more likely to be checking news online.
At the same time, it got rid of its 9 a.m. "Better Mornings" show, replacing it with the national "The Better Show" lifestyle show that had aired at noon.
Jocelyn Connell, who reports in the late afternoon and evening newscasts, will anchor and Jim Loznicka, who joined the station in late 2013, will provide the weather.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
At 12:30 p.m., the station will debut "Atlanta Plugged In," a local lifestyle show hosted by Parker Wallace. This show will be similar to "Atlanta & Company" in that it features "pay for play" options for advertisers but alos include unpaid lifestyle segments. The host will talk to said advertisers, who will promote their products. On CBS46's website, Wallace is called an "on-air host and producer for integrated marketing segments for CBS46. Her signature segment, "What's on Parker's Plate?" airs on Better Mornings Atlanta and features her favorite recipes and all things delish." (Doug Richards' "Live Apartment Fire" wrote a nice piece about her earlier this year.)
I was given sparse information since general manager Trey Fabacher was unavailable for comment. I don't know if CBS46 will hire more staff to handle the new programming.
CBS46's ratings in general lag behind those of the other three primary rivals, a chronic situation at every time slot. Its news director Lane Michaelsen recently left.
CBS46's early morning show "Better Mornings" draws less than 10 percent of the ratings of Channel 2 Action News. During the first half of 2014, the 6 a.m. Channel 2 Action News drew a 6.2 rating vs. a 0.4 rating for "Better Mornings."
The 9 a.m. "Better Mornings" on CBS46 drew a 0.5 rating vs. a 5.2 for Channel 2's "Live With Kelly & Michael."
At noon, a repeat of "Inside Edition" on CBS46 actually drew slightly better numbers than 11 Alive's noon news program 1.1 vs. 1.0. (Channel 2's noon news had a 6.6 and Fox 5's news program drew a 1.8).
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