CBS to Add 7-Hour News Block in LA

CBS O&O KCBS/KCAL is looking to expand the morning news block and they are expanding it by a lot.

KCAL has never had a morning newscast, but that is about to change. CBS announced that KCAL will carry seven hours of news, starting at 4 a.m. and stretching to 11 a.m.

But what is KCAL’s gain is KCBS’s loss. KCBS had been carrying local morning news from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Now the plan is for KCBS to run the East coast edition of the live “CBS Mornings” network broadcast from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m., followed by the West coast edition in its regular 7 a.m.- 9 a.m. In the 6-7 a.m. hour, KCBS will simulcast KCAL’s local newscast.

“By launching morning news on KCAL 9 and adding a second daily broadcast of ‘CBS Mornings’ on CBS 2, our local-to-global news organization is perfectly positioned to showcase its premium content on our broadcast and streaming channels in the Los Angeles market,” said Wendy McMahon, president and co-head of CBS News and Stations. “As one of the most trusted local news providers in Southern California, the window of opportunity for KCAL 9 News in the morning is wide open. We also believe this is an audience growth opportunity for ‘CBS Mornings’ by giving early risers and commuters in the Los Angeles market the chance to watch live from 4:00-6:00 AM.”

The LA duo has not set a launch date as of yet, other than saying it will be in the Fall. The station did say that it will be hiring 16 new people to help with the expanded launch.