KIAH-TV, Houston’s CW39, to Launch 9 PM Newscast
“ABC13 Eyewitness News at 9 PM on CW39” Debuts Monday, May 11th
IRVING and HOUSTON, TX – Nexstar Broadcasting, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST), today announced that KIAH-TV (CW), the Company’s owned and operated television station in Houston, TX (DMA #8), will premiere its nightly 9-10 PM local newscast on Monday, May 11th. “ABC13 Eyewitness News at 9 PM on CW39,” will be exclusively produced for KIAH-TV by KTRK-TV ABC13 and will air Monday through Sunday. The broadcast will also be available via livestream on ABC13.com and CW39.com.
“During times of uncertainty, having a reliable and trusted source of news and information is crucial for the communities we serve,” said Tim Busch, President of Nexstar Broadcasting. “KIAH-TV’s commitment to providing additional local programming to Houston viewers will come to fruition through our association with ABC13 Eyewitness News, a well-known news resource serving Houston area communities and viewers for more than 65 years. Nexstar and ABC believe this partnership, which offers our viewers a choice for news in prime-time, is more important than ever before.”
Powered by ABC13’s #1 award winning news team including anchors Tom Abrahams and Elissa Rivas and Chief Forecaster David Tillman, each newscast will include the very latest on the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and its impact on the community, the day’s other top stories, weather, and positive profiles of the people and places that are uniquely Houston.
ABC13 Eyewitness News Anchor Tom Abrahams is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award winning journalist who’s covered some of the biggest stories of our time including Hurricanes Harvey and Katrina, 9/11, and the current COVID-19 crisis. Tom also covers national politics, the space program and stories that relate to energy, the environment and the economy.
ABC13 Eyewitness News and Traffic Anchor Elissa Rivas is a national RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award winning journalist, whose passion for education and literacy led to the Adult Reading Center creating the “Elissa Rivas Scholarship Fund.” The fund annually awards scholarships to adults needing assistance for continuing education.
ABC13’s Emmy Award winning Meteorologist and Chief Forecaster David Tillman has more than two decades of experience accurately predicting severe weather and tracking tornadoes, storms and hurricanes. Mr. Tillman and the ABC13 Eyewitness Weather Team make keeping the community safe and informed their top priority.
KIAH-TV’s partnership with KTRK-TV is modeled after Nexstar’s successful relationship with ABC in Philadelphia, where WPVI-TV (ABC) produces “Action News at 10pm on PHL 17” for Nexstar’s WPHL-TV (MyNet).
Leading into “ABC13 Eyewitness News at 9 PM on CW39,” will be popular CW Network prime time programming such as All American, Bat Woman, Super Girl, and Riverdale. Immediately following the newscast will be proven comedies led by Two and a Half Men, Mom, and Last Man Standing.
“Offering informative, live local news, weather and sports as an alternative to the entertainment programming being provided in prime-time gives KIAH-TV a unique platform from which to connect with both viewers and advertisers,” said Mr. Busch. “We’re pleased to be working with KTRK-TV to deliver additional high-quality local content to CW39 viewers.”
For more than 65 years, KTRK-TV has been Houston’s News and Community Leader. Owned by the ABC Television Network, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company, the station produces 42 hours of local news each week. ABC13 also produces compelling multi-platform content celebrating Houston’s rich diversity and cultures, including major live events like the Chevron Houston Marathon, Pride Parade, July 4th Freedom Over Texas, and Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Parade.
“Our KTRK ABC13 team is looking forward to launching this new venture with KIAH-TV,” said Wendy Granato, President and General Manager of KTRK-TV. “As Houston’s News Leader, we welcome the opportunity to serve a wider audience with this strategic partnership. We know that viewers need accurate information in real time to help them make smart decisions and protect their families. We welcome the opportunity to serve audiences in an even bigger way.”
About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 196 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 114 markets or approximately 38% of all U.S. television households (reflecting the FCC’s UHF discount). Nexstar’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. Nexstar’s community portal websites offer additional hyper-local content and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how they access content while creating new revenue opportunities. Nexstar also owns WGN America, a growing national general entertainment cable network and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network, a top tier cable asset. For more information please visit www.nexstar.tv.
Media Contacts:
Harvey Saxer
Station Manager, KIAH-TV
713/535-2837 or hsaxer@cw39.com
Gary Weitman
EVP & Chief Communication Officer
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
312/222-3394 (office)
Investor Contact:
Joe Jaffoni, Jennifer Neuman
JCIR
212/835-8500
KTRK-TV Media Contact:
Deilia Williams
Marketing Director, KTRK-TV
(713) 663-4644