Sinclair Broadcast Group's The National Desk will add a two-hour evening newscast on CW affiliate Channel 12.2 and 67 other stations Sept. 27.
Sinclair premiered The National Desk on Jan. 18 as a morning national newscast anchored by Jan Jeffcoat from Washington, D.C., on 68 stations, including all MyNetwork and CW channels owned or operated by Sinclair. The 6-9 a.m. newscast "gives viewers noteworthy broadcasts with the most pressing news each day," Sinclair said in its announcement.
The main anchor for the 10 p.m.-midnight edition "is still under consideration and will be announced in the coming months," Sinclair said.
Mike Garber, news director at KUTV-TV in Salt Lake City, will become The National Desk content director overseeing morning, evening and digital news in June. Sinclair also will launch a new website and app for The National Desk this summer.
Sinclair promotes the national newscast as "commentary-free news from both a local and national perspective."
“Across the board, both in audience research and organically from viewers, we have received exceedingly positive feedback that frequently cites the remarkable, unique value of The National Desk," said Chris Ripley, Sinclair president and CEO, in the announcement. "Going beyond reporting the news, The National Desk offers audiences firsthand coverage that is not always available online or on the national level, and we have found that people are eager for this content. Sinclair cannot wait for The National Desk to transform evening news after the success we have seen with its morning launch."
