The Chicago-based network NewsNation, formerly known as WGN America, is rebranding “Early Edition” as “Rush Hour,” launching “On Balance,” a one-hour platform for former Fox News anchor Leland Vittert, and reducing its signature evening newscast, NewsNation Prime, to just one hour.
The Chicago Tribune reports the new lineup, set to begin July 19, is the latest attempt to establish NewsNation as a cable news player, and begin to fulfill its promise to lure viewers away from CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.
“‘Rush Hour’ and ‘On Balance’ emphasize our commitment to building a unique, one-of-a-kind news network that is independent, respects its viewers, and remains dedicated to keeping them engaged, with just a little bit of unpredictability thrown in for good measure,” Michael Corn, president of news for NewsNation, said in a news release Thursday.
Corn, a former ABC News executive, joined NewsNation in May, taking the helm of the nascent news network after the abrupt resignation of Jennifer Lyons in March. Lyons, the former news director at WGN-Ch. 9, oversaw the transformation of WGN America into a prime-time cable news operation under Dallas-based owner Nexstar Media Group.
In March, the network rebranded as NewsNation and expanded its prime-time lineup to five hours, adding veteran TV anchor Ashleigh Banfield with a 9 p.m. news/talk show titled “Banfield.” Joe Donlon was shifted to a one-hour solo gig called “The Donlon Report” at 6 p.m. cutting his former show, NewsNation Prime, to two hours.
The new weeknight lineup will start at 5 p.m. with Rush Hour, anchored by Nichole Berlie, a former Boston TV anchor who joined NewsNation in September.
Vittert, a veteran foreign correspondent who spent more than a decade at Fox News, has been covering national affairs and delivering special reports for NewsNation since joining the network in May. His new show, “On Balance,” will air at 7 p.m. weeknights, “taking a critical look at some of the day’s hottest topics,” the network said.
Nexstar bought WGN America in 2019 as part of its $4.1 billion acquisition of Chicago-based Tribune Media — the former broadcast parent of Tribune Publishing — creating the nation’s largest local TV station group and moving WGN’s TV, radio and cable stations under the Dallas company’s ownership.
Despite tepid ratings, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook has said he remains committed to expanding NewsNation into a full-time cable news network, with plans to launch a morning news show this year.
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