Boston TV: WBZ Drops Sports From The Six O'Clock Cast

For the time being at least, Channel 4 has moved its sports report out of the lineup on the 6 p.m. newscast.

The Boston Globe reports sports director and anchor Steve Burton’s report, which typically runs around three minutes, has been moved from its familiar 6:20 p.m. spot on the news to approximately 5:45 p.m. during Channel 4′s weeknight news block (5-6:30 p.m.).

Sportscaster Steve Burton

The decision was made by news director Gerardo Lopez. Channel 4 sports staffers were told the change was experimental when they were informed recently. It was implemented in last Monday’s newscast.

According to the Globe's Chad Finn, the decision is not totally shocking — the 6 p.m. news is basically weather, news, human interest stories, and more weather nowadays — but it is a significant break from tradition, particularly for an older demographic of viewers whose loyalty to Channel 4 sports dates to the heyday of Bob Lobel, if not further back.

It also could be interpreted as a misguided marginalization of sports at a time when the Bruins and Celtics have championship aspirations. The 6-6:30 p.m. block, which leads into the CBS Evening News, remains the primary half-hour of interest to viewers.

According to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, the change is considered a test for now. Part of the rationale is an attempt to be unpredictable, while also opening up the later part of the newscast to other types of content, such as human interest stories. Channel 4 also intends to emphasize more sports at the community level rather than focusing almost exclusively on professional sports.

The sports segment during the 11 p.m. news will remain in its usual spot, and Burton and reporters Dan Roche and Mike Uva will be seen on the 6 p.m. news — sometimes in the “A block,” or the top of the show — when major sports news is happening.