Despite a national trend that finds many TV stations adding more and earlier newscasts, Denver’s KWGN-Channel 2 will add an 11 p.m. newscast to cater to Denver transplants who are accustomed to getting their TV news on the later side of the day.
The new slot, which launches Sept. 12, will feature anchors Mike Barz and Erika Gonzalez, as well as meteorologist Matt Makens, who left KMGH-Channel 7 in March and officially joined KWGN in June. Barz will continue to anchor the 10 p.m. news on sister station KDVR-Fox 31.
“I was raised in Colorado, but I’ve lived on the east and the west coasts,” said Holly Gauntt, vice president of News and Digital Content for KWGN, in a press release. “I know people on both are used to getting their news at 11 p.m.. With all of the people moving to Colorado, we want to give our viewers news when they’re used to getting it.”
The move, which makes Channel 2 the only Colorado station with an 11 p.m. local news program, follows the launch of KWGN’s 4 p.m. newscast in July, anchored by Mike Landess and Deborah Takahara. With the late program, Channel 2 and sister station Fox 31 will be broadcasting a total of 77 hours of local news per week, more than any other news organization in the state, according to the station.
Channel 2 is one of more than 40 local TV stations owned or operated by Tribune Media Company around the country.
