WMTW to drop 5 and 5:30 newscasts

["Dan Billings" <billings@suscom-maine.net>]

WMTW-TV is dropping their 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM newscasts and replacing them
with Dr. Phil.  WMTW is also adding an hour long newscast at 6:00 AM and
Noon newscast.  WMTW has for years been a distant third in the ratings in
the Portland market.

I think these moves make great sense from a business and programming stand
point.  There is no need for three newscasts at 5 and I'm sure WMTW's lack
of local news in the morning has had a major negative effect on the
station's morning ratings.  WMTW claims that mornings is one of the only
time periods where the number of TV viewers is actually increasing.

Read more at:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/030121wmtw.shtml

-- Dan Billings, Bowdoinham, Maine