Channel 25 to add 11 p.m. newscast

WFXT-TV (Channel 25) will join the hotly contested 11 p.m. news hour next month.

Its half-hour newscast, which will debut Nov. 5, will be anchored by Maria Stephanos and Mark Ockerbloom, who anchor the station's 10 p.m. newscast. In the ratings, WFXT beats its only competition at that hour, WLVI-TV (Channel 56), by a wide margin and traditionally captures the most viewers in the late-night news competition, with the benefit of an "American Idol" lead-in - though WHDH-TV (Channel 7) drew more viewers overall in the most recent ratings period, July.

Gregg Kelley, vice president and general manager of WFXT, says he believes the popularity of the 10 p.m. newscast will spill over into the 11 o'clock hour - and that viewers who watch his 10 p.m. newscast will stay with the channel and also watch the 11 p.m. program.

"This is really been part of the growth strategy to grow the news profile of this television station," said Kelley, who said he will add staff. "The expansion to the 11 p.m. newscast is the next natural progression for us. We know we have a loyal following of our 10 p.m. newscast. We are now providing another half hour at 11 p.m. for the benefit of the viewer."

With the addition of the 11 p.m. newscast, viewers will have a fourth option for local news. WHDH, WCVB-TV (Channel 5), and WBZ-TV (Channel 4) have aired newscasts at that hour for many years. WHDH consistently wins the 11 p.m. slot, followed by WCVB and WBZ.

Officials at WHDH, WCVB, and WBZ declined to comment yesterday on WFXT's plans for an 11 p.m. program.

Kelley said he has toyed with the idea for an 11 p.m. newscast for years. In 2002, WFXT launched its first newscast, at 5 p.m., and added a morning show in 2003. WFXT does not have a 6 p.m. newscast, which is traditionally the most popular time slot for television news.

WFXT's new show arrives at a time when WHDH is aggressively promoting its 10 p.m. newscast, which airs on WLVI. WHDH's owner, Sunbeam Television Corp., bought WLVI last December and has been broadcasting "7News" at 10, but it has barely dented WFXT's lead. In the July ratings, WLVI had 32,400 total viewers to WFXT's 137,700.

Kelley said he isn't worried about WHDH's campaign to win viewers at 10.

"We will basically do what we do well," said Kelley, whose station will air the baseball playoffs and the World Series over the next few weeks. "With the promotional platform, this is the right time to do this."

Johnny Diaz can be reached at jodiaz@globe.com.