Channel 25 is fourth station to add early newscast

By Johnny Diaz, Globe Staff

WFXT-TV (Channel 25) is the latest station to jump into the 4:30 a.m. news race.

Station officials announced today that they are adding the 4:30 a.m. newscast beginning Sept. 20.

The station's morning program called "Fox25 Morning News" will also add another hour from 9 to 10 a.m. That will be helmed by co-hosts Gene Lavanchy and Kim Carrigan, meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon and news commentator Doug V.B. Goudie.

"The consumer is up earlier,'' said Gregg Kelley, vice president general manager of WFXT, which launched its morning news show in Sept. 2003. He noted that with the new expansion, his station will produce 40 hours of news a week. "It reflects our commitment to the morning newscast."

The station becomes the fourth one in the Boston market to add the early morning newscast. Last week, WCVB-TV (Channel 5) said they would launch their own 4:30 a.m. newscast beginning on Sept. 7. In April, NECN became the first local news outlet to add the newscast, called "First Thing in the Morning." WBZ-TV (Channel 4) followed with a 4:30 a.m. newscast in May.

At least 24 news stations nationwide have been launching these early morning newscasts this past year to appeal to the changing habits of today's worker, many of whom have longer commutes and workdays that require them to get up earlier. As audiences and ad revenue decline in late news, general managers are looking to their morning programs to replenish viewers.