National trade publication TV News Check is reporting that Sinclair Broadcast Group is dropping local newscasts in five markets, including Omaha and Sioux City.
The affected stations include FOX affiliate KPTM/42 (Omaha) and FOX/CBS affiliate KPTH/44 (Sioux City). The others are in Gainesville, Florida; Toledo, Ohio; and Medford, Oregon.
TV News Check reported that Sinclair confirmed the move, saying its program “The National Desk” will replace local newscasts starting May 15. A day after the TV News Check report, KPTH’s website posted a brief statement about the move.
News of the impending Sioux City change was also reported by KSCJ radio and the Sioux City Journal, the latter of which reported that 17 jobs are being affected by the change.
KPTH’s CBS channel, 44.3, currently airs local newscasts weekdays from 5 to 7 a.m. and at 5 and 10 p.m., while its FOX channel airs a half-hour weeknight 9 p.m. newscast. The CBS affiliation was moved from longtime affiliate KMEG/14.1 in early 2021.
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) expressed concern about the news in a statement on Twitter, writing, “In rural Iowa, local news matters & I’m disappointed that our communities will have one fewer outlet to stay informed.”
KMEG launched its current news operation in the late 1990s from a facility in Dakota Dunes, SD. KPTH joined KMEG in 2005 and launched the 9 p.m. newscast the following year.
In Omaha, TV News Check has previously reported that KPTM’s only newscast, which airs at 9 p.m., is anchored out of California.
Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.