January 24, 1998 | Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
Author/Byline: Lisa Denton The Chattanooga Times | Page: D4 | Section: D4
272 Words | Readability: Lexile: 1280, grade level(s): 11-12
Sunday morning news watchers can set the clock an hour early this Sunday as WTVC NewsChannel 9 begins a local weekend wakeup. Good Morning Sunday, an hour-long look at news and weather in the Tennessee Valley, premieres at 8 a.m. as a lead-in to the ABC network's Good Morning America, Sunday. "This is a very important time period for us to be in," says news director Steve Hunsicker. "There's no local newscast on Sunday mornings now, but with all the networks getting into (weekend newscasts), there seems to be a natural fit for local news as well." Co-anchored by John Pless and Deborah Nettune, the show will include a weekly cover story on current trends and a religious viewpoint from area clergy. Unlike the weekday offering, Good Morning, Chattanooga, the show will rely less on interviews and more on straight news delivery. The show's strongest departure from traditional news fare may be a segment where a live camera captures area residents starting the day. The feature won't be all juice and jam, Hunsicker says, but rather a chance to show guests in natural settings at home and work. Both Pless and Ms. Nettune will continue reporting for the station's other newscasts. Both have done fill-in anchoring, and Hunsicker feels there's good chemistry between the two. Pless has been with the station for five years, Ms. Nettune for a year and a half. WTVC unveiled another locally produced newscast, NewsChannel 9 for Women, in August last year. Unlike that show, which is targeted specifically toward women, the Sunday morning newscast is expected to draw all demographics. "This is geared to anybody who's just getting up on Sunday morning and is wondering what's going on," Hunsicker says.
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