WRTV Debuts Recent Morning Team Following Circle City Broadcasting Acquisition
In a swift transition of leadership and programming, WRTV-ABC has announced a new morning news team and an expanded broadcast schedule. This overhaul comes immediately following the acquisition of the station by Circle City Broadcasting, which finalized an $83 million deal to purchase WRTV from the E.W. Scripps Co. On March 31.
The Launch of “AM LIVE”
Starting May 4, WRTV will debut AM LIVE, a fully live morning newscast. The new program will air weekdays from 4 a.m. To 7 a.m., expanding the station’s morning local coverage to three hours. This is a significant shift from the previous morning broadcast, which ran from 5 to 7 a.m. As a hybrid of live and recorded content.
Meet the New Morning Team
The new on-air lineup features a mix of seasoned Indianapolis journalists and new arrivals, with some talent transitioning from Circle City’s CW affiliate, WISH-TV:
- Karen Campbell: A veteran anchor with nearly 20 years of experience in broadcast journalism. Campbell previously spent six years at WTHR.
- Marlee Thomas: An anchor and reporter who joined Circle City Broadcasting in December 2024. She previously served as a lead anchor at WLFI in West Lafayette.
- Tara Hastings: A meteorologist who has been with WISH since 2018.
- Alan Selph: A reporter who recently worked at WREG in Memphis, Tennessee.
Staffing Transitions and Layoffs
The announcement of the new morning team follows a period of significant instability at the station. According to reports from the Indianapolis Star, WRTV experienced mass layoffs last week, with some estimates suggesting over 50 staff members were terminated—nearly the entire news staff.
DuJuan McCoy, owner, president, and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting, stated that the personnel cuts did not affect all employees and that the company offered immediate positions to several WRTV staff members whose skills were evaluated. One such retention is longtime investigative reporter Kara Kenney, who confirmed on April 3 that she accepted an offer to remain with the station under the new ownership.
- New Show: “AM LIVE” debuts May 4, airing 4-7 a.m. Weekdays.
- New Ownership: Circle City Broadcasting acquired WRTV from E.W. Scripps Co. On March 31.
- Personnel: The morning team includes Karen Campbell, Marlee Thomas, Tara Hastings, and Alan Selph.
- Operational Shift: The morning news moves from a hybrid recorded/live format to a fully live three-hour broadcast.
Looking Ahead
DuJuan McCoy has characterized the expansion of morning coverage as “only the beginning of many more improvements” for the newly acquired station. As WRTV integrates with Circle City Broadcasting’s existing operations, the station aims to increase its investment in local journalism for Central Indiana viewers.