Here’s What NBC Boston’s New Lineup Will Look Like in 2017
Following an acrimonious split, a new NBC affiliate will debut in Boston on New Year’s Day 2017.
NBC Boston will debut on channel 10, after WHDH owner Ed Ansin’s lawsuit against Comcast, NBC’s parent company, failed to keep the network from yanking its affiliation in June. WHDH’s contract with NBC expires at the end of the year.
To mark the changing of the guards, channel 10 will host a “Countdown to NBC Boston” on New Year’s Eve, in conjunction with live coverage of First Night Boston from Copley Square. NBC Boston will carry network programming, as well as original content, including “The Hub Today,” a fashion, food, and travel show airing weekday afternoons at 12:30, and “This is New England,” a Sunday morning public affairs program.
The station will also feature an investigative reporting unit called, rather unimaginatively, “The Investigators,” as well as a 24/7 consumer unit called “NBC Boston Responds,” which will “respond to every email and call the station receives from consumers with complaints from across the region,” according to a release.
In preparation for the hellacious winter ahead, NBC Boston is already boasting the largest weather team in the region, along with a “SkyRanger helicopter, Weather Warrior storm chaser and the unprecedented state-of-the-art StormRanger,” all of which vaguely sound like they were lifted from a DARPA facility.
NBC Boston’s weekday morning show, “Today,” will be co-anchored by Nick Emmons and Melody Mendez, joined by chief meteorologist Matt Noyes, Natasha Verma on traffic, and breaking news anchor Latoyia Edwards. Its noon broadcast will feature anchors Brian Shactman, Latoyia Edwards, and meteorologist Michael Page.
The evening newscasts will feature Joy Lim Nakrin and Shannon Mulaire at 4 p.m.; Chris Emma and Audrey Asistio at 5 p.m.; Phil Lipof and Mulaire at 6 and 11 p.m.; and Lipof and Nakrin at 7 p.m. Meterologist Pete Bouchard will join the 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11 p.m. broadcasts, while sports anchor Raul Martinez will be on-hand for 6, 7, and 11 p.m.
The weekend news team will be comprised of anchors Jeff Saperston and Desiree Wiley and meteorologist Jackie Layer, while the evening news team will feature anchors Kristy Lee and Frank Holland and meteorologist Chris Gloninger.