WFFF-TV - News Operation

News Operation

After WVNY moved into WFFF's studios in 2005, Smith Media made an announcement the company was planning to establish a news department for the two stations. However, after the 2006 creation of The CW and WFFF initially airing the network's programming in prime time at 10, there was some doubt as to the status of the local news operation launch. In mid-July 2007, planning for a nightly prime time newscast at 10 started with the posting of related jobs on WFFF's website. On November 26, advertisements began appearing on WFFF and WVNY for the launch of the 10 p.m. show which occurred December 3.

The broadcast, known as Fox 44 News at 10, originally ran every night for a half-hour but the weeknight show eventually expanded to 45 minutes on September 7, 2009. This is followed by a fifteen minute sports highlight show known as Sports Wrap. The first ten minutes of the news portion of the program airs in a format called "10 Minute Advantage" where the top stories of the day and a complete weather forecast are shown before a commercial break. Although WFFF is the area's first local news operation presented in high definition, it was actually the second prime time production established. WCAX began offering a thirty minute weeknight broadcast at 10 on its 24-hour local weather channel back on July 16, 2007.

On March 3, 2008, WFFF added a weeknight and Saturday broadcast at 7 on WVNY known as Fox 44 Local News on ABC. As a result, that station became first in the area to offer local news in the time slot. The move to launch the show was due in part to tough competition of newscasts at 6 seen on WCAX and WPTZ. As is the case on WFFF, the WVNY broadcasts are aired in high definition. The Saturday edition eventually moved to 6:30 which has been the case on Sundays from the start in order to accommodate ABC programming. The WVNY broadcasts mark the return of local news on that station since it shut down its own news department on September 12, 2003. Initially, the only "ABC 22" identification seen during the show was in the intro package and the "bug" in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

On August 18, 2008, WFFF began airing a two-hour weekday morning show called Fox 44 Local News This Morning. Included in the launch were local news and weather cut-ins on WVNY during its airing of Good Morning America. This occurs at :25 and :55 past the hour at which time the two stations simulcast each other. Eventually, an additional hour of the broadcast starting at 6 was added to WVNY and is known as ABC 22 This Morning. That station has since expanded it to a traditional two hour newscast. At some point in time, WVNY added nightly broadcasts at 6 and 11 becoming more of a big three affiliate offering local news competing with WCAX and WPTZ even though WFFF produces the broadcasts. All newscasts seen on that station are currently known as ABC 22 News.

Due to the relatively new status of the news department, there is a Vermont focus in coverage. During weather forecast segments, WFFF uses live NOAA National Weather Service radar data from three regional sites. It is presented on-screen in a system known as "Sky Tracker HD Triple Doppler". WFFF-DT2 airs the nationally syndicated morning show The Daily Buzz on weekdays from 6 until 8. Weather forecasts from WFFF can be heard on WSNO (1450 AM), WMOO (92.1 FM), WDOT (95.7 FM), WWFY (100.9 FM), WCPV (101.3 FM), WEXP (101.5 FM)/WTHK (100.7 FM), and WRFK (107.1 FM).