Newscast
For several years, NBC affiliate WPSD-TV (owned by the Paxton Media Group) produced a nightly prime time newscast on KBSI through a news share agreement. The thirty minute show was known as Local 6 News at 9 on Fox 23 and featured a regional summary of headlines and weather forecasts because KBSI is based in Cape Girardeau. On its own newscasts, WPSD traditionally focuses on the Western Kentucky side of the market.
The broadcast originated from that station's facility on Television Lane in Paducah, Kentucky. For awhile, KBSI competed with another nightly half-hour newscast at 9 on the area's low-powered CW affiliates WQTV-LP/WQWQ-LP. That newscast, produced by CBS affiliate KFVS-TV, was aired specifically for Southeastern Missouri viewers. It would eventually be cancelled on July 29, 2007. WPSD's outsourcing arrangement with KBSI expired on September 30, 2010. The next day, this station entered into a new partnership with KFVS (owned by Raycom Media) in order to expand the prime time production to sixty minutes in length every night.
KBSI's current show is known as Heartland News at 9 on Fox 23 and originates from the CBS affiliate's primary set at its studios on Broadway Avenue (in the Hirsch Tower) in Downtown Cape Girardeau. Unlike other outsourced news arrangements at Sinclair-owned television stations, this outlet uses the same graphics scheme as seen on the CBS affiliate. Also, there are no on-air duratans separately identifying the Fox newscast. KBSI features the majority of personnel from the CBS affiliate. With the addition of Heartland News at 9, KFVS now offers more than thirty hours of local news each week and continues to retain its market dominance as the most watched television station. On October 3, 2010, WPSD brought back its own newscast at 9 to its two digital subchannels. Known as The Nine and seen every night for a half-hour, that broadcast is simulcasted between the two services.
In addition to its main facility in Southeastern Missouri, KFVS operates a Southern Illinois Newsroom on East Plaza Drive in Carterville. During weather segments, KBSI uses live NOAA National Weather Service radar data from several regional sites. This system is known on-air as "Storm Team Digital Doppler". The outlet also features KFVS' own Doppler weather radar, called "Live StormTeam Radar", that is on top of the Hirsch building. It is an a Collins radar sold by ADC in Bloomington, Indiana and is the only live radar source in the market since the National Weather Service data is delayed. In instances of severe weather, KBSI may simulcast live coverage from the CBS outlet if an event occurs outside the prime time newscast.
Anchors
- Jeff Cunningham - weeknight news
- Crystal Britt - weekend news and reporter
- Bob Reeves (AMS Seal of Approval) - Senior Meteorologist seen weeknights
- Laura Wibbenmeyer - weekend meteorologist and reporter
- Todd Richards - Sports Director seen weeknights
- TBD - weekend sports
Reporters
- Stephanie Byars - health
- Don Frazier - photographer
- John Morgan - Chief Photographer
- Arnold Wyrick - Southern Illinois Newsroom
- Carly O'Keefe - Southern Illinois Newsroom
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