WGRZ - News Operation

News Operation

The station used the NewsCenter brand in the 1970s. The current brand, "Channel 2 News," dates to the 1980s and early 1990s. In the early 1990s, WGRZ used the "24 Hour News Source" format.

From 2001 to 2003, WGRZ (as part of an NBC initiative, as well as an effort to preempt WNLO and WIVB's plans to launch its own 10 p.m. news) produced a 10 p.m. newscast for PAX TV affiliate WPXJ-TV. In 2006, WGRZ began producing a new 10 p.m. newscast for local WB (now MyNetworkTV) affiliate WNYO, known as 2 On Your Side Ten at 10 (formerly known as 2 News on 49 - 10 at 10, which originally featured ten minutes of news and the rest dedicated to sports).

WGRZ was the last of the three Buffalo television news outlets to produce a noon newscast, having launched it in February 2008. In June 2009, it dropped its noon newscast in favor of an 11:00 a.m. "midday" news, the first of its kind in the Buffalo market. Unlike most television stations, WGRZ takes an openly activist "watchdog journalism" approach to its news coverage, with its commitment to "Holding People In Power Accountable" and being "On Your Side." To do this, WGRZ has the largest staff in the Buffalo market with more general assignment/feature story reporters and sports reporters than either WIVB or WKBW.

As of February 17, 2010, WGRZ became the first Buffalo station to broadcast its newscasts in upconverted widescreen SD. Until October 29, 2011, their news video was produced entirely in 4:3 SD, which was then cropped to a 16:9 aspect ratio and upconverted to 1080i in the master control room, before HD graphics and pictures were added for broadcast. On January 7, 2011, WGRZ mentioned that they will be receiving a brand new news set during a short segment. During the 10 day construction period, one of their interview areas was used as a temporary news set.

WGRZ's new set debuted during Daybreak on January 17, 2011. The set which was designed for the transition to high definition newscasts now features extensive use of steel, glass and wood in combination with HD flat panel displays, blue lighting, and a background of several local landmarks. The landmarks are Buffalo City Hall, Niagara Falls, Erie Community College City Campus, and Old Erie County Hall. The new set complements the HD weather set that debuted in February 2010. After rival WKBW-TV upgraded its newscasts to true high definition in August 2011, WGRZ upgraded their newscasts to true high definition on October 29, 2011.

WGRZ began to produce full HD field video for their news operation on October 29, 2011 making them the only Buffalo television station to offer its news programming in true HD.

On April 23, 2012, WGRZ and Investigative Post announced a partnership in which Investigative Post will co-produce investigations, interviews and other news segments that focus on various issues in government around the Western New York Area. In addition, WGRZ and Investigative Post will co-brand a website dedicated to shared content. As a result of this partnership, former Buffalo News reporter Jim Haney will become a contributor to WGRZ by conducting interviews on Daybreak Sunday, producing weekly news segments with Investigative Post content, and making periodic appearances during weekday editions of Daybreak. The partnership with Investigative Post will not eliminate WGRZ's staff; it will add additional resources for investigative reporting.

As of August 6, 2012, WGRZ has expanded their Daybreak morning show by adding an additional 30 minutes. Weekdays, the show now airs from 4:30am-7am. Then on September 10, 2012, WGRZ announced the expansion of Daybreak Saturday by adding an hour from 6-7am, and then moving the current show from 9-10am. Today will continue to air from 7-9am.