ABC2 News, First and Only 4:30am news

For immediate Release April 18, 2011
ABC2 NEWS DEBUTS BALTIMORE’S FIRST AND ONLY 4:30AM NEWSCAST

Baltimore,MD — This morning ABC2 News Good Morning Maryland started broadcasting bright and early at 4:30 — the FIRST and ONLY Baltimore station to serve the region’s viewers in this time period.

“It's exciting to be the FIRST Baltimore news team on at 4:30 am,” says Kelly Groft, News Director. “People are waking up earlier to get to work and to get their families going, and we'll be there first thing in the morning to help them start their day off right!”

The 4:30 am start time will focus on news that has happened overnight, a forecast of the day’s news ahead, plus current weather and traffic conditions — everything to get Baltimore prepared and out the door.

“WMAR was the first station on the air in Maryland,” said Bill Hooper, Vice President/General Manager. “Now it’s the very FIRST station to serve our viewers in the morning with earlier news than any other local station in the market.”

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In 1947, WMAR-TV was the nation’s 11th (and Maryland’s first) television station to sign on the air.

The station has been the site of many technological breakthroughs: first with a color film processor for television news and production, and the first Zoom camera lens for film and tape cameras.

WMAR is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, a diverse media enterprise with interests in broadcast television stations, newspaper publishing and syndication of news features and comics.

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Contact Maria Mager
Creative Services Director ABC2
WMAR-TV, 6400 York Rd., Baltimore, MD, 21212
(410) 372-2461, Mager@wmar.com