A cable news alternative to CNN?

WGN America prepares for national newscast in a crowded market.

Many viewers across the country won’t be familiar with Joe Donlon, Marni Hughes and Rob Nelson, the lead anchor team of cable network WGN America’s new national newscast “News Nation” set to debut Sept. 1.

But WGN America Executive

Vice President Sean Compton says that the trio’s lack of a national profile is part of the strategy for the three-hour program that aims to be a downthe-middle alternative to the opinion-driven shows airing on cable news.

“They have no preconceived impressions,” Compton said by phone Monday. “We just hired local journalists who have not been at opinionated networks because let’s face it, the big three news channels are all opinionated — two on the left (MSNBC and CNN), one on the right (Fox News). We want them to come from local stations which tend to report facts and let you come to your own opinion.”

“News Nation” is a gamble by WGN America and its parent company Dallas-based Nexstar Media Group that there is an appetite for politically neutral news on cable. The program that will air from 8 to 11 p.m. Eastern counters the prevailing view of what drives audiences to cable news channels in the evening.

Fox News, CNN and MSNBC have seen their audiences surge in recent years as viewers have been drawn to the strident supporters and virulent opponents of President Trump’s bare-knuckle style of politics in the White House.