WPXI morning news team to lead new 7 a.m. show on Fox 53
Monday will bring not one, but two new newscasts to Pittsburgh TV news consumers.
We’ve known for more than a month now that KDKA-TV was set to premiere “Primetime News on KDKA+” at 8 p.m. Monday.
Not to be outdone, WPXI-TV will be launching “Channel 11 Morning News on Fox 53” at 7 a.m. Monday. WPXI news director Scott Trabandt confirmed that this soon-to-be regular WPGH-TV newscast will be led by Channel 11’s current morning news team of anchors Gordon Loesch and Katherine Amenta, meteorologist Scott Harbaugh and traffic reporter Trisha Pittman.
“‘Channel 11 Morning News on Fox 53’ will bring the experience and expertise of the Channel 11 team to the 7 a.m. hour,” Trabandt said in a statement.
“Gordon Loesch, Katherine Amenta, Scott Harbaugh, Trisha Pittman and the rest of the team will keep viewers informed with up-to-the-minute news, weather and traffic so they can be prepared for whatever their day and week hold.”
Timothy Emmerson, WPGH’s creative services director, confirmed to the Post-Gazette that “Channel 11 Morning News on Fox 53” will be taking over the 7-8 a.m. block that previously was reserved for “The National Desk,” a national news program produced by WPGH owner Sinclair Broadcast Group. Pittsburghers can still catch an hour of “The National Desk” at 6 a.m. and again at 8 a.m., according to Emmerson.
News shows like this Fox 53 endeavor have been popping up across all three stations over the past few years. WTAE-TV began airing a 4 p.m. newscast in July 2021, KDKA slotted in “Talk Pittsburgh” at 3 p.m. last spring, and WPXI added its own 4 p.m. program in September 2021 and a 6:30 p.m. newscast on WPGH in March 2022.
Channel 11 also made a splash late last month by bringing on Shaler native, West Virginia University graduate and former WTAE reporter Katelyn Sykes as its newest freelancer.