ABC News Radio Uses Prerecorded Overnight Newscasts

DCRTV hears that ABC News Radio does not air live network newscasts during the overnight hours, instead relying on prerecorded hourly newscasts. The practice drew attention after the network reportedly continued airing the same recorded newscasts following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham over the weekend, leaving affiliates without updated network coverage of the breaking story.

WTOP reportedly worked around the omission by having Dan Ronan, who was anchoring the overnight shift emphasize the breaking developments before and after the ABC newscasts. Ronan added some additional information about his coverage on the DCRTV Facebook page: “I was anchoring Sunday AM at WTOP when the story broke at 2:42. We confirmed the details and reported it at 2:47. In that hour we gave the story 2 more adlib reads and until 5a, we covered the Graham’s death in all 7 newsblocks and a live interview at 4a with a reporter, who had additional information. The 5a anchor Ian Crawford and the next shift took over then.”

While prerecorded newscasts may reduce operating costs, they can leave affiliates relying on local staff to provide updates when significant news breaks outside of regular business hours.