America’s Morning News Signs DC Affiliate

Federal News Network (WFED 1500) has signed on to carry America’s Morning News when it launches September 21. The new one hour program, hosted by Rich Johnson, will air at 5 AM and will keep a national morning news program in the slot currently occupied by Westwood One‘s America in the Morning.

Westwood One is replacing America in the Morning nationally with The Bongino Report AM. The WFED decision raises an interesting question: What will WMAL do at 5 AM? WMAL is currently filling the 5 AM hour with a rerun of Larry O’Connor‘s 8 AM hour of the previous day. WMAL is owned by Cumulus Media, which also owns Westwood One, and the station already carries The Bongino Report PM from 9 to 11 PM. Carrying Bongino in the morning would certainly be some good corporate synergy.

Nothing has been announced by WMAL. But adding The Bongino Report AM at 5 would seem like a possibility. It would give WMAL another hour of Bongino, provide a lead-in to its local morning show, and give Westwood One’s new program a clearance in the nation’s capital. For now, though, that part is speculation. DCRTV will be watching to see whether WMAL makes a move before the September 21 launch.