On January 6, 2020, WXIX expanded its early evening, 90-minute news block to three full hours, adding newscasts at 5 and 6 p.m. to the station’s existing 4 and 6:30 p.m. broadcasts. With the addition of the new News programming, FOX19 NOW produces more news than any other Cincinnati station – 11 hours and 35 minutes every weekday.

The station also named new anchor teams to deliver Cincinnati’s top stories throughout the broadcast. Tricia Macke continues to anchor from 4 to 5 p.m. alongside Chief Meteorologist Steve Horstmeyer. At 5 p.m., former WCPO anchor/reporter Chris Riva joins Macke and Horstmeyer. The 5:30 show pairs longtime FOX19 NOW 6:30 p.m. anchor Rob Williams with former FOX19 NOW weekend anchor Amber Jayanth. Chief Meteorologist joins Williams and Jayanth during the 5:30 half hour. At 6 p.m. Williams and Riva team with First Alert Weather meteorologist Ashley Smith. The 3-hour block wraps at 6:30 with Williams, Jayanth and Smith.

With the expansion complete, this is what FOX19 NOW’s weekday news lineup looks like:

4:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. FOX19 NOW
9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. FOX19 NOW Morning Xtra
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. FOX 19 NOW
10 p.m. to 11:35 p.m. FOX19 NOW

As part of the news expansion, WXIX added staff and cutting-edge technology to streamline production of its newscasts. According to WXIX Vice President and General Manager Debbie Bush, “Our last news expansion in 2018 was so well received by viewers and advertisers, that this seemed like the logical time to expand again. We have great momentum and over the past several years have solidified our position as the Tri-State’s #1 early and late news.”