WESH Kicks Off Daily Political Show

12:30 p.m. slot extends Hearst TV station's election coverage in Orlando

By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/4/2012 9:55:14 AM

WESH Orlando debuts the daily political program Commitment 2012: Extra Oct. 8 through Election Day, offering viewers in DMA No. 19 an additional 30 minutes a day of local coverage. The 12:30 p.m. show leads out of a newscast and replaces paid programming.

Hosted by anchors Jason Guy and Meredith McDonough, along with WESH political reporter Greg Fox, Commitment 2012: Extra include live conversations and debates with local candidates, election news and developments from the campaign trail.

The program is an extension of parent Hearst TV's Commitment 2012 initiative, which features a minimum 12 minutes' airtime for daily political coverage per weekday and, where possible, on weekends, on the Hearst TV news stations in the month leading up to Election Day.

"WESH 2 News has always taken our role seriously when it comes to informing and educating our viewers before they head to the ballot box," says Bob Longo, WESH news director. "This important election season, we're giving viewers an even greater chance to learn about the candidates asking for their votes and the issues so important to our community."

Jim Carter, president and general manager of WESH, says the program provides an opportunity to dig deeper on vital issues. "It's an important to give viewers more perspective and showcase issues and local races that typically don't get enough attention," he says. "It's an opportunity for us to be really in-depth on a daily basis."