Morning News

Tuning in to news on the radio and/or television is a staple of the morning routine for millions of people across the United States. From minute-long headline briefs to four-hour blocks, morning news on broadcast, cable, and satellite outlets provides a wide range of news and information, traffic, weather, and entertainment. Most morning news on radio and television is rigidly formatted to time, so viewers and listeners not only get the information but can gauge whether they are running ahead or behind in their morning schedule. More than any other news program, morning news is focused on the things the audience needs to know immediately to progress with their day—that is, “Do I need a coat or umbrella?” “Is there an accident on my driving route?” “Is the kids' school delayed or closed by weather?” “What was the score of the game last night?” “What hot stories will everyone be talking about over coffee this morning?” Over time the role of news in the morning has grown on radio and television to the point where both local and network broadcasts offer up to four or more hours of morning news programming starting as early as 4:30 a.m.

Before detailing the history and current status of radio and television morning news, it is important to understand the difference between local and network programming. In the United States, broadcast stations are licensed by the government to broadcast in local communities. Those stations produce some of their own programming locally, especially news. Television stations usually affiliate with networks (a few radio stations still do as well) that provide programming to many stations across the country. In news, networks typically cover the world and national stories that local stations do not have the resources to cover on their own. So in the morning, an all-news radio station in Columbus, Ohio, might do local news, traffic and weather, and then air CBS Radio World News Roundup or CBS Radio newscasts on the hour. A television station in Columbus might air local news from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m., followed by the networks' the Today show or Good Morning America from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m.