Local News Wakes Up

摘要

Good Morning Memphis anchor Ron Meroney isn't prone to Freudian slips, but on a recent morning, he tripped up. "Melissa is live in the bedroom," he said, intending to say "newsroom." His WHBQ cohorts howled with laughter. At 5:30 a.m., such a gaffe might be forgiven. The show, one of a growing number of really early- morning news shows, goes live at 5 a.m. in one of the most competitive morning markets in the country. Last fall, WHBQ moved Good Morning Memphis' 7 a.m. start time up two hours to match CBS affiliate WREG at 5 a.m. However, true bragging rights go to NBC affiliate WMC, which kicks off its news, traffic and weather at 4:30 a.m., when some residents of this blues town are just going to bed. "Morning news is the new prime time," says WMC News Director Peggy Phillips, clutching the first of three mugs of coffee for the day.