When “The Oprah Winfrey Show” concludes its run on KCNC-Channel 4 on May 25, KMGH-Channel 7 hopes to replace it in viewers’ minds with “The Dr. Oz Show” at 4 p.m.
The station will move its 4 p.m. newscast to 3 p.m.
“The decision to put local news at 3 and put “Oz” at 4 is not an easy one, but it’s one we have to take advantage of,” said KMGH General Manager Byron Grandy. “It’s the natural Oprah replacement.”
Denver is one of 150 markets nationally that will carry “Dr. Oz” at 4 p.m., which the syndicator of the program believes makes Oz “the heir apparent.”
No local station has attempted a 3 p.m. newscast in the market’s history and the idea is a rarity around the country.
“Oz” typically has drawn 30,000 households at 3 p.m. “The hope is at 4 o’clock there’s more available audience. Plus those Oprah viewers are going to be looking for a place to land,” Grandy said. The station’s contract to run “Dr. Oz” extends for multiple years.
The timing of the 7News half-hour, which will be anchored by Anne Trujillo, Mike Landess and meteorologist Mike Nelson, will avoid head-to-head competition with KCNC-Channel 4 (which is expected to unveil a 4 p.m. newscast post-Oprah) and KUSA-Channel 9. The syndicated “Inside Edition” will fill out the hour.
KMGH News Director Jeff Harris acknowledged that fewer people are watching television at 3 p.m., but welcomed the timeslot. “We’ll be alone in that time period,” he said. “So much news and severe weather breaks right then, we’ll be in a good position to cover that.”
The station’s 11 a.m. newscast is similarly in a timeslot by itself and enjoys good ratings.
