Nexstar has agreed to provide a special feed of local news provided by WWLP-TV (NBC), in Springfield, MA to Charter subscribers in the communities of Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts.
The parties reached the agreement with the assistance of U.S. Sens. Edward Markey, (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA).
The agreement returns Springfield’s #1 news and weather to Charter subscribers in Berkshire County. The leading edge of WWLP-TV’s 24-hour daily programming will be live simulcasts of every WWLP-22 News broadcast, delivering 37 hours of weekly local news to Charter subscribers. The special feed also will carry WWLP-TV’s Mass Appeal lifestyle show, the longest running show of its nature in the market, and In Focus, a weekly public affairs program.
“WWLP-TV 22 News is prepared to deliver much-needed breaking news and severe weather alerts to the Berkshires at any moment 24-hours a day,” said Tim Busch, president of Nexstar Broadcasting. “Providing high-quality, live local news and content to the communities we serve is core to Nexstar’s mission. We are extremely pleased to be returning WWLP-TV’s News 22 local newscasts and programming to Charter subscribers in Berkshire County.”
“We are pleased to have reached this creative agreement with Nexstar to bring their high-quality, local news programming to our subscribers in the Berkshire communities in a way that will not impact our customers’ bills,” said Tom Montemagno, Charter’s Executive Vice President, Programming Acquisition.
WWLP-TV has always provided Berkshire news and weather coverage, and with this initiative WWLP-TV will immediately elevate that commitment by providing a Berkshire-specific weather forecast in every newscast and by dedicating one journalist to provide regular coverage of issues affecting these communities. WWLP-News 22 also will expand news coverage of the Massachusetts State Legislature on issues of key relevance to Berkshire communities.
Mass Appeal provides an upbeat and conversational connection to day-to-day life in Western Massachusetts. Featuring cooking, style, festivals, health, family and local businesses, Berkshire residents will be excited to reconnect with all that Mass Appeal has to offer every weekday at 11am. In Focus will shed light on deeper civic issues with dialogue from major local leaders and influences and feature regular episodes targeted to topics of Berkshire interest.
The special feed is set to launch in the next 30 to 60 days.