NewsWatch TV

NewsWatch TV
Format	Weekly News Magazine
Starring	Susan Bridges (Host)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	906 (as of July 25, 2011)
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	syndicated Ion Television
Original run	March 1990 – present
External links
Website

NewsWatch is a weekly television program with a news and entertainment format, primarily featuring on location satellite media tour (SMT) interviews, video news releases (VNRs), public service announcements, and national non-profit awareness campaigns submitted to the program by various providers. It is usually broadcast during morning news hours between Thursday and Sunday on all Ion Television affiliates, as well as independently syndicated local stations. NewsWatch is based in Fairfax, Virginia and has offices in New York City.

Origins

NewsWatch began airing in March 1990 as a monthly program with a primary focus on financial issues. In the 1990s, it expanded its scope to become more of a TV news magazine covering a wide variety of topics of interest to the general public.

Format

NewsWatch uses an in-studio host who introduces the individual stories, all either pre-produced segments, VNRs, or Satellite Media Tours, booked through third party providers. Segments within the program typically run one-to-two minutes in length and are usually self-contained reports. The host also conducts interviews with newsmakers in remote locations throughout the U.S. These interviews cover a multitude of topics and often include well-known celebrities who may have a personal involvement in the issue being discussed.

Celebrity appearances

Between July 2010 and July 2011, celebrities including Carrie Underwood, Brooklyn Decker, Cee Lo Green, Tom Skerritt, Julie Bowen, Chris Noth, Paul Sorvino, Alison Sweeney, and Julianne Moore have appeared in the show. In that same time period, celebrity athletes including Phil Mickelson, Joe Montana, Jerry West and Jeff Burton have appeared on the show.

References

NewsWatch TV Airs its 850th Episode, 13 April 2010, http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3467724.htm, retrieved 30 July 2011