Saturday, June 24, 2023

When news was news: Independent News Network (1980)

 Perhaps it was one of the first signs that independent stations, such as WPIX in New York, were ready for network affiliation.

The Independent News Network launched in 1980 on 3 stations. WPIX, and its Tribune-owned sister channels in Denver & Chicago. Long time 'PIX announcer Ralph Lowenstein handled those chores for the nightly news. As the network expanded, so did the INN format. WPIX had long joined the lunch hour news race with an informal half hour around 12:30 (ET), with Lowenstein as the sole anchor, heard but not seen. In 1981, a noon hour edition of INN was added, then cancelled after 5 years in 1986.

For a period in the late 80's, former CBS reporter Morton Dean served as a national anchor before leaving for ABC. Unfortunately, the novelty wore off INN, and Tribune put it to bed for good in 1990 after 10 years.

We have an early broadcast, picked up from WGN, then owned by Tribune.



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