WTEN’s Morning News Takes Newscasts to Various Locations Around Albany

By Paul Greeley
817-578-6324, Paul@NewsBlues.com

WTEN, Nexstar’s ABC affiliate in Albany, New York, has been taking the entire cast and mobile set to various locations around the Capital Region of Albany since May, 2018 in its “NEWS10 in Your Town” series, says Ryan Mott, the station’s news director for the past 15 years.

“It stemmed from a desire to give the morning team a chance to get out of the studio and into the community,” Mott says.

Mott says each year, “NEWS10 in Your Town” tries to spread out to get to more remote locations that don’t get the ‘big city’ buzz.

“In the smaller towns, we are met with an incredibly warm reception,” Mott says. “We get folks who come down just to say hi, while others sit and watch the whole broadcast.”

Taking a newscast out of the studio and broadcasting it live remotely is not easy, and it takes preparation and time and energy to set up.

Mott says the station has streamlined the process with a smaller, more mobile presence for the live shows.

“With the advancements of technology and mobile gear, we’re much more efficient now,” he says.

The station promotes where the newscasts will be from week to week and has underwriting sponsors.

“It’s really a labor of love for the morning team,” Mott says. “Everyone contributes with stories and history of the areas we choose. The anchors and reporters work ahead to line up interviews and features. It’s an exciting series we do each year. Gets everyone back into remote production and operating out in the field.”

CLICK HERE to go to WTEN’s In the Town YouTube page to see more examples.