station pic.jpg

CBS 3, ABC 40 and FOX 6 will consolidate their news gathering operations on Tuesday.

(The Republican)

A new brand name and more modern set await TV viewers when CBS 3, ABC 40 and FOX 6 consolidate their news gathering operations on Tuesday.

Western Mass News: Coverage You Can Count On will be launched after WSHM, CBS 3 Springfield, moves out of its offices at Monarch Place on Monday night and relocates to the 1300 Liberty St. studio of WGGB, ABC 40 and FOX 6.

Meredith Corp. - which has owned CBS 3 Springfield, since 2003 - purchased WGGB from Gormally Broadcasting for $53.8 million six months ago.

"We are combining both newsrooms so we can go after more local news - more completely - than ever before,'" said John Hesslein, station manager and director of sales. "It's a 1-2 punch. Viewers will be bowled over.

Western Mass News will become the media partner of The Republican and MassLive.com



There have been some departures in recent months, including the exit of Jim Tortora, who had been the ABC 40 and FOX 6 station manager and vice president of news.

However, there have been no major staff cuts, Hesslein said.

"We did not come in here looking to make wholesale changes," he said. "There is an immense value to WGGB or we would not have bought it."

Patience Hettrick, formerly of Meredith Corp. sister station WFSB in Hartford, is the news director of Western Mass News' three Springfield stations. Dave Ward will serve as assistant news director.

The once competing news staffs have "all come together pretty well," Hesslein said. "We were all friendly competitors to start with."

Western Mass News has also invested in advanced meteorological equipment and software to provide reliable weather forecasts.

Earlier this month, rival WWLP, Channel 22, a NBC affiliate, became the home to The CW network. Touted as CW Springfield, the station will offer 22News at 10 p.m. to compete with the FOX 6 newscast.