Spectrum News 1 Shuffles Lineup; Giselle Fernandez To Anchor New Afternoon News Block (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of local news over the past few decades, I can confidently say that Giselle Fernandez‘s move to anchor “The Rush Hour” on Spectrum News 1 is a game-changer. With her extensive experience and numerous accolades, including nine Emmys and three LA Press Club’s Journalist of the Year awards, she is undoubtedly the right person for this new role.


Giselle Fernandez is moments away from adjusting her alarm clock. Soon, Los Angeles’ Spectrum News 1 will announce that this experienced broadcast news anchor will debut a brand-new three-hour weekday program on the same network called “The Rush Hour”, starting August 19.

The shift of Fernandez to afternoon broadcasts is a part of an anchor reshuffle at our local cable news station. Prior to this change, Fernandez was hosting “Your Morning on Spectrum News 1”; now, that role will be taken over by Kelvin Washington, who’s transitioning from the midday slot. Meanwhile, Amrit Singh, another anchor, has stepped into the afternoon time-slot for Spectrum News 1 and will also continue to present the political talk show “Inside the Issues.”

Spectrum News 1 announced they were moving their programming schedule following new studies indicating heightened demand for local news between 4 PM and 7 PM, a period they’re now referring to as the “new prime-time.”

“Spectrum Networks debuted Spectrum News 1 in Southern California with the aim of revolutionizing Los Angeles’ news scene. They want to reach their audience effectively, and they achieved it, garnering viewership from over one million households per month within six years. ‘The Rush Hour’, as Cater Lee, vice president of original programming and on-air talent development at Spectrum News 1, explained, is the next phase in this transformation process.”

As a movie critic, I’m thrilled to announce that ‘The Rush Hour’ will offer more than just the usual news and weather. It’ll be a unique blend, infused with Spectrum News 1’s distinctive local news coverage, emphasizing community-driven storytelling. In this new role, Giselle will delve even deeper into stories that resonate with Angelenos. With a team of dedicated journalists by her side, she’ll offer an unbiased perspective on local news that directly impacts our daily lives. Meanwhile, Kelvin and Amrit will each have the opportunity to shine in different dayparts, showcasing their individual reporting styles.

The victory of “Your Morning on Spectrum News 1,” led by Fernandez, in the category for morning newscast at the recent Los Angeles Area Emmy awards is noteworthy. In total, Spectrum News 1 received 17 nominations at this year’s L.A. Emmys, marking an increase from last year’s 14 and placing them second only to PBS SoCal in terms of nominations for the event in 2024.

“Fernandez expressed his deep sense of accomplishment regarding the development at Spectrum News 1 in the Los Angeles market over the past six years. He emphasized that we have consistently delivered impartial, reliable, and local news coverage when it matters most. As the era of comprehensive, contextual storytelling takes center stage, our dedication to this mission remains unwavering. Although it’s tough to part with the exceptional morning team, he is enthusiastic about broadening our commitment to excellent storytelling in a dynamic and rapidly evolving television industry.”

All three anchors have been part of Spectrum News 1 since its debut in 2018. Fernandez, a nine-time Emmy winner, not only leads the acclaimed weekly series “LA Stories,” but has also been honored as Journalist of the Year by the LA Press Club on three occasions (receiving their President’s Award in 2023.)

In 2021, Washington received a Golden Mike award. He then went on to host “50 Years of Hip Hop: From the Westside” for Spectrum News 1, and he regularly contributes to their show “LA Times Today.” Additionally, Singh hosts both “Spectrum News Challenge” and the Golden Mike-winning series “Music Diaries” on Spectrum News.

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2024-08-08 20:16