Newsy hires two CNN alums, former NewsNation anchor as it preps to go OTA

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Newsy, which is in the process of transitioning to a 24 hour over the air as well as OTT network, has hired some familiar faces for its new venture.

Former CNN “EarlyStart” co-anchor Dave Briggs has signed on to join the network’s “Morning Rush” from 7 to 11 a.m. eastern alongside Alex Livingston, Stephen Gradick and Veronica de La Cruz.

Another former CNN anchor, Natalie Allen, will anchor weekdays from 7 to 8 p.m. while former ABC News and NewsNation anchor Rob Nelson will appear from 4 to 7 p.m.

The move marks an expansion in regularly scheduled newscasts scheduled to start Oct. 1, 2021.

Currently Newsy plans to add early morning to 8 p.m. coverage with anchors originating from studios in Atlanta. An additional hour at 11 p.m. will also be added.

Currently it produces a few hours a day in addition to its on demand video and breaking news coverage.

Newsy says it will reach 92% of the country over the air when it relaunches Oct. 1. It will continue to operate as an OTT offering as well.

The network also launched a new logo design.

Newsy started life as a “multiperspective” news producer that would compile segments from various video news sources and edit them together in an attempt to illustrate all sides of an issue.

It was based in Columbia, Missouri, and had a partnership with the University of Missouri’s Missouri School of Journalism.

Scripps paid $35 million for the company in 2013, eventually converting it to a more standard digital media offering, dropping the practice of only offering compilations from other sources.

At the time, it was viewed as a way for Scripps to diversify into digital video in addition to its existing newspaper and TV business.

Over the years, Newsy has offered live anchored programming as well as pre-produced documentary and longform style content as well.