WGN to launch ‘Spotlight Chicago,’ second local lifestyle program

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WGN in Chicago is prepping a local afternoon show for a fall 2023 launch.

The show, titled “Spotlight Chicago” is expected to debut in September 2023 at 3 p.m. local time, replacing two repeats of “Friends” on the Chicago independent station.

Sarah Jindra and Ji Suk Yi have been named co-hosts of the program.

“We are very excited to launch more local programming from Chicago’s Very Own. ‘Spotlight Chicago’ reflects our ongoing commitment to serve our viewers and continue to tell stories of the good things going on in our community,” said Paul Rennie, WGN vice president and general manager in a statement. “Sarah and Ji will be a fantastic duo. Both are seasoned veterans who know Chicagoland inside and out.”

Jindra will move over from the station’s morning news team, where she was a traffic reporter. She also worked in the market at Chicago Public Radio and NBC-owned WMAQ.

Yi is also a fixture in Chicago media. She spent seven seasons on ABC-owned WLS’s “Windy City Live” lifestyle program. She left the show prior to its 2021 cancellation and has since worked for various local outlets, including radio hosting and digital projects for the Chicago Sun-Times. She was briefly a digital anchor on NewsNation, which is owned by WGN parent Nexstar and operates from Chicago, and has also been filling in on WGN’s other local lifestyle program “Daytime Chicago.”

Tonya Francisco and Amy Rutledge co-host that program, which debuted in 2021.