5 p.m. News Returns to WNBC, as New York Live Moves to 3 p.m.

How will WNBC mark two years on the air for lifestyle and entertainment show New York Live (formerly LX New York)?

WNBC/Channel 4 has announced that they will bring news back to viewers at the, once coveted, 5 p.m. slot.

“We’re excited to announce the launch of a 5 p.m. newscast on NBC 4 in September,” says general manager Michael Jack. ”We are dedicated to being the leader in local news in the Tri-State area and this additional newscast is the next building block to help us achieve that goal.”

A WNBC spokeswoman says the 5 p.m. anchors will be named later this summer.

New York Live with co-hosts Jane Hanson and Sara Gore (above) are headed to the more housewife-friendly 3 p.m. While a WNBC spokeswoman says they don’t expect any staffing changes, the are always looking to evolve their programming. 

The handwriting may have been on the wall for LX New York, at least at 5 p.m., as recently as last month, that’s when the show’s title was changed from LX New York to New York Live.

“We’re very pleased with New York Live and the momentum it has built over the last two years,” Jack says. “We believe the show will continue to grow its audience in its new period.  New York Live is the same great show at a great new time.”

The local news landscape has been altered since Oprah Winfrey stepped down after a quarter-century of afternoon shows on WABC/Channel 7. That station opted for a 4 p.m. newscast to pick up the slack.

Meantime, the Daily News reports there are grumblings at WPIX, once again exploring the idea of a weekday newscast at 5 p.m. (Under news director Bill Carey, Channel 11 had a short-lived 6:30 p.m. in 2010).

“A new, one hour newscast at 5 p.m. will offer viewers a compelling choice for local news. In addition, we’re making significant investments to position NBC 4 as the market leader, including building a brand new state-of-the-art studio in the near future,” Jack adds.

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