WVIT, the NBC O&O in Hartford, is adding 90 minutes to weekend newscasts.

Beginning this weekend, both the Saturday and Sunday morning newscasts will begin at 5:30 a.m. Previously, the Saturday newscast began at 6 a.m. and the Sunday newscast began at 6:30 a.m. In a statement, the station called the early hour “a key time period for New England early risers.”

“The expanded coverage allows us to serve Connecticut viewers that have not had any options for local news before 6 AM on weekend mornings,” said David Doebler, WVIT president and general manager.

The newscasts are anchored by Shirley Chan and Kerri-Lee Mayland, along with meteorologist Darren Sweeney.