WLEX, the NBC-affiliate in Lexington, will launch a 4:30 a.m. newscast on Monday.

“It’s just a natural extension of what we’re doing already,” news director Bruce Carter told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “I remember years ago, people asked who’s going to watch at 5 a.m., and we have tremendous ratings at 5. So we know there’s an audience out there at 4:30 a.m.”

The extra-half hour will be helmed by Chris Goodman and Nicole Pence, who currently anchor the station’s 5-7 a.m. newscast.