Spectrum News 1 shakes up anchor lineup: Giselle Fernandez to lead ‘The Rush Hour’

A new era for Los Angeles news

Giselle Fernandez is about to reset her alarm clock. Starting August 19, the seasoned broadcast journalist will anchor a new three-hour weekday program on Los Angeles’ Spectrum News 1, aptly named “The Rush Hour”. This move marks a significant shift in the station’s anchor lineup, reflecting a broader strategy to capture the growing audience interest in the late afternoon time slot.

Afternoon news: The new primetime

Fernandez’s transition to afternoons is part of a broader anchor reshuffle at Spectrum News 1. Previously, she hosted “Your Morning on Spectrum News 1”, a role that will now be taken over by Kelvin Washington, who is moving from his midday slot. Meanwhile, Amrit Singh will take the reins of “Your Afternoon on Spectrum News 1” while continuing to host the political interview show “Inside the Issues”.

Spectrum News 1’s decision to make these changes follows recent research indicating a surge in viewership from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., a period they are now calling the “new primetime.” This strategic move aims to meet the audience where they are, providing timely and relevant news coverage during these peak hours.

The vision behind ‘The Rush Hour’

Cater Lee, Spectrum News 1’s vice president of original programming and on-air talent development, emphasized the network’s commitment to transforming the news landscape in Los Angeles. “Spectrum Networks launched Spectrum News 1 in Southern California with the goal of transforming the news landscape in LA, meeting our audience where they are, rising to viewership from over one million households per month just six years later; ‘The Rush Hour’ is the next step in that journey,” Lee stated.

“The Rush Hour” will feature breaking news and weather updates, along with Spectrum News 1’s signature community-based storytelling. Fernandez, supported by a team of field journalists, will delve deeper into stories impacting Angelenos, providing viewers with objective local news that affects their everyday lives.

A winning team

The timing of this shift is notable, as Fernandez’s “Your Morning on Spectrum News 1” recently won the L.A. Area Emmy award for morning newscast. Spectrum News 1 garnered 17 nominations at the 2024 L.A. Emmys, second only to PBS SoCal.

Reflecting on her journey, Fernandez said, “I take great pride in what we have built at Spectrum News 1 in the LA market over the last six years. We have remained committed to bringing unbiased, trusted, and hyperlocal coverage to the Southland at a time when comprehensive contextual storytelling should be at the forefront. While it’s hard to say goodbye to the great morning team, I am eager to expand our mission of great storytelling in an exciting and fast-changing new television landscape.”

The anchors’ accolades

All three anchors have been with Spectrum News 1 since its 2018 launch. Fernandez, a nine-time Emmy winner, also hosts the Emmy award-winning weekly series “LA Stories” and has been named Journalist of the Year by the LA Press Club three times, receiving the President’s Award in 2023.

Kelvin Washington, who won a Golden Mike award in 2021, has hosted “50 Years of Hip Hop: From the Westside” and is a frequent contributor on “LA Times Today”. Amrit Singh has hosted “Spectrum News Challenge” and the Golden Mike-winning limited series “Music Diaries”.

Looking ahead

As Spectrum News 1 continues to evolve, the network’s commitment to delivering high-quality, hyperlocal news remains steadfast. With “The Rush Hour”, viewers can expect a dynamic blend of breaking news, weather updates, and in-depth community stories, all delivered by a team of seasoned journalists dedicated to keeping Angelenos informed and engaged.

For more information on the new lineup and to catch a glimpse of the upcoming shows, visit the Spectrum News 1 website.

Note: This article is a reimagined version of the original content, designed to provide a fresh perspective and deeper insights into the changes at Spectrum News 1.