PAX WVPX-TV 23 & WKYC-TV 3 Bring Local News Back to Akron Area
Announces Exclusive Local Akron News To Launch Early June

"Beginning in early June, PAX television station WVPX, Channel 23 and WKYC, Channel 3 will bring back Akron's only local newscast with native Eric Mansfield at the helm" announced Brooke Spectorsky, president and general manager of WKYC. "This a great day for Channel 23, Akron and local news viewers across Northeast Ohio." The half-hour early evening broadcast will air Monday through Friday , and be based out of new studios in the United Building at One South Main Street. Channel 23 last broadcast a local newscast in 1996.

Mayor Don Plusquellic at the announcement of the return of television news to Akron. To the left of the mayor is developer Tony Troppe, to his right is channel 3 General Manager Brooke Spectorsky.

"For over four years, we have heard from viewers, Summit County, Akron City Council, major companies, the University of Akron, and community leaders that they wanted and needed their own newscast," said Mr. Spectorsky. "With their strong support, Channel 3 is pleased to make this a reality."

"Our community, businesses and citizens have sorely missed a local newscast since Channel 23 left," said Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. "The city backs this effort, and Channel 23 and TV 3 have prepared an extensive plan that will bring nightly local news back to the Akron area audience. We are all looking forward to its premiere."

"This is a huge opportunity for Channel 23," said Dean Goodman, president of Paxon Communications. "This joint endeavor with WKYC is only now possible given their new digital broadcast center. The new technology allows Channel 3 to produce the show from multiple locations and really makes this a winning proposition for everyone. We are very proud that Channel 23 will again carry the only Akron originated local newscast."

Eric Mansfield (L) channel 23's new anchor man in Akron, Mark Williamson (C) director of communications for the City of Akron and former TV 23 anchor, and developer Tony Troppe outside One South Main, home of the new TV 23 downtown Akron studios.

"This audience is so important to us," added WKYC News Director Kathy Williams. "Eric has solid reputation in his hometown, and we knew he'd be the perfect anchor. 23 News will have weather and sports targeted for the Akron area. Chief Meterologist Mark Nolan, who also has experience in the market, will provide the weather. And we'll have a designated sports anchor covering teams like the Aeros, Golden Flashes, and Zips." Paxson Communication Corporation owns and operates the nation’s largest broadcast television station group and PAX TV, the newest broadcast television network. PAX, the national family entertainment network, reaches 81% of the U.S. television households

via nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. Through the company’s strategic relationship with NBC, the two networks recently shared the premiere of the new dramatic series

"Mysterious Ways" from July to mid-September. The series continues every Tuesday this fall on PAX, together with other original 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) series such as "Twice In A Lifetime," "It’s A Miracle" and "Encounters with the Unexplained." For more information, visit PAX TV’s website at www.pax.tv.

Gannett Television’s stations are: W*USA (CBS-Washington, D.C.); WXIA (NBC-Atlanta); KARE (NBC-Minneapolis); WTSP (CBS-Tampa); WKYC (NBC-Cleveland); KPNX (NBC-Phoenix); KNAZ (NBC-Flagstaff); KMOH (NBC-Kingman); K*USA (NBC-Denver); KXTV (ABC-Sacramento); KSDK (NBC-St. Louis); WZZM (ABC-Grand Rapids); WGRZ (NBC-Buffalo); WFMY (CBS-Greensboro); WJXX (ABC-Jacksonville); WTLV (NBC-Jacksonville); KTHV (CBS-Little Rock); WBIR (NBC-Knoxville); WCSH (NBC-Portland); WLBZ (NBC-Bangor); WLTX (CBS-Columbia); and WMAZ (CBS-Macon).

In addition to its television operations, Gannett publishes 99 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also publishes USA WEEKEND, a newspaper magazine. In the United Kingdom, Gannett subsidiary Newsquest plc publishes nearly 300 titles, including 15 daily newspapers.

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For information: Alina Martinet, 216/344-3352