This Texas Station Could Change Morning Newscasts Forever
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The local television news landscape is witnessing a bold experiment that could offer a viable blueprint for stations nationwide, particularly those seeking to engage modern audiences who favor on-demand and conversational content.
KTSM 9 in El Paso, Texas, is launching a drastically revamped morning newscast on December 2, 2025, moving away from the traditional, repetitive, and anchor-heavy format. The changes, driven by News Director Chris Babcock, pivot toward a more magazine-style, discussion-based program integrating popular radio elements.
The station's new show, "KTSM 9 News Today with Ian, Mike, and Tricia," is designed to challenge the status quo, which Babcock argues is no longer serving viewers who consume breaking news instantly on smart devices.
"The traditional format isn’t enough anymore – having two, three, four, or even five anchors/reporters repeating the same handful of stories for two, three, or even four hours isn’t fair to the viewer," said Babcock. "They’ve already seen most of their news on their smart device... how do we make it relevant?"
The core innovation is the introduction of former top-rated El Paso radio personalities, Mike Martinez and Tricia Martinez (not related), who are joining existing anchor Ian Roth from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
The format will utilize a new multi-use digital studio and the standard news desk, but will encourage the conversational tone, audience interaction, and deep-dive discussions common in talk radio or podcasts:
Audience Engagement: Viewers will be able to call in, message, or text their thoughts and opinions in real-time—a fundamental feature of a live radio show, rarely utilized in a TV news environment.
Discussion Over Repetition: The goal, according to Babcock, is to move beyond "rapid-fire videos, stories, wrecks, and weather" to "taking time and talking about what’s going on and really digging into the impact in our viewers’ daily lives.”
This shift is crucial for two reasons that resonate across all local markets:
Combating News Fatigue: The format directly addresses the burnout viewers experience from being "hit over the head with flashing lights and incessant breaking news alerts." It acknowledges that audiences, especially in the early morning, seek context and conversation over simple facts they already know.
Podcast/Streaming Appeal: The conversational, interactive, and less-formal nature of the show is perfectly suited for modern content consumption. By emulating the flow of a popular talk podcast, the station is generating an audio-friendly product that could easily be stripped for a successful podcast feed—capturing listeners who prefer their news and commentary on the go, even if they miss the live TV broadcast.
For news directors in other markets, KTSM's move demonstrates a path to retaining viewers by creating a differentiated product that offers analysis and connection instead of competing directly with the speed of digital media.
Adding to the station's strategic overhaul is the transition of morning anchor Karla Draksler from the newsroom to the sales department, becoming a dedicated original content creator for the station’s streaming app, KTSM+.
This move highlights a growing trend: prioritizing original, non-traditional content outside of linear newscasts. Draksler stated her passion had shifted from the traditional career path of chasing larger markets to creating content that "makes people happy," focusing on community and entertainment stories.
Her new role reflects the industry's need for versatile, entrepreneurial journalists committed to local storytelling across all platforms, even as she steps away from the anchor desk.
"I very much so, love local news, support local news, and believe journalism, especially local journalism, is now more important than ever," Draksler said.
The KTSM changes signal a commitment to innovation on all fronts—linear television, streaming, and audience engagement—that every local broadcast group will be watching closely.
H/T Mike McGuff
