Murphy and Coffey to Anchor Afternoons

Claudia Coffey

When WHAS-TV launches its new 4 p.m. newscast Sept. 12, a couple of its most popular females will be sharing anchoring duties.

Claudia Coffey and Renee Murphy will be hosting the newscast, according to news director Mark Neerman. Both have extensive experience at WHAS and in the Louisville market.

“They’re both excellent reporters and anchors. They know Louisville and they connect well with the people who watch,” Neerman said. He added that Monty Webb will add the newscast to his list of duties.

The newscast is part of a revamped daily lineup on WHAS-TV. With the departure of the Oprah show in the afternoons, the station made the decision to go with the local newscast rather than replace Oprah with another syndicated product. The station is also launching a new morning show, Great Day Live!, at 9 as the Regis and Kelly show is moving for WDRB-TV.

Renee Murphy

At 4, the new newscast will go up against a 4 p.m. newscast on WDRB-TV, though the ratings leader at that hour currently is the CBS soap “The Young and the Restless.” WAVE airs Ellen DeGeneres in that hour.

Neerman said the personnel changes create an opening for a weekend anchor at the station.