Cox Media Group is planning on re-branding the newscasts for WFXT FOX 25 in its latest attempt at fixing the image of the struggling station.
Cox Media Group is planning on re-branding the newscasts for WFXT FOX 25 in its latest attempt at fixing the image of the struggling station.
Sources inside FOX 25 say one of the reasons for the change is to distinguish the station from the Fox News Channel. We've been told that the station has been flooded with emails and calls from viewers "angry" with the Fox News Channel (especially during this election season) and Cox Media Group hopes to create some distance from the cable network with the name change.
We're told FOX 25 news director Mike Oliveira was at corporate headquarters in Atlanta last week to discuss the changes. You may have also noticed a subtle change during the newscasts, as reporters have changed the way they sign out of reports and have stopped saying "FOX 25 News" (video below).
While a decision on what the branding will change to has not been made yet, we've been told the station could take on the "Action News 25" name, or they could simply go with "25 News."
This change comes as FOX 25 has been struggling in the ratings, and from decreased morale inside the station.
In August we told you that Cox declared a "code red" at the station due to the ratings situation - the station even brought in a motivational speaker to rally the troops.
The new name will be the latest in a long list of changes that Cox has made since it acquired the station in October 2014.
Since then, news gathering resources at the station have significantly increased, but the station has also seen high profile departures - Maria Stephanos joined WCVB, and Shannon Mulaire joined NBC Boston, among others.
The station was heavily criticized when it unveiled a new logo design in 2015.
In September 2016, the station debuted a new news set - which replaced old graphics with the new FOX 25 logo.
Will a name change help the stations ratings? It's always possible, but people hate change. Which is part of the reason the station has lost so many viewers - the news product at FOX 25 has been constantly changing since COX took over the station.
What would you re-brand the FOX 25 news to? Let us know in the comments below!
