WUSA-TV and Defense News Join Forces for a Unique New Program on the Defense Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 27, 2008 – W*USA 9, the Washington, D.C., CBS affiliate, and Defense News, the world’s premiere defense news weekly, are joining forces to produce a unique weekly TV program concentrating solely on national and international defense and military issues. The two partners are owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).
The program, “This Week in Defense News with Vago Muradian,” will debut at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, on W*USA 9, as well as online at defensenewstv.com (available immediately after show airs in Washington). Hosted by Defense News Editor Vago Muradian, who brings nearly two decades of defense journalism experience to the effort, “This Week in Defense News” will follow an interview format featuring guests from the Defense Department, Congress and the defense industry. With correspondents around the world and a distinguished 21-year history as the defense sector’s leading publication, Defense News is an internationally recognized source of independent news and analysis in its sector.
“We are really excited to be combining our experience and expertise in defense coverage with the proven reach of W*USA 9 to create a unique new program for this important Capitol Region audience,” said Elaine Howard, president and CEO of Army Times Publishing Company. “This is a totally new kind of TV show that will undoubtedly generate extremely high interest in the Washington metropolitan area.”
A distinguished group of sponsors have already committed to support the program, including BAE, GEICO and Raytheon.
“We are thrilled at this joint partnership between W*USA 9 NEWS NOW and our Gannett friends at Defense News,” said Allan Horlick, W*USA 9 President and General Manager. “We are confident that this show will be a dynamic and important news program that will speak directly to the thousands of people who live and breathe the defense industry in the Washington area.”
Army Times Publishing Co. is the world’s largest publisher of defense- and military-related periodicals. Based just 15 minutes from the Pentagon in Springfield, VA., the company has more than 60 years of experience in the defense marketplace and employs more than 100 journalists producing 6 weekly newspapers, 3 periodical magazines and 10 news-driven Web sites with readers in more than 100 countries spread around the globe.
Gannett TV stations are: W*USA, Washington, DC; WXIA and WATL, Atlanta; KARE, Minneapolis; WTSP, Tampa-St. Petersburg; WKYC, Cleveland; KPNX, Phoenix, KNAZ, Flagstaff; K*USA and KTVD, Denver; KXTV, Sacramento; KSDK, St. Louis; WZZM, Grand Rapids, MI; WFMY, Greensboro, NC; WGRZ, Buffalo, NY; WTLV and WJXX, Jacksonville, FL; KTHV, Little Rock; WBIR, Knoxville, TN; WCSH, Portland, ME; WLTX, Columbia, SC; WMAZ, Macon, GA; and WLBZ, Bangor, ME.
In addition to its television operations, Gannett Co., Inc. publishes 85 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns nearly 1,000 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes more than 300 titles, including 18 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the web.
Contact:
Steve Houk
(202) 895-5970
Robert Hodierne
(703) 304-1567