WLWT-TV viewers will see a new meteorologist in a few weeks, and a morning breaking news anchor in a few months.
Meteorologist Cameron Hardin, an Indiana native and Purdue University graduate, made his Cincinnati debut Monday during Randi Ricco's Facebook Live chat at 11:30 a.m. He had been doing fill-in work at Scripps' WEWS-TV in Cleveland.
Hardin replaces Ashley Brown, who abruptly left WLWT-TV in September after only 15 months to become chief meteorologist in her hometown at Indianapolis' WISH-TV.
Hardin grew up in the Bargersville/Greenwood area south of Indianapolis, about 90 minutes from Cincinnati. He's a graduate of Center Grove High School. He will debut as weekend morning forecaster in a few weeks, says Branden Frantz, Channel 5 president and general manager.
Channel 5 also will add a morning breaking news anchor position this year, he says. The person will "add more depth to the morning show, and fill in for Colin (Mayfield) and Lisa (Cooney)," he says.
"It's not an entry-level position. The person has to have experience to fill in on the anchor desk as well," he says. The job should be filled before or after May sweeps.
WLWT-TV's News 5 Today won the November sweeps ratings. The 4:30-7 a.m. local weekday news was first with women ages 25-54, and with all adults from 4:30-6 a.m.
