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WISH-TV to replace Martha Stewart with local style show

J.K. Wall
February 25, 2010
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Martha Stewart is moving to cable. So WISH-TV Channel 8 will produce its own lifestyle talk show on weekdays at 9 a.m.

The CBS affiliate in Indianapolis will announce Friday its launch of "Indy Style," a one-hour daily show on fashion, fitness, food and fads—all with a local focus.

WISH-TV has redesigned one of its studios at its North Meridian Street office to include a full kitchen, where professional and amateur chefs will share recipes and techniques. The set will also accommodate workout equipment, live performances and demonstrations and even a runway to show off current clothing.

The show will first air on March 15.

Contracts with the show's hosts have yet to be completed, but the hosts are expected to be Tracy Forner, the former morning news anchor at WXIN Channel 59, and Andi Hauser, a former morning news anchor for the CBS affiliate in Spokane, Wash.

Martha Stewart, the maven of domestic style, announced a month ago that her daily show would move in September from broadcast syndication to the Hallmark Network. In Indianapolis, Stewart’s show currently airs on WISH-TV on weekdays at 9 a.m.

WISH-TV officials said their new show will have the feel of cable talk shows on such channels as HGTV, the Food Network and the Style Network. The key difference will be that the guests featured on the show will be product makers and service providers from the Indianapolis area.

“Indy Style fills a much needed programming void in central Indiana,” said Jeff White, president and general manager of WISH-TV, in a written statement. “The show is a resource of unique local content for our audience unavailable anywhere else.”

Bill Perkins, president of Indianapolis-based media-buying firm Perkins Nichols Media, called the show "interesting" and "gutsy," in part because producing a show locally can be an expensive endeavor. He said the Martha Stewart show tends to draw smaller ratings than shows on other stations do in the same time slot. And local morning news shows tend to draw larger audiences than the national morning shows.

"The local aspect may have some appeal," Perkins said. The problem is, he added, that WISH faces a steep challenge to woo an audience amid the plethora of cable offerings about fashion, food and style. "I think it's kind of a long shot," Perkins said.

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  • follow up in August
    so far this show is the best reason to change the channel....away from 8 at 9am.
    Forner did some really good bits at his house on Fox 59 in years past but this studio blab with Barbie doll stinks.
  • Great Idea !!!
    Great Media Idea!!!
    Perhaps,"Indy Style" could be used as a springboard to finely highlight Indianapolis as a foodie destination. Food Publications like Food Art's, Gourmet, and Bon appetite haven't a clue as they don't consider Indianapolis a major market for gourmet fair or print revenue. Tunnel vision on their part, probably because They haven't taken the time to investigate our eclectic quisine.

    
  • Connecting
    To Cathy and Blondina....there's this new contraption called a phone or if you get adventuraous you might try e-mail?
  • Fashion Connection
    So...how do we make a connection with the producer? As a local designer and business owner, this is of course interesting to me.
    • Yes, PR Person's Dream
      You better believe this is a PR Person's Dream. Can we say Conrad Indianapolis' executive chef for a cooking show?? :)

      But, truly as an Indy resident and enthusiast, I am excited to see such a local show. I wish them the very best.
    • Forner
      Tracy Forner is a good dude and solid on-air. Fox never should have let him go. The guy who replaced him isn't great.
    • owner of ccar dealership
      hey sounds great what will yourweb site be I would like to follow this on the web since i work between 8 and 5
      Go indy style
    • Local Designer
      I love the idea of have a local show called â??Indy Styleâ?? that focuses on local artist. WOW, the idea of not having to move to Chicago or New York and still make an impact in the fashion world is incredible. How do you become a feature designer or artist on the show?
    • Look Foward to the Fitness Segments!
      Exciting news!

      www.indybootcamps.com
      www.indyfitkids.com
    • PR Person's Dream
      A local show like this is a public relations person's dream, as it is a forum for placing local authors, chefs, product-pushers, and event managers. They shouldn't be hurting for content, but the audience must follow. Didn't Dick Wolfsie once do a similar daytime show and nobody cared?
    • Great!
      I'm looking forward to Tracy Forner being back. I still haven't forgiven Fox morning news for replacing him with Scott Jones. Just can't warm to him.
    • Great News
      Channel 8 should be commended for replacing a nationally syndicated show with locally produced programming. Let's hope this is an emerging trend.
    • Love the Idea!
      I will be watching the new Indy Style show with great interest. This seems like a "big-city" move, and I like it.
    • That's awesome!
      Not that I have anything against Martha but it's great that local talent is getting air time. I do projects in many states and even other countries (Luxury Sustainable Living project starting in Costa Rica now) and you just can't apply California attitudes to Hoosiers. Maybe if a fellow Hoosier fashionista says something is cool it will have more impact :-)
    • looking forward to highlighting local style
      Mr. Perkins has some reservations about the success of a show like "Indy Style", but from what I've read about the concept, I'd be interested in watching since the fashion, food and style would be available locally and therefore would be more appealing as an attainable thing. I often think, 'where would I find that around here'. This show would answer that question as a basis for being on the air! Good luck with the endeavor!

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