CHICAGO, Illinois — WGN-TV has ordered two additional seasons of “Backstory With Larry Potash,” extending the local-history series across broadcast television, streaming, mobile and podcast distribution.
Seasons 19 and 20 begin October 4. Episodes will air on WGN-TV and also reach viewers through the WGN+ smart-television application, the station’s live stream and mobile app. Segments are also repurposed for podcast listening.
One reporting investment, several audience doors
The value of “Backstory” is larger than one television time slot. WGN has built a repeatable local franchise from archival material, historical reporting and a recognizable host, then adapted that work for several platforms.
Local television stations frequently own decades of footage and institutional knowledge but treat archives as storage rather than active programming assets. WGN’s model shows how locally distinctive material can have a longer shelf life than a conventional daily news package.
The next measurement should go beyond broadcast ratings: streaming completion, podcast listening, archive searches, sponsor interest and whether younger viewers discover the station through stories that began long before they were born.
Source: TVNewsCheck.