WWNY-TV based in Watertown will start its brand new 5 p.m. newscast "First@ 5" on Monday, Jan. 22, on the local network.

"First@ 5" will air live weekdays from 5-5:30 p.m. and will be produced and anchored by veteran local news personality John Moore.

"Our news expansion demonstrates our commitment not only to true localism, but to covering the issues most important to our viewers in all areas ofNorthem New York," said WWNY-TV general manager Ed Bassler. "We are encouraged and enthused at the positive reaction from our viewers and clients we have received since first announcing our plans for this expansion."

"With the addition of a 5 p.m. news, 7 News will be presenting more than 27 hours of local news a week. That's a big, expensive commitment for a small TV station, but it's one we're proud to make,” Scott Atkinson, news director for WWNY-TV/7News said in a news release.

Moore has been a reporter and anchor at 7 News for the last seven years. In May of this year Moore was recognized by the NY Associated Press as best reporter, and earlier in the year he was awarded The Bill Carey Award for Excellence in Journalism by the Syracuse Press Club.

"First @ 5" will be followed by Jeopardy 2 at 5:30 p.m. and then 7 News This Evening with Jeff Cole.