Honestly, if you’re trying to pin down the Fox 5 NYC schedule without a PhD in local television grid-plotting, you’re basically fighting a losing battle. It’s not just about the news anymore. WNYW—that’s the call sign, by the way—has transformed into this weird, fast-paced hybrid of local grit, Gordon Ramsay’s yelling, and some of the most consistent morning energy in the tri-state area.
You’ve probably been there. It’s 6:45 AM, you need to know if the subways are actually running (spoiler: they aren't), and you’re looking for Rosanna Scotto. But then 10:00 AM hits and suddenly the vibe shifts. If you don't know the handoffs, you’re going to end up watching a courtroom show when you wanted the weather.
The Morning Grind: Good Day New York and Beyond
The heart of the Fox 5 NYC schedule is, and probably always will be, Good Day New York. It starts earlier than most people realize. The "Good Day Wake Up" crew, led by Dan Bowens and Tashanea Whitlow, kicks things off at 4:30 AM. It’s fast. It’s caffeinated.
Then comes the main event. From 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, it’s Rosanna Scotto and the rest of the team. They’ve been doing this for decades. Seriously, Rosanna has been a fixture since 1986. That kind of longevity is basically unheard of in New York media.
Wait.
After 10:00 AM, things get a bit more syndicated. You’ll usually catch Sherri or other talk formats that bridge the gap until the noon news. Bianca Peters often anchors "The Noon," which is a tighter, 30-minute punch to the face of whatever happened while you were at your morning meetings.
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Afternoon Transitions and the Syndication Shuffle
By 1:00 PM, the schedule starts to feel more like a national broadcast than a local one, but the local breaks keep it grounded. You’ve got your standard heavy hitters like TMZ Live—which usually lands in the 3:00 PM slot—giving you that behind-the-scenes newsroom vibe.
- The Noon News: Local headlines and quick weather.
- The Talk Block: A mix of Sherri and sometimes Jennifer Hudson (though she often jumps over to My9/WWOR).
- TMZ Live: 3:00 PM. It's loud, it's celebrity-focused, and it’s a Fox staple.
- Extra: Usually follows around 4:00 PM or 4:30 PM.
The transition back to "hard" news happens at 5:00 PM. Steve Lacy and Natasha Verma are the faces you’ll see most often here. They carry the torch through the 6:00 PM hour, which is often a more "serious" recap of the day's political and local drama before the primetime entertainment kicks in.
Primetime 2026: The New Fox Lineup
This is where the Fox 5 NYC schedule gets interesting in 2026. The network has leaned hard into new dramas and the return of some cult favorites.
If it’s a Tuesday, you’re likely looking at Best Medicine at 8:00 PM. It’s that new Josh Charles show where he plays a Boston doctor moving to a small town. It’s got a Doc Martin vibe but feels very much like a Fox procedural. It’s followed by Doc, starring Molly Parker, which has become a surprise hit for the network.
Wednesdays belong to the masks. The Masked Singer is currently in its 14th season—believe it or not—and it still dominates the 8:00 PM hour. Directly after that is the revived Fear Factor: House of Fear. Johnny Knoxville is the host now, and let’s be real, he’s a much better fit for the "gross-out" challenges than Joe Rogan ever was.
The Animation Domination Factor
Sunday nights are sacred. You aren't a New Yorker if you haven't had The Simpsons on in the background while ordering Sunday night takeout.
- 8:00 PM: The Simpsons. (They just hit 800 episodes. It's insane.)
- 8:30 PM: Universal Basic Guys or Bob's Burgers.
- 9:00 PM: American Dad! or Family Guy.
The 10 O'Clock News: The NYC Institution
Let’s talk about the big one. The Fox 5 News at 10.
For most New Yorkers, the 11:00 PM news on other channels is too late. We have to be up at 5:30 AM to squeeze onto a crowded 4-train. The 10:00 PM slot is the sweet spot. Steve Lacy and Natasha Verma return here, usually paired with Nick Gregory on weather. Nick has been there since the mid-80s too. He’s basically the human equivalent of a warm New York pretzel—reliable and exactly what you expect.
On weekends, Arthur Chi'en usually takes the lead for the late-night local updates. The tone is a little more relaxed, but the "Big Story" format remains the same.
Sports and the Weekend Pivot
If it’s fall or winter, the Fox 5 NYC schedule is basically at the mercy of the NFL.
Saturdays and Sundays are a mess of Fox Sports Saturday and NFL on FOX. In January 2026, the divisional playoffs are the big draw. If the Giants or Jets are playing (and haven't broken our hearts by November), the entire local schedule shifts. You’ll see pre-game shows starting as early as 11:00 AM, like the NFL Championship Chase.
During the week, keep an eye out for Sports Xtra with Tina Cervasio. She’s one of the most knowledgeable reporters in the city, and she doesn't pull punches when the local teams are underperforming.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest mistake? Thinking the schedule is static.
Fox 5 often runs "Special Reports" or breaks into regular programming for things like the NYC nurses' strike or major weather events. Because they aren't tied to a massive national morning show like Today or Good Morning America, they have more flexibility to stay local longer.
Also, don't confuse Fox 5 (WNYW) with My9 (WWOR). They are sister stations, and sometimes shows like The Jennifer Hudson Show or certain sports repeats will hop between the two depending on local blackouts or scheduling conflicts.
Actionable Insights for Viewers
If you want to stay on top of the actual, minute-by-minute changes, here is how you actually do it:
- Use the App: The Fox 5 NY app is actually better than the website for live "where is my show" updates.
- Antenna is King: You don't need cable. Fox 5 is 5.1 over-the-air in crystal clear 4K-ish quality if you have a decent leaf antenna.
- Stream via Tubi: If you missed a local news segment, Fox 5 feeds a lot of its local content directly to Tubi (which they own) under the "Live News" section.
- Check the 10:30 PM Slot: Frequently, if the news runs short or a game ends early, they’ll slot in Like It or Not or Good Night New York to bridge the gap to the late-late night syndicated repeats of Modern Family or The Big Bang Theory.
Whether you're looking for Patrick Dempsey's new hitman drama Memory of a Killer on Monday nights or just trying to see if it’s going to rain during the evening commute, the schedule is a living breathing thing. Just remember: if the 10:00 PM news hasn't started yet, you’ve still got time to finish your chores before bed.