MINNEAPOLIS — In a significant shift for Twin Cities media, KARE 11 has announced that its long-running program, “Breaking The News,” will transition to a digital-only format. The show, helmed by veteran anchor Jana Shortal since 2016, will cease its traditional broadcast run at the end of this week, marking the end of an 11-year era for the popular evening staple.
The decision has triggered widespread discussion across the Minnesota media landscape. While the show previously occupied a 6:30 p.m. time slot following the evening news, KARE 11 confirmed that “Breaking The News” will shift to a new, earlier time of 5:30 p.m. on the KARE 11+ streaming platform starting October 5. Concurrently, the station will expand its 6:00 p.m. news broadcast into a full one-hour block.
KARE 11 officials framed the move as a strategic pivot toward the evolving digital habits of their viewers. The station reported a 104% increase in streaming minutes throughout 2025 and aims to ramp up its digital presence to include 18 hours of original daily content on its streaming platform.
“The move reflects KARE 11’s broader strategy to offer more live local content on connected TVs, streaming apps and mobile,” the station stated in a press release. “Our original programming is reaching new audiences through streaming in ways we couldn’t have imagined.”
The transition comes amidst a period of high visibility—and occasional controversy—for Shortal. The anchor recently found herself at the center of a firestorm following her pointed on-air criticism of Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. Shortal had taken issue with Manning for his reaction to an AI-generated video depicting his coach, Steve Sarkisian, slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. The segment ignited a fierce debate online, drawing both intense scrutiny and vocal support for the anchor’s editorial style.
Addressing her audience via a social media video on Monday, a visibly emotional Shortal confirmed the transition while reflecting on her tenure.
“KARE 11 has made the decision to take ‘Breaking the News’ off the air at the end of this week, concluding our time together on broadcast TV on this show after nearly 11 years,” Shortal said. She emphasized that while the medium is changing, the mission remains, urging her loyal base to join the program on the KARE 11+ platform.
“We laughed and cried together and we covered some of the most consequential events in Minnesota history,” she added. “It has been the honor of my career to do this show on this station with you… You absolutely made all of my television dreams come true by watching ‘Breaking the News.'”
As KARE 11 bets heavily on the growth of its streaming ecosystem, the move signals a broader industry trend where local news organizations are increasingly prioritizing on-demand digital distribution over traditional terrestrial broadcast schedules.
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