Local television news outfit ABC11-WTVD will debut a new 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily newscast on Thursday.

The newscast will feature reporters Frances Scott and Fred Shropshire, and will lead into ABC11’s 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts.

“We at ABC11 are proud and excited to take the lead in providing Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville and surrounding areas with a landmark in the region’s local news coverage, the first daily 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. newscast,” said John Idler, president and general manager of the station, in a release.

The early newscast is another attempt by a local station to compete with market leader WRAL.

NBC17 went the other direction on the schedule, offering a 7 p.m. newscast.