WFTS launched a full-scale news department and began airing regular long-form newscasts on December 12, 1994, branded as "28 Tampa Bay News", from the Clearwater temporary studios. The station's news department then moved to its new studio facilities on Himes Avenue, across from Raymond James Stadium, in 1996. The station, which initially aired half-hour newscasts at 6 and 11 p.m. nightly when the news department began operations, added a morning newscast and 5 and 5:30 p.m. programs within months of starting up.