SPARTANBURG — News Channel 7 WSPA-TV, a news partner of the Anderson Independent-Mail, will add a newscast to its Monday through Friday lineup starting Sept. 1.

News Channel 7 at 7 is an initiative the station has been looking at for awhile and now station VP and General Manager Phil Lane said in a statement that it’s the right time to launch.

“Our lifestyles are changing and we know that WSPA News Channel 7 must adapt in order to continue our audience growth,” Lane said. “Today we are working later with family activities on the rise. This makes it difficult to catch up on the day’s local news during the early evening hours.

“Research indicates that a 7 p.m. local newscast is desirable and more convenient for our viewers,” he said.

Journalists Connie LeGrand and Chris Cato will head up the venture.

The newscast will be a little different from other News Channel 7 evening newscasts.

“This newscast will be a faster paced show with a complete look at the days news,” News Director Alex Bongiorno said in a statement. “We are also going to give our viewers weather right off the top of the show, with a look at the night’s weather and a look at the day ahead.

“We are also going to focus on viewer comments — what you’re saying on our Web site about the big stories of the day, viewer email, and what’s being talked about on-line,” he said.

“Everybody Loves Raymond” currently airs at 7p.m. on WSPA and will move to 7:30 p.m.