Fox59 Named Ray Cortopassi Cohost of Indy Now
The local broadcaster returned to the Indianapolis market after a tenure in Chicago to join the program.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Remote Work
Fox59 has appointed Ray Cortopassi as the new cohost of Indy Now, filling a vacancy left by Ryan Ahlwardt. Cortopassi brings over two decades of local broadcast experience to the show as it celebrates its five-year anniversary.
Why it matters
For Indianapolis media operators, high-profile talent turnover highlights the strategic importance of local market institutional knowledge in retaining audience engagement. Cortopassi returns to the city after spending six years anchoring at WGN in Chicago.
Cortopassi returns to Indianapolis with 21 years of local broadcast history, including 11 years at Fox59 and seven years at WRTV, following his departure from Chicago's WGN in April 2026.
The players
Ray Cortopassi
A veteran television anchor with 21 years of experience in the Indianapolis broadcast market.
Fox59
An Indianapolis-based television station and major local media outlet.
Ryan Ahlwardt
The former cohost who spent five years with the Indy Now program.
WGN
A major Chicago-based television broadcaster where Cortopassi served as an anchor.
The details
Cortopassi fills the role previously held by Ryan Ahlwardt, who departed the show in June 2026 to focus on family. The program utilized a rotating cast of guest hosts during the interim period between Ahlwardt’s exit and Cortopassi’s appointment to maintain continuity for the broadcast.
Timeline
• June 2026: Ryan Ahlwardt departed the show Indy Now.
• April 2026: Ray Cortopassi ended his tenure at WGN.
• September 2026: Indy Now marked five years on air.
• September 22, 2026: Ray Cortopassi was announced as the new Indy Now cohost.
Market Landscape
The hiring of a veteran broadcaster marks a strategic move for Fox59 as Indy Now hits its five-year anniversary. It follows an industry trend of stabilizing flagship daily programs by returning seasoned talent to familiar local markets.
Operators in media-adjacent sectors should monitor how the change in on-air personality influences local viewer retention rates over the next two quarters. Benchmarking audience metrics against the previous five-year tenure of the outgoing cohost will provide a baseline for the impact of this change.
The takeaway
The move underscores the value of local market familiarity when refreshing long-running daily formats. Monitor local ratings performance over the coming months to assess how established talent influences audience stability.
Further reading
For more on industry talent shifts and local media trends, visit the Remote Work section.
