Marc Istook ’98 will be joining the News 8 Daybreak team at WFAA starting in July. After 18 years working in Los Angeles, including five years as a sports broadcaster for the NFL Network, Istook said he’s excited to get back to Fort Worth.

Istook started his broadcast career in North Texas. Armed with a degree in radio-TV-film and minor in journalism, Istook accepted a sports anchor position at KTEN, an NBC affiliate in Denison, Texas.

I have an announcement… pic.twitter.com/6Ln5fSQktK

— Marc Istook (@MarcIstook) May 2, 2019

“Marc is a hard worker and is determined,” said Richard Allen, a FTDM professor who had Istook in his classes. “I think he’ll do great because he’s a positive supporter for whatever team he is on.”

Another faculty agreed.

“He’s a great interviewer and he’s got a likeable personality,” said Charles LaMendola, associate professor of professional practice in FTDM. “It comes across especially when you see him on video. I think after spending nearly a decade or more out in California and now he’s coming back because he wants to, he has a renewed appreciation for the area.”

In 2001 Istook moved to California to cover local news and sports. He said he never planned on leaving Fort Worth, but doing so helped him grow and learn in a place that was unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

“There had been an aspect of thinking, ‘Hey, maybe someday I’ll move back,’ but it was not in the near-term plans,” Istook said. “Frankly, it was the job opening at this station. Morning anchor at Channel 8 was something that I had always had my eye on and thought that would be a really special and unique opportunity.”

During his time in Los Angeles, Istook took on many roles as a sportscaster for the NFL Network, hosting NFL GameDay Live and NFL Fantasy Live, and as the host of the FOX syndicated comedic game show Punchline.

Marc Sessler, a reporter and podcaster for NFL Now said Istook’s loss at the NFL Network will be felt.

“Marc [Istook] had a calming presence and his ego free spirit made him easy to work with,” Sessler said. “He was versatile. His talent was to relate to people and he made them feel comfortable.”

“It’s good to be coming home.”
Marc Istook '98

Istook said he is looking forward to tackle morning news and be a part of people’s daily lives as they get ready to start their day.

“I’m a big believer in the importance of local news,” Istook said. “No matter what happens in the world, people care about how it affects them locally.”

Istook also said he believes strong local news stations and strong local journalism keep people informed and plugged into the world.

“I couldn’t be more excited to get to Dallas/Fort Worth, to get to Channel 8 and to get plugged back into a community that feels like home,” Istook said. “I hope it’s a partnership for a long time because it’s good to be coming home.”