WLNE-TV
WLNE-TV, virtual channel 6 (UHF digital channel 24), is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States, serving the Providence, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts markets.[1] The station signed on the air as WTEV-TV on January 1, 1963, becoming the first full-time ABC affiliate in southern New England after previous sharing arrangements.[2] It operates under the ABC6 branding, delivering local news, weather, and sports coverage to over 1.5 million viewers in the region.[3] Owned by Standard Media Group since 2011, WLNE-TV's non-license assets and operations were acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group in September 2025 through shared services agreements with Sinclair-owned NBC affiliate WJAR, enabling consolidated programming and cost efficiencies amid industry consolidation.[4] This transition prompted staff reductions and union-led boycotts protesting job losses and perceived threats to local journalism integrity, highlighting tensions between operational streamlining and labor concerns in local broadcasting.[5] Despite such challenges, ABC6 has maintained a legacy of award-winning local reporting, including coverage of regional events and community issues over six decades.[3]History
Founding and early operations (1963–1977)
WLNE-TV, originally known as WTEV-TV, signed on the air at midnight on January 1, 1963, as an ABC affiliate licensed to New Bedford, Massachusetts, on VHF channel 6.[3] The station was established by WTEV Television, Inc., a group in which E. Anthony & Sons—publishers of the New Bedford Standard-Times—held a 55 percent stake, aiming to deliver full-time ABC network programming to the Providence-New Bedford market after prior affiliations had been shared among stations like WJAR-TV and WPRO-TV.[6] Initial studios were located at County and Spring Streets (also cited as 430 County Street) in New Bedford, with the transmitter situated in Tiverton, Rhode Island, to optimize coverage across southern New England, including Providence, Fall River, Cape Cod, and the islands.[3][7] The inaugural broadcast featured greetings from regional leaders, including Rhode Island Bishop James Connolly, Governors John A. Notte Jr. of Rhode Island and John A. Volpe of Massachusetts, and mayors John Arruda of Fall River and Edward Harrington of New Bedford, underscoring the station's role in serving a multi-state audience.[3] Early operations focused on ABC primetime and daytime schedules, supplemented by local content such as afternoon cartoons, classic sitcom reruns, and late-night movies, though the station occasionally preempted lower-rated network programs.[7] Signal propagation presented challenges, as the Rhode Island transmitter location—initially a 500-foot tower in nearby Little Compton before upgrading to a 950-foot structure in Tiverton by the mid-1960s—required viewers to use antenna rotators for optimal reception and risked interference from competing signals.[7] Through the 1960s and 1970s, WTEV maintained its ABC affiliation while operating primarily from New Bedford, gradually expanding its footprint in the Providence market without major studio relocations until later decades.[3] The station's establishment filled a void left by the 1956 shutdown of UHF outlet WNET-TV, enabling consistent ABC delivery amid a landscape dominated by established NBC (WJAR-TV) and CBS (WPRO-TV) outlets.[7] Ownership remained stable under the founding group during this period, supporting steady operations until the affiliation shift to CBS in 1977.[6]CBS affiliation and challenges (1977–1995)
In 1977, following Knight-Ridder Television's acquisition of WPRI-TV, the station negotiated an affiliation swap with WTEV-TV, resulting in WTEV assuming CBS programming on June 27 while WPRI took over ABC duties.[8] This move positioned WTEV as Providence's CBS affiliate in a market dominated by WJAR-TV's NBC lineup, which consistently led in viewership throughout the period. WTEV's owner at the time, Steinman Stations, had acquired the station in 1966, but the shift to CBS did not immediately bolster its competitive standing amid national trends where CBS often trailed ABC and NBC in prime-time ratings during the late 1970s and 1980s. The CBS era brought ongoing operational hurdles for channel 6, including persistent third-place finishes in local ratings and difficulties establishing a strong news presence against entrenched rivals. In 1980, after Pulitzer Broadcasting acquired the station, the callsign changed to WLNE-TV, yet this rebranding failed to reverse the station's underwhelming performance, exacerbated by affiliation instability that disrupted viewer habits and advertiser confidence.[9] Local programming efforts, such as expanded newscasts, yielded limited gains as WLNE lagged behind WJAR and WPRI in household share, reflecting broader challenges in a small market with heavy Boston signal overlap and economic pressures on independent operations. By the mid-1990s, CBS sought to strengthen its footprint by purchasing WPRI-TV outright, prompting a reversal of the 1977 swap effective September 10, 1995, when WLNE reverted to ABC affiliation at midnight.[10] This transition underscored the CBS period's lack of sustained success for WLNE, as the network prioritized a Providence-owned outlet over retaining the underperforming channel 6 partnership.Return to ABC affiliation and initial improvements (1995–2003)
On March 3, 1995, CBS announced its agreement to purchase WPRI-TV, the longtime ABC affiliate in Providence, Rhode Island, prompting a reversal of the 1977 affiliation swap between WPRI and WLNE-TV.[11] This move secured CBS's presence in the market amid broader network realignments following Fox's acquisitions of stations from New World Communications, allowing CBS to reclaim WPRI as its outlet while WLNE-TV, the incumbent CBS affiliate licensed to New Bedford, Massachusetts, reverted to its original ABC affiliation established at its 1963 launch.[11] The affiliation switch took effect at midnight on September 10, 1995, with WPRI rejoining CBS and WLNE-TV adopting ABC programming, including its full primetime and daytime lineup.[12] WLNE-TV rebranded as ABC6 to emphasize its new network ties and regional service to Providence and southeastern Massachusetts viewers, a change that aligned with ABC's stronger national ratings profile in the mid-1990s, driven by hits like Home Improvement and NYPD Blue.[12] The station, owned by Freedom Communications since 1983, discontinued Saturday morning infomercials in favor of ABC's children's programming block, enhancing family-oriented content availability.[13] Initial operational enhancements focused on bolstering local news production from WLNE-TV's New Bedford studios, which had lagged as a distant third in the market under CBS.[12] By 1997, the station aired expanded evening newscasts under the ABC6 News banner, incorporating live reports and weather segments tailored to southern New England, though viewer surveys indicated limited immediate shifts in audience loyalty amid competition from NBC affiliate WJAR-TV and the resurgent WPRI.[14] These steps marked modest progress in reclaiming market relevance, leveraging ABC's sports and entertainment strengths, but WLNE-TV continued to trail leaders in overall ratings through the early 2000s.[9]Ownership transitions amid financial instability (2003–2014)
In 2003, WLNE-TV remained under the ownership of Freedom Communications, an Irvine, California-based media company that had acquired the station in 1983 as part of broader expansions in television holdings.[15] During this period, the station faced competitive pressures in the Providence market, lacking a duopoly partnership with another local outlet, which limited operational synergies and revenue diversification compared to rivals like WPRI-TV.[16] Freedom's decision to divest WLNE stemmed from these structural challenges, as the absence of a paired station hindered profitability in an increasingly consolidated broadcasting landscape.[17] By August 2006, Freedom placed WLNE-TV up for sale, citing the need for a buyer who could better integrate it into a multi-station portfolio amid stagnant advertising income and rising operational costs.[18] On March 12, 2007, Freedom agreed to sell the station to Global Broadcasting of Southern New England, a newly formed Delaware corporation led by Robinson Ewert and Kevin O'Brien, for an undisclosed amount pending FCC approval.[19] The transaction closed on October 10, 2007, marking Global's inaugural broadcast property and shifting WLNE to local Providence-based ownership with promises of revitalized management and investment.[17] Under Global, initial efforts focused on stabilizing news operations, but the station continued to trail competitors in ratings and ad revenue, exacerbated by the 2008–2009 economic recession's impact on local media.[20] Global Broadcasting encountered severe financial distress by mid-2010, filing for Rhode Island receivership—equivalent to Chapter 11 bankruptcy—on July 29, 2010, primarily due to sharp declines in advertising revenues amid a sluggish recovery and the station's persistent third-place market position.[21] The receivership, overseen by court-appointed receiver Matthew McGowan, allowed WLNE to continue broadcasting while restructuring debts, but it triggered layoffs and operational cutbacks, including reduced local programming hours.[22] In October 2010, Global hired a New York-based media brokerage firm to market the station for sale, attracting bids amid concerns over its viability without significant capital infusion.[23] On March 22, 2011, a Rhode Island Superior Court judge approved the sale of WLNE-TV to Citadel Communications LLC, a Bronxville, New York-based firm owned by Philip J. Lombardo, for $4 million in cash plus $1.8 million in receivables and other assets directed to creditors.[24] The deal, which secured ABC network approval, addressed Global's insolvency and ended the receivership process, with Citadel assuming control to inject fresh management and resources.[25] Final closing occurred on June 1, 2011, stabilizing ownership under Citadel through 2014, though the station's recovery remained gradual amid ongoing market fragmentation and digital shifts.[26]Citadel and Standard Media eras (2014–2024)
Citadel Communications LLC retained ownership of WLNE-TV from its 2011 acquisition through mid-2019, operating the station as the ABC affiliate for the Providence–New Bedford market during a period of relative operational continuity following prior financial difficulties.[26] The company, led by CEO Philip J. Lombardo, maintained local news programming under the NewsChannel 5 banner and network affiliations without major format overhauls reported in this timeframe.[26] In September 2017, WLNE-TV experienced a carriage dispute with Dish Network after its retransmission agreement expired, leading to temporary blackouts resolved through multiple extensions.[27] On May 16, 2019, Citadel Communications announced the sale of WLNE-TV and fellow ABC affiliate KLKN-TV in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Standard Media Group LLC for a combined $83 million, as part of Citadel's divestiture of select television assets.[28] [29] The transaction, approved by regulators, closed later in 2019, transferring operational control to Standard Media, a Nashville-based broadcaster owning multiple network affiliates.[30] Standard Media Group's stewardship of WLNE-TV from 2019 to 2024 emphasized continuity in ABC network carriage, syndicated programming, and local content production, with the station listed among the company's portfolio of eight television properties.[31] No significant infrastructure upgrades or staffing expansions were publicly detailed during this ownership phase, though the station sustained its market presence amid competitive pressures from NBC affiliate WJAR and CBS affiliate WPRI.[31] The era concluded without reported financial distress, positioning WLNE-TV for subsequent operational shifts.[30]Sinclair operational takeover and market consolidation (2025–present)
On September 12, 2025, Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired the non-licensed assets of WLNE-TV from Standard Media Group, enabling operational control through a shared services agreement while Standard Media retained the FCC license.[32][4] This arrangement allowed Sinclair, already owner of NBC affiliate WJAR (channel 10) since 2014, to integrate WLNE's infrastructure, equipment, and programming operations into its portfolio.[33][34] The takeover consolidated the Providence-New Bedford market, forming a duopoly that controls both ABC and NBC affiliations in southern New England, potentially streamlining costs but raising concerns over reduced competition.[35][33] Sinclair's FCC filings indicated an option agreement and promissory note executed in July 2025, facilitating the non-license asset transfer without immediate full ownership change.[4] In response, the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technical Engineers (NABET-CWA) Local 38, representing approximately 20 WLNE unionized staff, called for a viewer boycott of both WLNE and WJAR on September 26, 2025, citing layoffs and the merger of news operations as threats to local coverage diversity.[5][36] Union demands included maintaining WLNE as a distinct entity, increased investment, and fair contract negotiations, amid fears that consolidation would prioritize efficiency over Rhode Island-specific journalism.[37] As of October 2025, operations continued under the agreement, with no further public details on staffing integrations or programming shifts released by Sinclair.[33]Programming
Network and syndicated content
WLNE-TV serves as the ABC affiliate for the Providence–New Bedford designated market area, broadcasting the network's full schedule of national programming. This includes the morning news and lifestyle program Good Morning America, daytime soap operas such as General Hospital, primetime entertainment series and specials, sports coverage including Monday Night Football, the evening newscast ABC World News Tonight, and late-night talk shows.[33][38] In its daytime and access time slots, the station airs syndicated programming to complement the ABC network feed. Current offerings include the entertainment news and lifestyle talk show Access Daily with Mario & Kit in early morning hours.[39] Following the 4:00 p.m. local newscast, WLNE-TV broadcasts the game show 25 Words or Less.[40] For many years prior to recent changes in syndication availability, the station carried talk shows including Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray, along with entertainment magazines Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, and Inside Edition.[16]Local programming and preemptions
WLNE-TV carries the majority of ABC's network schedule without regular preemptions, focusing instead on network primetime, daytime dramas, and late-night programming alongside syndicated fare. Local original content beyond news operations includes select sports broadcasts, such as University of Rhode Island men's and women's basketball games. For the 2024–2025 season, the station aired nine men's games and three women's games in collaboration with the university and the Harrington School of Communication and Media, providing regional coverage of Rhode Island college athletics.[41] Occasional preemptions occur for these live sports events, which may displace lower-rated ABC daytime or early evening slots depending on game timing. In September 2025, following Sinclair Broadcast Group's operational control of the station, WLNE preempted ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely, replacing it with extended local news segments in response to host Jimmy Kimmel's controversial on-air remarks about political figures; this aligned with Sinclair's broader policy across its ABC affiliates to prioritize news over the late-night show.[42][43][44] No other systematic preemptions of ABC programming, such as for public affairs or community events, have been reported in recent years.Signature local production: Caught in Providence
Caught in Providence is a reality court television program featuring actual proceedings from the Providence Municipal Court, presided over by Judge Frank Caprio, who served as the city's traffic tribunal magistrate.[45] The series highlights Caprio's compassionate approach to minor traffic violations, parking tickets, and small claims, often resolving cases with leniency, life advice, or community service rather than fines.[46] Episodes typically run 30 minutes and include real defendants, with Caprio interacting directly with litigants, witnesses, and attorneys in an unscripted format.[47] The program originated in 1988 as a public, educational, and government (PEG) access production in Rhode Island, focusing on Caprio's courtroom sessions.[45] It was acquired by WLNE-TV in 2000 for local broadcast, airing initially on Saturday nights as a signature offering that showcased Providence's judicial system.[45] Production involved Caprio's brother, Joe Caprio, who facilitated its transition to WLNE's airwaves, with early episodes filmed live in the courtroom and edited for television.[48] As WLNE's flagship local production, it emphasized community engagement and garnered regional popularity by humanizing the legal process through Caprio's empathetic rulings.[49] The show's national breakthrough occurred in the mid-2010s via viral social media clips on platforms like Facebook and YouTube, accumulating over 2 billion views by 2019.[50] This led to syndication deals, including a 2017 agreement with FOX Television Stations for major markets and clearance in nearly 90% of U.S. households by 2018, produced by Lionsgate's Debmar-Mercury and Citylife Productions.[51][52] Renewals followed, with second-season clearance in 2019 and primetime slots on networks like Law&Crime by 2022.[53] The series earned Emmy nominations, including for editing and direction, reflecting its appeal in the court TV genre.[54] Caprio's death on August 20, 2025, from pancreatic cancer at age 88 prompted tributes highlighting the show's role in elevating WLNE's profile, though production ceased with his passing.[45] Critics noted its formulaic structure akin to other judge shows but praised Caprio's authenticity, with no evidence of financial gain for him from syndication beyond his $56,823 annual judicial salary.[55] For WLNE, Caught in Providence exemplified successful local content that transitioned to broader syndication while maintaining ties to Providence's civic identity.[46]News Operations
Evolution of NewsChannel 5
WLNE-TV's news department, operating under the NewsChannel 5 brand, expanded significantly following the station's return to ABC affiliation in 1995, with initial investments in local programming to compete in the Providence market. By the early 2000s, amid ownership transitions, the operation focused on building a robust weekday schedule, including morning, evening, and late-night newscasts, though specific viewership data from this period remains limited in public records.[9] In September 2008, the station introduced an additional hour of weekday morning news at 7:00 a.m., branded exclusively under NewsChannel 5, marking an effort to capture early commuter audiences with extended local coverage. During Global Broadcasting's ownership from 2007 to 2011, news production peaked at 37 hours per week, reflecting aggressive expansion in staff and airtime despite the company's financial constraints. This period emphasized investigative reporting and community-focused segments, though sustainability issues arose as bankruptcy loomed. The 2011 acquisition by Citadel Communications prompted a technical overhaul, with high-definition newscasts launching on September 27, accompanied by a redesigned logo and reformatted segments to improve visual quality and viewer engagement. "We are bringing southern New England a whole new view of local news," station management stated at the time, highlighting upgrades to studios and equipment.[56] Under subsequent owners Standard Media Group and Citadel, operations stabilized but faced cost pressures, leading to occasional staffing adjustments without major format shifts until 2025. Sinclair Broadcast Group's operational takeover via a shared services agreement with WJAR-TV introduced consolidation, including the replacement of syndicated fare like Jimmy Kimmel Live! with additional news hours on WLNE, potentially increasing output but sparking union-led boycotts over fears of layoffs and reduced independent journalism.[42][37] This move aligned with Sinclair's broader strategy of market synergies, though critics noted risks to diverse local perspectives in the duopoly environment.[35]Key personnel and staffing changes
In 2016, Kelly Johnston was named news director at WLNE-TV, succeeding Nic Moye who had departed the station.[57] Johnston held the position until July 2020, when she left and was replaced by Jonathan Jones.[58] Allison Gaito assumed the role of news director in 2022 but was terminated after approximately one year; she filed a lawsuit against the station in July 2025 alleging wrongful termination amid high staff turnover during her tenure.[59] Several prominent on-air personalities have departed over the years. Anchor Doreen Scanlon left after nearly 16 years with the station in December 2022.[60] Reporter and anchor Mark Curtis exited in March 2015.[61] The most extensive staffing reductions occurred following Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of WLNE-TV's non-license assets and operational services agreement with WJAR in September 2025, which integrated news operations and led to widespread layoffs aimed at cost efficiencies.[33] Meteorologist Kelly Bates, who joined WLNE in 2022 after prior employment at WJAR, was dismissed on September 11, 2025, as part of redundancies from the consolidation.[62] Award-winning sports reporter Nick Coit was let go shortly thereafter on September 13, 2025.[63] These cuts affected at least a dozen employees, including unionized news and technical staff, prompting NABET-CWA Local 18—representing about 20 workers—to organize and call for a viewer boycott of WLNE and WJAR on September 26, 2025, to protest the job losses.[5]Journalistic awards and recognition
WLNE-TV's news operation earned the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Associated Press News Station of the Year award for three consecutive years through 1999, reflecting strong performance in broadcast journalism during that period.[64] The station's contributions under news director Scott James also secured this honor on additional occasions, highlighting consistent excellence in reporting and production.[65] In 2009, WLNE-TV received a regional Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the Historical/Cultural Program Feature/Segment category for its production "Reflections on the Fourth – Celebrating Providence’s Fourth of July," recognizing outstanding storytelling and archival integration.[66] Individual staff members have received notable recognition for journalistic work. Former anchor Pamela Watts won two regional Emmy Awards for best anchor in New England during her time at the station, commended for on-air delivery and reporting depth.[67] Sports director Nick Coit was named Rhode Island Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association in 2022, marking his fourth win in the category for incisive sports coverage.[68] Sports anchor Ian Steele followed suit, earning the same award for 2024 based on state-level evaluations of broadcast quality.[69] Several WLNE personnel, including anchor John DeLuca, have been inducted into the Rhode Island Broadcasters Hall of Fame, acknowledging long-term impact on local journalism.[70]Controversies, lawsuits, and operational critiques
In July 2025, former WLNE news director Allison Gaito filed a federal lawsuit against the station and its owner, Standard Media Group, alleging gender discrimination, unlawful retaliation, and a sexually hostile work environment.[71] [72] The suit claims that Gaito's supervisor, identified as a male executive, undermined her authority by interfering in staffing and operational decisions, prioritizing his personal interests over journalistic standards, and subjecting her to derogatory comments about her appearance and competence.[71] Gaito, who served in the role from 2023 until her termination in early 2025, seeks unspecified damages for lost wages and emotional distress.[59] Earlier in May 2025, a former top producer at WLNE filed a lawsuit against the station and Standard Media, accusing them of age discrimination and wrongful termination.[73] The plaintiff alleged that after salary reductions and claims of "no conventional viewer ratings," their position was eliminated in favor of younger staff, despite prior performance metrics showing stable audience engagement.[73] Following Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of WLNE's non-license assets in September 2025, the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA) union, representing most station employees, called for a viewer and advertiser boycott of WLNE and sister station WJAR (NBC 10).[37] [5] The union cited concerns over job security, potential content mandates, and Sinclair's history of operational centralization, which has led to staff reductions at other affiliates; shortly after the deal closed on September 12, 2025, meteorologist Kelly Bates and sports reporter Nick Coit were among those laid off.[74] [63] Bates described the cuts as abrupt and linked to the transition, marking her second such experience in Rhode Island broadcasting.[74] Operational critiques intensified amid Sinclair's decision to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! episodes starting September 18, 2025, replacing them with a Charlie Kirk special in objection to Kimmel's on-air comments about FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Sinclair cited unprofessionalism in Kimmel's remarks as grounds for the pause, pending discussions with ABC, though the boycott ended by September 26 after negotiations with Disney.[75] Critics, including local union representatives and media watchdogs, argued this reflected Sinclair's pattern of injecting partisan content—often conservative-leaning promos and editorials—potentially compromising WLNE's ABC affiliate neutrality, as evidenced by prior FCC fines against Sinclair for similar must-run segments at other stations.[37] In June 2025, the Providence City Council endorsed an "informational boycott" to support unionization efforts at WLNE, highlighting pre-Sinclair labor tensions over contract negotiations and staffing.[76]Technical Information
Subchannels and multicast programming
WLNE-TV broadcasts on virtual channel 6 via RF channel 24, multiplexing its digital signal to carry five subchannels as of October 2025.[77] The primary channel, 6.1, airs ABC network programming in 720p high definition with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.[77] The remaining subchannels feature syndicated multicast networks, primarily in standard definition 480i with stereo audio, targeting niche audiences with classic television, action, and mystery content.[77]| Virtual Channel | Programming Network | Resolution | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | ABC | 720p | Main ABC affiliate feed, including national news, primetime series, and local insertions.[77] |
| 6.2 | Grit | 480i | Focuses on Westerns and action-adventure films from the 1940s–1970s.[77] |
| 6.3 | Ion Mystery | 480i | Airs crime dramas and mystery series, emphasizing procedural thrillers.[77] |
| 6.4 | Ion Plus | 480i | Features lifestyle programming, infomercials, and select off-network shows.[77] |
| 6.5 | MeTV | 720p | Classic television network with sitcoms and dramas from the 1950s–1980s, such as The Andy Griffith Show.[77] |