Group W and WBZ-WJAR-WPRI News in early 80s

[Garrett]

This could be a Scott Fybush question about a fuzzy memory but here goes:
We all know that during the late 70s and 80s, Group W/Westinghouse syndicated the PM/Evening Magazine concpet to stations all over the country. Each hosted by a local host sponsored by the affiliate, but with the packaging from Group W. Group W O&Os got Evening Magainze while everyone else got PM Magazine.

But here's where my "fuzzy memory" comes in... At the end of every news cast, WBZ always said "Copyright Group W" or "Westinghouse," or some variation. But for some reason, I could have sworn I also saw this tag at the end of either WJAR's or WPRI's news some time circa 1979 or 1981, even though neither of those were owned by Group W. I'm wrong about this, right?

 

[fybush]

I wasn't in the market back then, but I'm pretty sure you're imagining it. WJAR was an Outlet Broadcasting station from day one all the way up until the sale to NBC in 1996; WPRI would have been owned by Knight-Ridder back then.

About the only WBZ/WJAR connection I can think of is that we had an antenna on the roof at Soldiers Field aimed at WJAR; channel 10's air signal appeared on our in-house cable system and was available as a "last resort" source of NBC programming if everything else failed.

 

[KML0224]

Can't help Garrett with his syndication question. All I can say is that the Hartford/New Haven version aired on WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford until the beginning of 1989. Local segments were last hosted by Deborah Kent. Inside Edition, first hosted by Davd Frost, took over that time slot a couple of days later. It's largely been in that time slot on WFSB ever since.

 

[Blackroc]

WJAR was the local PM affiliate, and may have called themselves Outlet communications.

 

[Garrett]

I wasn't in the market back then, but I'm pretty sure you're imagining it. WJAR was an Outlet Broadcasting station from day one all the way up until the sale to NBC in 1996; WPRI would have been owned by Knight-Ridder back then.

About the only WBZ/WJAR connection I can think of is that we had an antenna on the roof at Soldiers Field aimed at WJAR; channel 10's air signal appeared on our in-house cable system and was available as a "last resort" source of NBC programming if everything else failed.

Thanks.
That's what I thought. I was very young back then, so I probably saw the tag at the end of PM Magazine and got confused. I do appreciate the response.

 

[Bill-in-CT]

I can't remember the copyright message on the WFSB version. Too many years ago.

The timing was right for PM Magazine in the 70s for two reasons...

1. The FCC a few years earlier mandated stations to carry only 3 hours network prime time instead of 3.5 hours. Network programming on weeknights started at 7:30 until the early 70s.

2. ENG (electronic new gathering) video equipment replaced film in the 70s.

 

[DToTheJ]

WJAR was the local PM affiliate, and may have called themselves Outlet communications.

There is a sign-on or sign-off on YouTube of WJAR circa 1980's that mentions Outlet being the owner...

 

[formeraa]

Yes, Outlet Communications was the owner. In fact, some Rhode Islanders may remember The Outlet department store in downtown Providence. For many years, WJAR was co-located on the top floor of The Outlet department store.

 

[argytunes]

Outlet Communications was a division of THE OUTLET COMPANY....a large department store located in downtown Providence.

I wonder how many viewers remember Meredith Viera's connection with CHANNEL 10 (WJAR-TV) prior to her days at ABC and her current gig on THE TODAY SHOW! ???

argytunes