SISTER STATIONS

alg2468 · Apr 30, 2013

What is the meaning of Sister Stations? For example, WLNE in Providence gets some of their stories from WCVB in Boston, and the news anchors call WCVB "Our sister station" and show WCVB's film, anchors, and logo. And why are they not called Brother Stations?

Dighton Rockhead · Apr 30, 2013

In this case, the term "sister station" is being used pretty loosely. It only refers to the fact that both stations are ABC affiliates.

REAL "sister-stations" would actually be OWNED by the same company. Clearly, this is not the case here.

KML0224 · May 1, 2013

It also depends on who owns the stations. Example:

WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 of Hartford is owned by Tribune Broadcasting, Inc. Their "sister station" is WCCT-TV (CW) channel 20 of Waterbury/Hartford. However, if they air a news story from New York City, they'll often use the footage of WPIX-TV (CW) channel 11 of New York City, since that station is also owned by Tribune.

The other big duopoly in Hartford/New Haven is with LIN Broadcasting, Inc. They own WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 of New Haven. Their "sister station" is WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 of New Haven. WCTX-TV airs the 10 PM news produced by WTNH-TV. If WTNH-TV acts on a hot news story from Rhode Island, they'll likely show footage from WPRI-TV (CBS) channel 12 of Providence. Likewise, the same can be said for WWLP-TV (NBC) channel 22 of Springfield, MA. Go to the WTNH website and then either the WWLP or WPRI websites. You'll notice they're virtually identical for that reason.

Bluenoser · May 1, 2013

And WCVB regularly runs footage from WMUR Manchester; both stations are co-owned (Hearst).

ssetta · May 1, 2013

I think stations often care more about affiliation than anything else. I remember a few years ago when the Western MA tornadoes hit, WJAR in Providence showed footage from WWLP and WPRI didn't. It would be awkward to mention another network. I think the same thing happened when WCVB showed footage from Orlando, FL. They used WFTV footage and not WESH.

mescutia · May 1, 2013

ssetta said:
I think stations often care more about affiliation than anything else. I remember a few years ago when the Western MA tornadoes hit, WJAR in Providence showed footage from WWLP and WPRI didn't. It would be awkward to mention another network. I think the same thing happened when WCVB showed footage from Orlando, FL. They used WFTV footage and not WESH.

That seems weird. You'd think they'd go with the station they're co-owned with over the station they happen to share a network affiliation with. Unless, of course, the networks are requiring it.

It's also possible that WCVB and WFTV had a footage-sharing agreement long before WCVB and WESH were sisters.

Kenny Atkinson · May 1, 2013

LIN in Providence really overlap stations....IE..Newscasts on both WPRI and WNAC.On the weekend if there is a game or network programming on both WNAC and WPRI the 6 oclock news will air on 64.2 (MY RITV).If WPRI is airing a news story during the 7 oclock hour Wheel and Jepordy get bummped to MYRITV. I have even seen CBS programming get bumped to WNAC 64.2.

rjoc · May 4, 2013

alg2468 said:
What is the meaning of Sister Stations? For example, WLNE in Providence gets some of their stories from WCVB in Boston, and the news anchors call WCVB "Our sister station" and show WCVB's film, anchors, and logo. And why are they not called Brother Stations?

Occasionally Bangor's WABI uses WMTW's stories and they refer to "Sister Station" which I find really odd, as WABI is CBS and WMTW is ABC.
and not co-owned.

During the Boston Marathon Bombing Local WLBZ Bangor during their 5PM local news (not the WCSH Simulcast at 5:30)
used feeds from WHDH Boston and referred to them as a "Sister Station". But at least WLBZ and WHDH are both NBC.

I guess it makes them sound like they are partners.

Bluenoser · May 8, 2013

rjoc said:
During the Boston Marathon Bombing Local WLBZ Bangor during their 5PM local news (not the WCSH Simulcast at 5:30)
used feeds from WHDH Boston and referred to them as a "Sister Station". But at least WLBZ and WHDH are both NBC.

I guess it makes them sound like they are partners.

In the old New England News Exchange days on what was then WNEV SE7EN, WLBZ/WCSH were part of the NENE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEPM9uTk2KQ (FF to the 1:41 mark for the list; on the TV end, WFSB, WLNE and WMUR were also involved)

ssetta · May 8, 2013

There was a news report on WBZ last night about something happening in Cleveland, and they said they had a report from their "sister station" in Cleveland, though they didn't say which one. But they don't even HAVE a sister station there, I wonder what they could have meant.

KML0224 · May 8, 2013

Perhaps it goes back to Group W's involvement with Cleveland? I know the KYW-TV calls were there for a time, involving a switch with Philadelphia. (I want to say the 1960s?)

Brother · May 9, 2013

ssetta said:
There was a news report on WBZ last night about something happening in Cleveland, and they said they had a report from their "sister station" in Cleveland, though they didn't say which one. But they don't even HAVE a sister station there, I wonder what they could have meant.

If we just go on your previous thought of network affiliations as the idea behind sister stations, then WBZ would have been referring to Cleveland's CBS affiliate, WOIO, in this case.

FRM-Yankey · May 9, 2013

ssetta said:
There was a news report on WBZ last night about something happening in Cleveland, and they said they had a report from their "sister station" in Cleveland, though they didn't say which one. But they don't even HAVE a sister station there, I wonder what they could have meant.

Could it be the same network?