WLNE-TV FINDS A BUYER

[alg2468]

This morning's Providence Jounal says that WLNE-TV is in the process of being purchased by a company called Global Communications.

 

[Garrett]

Here's a link to an article:
http://www.pbn.com/stories/23899.html

 

[dustintv]

WLNE NEWS 6, We're Last and Not Entertaining!

lol...I can't believe SOMEONE actually bought WLNE ??? : :

Unless new owners are miracle workers, they must be asking for a death wish!

 

[chuckydoll]

It's not just ABC6

Providence TV is very much in flux per this week's NERW. NBC 10 was just sold from NBC to Media General. CW28 (COL New Bedford) has been put up for sale by CBS. Now ABC6 (COL also New Bedford) is being sold by Freedom Communications.

In a multi-city DMA you get your news from whatever station is local for you. Hartford people watch 3, maybe 30. New Haven people watch 8. Providence people watch 10 or 12. New Bedford and Fall River people should watch 6 but don't. The reason? 6 emphasizes Rhode Island when it should emphasize Massachusetts.

 

[formeraa]

Re: It's not just ABC6

New Bedford and Fall River people should watch 6 but don't. The reason? 6 emphasizes Rhode Island when it should emphasize Massachusetts.

No, WLNE tried that from their founding until 1979. Then, they built a brand spanking new building in Downtown Providence and split-screened their "Action News" team: one in Providence and one in New Bedford. Next, they brought their newsteam to Providence and used their New Bedford office as the "Massachusetts Bureau" with a live news segment during the 6pm show. Finally, they closed the New Bedford studios. They never did attract a loyal Massachusetts following.

In fact, during the time of the Massachusetts bureau, Channel 6 had arguably the best news team in SE New England: Dave Layman, Ann Conway, Ken Bell, and John Ghiorse. Pamela Watts (and later Barbara Meagher) were in the Massachusetts Bureau. At the time, they really hustled and covered just about everything in Providence and New Bedford. A few more people watched Channel 6, but not nearly enough to challenge 10 or 12. They advertised at the time: "Thousands of people are changing to Channel 6 for news."

Bottom Line: Nobody watched Channel 6 news; nobody every will.

 

[E-Dub]

Re: It's not just ABC6

New Bedford and Fall River people should watch 6 but don't. The reason? 6 emphasizes Rhode Island when it should emphasize Massachusetts.

Are you serious? Recently, WLNE has been covering many stories in the New Bedford area, some that 10 and 12 don't even get. Just this morning, 2 different New Bedford stories topped each half hour. One of them was the immigrant raid, and it's not a big deal anymore, so I don't see why they're still on it. I volunteer at this organization, and when we do an event, 6 is the only one that comes. So in ways, they are going back to their roots. However, they don't cover Fall River as much as 10 and 12 do, 12 being the most reliable there. My conclusion, in SE Mass, 6 is for New Bedford, 12 is for Fall River, and 10 is in the middle, shifting more towards Fall River.

 

[AKLes]

6 is just ahead of the best opportunity they'll ever have to make a mark.

With 10 just sold and some uncertainty and a modicum of turmoil at 12.

With the coming turn-off of analog and their digital transmitter location in Rehoboth.

With increased cable/satellite penetration.

The playing field is being levelled through forces that the folks who own 6 have nothing to do with.

The new owners will have six month to a year to make it or break it. If they have a plan and are already getting the players in place there is some hope.

Certainly an uphill fight but not the "traditional" fight.

 

[dustintv]

Chuckydoll....

I think it's pretty obvious he's not watched Providence stations in awhile as three stations give half their focus towards SW MA than RI itself these days in my opinion...which is understandable to an extent but those in South MA like in Taunton also have the Boston stations for choice...I doubt people in Woonsocket want Mass news...

 

[AKLes]

Re: Chuckydoll....

I think it's pretty obvious he's not watched Providence stations in awhile as three stations give half their focus towards SW MA than RI itself these days in my opinion...which is understandable to an extent but those in South MA like in Taunton also have the Boston stations for choice...I doubt people in Woonsocket want Mass news...

While you are correct that I haven't been around Providence much in recent years, I have visited and seen the shift in focus.

The problems with 6 really have deep roots but the factors are less valid today than at any point in history. First, the Tiverton transmitter site. When antennas (rabbit ears and outdoor) were king it didn't work well since the line-of-site from most Providence metro-area homes was in the direction of BOTH the Rehoboth sites (10 & 12) right on straight-shot to Boston. Boston was not covering Rhode Island so 10 (originally 11) and 12 built up news audiences. The original management of 6 was saddled with an even worse transmitter site...at the time, a short stick in Little Compton, with low power though that quickly changed. Their mind-set was based on the coverage of the original signal and they tried to capitalize on a then-underserved New Bedford/Fall River/Cape audience but did it badly with a news staff peopled by former print media folks.

The factors now are much different. First, cable penetration gives people good signals on all the local stations. No advantage for 10 or 12 in that. Big advantage, compared with the past, for 6 but it is NOT a new advantage. Second, the digital transmitter site (leased in Rehoboth) for those who might still use their own antenna. But the big one is the changing demographic. People moving out of Greater Providence deeper into Massachusetts where there is land to build on. Thing is, a large number of them work in Rhode Island and have family ties there. Their interest is divided between the news of the two states.

The station that best figures out the "right" balance of RI/MA news coverage is going to pick up some marbles and, with 10 in flux, there's a slight chance the new ownership is going to fumble and provide at least a minimal opportunity for 6 where none existed before. But only if the new ownership is smarter'n hell and moves quickly. Else it's The S.O.S.

And then there's the matter of network affilliation and ratings..........

This has the potential for some nice challenges for TV management around Providence and I'm not predicting who's gonna gain; just that somebody might be able to.

 

[formeraa]

Re: Chuckydoll....

AkLes --

Thank you for the thoughtful analysis. I believe that you have a number of good points, particular on the cable vs. antenna issues. Perhaps 6 can capitalize on people's "memories" of it being the Massachusetts station. Maybe they can resurrect their strategy from the early 80's and make it work in the modern era.

Too bad, Channel 6 left their offices over in New Bedford.

 

[AKLes]

Re: Chuckydoll....

AkLes --

Too bad, Channel 6 left their offices over in New Bedford.

Thanks for that bit of information. I asked, not long ago, what use was being made of the building at County & Spring Streets and you may just have answered it. If they ever did want to bring back a split-location newscast they would logically still have the basis of a facility to do it, especially a pre-existing tower for a link to the Providence Studio (Microwave NB/Tiverton/Providence/Rehoboth digital site). In the middle of that, of course, NB/Tiverton/Providence/back to Tiverton for the analog signal while it yet lives).

Though I spent a number of years in engineering at 6 it was all in the New Bedford and Tiverton facilities; bailed out in 1978 but always kept an eye on the old farmstead.

 

[Skynet74]

Stations may change hands, but it's much more difficult to get viewers to change the channel. In most cases it doesn't matter what Channel 6 , 10 or 12 does differently. People have formed habits and those habits are very difficult to break.

 

[formeraa]

AkLes --

To be clear, I read about the disposal of the building on this site sometime last year. I don't have firsthand information. Maybe someone who lives in the nearby area could tell us.

Skynet --

I really wish that I understood more of the history (pre-1980) of 6, 10, and 12. Was 6 really the wacky New Bedford station that nobody watched? Was it truly an antenna issue at that point? How do the nearby Boston stations play in? It's interesting that Manchester, NH only has one local affliate, while Providence/Fall River/New Bedford have all three. Maybe one of our senior members can enlighten us?

 

[AKLes]

I really wish that I understood more of the history (pre-1980) of 6, 10, and 12. Was 6 really the wacky New Bedford station that nobody watched? Was it truly an antenna issue at that point? How do the nearby Boston stations play in? It's interesting that Manchester, NH only has one local affliate, while Providence/Fall River/New Bedford have all three. Maybe one of our senior members can enlighten us?

I'm answering from the perspective of having lived in Greater Fall River at the time 6 came on the air in 1959 and from having worked there in engineering for nearly ten years, concluding in 1978.

6 had bad karma from the beginning. It was the bastard child of The New Bedford Standard Times which also owned WNBH AM & FM when the idea arose. There was a sub-rosa attempt at actually building studios for what was to become WTEV before there ever was a construction permit. Equipment was purchased and stored; a new building was erected in New Bedford, purportedly to house WNBH. Anybody who knew broadcast easily recognized that what was built was the basis of a TV station operating as radio. This was much earlier in the 1950's. There was also land put under option on Martha's Vineyard Island for a transmitter site which would conform to then-existing short-spacing rules. It was never purchased.

The FCC outlawed co-ownership of newspapers and TV around that time so the plan never worked. A new corporation was formed up involving some long-time marginal Rhode Island broadcast financing people, a notable judge among them. I've left out his name 'cause he's long dead and it's not important. A then-U.S. Senator had fingers in the pie and, ultimately a license was granted. They couldn't use the WNBH studios; too obvious a connection, so tried converting a Victorian era mansion at Spring and Eighth Streets in New Bedford to a TV station. They actually put some work into it and discovered what a disaster it was so abandoned it and started the entirely new structure.

Meanwhile, they came up with a site in Little Compton and put up a pretty short tower and installed the original G.E. TT-42 transmitter.

The news staff was entirely recruited from The Standard Times and had no TV experience. It showed. There were a few folks with broadcast experience...radio...like Truman Taylor and Bob Bassett plus Bill Brennan (who did voice-overs and wrote copy). Since the signal didn't do anything notable in Providence the emphasis was entirely on NB/FR/Cape.

Meanwhile the wheels ground....

A new transmitter site was purchased in Freetown, Mass. Oddly enough, years later, I bought a lot in the subdivision that sprang from the purchase (the site was never developed though it was the highest ground between the coast and Worcester) due to short-spacing with Schenectady, NY and Portland. Check it on Google Earth; it's the back corner of the parcel formed off Bullock Road by Winslow Way, Otta Way, and Pierce Way. "Ottaway" was the name of the newspaper chain that had bought The NB Standard Times and still had fingers in the deal. I actually lived there a couple of years while working for 6. Definitely the highest ground with an incredible number of lightning strikes! Folks who later bought from me had some really industrial-grade lightning rods installed.

Finally the Rattlesnake Hill site was purchased (Tiverton) and an 1,100 foot Dresser-Ideco tower was put up. There was a new GE TT-530 transmitter and the old TT-42 (water-cooled monster) was moved over as a backup. Huge generator, too, as power failures were common. Interestingly, though, no backup at the studio.

The old film chains purchased on the QT for the WNBH building came out of storage and were installed at the Tiverton site as a backup to run old B&W movies when the power failed in NB. The setup was actually used! It was possible, from the studio, to use a battery-backed up remote control to switch to the film chain and start the projectors from NB. I used to have to maintain the damned batteries.

The Tiverton site was still short-spaced, so the antenna was somewhat directional and 6 had to install precise frequency control for all three stations involved. One was actually on channel 6 (I think it was Portland). That would be visual carrier on 83.250 MHz. Another was 6- (six minus) at 83.240 and WTEV was 6+ (six plus) at 83.260 visual. Subtle but important.

When folks around Providence oriented their rabbit ears or outdoor antennas they aimed them for maximum signal (initially for Boston stations 'cause TV came to Providence a little later). WJAR-TV (Tom Pryor was C.E.) placed their transmitter in Rehoboth on a direct line of sight from Providence to Boston. Antennas were automatically aimed properly. They were on Channel 11 at the time. 12 came along with a site in North Providence but there is some feeling among old-timers that, though the site was built (WPRO-FM and others are on that tower now) it was never used except as a backup. It was around then that 11 got reassigned to 10 and 12 was built. They located their actual transmitter site very close to WJAR-TV's in Rehoboth. Again, benefitted from the line-of-site to Boston.

When 6 finally got the stronger signal on the air from Rattlesnake Hill the location was such that antennas fixed-aimed at Boston had their deepest null pointed at Tiverton and the reception sucked with a capital "S". Cable was starting up but was not a major factor in the days when it might have made a difference if 6 had any decent programming. At the time, 6 was an ABC affilliate (later went to CBS, but much later) and I've lost track of what's happening now in that regard. Remember, this is HISTORY.

An interlude here while an abberation appeared: WNET-TV, I think it was on Channel 16. Also build near 10 and 12's site in Rehoboth, including a studio. They had some part-time network affilliation but ran mostly old movies and, with set-top converters required, it never really "flew". The license kept kicking around and ultimtely formed a basis for Channel 64 but by then the call letters were lost to New York Educational Television. Some of the financial players in this fiasco were the same ones involved in WTEV a little later.

So the die was cast.

10 & 12 build up their news departments using some really good players from the radio side....but remember, they were doing it much earlier than was 6. They had the signal. The home antennas were aimed right. The talent had built up experience. And of course, Rhode Islanders are creatures of habit. A little piece nobody seems to remember is that I-195 didn't fully exist when 6 got started. Importance? 10 and 12 could have film crews covering evening events in Providence, get the film processed and on the air at 11. The film crews from 6, if assigned to Providence stories at all, had to get the film to NB over old Route 6, get it processed, edited and on the air. Too many stories missed. There was serious discussion of a mobile film processing facility but it never happened. 6 was also the last station in the market to go to tape for news. One of the last Houston-Fearless film processors was installed in NB at the same time 10 and 12 had been committed to tape for news-gathering for a year or more.

And then there's the matter of ENG trucks, terrestrial or satellite. Again, at 6 no money and no knowledge base.

I maintain, the only way 6 is going to become a player is if the new ownership of 10 fumbles the ball badly. REALLY badly. Too much history; too much to overcome.

Yeah, it's potentially a little easier than it was even a few years ago but still one hell of an uphill struggle.

I'm old and still have a strong memory of a lot of this stuff. But I ain't gonna last forever and most of the others who were at 6 when I was are long dead. I hope some young person with a deep interest in Providence TV is keeping this material and digging back further!

As to WTEV having been whacky.....you have no idea how whacky!

Earlier in this thread is a link to a website full of memories from WTEV veterans, some of the contributors now deceased. I dunno how long it'll stay up but if you want to see just how crazy a place it was, get over there before it's gone.

 

[KML0224]

No other channel besides 6 was ever available then, huh? I would mention channel 13, but there'd still be short-spacing issues with Portland (WGME), Albany (WNYT) and Newark (WNET), not to mention interference with channel 12 in Providence. Would things have been that much different if that channel 16 license had become WTEV/WLNE?

 

[AKLes]

No other channel besides 6 was ever available then, huh? I would mention channel 13, but there'd still be short-spacing issues with Portland (WGME), Albany (WNYT) and Newark (WNET), not to mention interference with channel 12 in Providence. Would things have been that much different if that channel 16 license had become WTEV/WLNE?

First off, there was some political manipulation (Senator John O. Pastore) to get any VHF assignment to New Bedford (he couldn't get it squeezed into Providence as a COL). 6, at least, could be made to work with the directionalization and offsets.

16 was on the air at least five years before 6 was fired up and, being UHF, the set-top converter problem was fatal even if one ignores the greater power needed to get a UHF signal to travel any distance (MegaWatts as opposed to kiloWatts). The only thing 16 had going for it was transmitter location...Rehoboth, same line-of-sight to Boston as 10 and 12. Unfortunately the home antennas that had been installed over ten or more years were VHF only so, even if internal UHF tuners had been adopted earlier there would still have been a problem receiving the relatively weak signal.

There were also cross-ownership issues between some of the principals of 16 and 6 so it would have posed great difficulty in ownership terms for the two to co-exist. No buyers for UHFs in those days. The first UHF in New England to make it big was 38 out of Boston....and then only when Storer outbid WBZ-TV for The Boston Red Sox, It was at that time that 6 picked up the Sox; catching an off-air signal from 38 (I had to put up the antenna on the roof in NB) for the real-time rebroadcast.

 

[Skynet74]

I think WLNE News was also doomed to bad ratings partly because it was a CBS affiliate back in the 70's and 80's. ABC and NBC had morning News programs. However CBS didn't. CBS aired Captain Kangaroo Monday through Fridays. That didn't help strengthen the CBS News product at all. Then on top of that WLNE didn't have a Noon Newscast until THE 90'S. They used to air game shows and talk programming in the Noon slot instead, while competing stations were airing a newscast.

So when you factor in the transmitter location with the lack of News programming for many many years, it really put WLNE at a disadvantage. I haven't even talked about the fact that to my knowledge nobody with a decent sized bank account has ever owned WLNE. So their News product has never looked as professional as competing stations either.

I'm sure by now you have a better idea of why WLNE is in distant third. They dug a deep deep hole long ago and still haven't found a place that sells a ladder tall enough to get out.

 

[BRNout]

Ironically, I recall visiting relatives who lived in NW Connecticut back in the early 1970's and they frequently got a great signal from channel 6 (then WTEV). It was often clearer than some of the locals (3, 8, 30). And, tuning around, channels 10 and 12 were snowy while 6 was clear.

Likewise, I recall vacationing on Cape Cod back in the day (Falmouth) and channel 6 was THE station that you could watch. It was clear and crisp while nothing else came in well at all. They were CBS and often pre-empted to show Red Sox baseball back then. 10 and 12 were usually snowy, as was a faint channel 5 from Boston. Basically, we just had channel 6 to watch.

So, to this out of towner, it sounds strange that channel 6 is the market's also-ran just because they seemed to have the best signal (by far) in the old days. But, again, I know little about what was popular in RI - and this proves it!

 

[KML0224]

Northwest Connecticut? Wouldn't you start to get channels 6 and 10 from Schenectady and Albany, NY at that point (assuming you were up high enough)?

 

[AKLes]

I think WLNE News was also doomed to bad ratings partly because it was a CBS affiliate back in the 70's and 80's.

It became a CBS affiliate around 1975 after having been ABC from the outset in 1959. Six could never produce any ratings and ABC was riding high so jumped at the opportunity to switch affilliation over to 12. There was a brief period where CBS looked at 6 with disdain and it as looking like 6 was going to have to go independent. Having been there at the time, the appearance was that CBS was playing money hardball; by threatening to leave the market (or perhaps try to fire up a UHF), the management of 6 would cave and essential get nothing out of the deal in terms of money. At the time the ownership was Steinman Stations out of Lancaster, PA (they bought it from the local group that started it, doing so very early in the game but not so early that they could have headed off the news department disaster they inherited).

In 1978 they announced a sale to Pulitzer, a group with big bucks but a reputation I didn't savor so I took an opportunity to go into sales with the (then) largest maker of studio equipment (switching/effects/timing/distribution) and escaped the succession of mini-disasters that was to follow. I recall that LIN owned 6 for a time and it was then that the ancient G.E. transmitters were replaced with one from Harris. LIN later demonstrated with their sale of 6, purchase of 12, that they had the money and ability to build ratings but even their expertise couldn't do much for 6.

No, I can't subscribe to the theory that nobody with sufficient money ever owned 6. Just that none of the owners really seemed dedicated to making it work or saw it as such a money pit that they dropped it as quick as possible (LIN).

The stars are aligned right now for the best opportunity in decades for somebody to make something out of 6 but I wouldn't make book on it!