News Hub
News Hub is a United States television-news production and syndication service that supplies localized newscasts to broadcast stations.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
News Hub is a television-news production company and syndicated-news service based in Little Rock, Arkansas. It supplies localized newscasts to broadcast stations whose budgets, staffing, or market circumstances limit their ability to produce a complete local news operation independently. Rather than functioning primarily as a consumer-facing national news channel, News Hub operates behind the scenes as a production partner: it creates programs that can be adapted for individual stations, combining centrally produced reporting and presentation with local branding, market references, and station-specific requirements. The business originated in 1999 as Regional News Network and adopted the Independent News Network name as it developed its first local-station relationships. Its initial client was KLJB, a Fox affiliate in Davenport, Iowa, for which it produced a prime-time newscast beginning on December 31, 1999. The company subsequently expanded from individual local programs into syndicated general-news products. In 2002 it introduced The American Times and INN News for stations and cable outlets seeking a more standardized national news service, and it also began producing regional programming such as Big Sky News for Montana stations. A significant part of the company's development involved Spanish-language television. INN began serving Spanish-language affiliates in 2003 and produced Noticias Arkansas from 2004. In August 2008 it launched Hispanic News Network, or HNN, in approximately 20 markets. HNN initially offered multiple daily newscasts and was intended to serve Hispanic-oriented stations that needed a centralized production capability. INN also produced or supplied programming for a number of Spanish-language outlets, including stations associated with Univision affiliates, LAT TV, Azteca América, and the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network. Some of these relationships ended when client networks or station owners changed strategy or ceased operations. The company experienced substantial ownership and operating changes. Regional News Network filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the end of 2008. Latin Media Group, Inc., part of Fusion Communications, took over INN in early 2009. The transfer involved staff reductions, although most client stations were retained at that point. In 2015, SSN Media Gateway, LLC acquired the operation, after which it continued supplying local and Spanish-language news products while its client base evolved. News Hub also supported proposed or expanding network ventures, including the Soul of the South Network, and worked with WeatherNation for several Spanish-language clients. Waypoint Media acquired INN in early June 2019 and renamed the operation News Hub. At the same time, the national version of the newscast was discontinued, reflecting a greater emphasis on station-focused production. Elden A. Hale Jr. was appointed to lead the division as corporate director of news. A proposed sale to Standard Media Group later failed to close. In July 2021, Waypoint announced the sale of News Hub to Coastal Television Broadcasting Company. Following the Coastal transaction, some Coastal-affiliated stations continued to use News Hub, while others retained locally produced news or relied on programming from another station. This mixed deployment illustrates the service's role as an optional production resource rather than a mandatory network feed. News Hub's continuing business is therefore tied to station economics, affiliation arrangements, local-market needs, and the willingness of broadcasters to outsource some or all of their newscast production. Its principal scope remains localized English-language news, supplemented by Spanish-language production and content services where client demand supports them.
History
News Hub traces its roots to Regional News Network, which began in 1999 and developed under the Independent News Network name. Its first client was KLJB, a Fox affiliate in Davenport, Iowa. INN produced a prime-time newscast for the station beginning on December 31, 1999; the arrangement ended in 2010 after KLJB entered a news-sharing agreement with WQAD-TV. The company broadened its service model in 2002 by introducing The American Times and INN News, syndicated general-news programs intended for broadcasters that did not want to build customized news programming. It also produced regional content, including Big Sky News for Montana stations. This expansion established INN as a centralized supplier rather than solely a producer for one-off station contracts. Spanish-language television became another important area. INN began working with Spanish-language affiliates in 2003 and launched Noticias Arkansas in 2004. In August 2008, it introduced Hispanic News Network in roughly 20 markets. HNN initially produced three newscasts daily and was designed to help Spanish-language stations obtain regular news programming from a shared production operation. INN also worked with stations linked to Univision, LAT TV, Azteca América, and HITN. Some earlier relationships ended when client networks folded, station owners changed, or affiliated broadcasters discontinued outsourced newscasts. The company entered a period of financial and ownership instability during the late 2000s. Regional News Network filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on December 31, 2008. In early January 2009, Latin Media Group, Inc., a unit of Fusion Communications, took over INN. Twelve employees were laid off from a workforce of approximately 40, although most client stations were retained at the time. INN subsequently worked with WeatherNation for several Spanish-language clients and agreed in 2011 to support the planned Soul of the South Network. As stations departed, the operation became smaller; its staff was reported at 14 in 2013. SSN Media Gateway, LLC acquired INN by June 2015. During this period the operation continued producing local and Spanish-language newscasts, including programming for stations such as Star City News in Lafayette, Indiana. In early June 2019, Waypoint Media purchased Independent News Network and renamed it News Hub. Waypoint appointed Elden A. Hale Jr. as corporate director of news and dropped the national version of the newscast, concentrating the brand more closely on localized station services. A proposed sale to Standard Media Group later collapsed. In July 2021, Waypoint announced the sale of News Hub to Coastal Television Broadcasting Company. Coastal's ownership produced a mixed station footprint: some stations retained News Hub affiliation, while others continued local news operations inherited from previous owners, used programming produced by another broadcaster, or carried no newscasts. The available reference material does not establish a later rebranding, closure, or complete list of active clients. News Hub is therefore best understood as a continuing business-to-business television-news production brand whose reach depends on station contracts and ownership arrangements.
- 2021
Coastal Television acquisition announced
[1]Waypoint announces the sale of News Hub to Coastal Television Broadcasting Company.
- 2019
News Hub name adopted
[1]Waypoint Media acquires INN, renames it News Hub, appoints a new news division head, and ends the national newscast.
- 2015
SSN Media Gateway acquisition
[1]SSN Media Gateway acquires Independent News Network.
- 2009
Latin Media Group takeover
[1]Latin Media Group assumes control of INN after the bankruptcy filing.
- 2008
Hispanic News Network launches
[1]HNN launches in approximately 20 markets, adding a broader Spanish-language syndicated service.
- 2008
Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing
[1]Regional News Network files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on December 31.
- 2004
Noticias Arkansas launches
[1]INN begins producing a regional and local Spanish-language newscast for Little Rock and northwest Arkansas.
- 2003
Spanish-language affiliate service begins
[1]INN begins producing news for Spanish-language affiliates, with KUTH in Salt Lake City identified as its first Spanish-language client.
- 2002
Syndicated general-news products introduced
[1]The American Times and INN News are launched for stations and cable outlets seeking standardized news programming.
- 1999
Regional News Network begins operations
[1]The company starts operations and develops the Independent News Network identity. Its first client is KLJB in Davenport, Iowa.
Products and positioning
A centralized, station-oriented television-news production partner for broadcasters that need localized programming without maintaining a fully independent newsroom.
Local television news production · 2019
News Hub localized newscasts
The core News Hub service consists of centrally produced broadcast newscasts adapted for individual television stations. These programs are intended for markets where a station has limited resources for a full newsroom. The service can combine standardized production with station-specific localization, allowing participating broadcasters to present news under their own local identities while outsourcing much of the editorial, production, and on-air workload.
Spanish-language television news · 2008
Hispanic News Network
Hispanic News Network, or HNN, was a Spanish-language news service launched by Independent News Network in approximately 20 markets in 2008. It initially produced three daily newscasts and used centralized personnel and facilities to serve Hispanic-oriented stations. HNN formed part of INN's broader effort to provide Spanish-language programming to stations that needed regular news output without operating a large independent newsroom.
Syndicated general news · 2002
INN News
INN News was one of two general national news products introduced by the Independent News Network in 2002. It was designed for stations and cable channels that wanted a ready-made news program rather than a fully customized local production. The national version was later discontinued when Waypoint Media renamed the operation News Hub in 2019.
Syndicated general news · 2002
The American Times
The American Times was introduced alongside INN News in 2002 as a general syndicated news product for broadcast stations and cable outlets. It served organizations that did not want to create a bespoke news program and represented INN's early attempt to scale its production beyond individual local-station newscasts.
Regional Spanish-language news · 2004
Noticias Arkansas
Noticias Arkansas was a regional and local Spanish-language newscast launched by INN in 2004 for outlets in Little Rock and northwest Arkansas. It extended the company's Spanish-language work beyond individual affiliate contracts and provided regionally focused news programming for Hispanic audiences.
Regional television news · 2002
Big Sky News
Big Sky News was a Montana regional newscast introduced in 2002 with localized elements for five stations. The program demonstrated INN's approach of producing a shared regional broadcast while incorporating market-specific information for participating stations.
Controversies
2016
Newshub journalist breaches Reserve Bank embargo
A Newshub journalist disclosed an embargoed Reserve Bank decision to reduce the Official Cash Rate. MediaWorks investigated and apologized, after which the Reserve Bank ended its media lockup and barred MediaWorks journalists from future press conferences.
2016
Reserve Bank OCR embargo breach
A Newshub journalist disclosed information about a Reserve Bank decision to cut the Official Cash Rate before the scheduled release. MediaWorks investigated and issued an apology. The Reserve Bank subsequently ended its media lockup and excluded MediaWorks journalists from future press conferences, making the incident a significant breach of trust between the broadcaster and the central bank.
Brand decisions
2021
Sale of News Hub to Coastal TelevisionM&ABackground
Waypoint Media announced the transaction after an earlier planned sale to Standard Media Group failed to close.
Action taken
Waypoint announced the sale of News Hub to Coastal Television Broadcasting Company.
Aftermath
Coastal's stations adopted different approaches: some retained News Hub, while others continued local operations, used another station's newscasts, or carried no newscasts.
2019
End of the national News Hub newscastStrategyBackground
When Waypoint Media acquired and renamed Independent News Network, the operation had historically offered both local-station services and broader syndicated products.
Action taken
Waypoint discontinued the national version of the newscast and concentrated the renamed News Hub operation on localized station production.
Aftermath
The change reinforced News Hub's role as a business-to-business local-news supplier rather than a general national news provider.
Sources2 sources
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