WJAR

WJAR is a television station serving Providence, Rhode Island, and the surrounding Providence–New Bedford market. The station broadcasts its primary service on virtual channel 10 and is affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and operates from studios on Kenney Drive in Cranston, with transmitter facilities in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The station also operates a digital subchannel carrying ABC programming under the Coastal ABC identity, according to the supplied reference material. WJAR began broadcasting on July 10, 1949, as Rhode Island’s first television station and the fourth television station in New England. It initially transmitted on channel 11 and was owned by The Outlet Company, a Providence-based department-store and broadcasting business that also owned WJAR radio. A federal television-allocation change prompted by interference involving New York station WPIX required the station to move to channel 10 in 1953. The move expanded its effective coverage and established the channel identity that remains central to the brand. During its early years, WJAR carried programming from NBC, ABC, CBS, and DuMont, although NBC was its principal affiliation. The station gradually lost ABC and CBS programming as other Providence-area stations launched, while retaining its core NBC relationship. Its local identity was strengthened by news, severe-weather coverage, and sports programming. WJAR’s 1954 coverage of Hurricane Carol received national exposure after footage produced by its staff was distributed for use by CBS and NBC. In later decades, the station televised college basketball involving Providence College and the University of Rhode Island and developed a substantial local-news operation. Ownership changed significantly over time. The Outlet Company moved away from department stores and concentrated on broadcasting in the early 1980s. NBC acquired Outlet Communications in 1996, making WJAR an NBC-owned station. NBC later sold the station to Media General in 2006 as part of a multi-station transaction. Regulatory and market-overlap considerations surrounding Media General’s proposed merger with LIN Media led to WJAR’s sale to Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2014; the transaction closed in December of that year. WJAR’s principal business is local television broadcasting. Its output includes locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs and lifestyle programming, alongside NBC network content, syndicated programs, digital-channel programming and online video. The station has historically been a ratings leader in the Providence–New Bedford market and has maintained bureaus in Providence and New Bedford. It introduced high-definition newscasts in 2011 and added a weekday 4 p.m. newscast in 2022. The station has also participated in local distribution partnerships. From 2012 through 2024, WJAR worked with Cox Communications on Ocean State Networks, a local cable channel largely devoted to repeat broadcasts of WJAR programming after its sports content moved elsewhere. The channel ended in April 2024 as the arrangement concluded and Sinclair expanded digital distribution through streaming services. WJAR remains a major local news and broadcast brand in Southern New England, with its identity combining NBC network affiliation, extensive regional reporting and a history reaching back to the first generation of Rhode Island television.

WJAR-TV signed on July 10, 1949, as Rhode Island's first television station and the fourth in New England. Owned by The Outlet Company, it was linked to the company's Providence radio properties and initially operated on channel 11. In 1952, the FCC revised television allocations because of interference involving WPIX in New York. WJAR moved to channel 10 in spring 1953, a change that improved its regional coverage. The station initially carried programs from all four major networks then operating in the market: NBC, ABC, CBS and DuMont. NBC was its primary affiliation, reflecting the long relationship between WJAR radio and NBC Radio, but the station carried a broader mix during television's formative years. ABC and CBS programming declined as competing Providence stations came on the air. WJAR briefly carried NTA Film Network programming in the late 1950s. Local news and public-service broadcasting became central to the station's identity. Its 1954 Hurricane Carol coverage generated national attention when WJAR-produced film was supplied to CBS and NBC. During the 1970s, the station broadcast men's basketball from Providence College and the University of Rhode Island, including games at the Providence Civic Center. The station also maintained a strong connection with Rhode Island's civic and cultural life through local reporting and regional programming. The Outlet Company increasingly focused on broadcasting during the late 1970s and early 1980s. WJAR moved from the Outlet Building to a modern production facility in 1979, while the company formally left the department-store business in 1980. The station moved again in 1993 to studios in an industrial area of Cranston. In 1996, NBC acquired Outlet Communications, making WJAR an NBC-owned station. During the NBC period, WJAR operated WLWC under a local marketing agreement beginning in 1997. The arrangement ended later that year as part of a transaction involving Fant Broadcasting, Paramount/Viacom and NBC affiliate WVIT. NBC placed WJAR and several other smaller-market stations on the market in 2006. Media General acquired WJAR after regulatory approval, making it Media General's first New England television station. Media General's proposed 2014 combination with LIN Media created an ownership overlap in Providence because LIN owned WPRI-TV and operated WNAC-TV. To address the overlap, Media General sold WJAR to Sinclair Broadcast Group in exchange for several other television assets. The sale closed on December 19, 2014. Sinclair remains WJAR's owner. WJAR has repeatedly expanded and modernized its news service. It introduced a weekday 5:30 p.m. program in 1988, later transforming it into a conventional newscast. The station produced temporary or digital-subchannel late-evening newscasts at different points and added a 7 p.m. newscast in 2010. On May 16, 2011, WJAR became the first Providence-market station to present local news in high definition. It added an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast in September 2022. The station's news operation produces extensive weekly local programming for its main channel and has maintained bureaus in downtown Providence and New Bedford. WJAR has won national Edward R. Murrow recognition for overall excellence, website work and breaking-news coverage, including reporting on historic flooding. Its alumni include national television figures such as Christiane Amanpour, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Dylan Dreyer and Steve Berthiaume. WJAR and Cox Communications launched Ocean State Networks in 2012. The single-channel service replayed WJAR newscasts and other local programs and initially included selected local sports. After sports programming moved to another Cox service, OSN primarily carried repeats. It closed on April 30, 2024, as the cable partnership ended and Sinclair's stations expanded their streaming distribution. The supplied reference material describes a later restructuring of Providence-market ABC service. Sinclair announced in September 2025 that it would acquire WLNE's non-license assets and operate the station. In December 2025, ABC programming reportedly moved to WJAR-DT2, initially using the ABC 6 identity and later transitioning to Coastal ABC. The subchannel's planned standalone news operation was described as launching in January 2026.

1. 2024Ocean State Networks closes

   The WJAR–Cox cable channel ends after the news-sharing arrangement concludes.

   Source
2. 20224 p.m. newscast added

   WJAR launches NBC 10 News at 4:00.

   Source
3. 2014Sinclair acquisition announced

   WJAR is selected for sale to Sinclair in connection with the Media General–LIN transaction.

   Source
4. 2012Ocean State Networks launches

   WJAR and Cox introduce a local cable outlet for repeated station programming and sports content.

   Source
5. 2011Local news moves to HD

   WJAR becomes the first Providence-market station to air local newscasts in high definition.

   Source
6. 2006Media General acquisition

   Media General purchases WJAR from NBC Universal.

   Source
7. 1996NBC ownership begins

   NBC acquires Outlet Communications and WJAR becomes an NBC-owned station.

   Source
8. 1954Hurricane Carol coverage

   WJAR's storm footage receives national exposure through CBS and NBC.

   Source
9. 1953Move to channel 10

   The station completes its move from channel 11 to channel 10 following an FCC allocation change.

   Source
10. 1949WJAR begins broadcasting

    WJAR-TV signs on as Rhode Island's first television station, initially using channel 11.

    Source

A legacy, mass-market local television news station positioned around regional authority, NBC network programming, weather expertise and broad coverage of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

• NBC 10 NewsLocal television news

  WJAR's principal local-news franchise, covering Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts through scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, weather, sports and public-service journalism. The service has historically been the dominant local-news brand in the Providence–New Bedford market and is distributed primarily on the station's NBC-affiliated main channel.

• NBC 10 News at 4:00Afternoon newscast2022

  An hour-long weekday afternoon newscast introduced in September 2022. It expanded WJAR's daily local-news schedule and replaced the time slot previously occupied by The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

• Coastal ABCDigital television subchannel2025

  The reported ABC service on WJAR-DT2, intended to serve the same broad coastal Southern New England audience while carrying ABC network programs, local news and Sinclair-produced national news content. The supplied material describes a transition from the ABC 6 identity to Coastal ABC in January 2026.

• Ocean State NetworksCable television channel2012

  A single-channel WJAR–Cox service launched in 2012. It repeated WJAR newscasts and local programs such as Studio 10 and 10 News Conference, and initially carried selected local sports. The service ended in April 2024.

• In the ArenaPublic-affairs program2016

  A Sunday public-affairs program hosted by former Providence mayor Joe Paolino Jr. The title alludes to Theodore Roosevelt's famous 'Man in the Arena' passage. The program was introduced in 2016 and is associated with the station's ABC subchannel service in the supplied material.

• 2025Move of ABC programming to WJAR-DT2Strategy

  Sinclair announced an arrangement involving the non-license assets and operations of WLNE, the Providence-market ABC station.

  What changed. According to the supplied reference, ABC programming moved to WJAR's second digital subchannel, which later adopted the Coastal ABC identity.

  Aftermath. The subchannel was described as transitioning from WLNE-produced news to a WJAR-produced Coastal ABC news service in January 2026.

  Source
• 2014Divestiture to SinclairM&A

  Media General's planned merger with LIN Media created an overlap because LIN owned WPRI-TV and operated WNAC-TV in the same market.

  What changed. Media General agreed to sell WJAR to Sinclair in an exchange involving other television assets.

  Aftermath. Sinclair completed the acquisition on December 19, 2014, and remains WJAR's owner.

  Source
• 2012Launch of Ocean State NetworksStrategy

  WJAR and Cox sought a replacement for the earlier NewsChannel 5 local cable arrangement.

  What changed. The companies launched Ocean State Networks as a cable channel carrying WJAR repeats and selected programming.

  Aftermath. After sports moved to another Cox service, OSN became primarily a repeat-programming channel and closed in 2024.

  Source
• 2011Transition to high-definition local newsGeneration change

  Local television production was moving from standard-definition workflows toward HD presentation.

  What changed. WJAR introduced HD newscasts, a new set and related technical upgrades.

  Aftermath. It became the first Providence-market station to broadcast local newscasts in high definition.

  Source
• 2006Sale to Media GeneralM&A

  NBC Universal put WJAR and several other smaller-market NBC stations up for sale.

  What changed. Media General acquired WJAR as part of a four-station transaction.

  Aftermath. WJAR became Media General's first New England station.

  Source
• 1996NBC acquires Outlet CommunicationsM&A

  Outlet had concentrated its business on broadcasting and owned WJAR.

  What changed. NBC acquired Outlet Communications, bringing WJAR into NBC's owned-station portfolio.

  Aftermath. WJAR operated as an NBC-owned station until its sale to Media General in 2006.

  Source
• 1953Change transmission channel from 11 to 10Other

  The FCC revised Providence-area television allocations after interference concerns involving WJAR-TV and New York station WPIX.

  What changed. WJAR moved its broadcast assignment to channel 10.

  Aftermath. The move resolved the cited interference issue and expanded the station's effective coverage.

  Source

• 2025Sinclair announces acquisition of WLNE non-license assets

  Sinclair announced plans to acquire the non-license assets of Providence ABC station WLNE and take over its operations.

  M&A
  Source
• 2025ABC programming moves to WJAR-DT2

  According to the supplied reference material, ABC programming moved from WLNE-TV to WJAR's second digital subchannel.

  Other
  Source
• 2024Ocean State Networks ends operations

  The Cox distribution partnership ended, with WJAR programming increasingly distributed through digital and ad-supported streaming services.

  Other
  Source
• 2022WJAR introduces a 4 p.m. newscast

  The station added an hour-long weekday afternoon newscast as a replacement for the canceled Ellen DeGeneres Show.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2014WJAR is sold to Sinclair Broadcast Group

  Media General selected WJAR for divestiture in connection with its LIN Media merger, and Sinclair completed the purchase in December.

  M&A
  Source
• 2012WJAR launches Ocean State Networks

  WJAR and Cox Communications created a local cable channel carrying repeated WJAR programming and, initially, selected sports coverage.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2011WJAR begins high-definition newscasts

  The station became the first Providence-market station to broadcast local newscasts in high definition.

  Product generation
  Source
• 2006Media General agrees to purchase WJAR

  NBC Universal announced the sale of WJAR to Media General in a four-station transaction.

  M&A
  Source
• 1996NBC acquires Outlet Communications

  The acquisition made WJAR an NBC-owned station.

  M&A
  Source
• 1954WJAR covers Hurricane Carol

  WJAR staff footage of Hurricane Carol and its aftermath received national distribution through CBS and NBC.

  Other
  Source
• 1953Station moves from channel 11 to channel 10

  A federal channel-allocation change moved WJAR to channel 10 and improved its coverage by resolving interference concerns.

  Other
  Source
• 1949WJAR begins broadcasting on channel 11

  WJAR-TV began service as Rhode Island's first television station.

  Other
  Source

1. WJAR