WJAR
WJAR is a long-established Providence, Rhode Island television station affiliated with NBC and, through a digital subchannel, ABC.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
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.
History
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.
- 2024
Ocean State Networks closes
[1]The WJAR–Cox cable channel ends after the news-sharing arrangement concludes.
- 2022
4 p.m. newscast added
[1]WJAR launches NBC 10 News at 4:00.
- 2014
Sinclair acquisition announced
[1]WJAR is selected for sale to Sinclair in connection with the Media General–LIN transaction.
- 2012
Ocean State Networks launches
[1]WJAR and Cox introduce a local cable outlet for repeated station programming and sports content.
- 2011
Local news moves to HD
[1]WJAR becomes the first Providence-market station to air local newscasts in high definition.
- 2006
Media General acquisition
[1]Media General purchases WJAR from NBC Universal.
- 1996
NBC ownership begins
[1]NBC acquires Outlet Communications and WJAR becomes an NBC-owned station.
- 1954
Hurricane Carol coverage
[1]WJAR's storm footage receives national exposure through CBS and NBC.
- 1953
Move to channel 10
[1]The station completes its move from channel 11 to channel 10 following an FCC allocation change.
- 1949
WJAR begins broadcasting
[1]WJAR-TV signs on as Rhode Island's first television station, initially using channel 11.
Products and positioning
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.
Local television news
NBC 10 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.
Afternoon newscast · 2022
NBC 10 News at 4:00
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.
Digital television subchannel · 2025
Coastal ABC
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.
Cable television channel · 2012
Ocean State Networks
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.
Public-affairs program · 2016
In the Arena
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.
Brand decisions
2025
Move of ABC programming to WJAR-DT2StrategyBackground
Sinclair announced an arrangement involving the non-license assets and operations of WLNE, the Providence-market ABC station.
Action taken
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.
2014
Divestiture to SinclairM&ABackground
Media General's planned merger with LIN Media created an overlap because LIN owned WPRI-TV and operated WNAC-TV in the same market.
Action taken
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.
2012
Launch of Ocean State NetworksStrategyBackground
WJAR and Cox sought a replacement for the earlier NewsChannel 5 local cable arrangement.
Action taken
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.
2011
Transition to high-definition local newsGeneration changeBackground
Local television production was moving from standard-definition workflows toward HD presentation.
Action taken
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.
2006
Sale to Media GeneralM&ABackground
NBC Universal put WJAR and several other smaller-market NBC stations up for sale.
Action taken
Media General acquired WJAR as part of a four-station transaction.
Aftermath
WJAR became Media General's first New England station.
1996
NBC acquires Outlet CommunicationsM&ABackground
Outlet had concentrated its business on broadcasting and owned WJAR.
Action taken
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.
1953
Change transmission channel from 11 to 10OtherBackground
The FCC revised Providence-area television allocations after interference concerns involving WJAR-TV and New York station WPIX.
Action taken
WJAR moved its broadcast assignment to channel 10.
Aftermath
The move resolved the cited interference issue and expanded the station's effective coverage.
Recent events
- 2025
Sinclair announces acquisition of WLNE non-license assets[1]
M&A
Sinclair announced plans to acquire the non-license assets of Providence ABC station WLNE and take over its operations.
- 2025
ABC programming moves to WJAR-DT2[1]
Other
According to the supplied reference material, ABC programming moved from WLNE-TV to WJAR's second digital subchannel.
- 2024
Ocean State Networks ends operations[1]
Other
The Cox distribution partnership ended, with WJAR programming increasingly distributed through digital and ad-supported streaming services.
- 2022
WJAR introduces a 4 p.m. newscast[1]
Product launch
The station added an hour-long weekday afternoon newscast as a replacement for the canceled Ellen DeGeneres Show.
- 2014
WJAR is sold to Sinclair Broadcast Group[1]
M&A
Media General selected WJAR for divestiture in connection with its LIN Media merger, and Sinclair completed the purchase in December.
- 2012
WJAR launches Ocean State Networks[1]
Product launch
WJAR and Cox Communications created a local cable channel carrying repeated WJAR programming and, initially, selected sports coverage.
- 2011
WJAR begins high-definition newscasts[1]
Product generation
The station became the first Providence-market station to broadcast local newscasts in high definition.
- 2006
Media General agrees to purchase WJAR[1]
M&A
NBC Universal announced the sale of WJAR to Media General in a four-station transaction.
- 1996
NBC acquires Outlet Communications[1]
M&A
The acquisition made WJAR an NBC-owned station.
- 1954
WJAR covers Hurricane Carol[1]
Other
WJAR staff footage of Hurricane Carol and its aftermath received national distribution through CBS and NBC.
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Sources2 sources
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