YNN Central New York
A regional 24-hour cable news channel serving Central New York and related upstate New York markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
YNN Central New York was the former brand of a regional cable news operation now known as Spectrum News 1 Central New York. The channel began broadcasting on November 7, 2003, under the name News 10 Now, becoming the eleventh regional news channel launched by Time Warner Cable. Its core mission was to provide continuous local and regional news coverage for Central New York, with reporting focused on Syracuse and surrounding communities as well as public affairs, weather, transportation, politics, education, business, and breaking news. The operation was established in a renovated former New York Central Railroad Passenger and Freight Station building in downtown Syracuse, near Interstate 690. The facility became both a recognizable physical base and a production center for the channel. Time Warner Cable committed substantial capital to the launch, including nearly $6 million for restoration of the building. In addition to its Syracuse headquarters, the operation developed reporters, photographers, and regional bureaus across its coverage area. A major expansion came in February 2007, when the channel introduced a separate Southern Tier feed serving Binghamton, Elmira, Corning, and nearby communities. The expansion added bureaus in Vestal and Corning, along with additional reporting, technical, and production personnel. The Central New York operation also maintained a North Country-oriented sub-feed covering areas that included northern and western Adirondack communities. Together, the feeds extended the service across a large portion of upstate New York and into parts of northern Pennsylvania. The station's role was not limited to local newsgathering. It also became an important weather-production center for sister regional news channels in upstate New York. Its weather staff produced recurring forecast segments, including the Weather on the 1s service, for several related channels. After a 2005 consolidation, technical production and master-control functions were shifted to the Albany-based Capital News 9, while the Syracuse operation retained its local reporting, editorial, newsroom, and weather responsibilities. The brand changed several times as its corporate owner standardized the naming of its regional news properties. In March 2010, News 10 Now became YNN, meaning Your News Now. In December 2013, it was renamed Time Warner Cable News Central New York, with the Southern Tier service receiving a corresponding name. Following Charter Communications' acquisition of Time Warner Cable, the operation was rebranded Spectrum News in September 2016. In 2021, it adopted the Spectrum News 1 Central New York name. The channel has received recognition for both journalism and digital work. Its website won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Website in 2004. Senior reporter Bill Carey received a national Murrow Award for feature reporting in 2007 and a New York Emmy Award in 2011 for writing related to the documentary Deadly Delusion. The operation has also received regional Murrow Awards and awards from the New York State Associated Press and Syracuse Press Club. Its coverage has occasionally reached a national audience. In April 2009, the channel's reporting on the American Civic Association shooting in Binghamton was carried by CNN. A letter from the shooter had been mailed to the Syracuse newsroom and was received and reported several days after the attack. The channel's future and staffing became subjects of concern during the late 2010s and early 2020s. In 2018, the New York Public Service Commission revoked Charter's cable franchises in the state, citing alleged failures to satisfy conditions associated with the Time Warner Cable acquisition. The ruling created uncertainty about the long-term position of Spectrum's New York operations, although the channel continued to operate. Near the end of 2020, during a severe regional COVID-19 surge, Spectrum eliminated an undisclosed number of local-news positions. The cuts…
History
The channel began on November 7, 2003, as News 10 Now, a Time Warner Cable regional news service for Central New York. It was created as the company's eleventh regional news channel and was headquartered in a restored former New York Central Railroad Passenger and Freight Station in Syracuse. Time Warner Cable invested nearly $6 million in the building's restoration, making the Syracuse site the operation's principal newsroom and production base. From the beginning, the channel provided rolling coverage of local and regional events, supplemented by weather, public affairs, politics, transportation, education, business, and community reporting. Its geographic footprint expanded beyond the Syracuse area through reporters and photographers stationed in local bureaus. In February 2007, the channel launched a distinct Southern Tier feed for Binghamton, Elmira, Corning, and nearby communities. The expansion created new reporting and technical positions and established bureaus in Vestal and Corning. A further North Country-oriented service covered communities in northern New York, including portions of the Adirondack region. The operation also served as a shared resource within Time Warner Cable's upstate news network. In 2005, the company announced a consolidation affecting 30 positions across its regional news channels. Technical production and master-control work for News 10 Now was combined with the Albany-based Capital News 9. The Syracuse channel retained its own reporting crews, editorial staff, facilities, and newsroom management, while its weather personnel assumed a broader role producing forecasts for sister channels across upstate New York. This included recurring Weather on the 1s segments. The service gained recognition for its journalism and online publishing. Its website received a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Website in 2004. Senior reporter Bill Carey later won a national Murrow Award for Best Feature Reporting in 2007 and a New York Emmy Award in 2011 for his writing on the documentary Deadly Delusion. The station also accumulated regional Murrow Awards and recognition from the New York State Associated Press and Syracuse Press Club. In April 2009, its live reporting on the American Civic Association shooting in Binghamton was distributed nationally by CNN. The newsroom also received and reported on a letter from the shooter several days after the attack. The channel underwent a series of corporate and brand changes. On February 12, 2010, Time Warner Cable announced that News 10 Now would become YNN, or Your News Now. The change aligned it with sister channels that had already adopted the YNN name. On December 16, 2013, the operation became Time Warner Cable News Central New York, while the related Southern Tier feed received a corresponding name. The rebrand introduced standardized graphics and music across the provider's regional news portfolio. Charter Communications completed its acquisition of Time Warner Cable in 2016, after which the channel was renamed Spectrum News. In July 2018, the New York Public Service Commission revoked Charter's cable franchises in the state, alleging that the company had not fulfilled conditions attached to the Time Warner Cable purchase. The action raised questions about the future of Charter's New York cable and news operations, although the channel continued broadcasting. The operation faced substantial staffing changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly before the end of 2020, Spectrum eliminated an undisclosed number of local-news positions during a serious regional surge. The cuts included founding news director Ron Lombard, anchors Tammy Palmer and Iris St. Meren, and longtime photographer Tom Walters. Remaining staff were reportedly asked to record some reports on mobile devices, and anchoring was shifted in part to Albany. In 2021, the channel adopted its present Spectrum News 1 Central New York name. It continues as a regional Spectrum News operation serving Central New York and related sub-regions, with local programming distributed primarily over Charter's cable systems.
- 2021Renamed Spectrum News 1 Central New York
The channel adopted the name used in its canonical Wikipedia entry.
- 2016Spectrum News identity introduced
Charter's acquisition of Time Warner Cable was followed by the adoption of the Spectrum News brand.
- 2013Time Warner Cable News rebrand
The service became Time Warner Cable News Central New York as part of a systemwide naming standardization.
- 2010YNN rebrand
News 10 Now adopted the YNN, or Your News Now, identity.
- 2009Binghamton shooting coverage reaches CNN
The channel's coverage of the American Civic Association shooting was carried nationally by CNN.
- 2007Southern Tier feed launched
A separate feed began serving Binghamton, Elmira, Corning, and surrounding areas.
- 2005Upstate production consolidation
Technical production and master-control functions were consolidated with the Albany-based Capital News 9.
- 2004National Murrow website award
The channel's website won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Website.
- 2003Launch as News 10 Now
The regional cable news channel began broadcasting on November 7, 2003, from Syracuse.
Products and positioning
A continuously updated, locally focused cable-news service for Central New York and adjacent upstate New York regions, positioned within Charter Communications' broader Spectrum News network.
Spectrum News 1 Central New YorkRegional cable news channel2003
The primary 24-hour regional news service for Central New York, based in Syracuse. It provides rolling local coverage, breaking news, public-affairs programming, weather, and reporting from communities across the central part of upstate New York. The service is distributed mainly through Spectrum cable systems and is not generally available through satellite television.
Spectrum News Southern TierRegional news sub-feed2007
A dedicated sub-feed serving the Southern Tier, including Binghamton, Elmira, Corning, and nearby communities. It was introduced in 2007 and supported by bureaus in Vestal and Corning together with additional producers and reporting staff.
Weather on the 1sWeather service
Recurring weather forecast segments produced by the Central New York operation's weather staff for its own viewers and, historically, for several related Spectrum or Time Warner Cable regional news channels across upstate New York.
Flagship businesses
- Spectrum News 1 Central New York
- Spectrum News Southern Tier
- Weather on the 1s
- Central New York regional news coverage
Brand decisions
- 2021Adoption of the Spectrum News 1 nameGeneration change
Spectrum News continued refining the naming of its regional channels.
What changed. The Central New York service was renamed Spectrum News 1 Central New York.
Aftermath. The new name became the channel's current canonical identity.
- 2016Post-acquisition Spectrum rebrandM&A
Charter Communications acquired Time Warner Cable and consolidated the consumer-facing identity of its cable operations.
What changed. The channel was renamed Spectrum News Central New York.
Aftermath. The operation became part of Charter's Spectrum News slate of regional channels.
- 2013Conversion to Time Warner Cable News brandingGeneration change
Time Warner Cable standardized the names and presentation of its regional news channels.
What changed. YNN Central New York became Time Warner Cable News Central New York, with new graphics and music.
Aftermath. The channel was grouped more visibly within Time Warner Cable's broader regional news portfolio.
- 2010Rebrand from News 10 Now to YNNOther
Time Warner Cable was aligning several regional news channels under the Your News Now identity.
What changed. The channel adopted the YNN name and related brand identity.
Aftermath. The service operated as YNN Central New York until the next corporate-wide rebrand in 2013.
- 2007Launch of the Southern Tier sub-feedProduct launch
The existing Central New York service was expanded to provide more localized coverage in the Southern Tier.
What changed. A separate feed was created for Binghamton, Elmira, Corning, and nearby areas, with new bureaus and additional personnel.
Aftermath. The operation broadened its geographic reach and developed a more differentiated regional service.
- 2005Consolidation of technical and master-control operationsStrategy
Time Warner Cable sought cost efficiencies across its three upstate New York regional news channels.
What changed. The company eliminated 30 positions and moved News 10 Now's technical production and master-control responsibilities into the Albany-based Capital News 9 operation, while preserving local reporting and newsroom functions in Syracuse.
Aftermath. The Syracuse operation took on expanded weather-production duties for sister channels.
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Iris St. Meren | Anchorformer | –2020 |
| Ron Lombard | Founding news directorformer | –2020 |
| Tammy Palmer | Anchorformer | –2020 |
| Tom Walters | Photographerformer | –2020 |
| Bill Carey | Senior reporter | — |
Recent events
- 2021Channel adopts the Spectrum News 1 Central New York name
The Central New York service was renamed Spectrum News 1 Central New York.
Product generation - 2020Spectrum cuts local-news staffing during the COVID-19 surge
Near the end of 2020, an undisclosed number of local-news employees were laid off, including founding news director Ron Lombard, anchors Tammy Palmer and Iris St. Meren, and photographer Tom Walters.
Leadership changeOther - 2018New York Public Service Commission revokes Charter cable franchises
The commission revoked Charter's New York cable franchises, citing alleged failures to meet conditions imposed during the Time Warner Cable acquisition and creating uncertainty for the regional Spectrum News operations.
Regulation - 2016Charter acquisition leads to Spectrum News rebrand
Following Charter Communications' acquisition of Time Warner Cable, the channel adopted the Spectrum News identity.
M&AProduct generation - 2013YNN becomes Time Warner Cable News Central New York
Time Warner Cable standardized the names and visual identity of its regional news channels, renaming the Central New York service.
Product generation - 2010News 10 Now adopts the YNN brand
The channel was renamed YNN, short for Your News Now, aligning it with sister services in Buffalo and Rochester.
Product generation - 2009Coverage of Binghamton shooting receives national distribution
The channel's reporting on the American Civic Association shooting was carried nationally by CNN.
Other - 2007Southern Tier sub-feed expands regional coverage
News 10 Now introduced a dedicated Southern Tier feed for Binghamton, Elmira, Corning, and surrounding areas, supported by new bureaus and additional staff.
Product launchProduct generation - 2005Time Warner Cable consolidates technical operations
Time Warner Cable announced the elimination of 30 positions and merged technical production and master-control functions for several upstate regional news channels.
Leadership change - 2003News 10 Now launches as a regional cable news channel
The Central New York operation began broadcasting on November 7 under the News 10 Now name.
Product launch
Sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/ynn-central-new-york · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled