It’s the end of an era in New Bedford and Providence media. According to a memo from the general manager at WJAR-TV “Turn to 10” in Providence, the television station’s parent company, Sinclair, has signed an agreement with ABC and Standard Media to move ABC network programming and local ABC6 News from Channel 6 to WJAR 10.2 (a subchannel of NBC 10).
ABC 6 Programming Moving to WJAR 10.2 in Providence
Starting December 1, viewers who turn on Channel 6 will no longer see ABC6 programming. What will they see instead? Hope they like to laugh, because WLNE will begin airing ROAR. ROAR is a television network that focuses on funny shows like classic Saturday Night Live episodes, America’s Funniest Home Videos and Whose Line Is It Anyway?
However, in a memo to advertisers, Vic Vetters, the general manager for both WJAR and WLNE, said “it’s business as usual” for both stations. “We will continue to maintain the long-running, legacy brand of ABC6 as this is well recognized in Southern New England and the advertising community,” he wrote.
What this will mean for the faces we see on ABC6 remains to be seen. This year has already seen the departure of at least two longtime Providence television names: ABC6 Meteorologist Kelly Bates and ABC6 Sports Director Nick Coit. They were both let go after the announcement of the merger with Turn to 10. Bates said she was told her services were considered “redundant” by the new ownership…