Recovering Producer 410 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 2 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: And it actually got Newt Gingrich to respond. The REAL Newt Gingrich too. https://x.com/i/status/2010436094068953303 Did politics play a part in his removal? We all know this, but a few points of clarification from the tweets. Jim Schwartzel, who is running for congress, owns Sun Broadcasting/WXCW (and pending FCC approval WFTX), not Fort Myers Broadcasting/WINK. Sure, Sun Broadcasting and Fort Myers Broadcasting are operationally a team competing in a three legged race. But on paper, different companies with very different ownership structures. Also, seeing a political opponent call the owner of a company that operates a radio station branded "Trump Country" a liberal made me laugh a little too much. Based on the response I've seen to this firing online (I used to work in that market a very long time ago) the people who had to answer phones at WINK's assignment desk over the weekend should ask for a raise on Monday because of the abuse they had to endure.
ColtFromGulfcoast 869 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 I find it hard to believe WINK's owners are liberal leaning because of a radio station called Trump Country, which by the way, I find absolutely ridiculous. And I'd say the same thing about any radio station named after any politician. 1
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 (edited) On 1/10/2026 at 3:52 AM, TheRolyPoly said: In tie with John DeLuca's departure, it looks like this is the new logo for "WLNE" and say goodbye to "ABC 6" (WJAR 10.2). Its "Coastal ABC" now. They have quickly changed their social media presence to include the new logo. UPDATE They may start simulcasting WJAR's newscasts very soon. I just checked ABC6.com and it hasn't been updated since Friday, WLNE's YouTube page had their last upload on Thursday, and their X and Facebook pages had an ABC6.com story posted from Friday but then, two days later, posted three hours ago (at the time of this post) with a TurnTo10.com story. My thinking is that WLNE's news operations have quietly shut down as of this weekend and could be simulcasting WJAR for local news at any moment now. Edited January 12 by TheRolyPoly 1
NowBergen 924 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 (edited) 12 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: UPDATE They may start simulcasting WJAR's newscasts very soon. I just checked ABC6.com and it hasn't been updated since Friday, WLNE's YouTube page had their last upload on Thursday, and their X and Facebook pages had an ABC6.com story posted from Friday but then, two days later, posted three hours ago (at the time of this post) with a TurnTo10.com story. My thinking is that WLNE's news operations have quietly shut down as of this weekend and could be simulcasting WJAR for local news at any moment now. It is a shame that none of WLNE's previous owners invested or tried, especially as all competition was eventually sold to Sinclair and Nexstar. Now WLNE is eliminated for in all reality, replaced by a digipet of often seen repeats on other channels, with no CBS in hotels around the state. The movement to a sub channel of WJAR shows the risk of allowing Sinclair (and in the case of CBS, FOX and CW) Nexstar controlling all TV stations and how community voices are silenced and no alternatives are available on air. This is what Nexstar and Sinclair want across the nation, and the FCC seems willing to allow it. It is why the Tegna acquisition is bad, and the hopefully now dead Scripps to Sinclair deal which is hopefully dead. With a dying newspaper in town, there aren't much in options for independent news programming available in the Providence market. Edited January 12 by NowBergen
GoldenShine_10 263 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 16 hours ago, Recovering Producer said: We all know this, but a few points of clarification from the tweets. Jim Schwartzel, who is running for congress, owns Sun Broadcasting/WXCW (and pending FCC approval WFTX), not Fort Myers Broadcasting/WINK. Sure, Sun Broadcasting and Fort Myers Broadcasting are operationally a team competing in a three legged race. But on paper, different companies with very different ownership structures. Also, seeing a political opponent call the owner of a company that operates a radio station branded "Trump Country" a liberal made me laugh a little too much. Based on the response I've seen to this firing online (I used to work in that market a very long time ago) the people who had to answer phones at WINK's assignment desk over the weekend should ask for a raise on Monday because of the abuse they had to endure. Once the non-compete expires, could WBBH/WZVN try to grab him? If not for the WFTX situation, I would have sensed it leading into a sale. 1
mre29 1967 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 9 hours ago, NowBergen said: It is a shame that none of WLNE's previous owners invested or tried, especially as all competition was eventually sold to Sinclair and Nexstar. Now WLNE is eliminated for in all reality, replaced by a digipet of often seen repeats on other channels, with no CBS in hotels around the state. The movement to a sub channel of WJAR shows the risk of allowing Sinclair (and in the case of CBS, FOX and CW) Nexstar controlling all TV stations and how community voices are silenced and no alternatives are available on air. This is what Nexstar and Sinclair want across the nation, and the FCC seems willing to allow it. It is why the Gannett acquisition is bad, and the hopefully now dead Scripps to Sinclair deal which is hopefully dead. With a dying newspaper in town, there aren't much in options for independent news programming available in the Providence market. I'm honestly surprised Hearst didn't try to purchase WLNE (and KLKN, which would've paired perfectly with KETV).
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 (edited) 13 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: UPDATE They may start simulcasting WJAR's newscasts very soon. I just checked ABC6.com and it hasn't been updated since Friday, WLNE's YouTube page had their last upload on Thursday, and their X and Facebook pages had an ABC6.com story posted from Friday but then, two days later, posted three hours ago (at the time of this post) with a TurnTo10.com story. My thinking is that WLNE's news operations have quietly shut down as of this weekend and could be simulcasting WJAR for local news at any moment now. UPDATE (x2) As I suspected, WJAR's newscasts are now being simulcast on the new Coastal ABC. It looks like Karah Bailey (from Good Morning Providence) was the only one (as far as I'm seeing) retained by Sinclair for WJAR. Go to ABC6.com's live stream and its now airing WJAR's newscasts. https://www.facebook.com/reel/3800943630039012/?__cft__[0]=AZZo6LpD4Xnr_phIGhm9eSmFFv210VCtpyHuvl-poURyQbtj-jUyHahUTduHQFw6VhXBFvzurOVeCJJw0MKdNjt6E0i0JRSJoNQThyrKN3X5CM4oefpugqeCFmA_TczfBAXpmnfE0ul8F0Et-FpWXHAcmY9OSqilw4uDzg0PzwGyBFjLVuuq1yCCqUJiojm71AUwUU8ZU2dV-JagN0KT-3AK&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R Edited January 12 by TheRolyPoly 1
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 21 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: And it actually got Newt Gingrich to respond. The REAL Newt Gingrich too. https://x.com/i/status/2010436094068953303 Did politics play a part in his removal? UPDATE (x2) I'll leave this for what it is. From X but it comes from @NewtGingrich. I don't know if all of this is 100% true, but if this is what he got fired for, then SHAME on WINK-TV for doing so. 1 3
newsman123 142 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 54 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said: UPDATE (x2) As I suspected, WJAR's newscasts are now being simulcast on the new Coastal ABC. It looks like Karah Bailey (from Good Morning Providence) was the only one (as far as I'm seeing) retained by Sinclair for WJAR. Go to ABC6.com's live stream and its now airing WJAR's newscasts. https://www.facebook.com/reel/3800943630039012/?__cft__[0]=AZZo6LpD4Xnr_phIGhm9eSmFFv210VCtpyHuvl-poURyQbtj-jUyHahUTduHQFw6VhXBFvzurOVeCJJw0MKdNjt6E0i0JRSJoNQThyrKN3X5CM4oefpugqeCFmA_TczfBAXpmnfE0ul8F0Et-FpWXHAcmY9OSqilw4uDzg0PzwGyBFjLVuuq1yCCqUJiojm71AUwUU8ZU2dV-JagN0KT-3AK&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R Side note: what happened to Dan Jaehnigs face??? Is he ok?
tyrannical bastard 4678 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 1 hour ago, TheRolyPoly said: UPDATE (x2) I'll leave this for what it is. From X but it comes from @NewtGingrich. I don't know if all of this is 100% true, but if this is what he got fired for, then SHAME on WINK-TV for doing so. It's management like this that makes the upcoming WFTX merger that much worse. And one of the very few cases where a national owner would be an improvement. 2
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 After a decade at WAFB Baton Rouge, including the last five anchoring with Matt Williams in the morning, Liz Koh will be leaving at the end of the month. https://www.wafb.com/2026/01/12/anchor-liz-koh-announces-departure-wafb/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPSgLpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFaQnVNelZxcm9VU1ZpcXQ0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvpEKmSvxpIVE2XSasKlTF-rB9UwZ_ZLseyfMl0rEz5tVgeljwlihIHD3Gvf_aem_8JYoJ2d4hIW3vSwSr3nwYQ
TVLurker 389 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 1 hour ago, tyrannical bastard said: It's management like this that makes the upcoming WFTX merger that much worse. And one of the very few cases where a national owner would be an improvement. WINK: Where your family comes last and we come first, disobey and get fired. 1 1
FiveNews 482 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Univision's nightly newscast, Noticiero Univision, looks a little different tonight. They are merging with N+ (pronounced "N más) in Mexico. The newscast will go by N+ Univision. In the video below, they are spinning it as a win for better and more complete news coverage across the US and latin America. 1
justin2kx 246 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 (edited) 4 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: UPDATE (x2) As I suspected, WJAR's newscasts are now being simulcast on the new Coastal ABC. It looks like Karah Bailey (from Good Morning Providence) was the only one (as far as I'm seeing) retained by Sinclair for WJAR. Go to ABC6.com's live stream and its now airing WJAR's newscasts. https://www.facebook.com/reel/3800943630039012/?__cft__[0]=AZZo6LpD4Xnr_phIGhm9eSmFFv210VCtpyHuvl-poURyQbtj-jUyHahUTduHQFw6VhXBFvzurOVeCJJw0MKdNjt6E0i0JRSJoNQThyrKN3X5CM4oefpugqeCFmA_TczfBAXpmnfE0ul8F0Et-FpWXHAcmY9OSqilw4uDzg0PzwGyBFjLVuuq1yCCqUJiojm71AUwUU8ZU2dV-JagN0KT-3AK&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R Based on that reel alone, though the abc transfer happened last december, that put the final nail in the coffin of an already rotten corpse. In other words, RIP to 'WLNE' as we knew it. It never stood a chance to succeed. (probably been a minute since that clip was used for any farewell in this thread) Edited January 13 by justin2kx 2
mre29 1967 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 3 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: I don't know if all of this is 100% true, but if this is what he got fired for, then SHAME on WINK-TV for doing so. And may WBBH/WZVN wipe the floor with WINK in the ratings. 4
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 35 minutes ago, mre29 said: And may WBBH/WZVN wipe the floor with WINK in the ratings. WBBH/WZVN has beaten WINK in the ratings for a number of years now and it looks like that will continue. I see their ratings tripling over WINK with this news. 3 1
tyrannical bastard 4678 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 And while hoping for a better owner for the Cleveland Browns than Jimmy and Dee Haslam, reminds me what dirtbags the McBride family appears to be. (Mickey McBride was the original owner of the Cleveland Browns and his family owns WINK-TV) 1
TennTV1983 870 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 4 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: UPDATE (x2) I'll leave this for what it is. From X but it comes from @NewtGingrich. I don't know if all of this is 100% true, but if this is what he got fired for, then SHAME on WINK-TV for doing so. Pardon my French, but this is the kind of stuff only scumbags and Scrooges would do. Mr. Devitt has every right to sue at this point. 7
MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 1158 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 4 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: WBBH/WZVN has beaten WINK in the ratings for a number of years now and it looks like that will continue. I see their ratings tripling over WINK with this news. 3 weeks ago, this was posted on their YouTube shorts. They were celebrating 1,000 Weather Watchers -- I'm curious to know what the number is now
AaronQ 309 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 13 hours ago, mre29 said: I'm honestly surprised Hearst didn't try to purchase WLNE (and KLKN, which would've paired perfectly with KETV). I mean hell, Gray would've been perfect for WLNE as well (considering that they also have a presence in New England). 4
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 13 Posted January 13 I wonder if other Hearst stations with local news on subchannels will do the same move (its been done before when WCVB initially launched its 10pm news on Me-TV). Starting tonight, Jan. 13th, KOAT is expanding its weeknight 9pm news, Action 7 News at 9:00 on True Crime New Mexico (KOAT 7.3), to an hour. They have moved Sasha Lenninger, their weekend anchor for the past seven years, to the newly expanded hour.
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 (edited) Back on WINK... Nikki Sheaks is leaving the station to join WBBH/WZVN's sister station, WPBF. Her last day at WINK is January 25th. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1281548090465123&id=100058298310328 EDIT: She spent 15 years as a journalist, the last 10 at my NBC O&O WTVJ and she really did make a mark on the station and South Florida as a whole. I know because I've seen her various times over the years on air at WTVJ. I always thought she was solid. However, this week will be longtime reporter Amanda Plasencia's last and it'll be sad to see her go as she will exit TV news for a job outside of it. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1264523395493077&id=100058062851149 Edited January 14 by TheRolyPoly
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 To the moderators... if you wanna find the WINK-TV and Matt Devitt posts and put it in a new thread, that would be great. I have more to showcase. Is anyone shocked that the McBride family (WINK) donated to Jim Schwartzel (WXCW and Sun)'s campaign for Congress? I know I'm not. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1483850663740884&id=100063478933238 And boy is he dumb, stupid, and dishonest. Of course he has no role in FMBC but still has a role inside WINK operations because its a sidecar company for FMBC! Boy does he think we're dumb but we can see right through it. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1483537757105508&id=100063478933238 The scandal continues and I'm all in on these latest developments. 2
TheRolyPoly 3510 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Sydney Scofield left WTVD a few weeks ago to return home. Home is Spokane and she's about to do main evening shifts at TEGNA's KREM 2 Spokane. https://www.instagram.com/p/DTb97PuFMyI/?igsh=MWlhaWE1cm15NDl0aA==
norcalTVfan 58 Posted January 15 Posted January 15 9 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said: Sydney Scofield left WTVD a few weeks ago to return home. Home is Spokane and she's about to do main evening shifts at TEGNA's KREM 2 Spokane. https://www.instagram.com/p/DTb97PuFMyI/?igsh=MWlhaWE1cm15NDl0aA== The evening co-anchor position has been vacant at KREM for like eight months. She's local and liked from her time on another station in the market. Her addition makes for an interesting line-up as she solos at 5:30 (streaming), co-anchors at 6 and 6:30, solos at 10, and solos at 11 (which is/was a repeat of their 10PM news on CW sister KSKN). Primary station airing a repeat of an earlier newscast right after prime-time ... ehhh.
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