PROVIDENCE – WLNE-TV ABC 6, the ABC affiliate serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, is back under local ownership as of this week.
Global Broadcasting LLC took control of the station Monday, completing its purchase from California-based Freedom Communications Inc. for $14 million.
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Global – a Delaware corporation jointly owned and operated by local media veterans Kevin O’Brien and Robinson Ewert – was looking to purchase the station because of the station’s “tremendous potential” within its market, O’Brien said. WLNE’s strengths include an FM radio frequency at 87.7 and high ratings for ABC’s national programming, including “ABC World News with Charlie Gibson.”
The new ownership will look to enhance the network’s local news coverage, which is handled by a team led by investigative reporter Jim Hummel.
“I think you’re going to see us become a very aggressive and well-run news organization,” O’Brien told Providence Business News in an interview today.
Freedom first announced it was selling its sole Northeastern station in August 2006, at the time stating that it was “purely a business decision” and part of an effort to operate more efficiently in regions where it had more than one station. Its deal with Global was announced March 12. (READ MORE)
WLNE-TV will be the first venture for Global, O’Brien said, adding that he and Ewert probably will attempt to grow the company into other regions of the country.
The station, which began broadcasting in New Bedford as WTEV-TV in 1963, switched its call letters to WLNE in 1980. Three years later, it was acquired by Freedom and moved its studios to Providence.
Global Broadcasting LLC is a Delaware corporation owned and operated by local media veterans Kevin O’Brien and Robinson Ewert.
Freedom Communications, parent of Freedom Broadcasting Inc., is a private information and entertainment company based in Irvine, Calif., that owns eight TV stations in Michigan, Texas, New York, Florida, Oregon and Tennessee; more than 70 daily and weekly newspapers, including the Orange County Register; plus Web sites complementing its print and broadcast properties. To learn more, visit www.freedom.com.
Additional information about WLNE-TV is available at www.abc6.com.
