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« Driver in Providence Place mall crash speaks | Today | Source: R.I's Meredith Vieira to replace Couric » April 6, 2006Updated / WJAR sold to Media GeneralRhode Island television station WJAR-TV, Channel 10, the local ratings leader, has been sold to Media General, a multimedia conglomerate that owns newspapers and television stations primarily in the Southeast. Media General announced today that it paid $600 million cash for WJAR and three other NBC stations in Columbus, Ohio, Birmingham, Ala., and Raleigh, N.C.. "While the Columbus and Providence stations we are aquiring are outside the Southeast, our station portfolio will benefit from their strength in audience and revenue share and from their position in growing, larger" markets, Media General said in a press release. WJAR employs 150 people, according to the state Economic Development Corporation. Channel 10 investigative reporter Jim Taricani said that he and others at the station were pleased that the buyer is a media company that emphasizes good journalism. ``We're all really glad it's a journalism organization both with television stations and newspapers,'' Taricani said in a telephone interview. ``We have a pretty dedicated staff, and we were hoping for a company like that that focuses on journalism.'' Media General, based in Richmond, Virginia, owns three metropolitan newspapers -- The Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Winston-Salem Journal -- 122 daily and weekly community newspapers, and 26 network-affiliated television stations. WJAR was first a radio station, going on air in 1922. Then, in 1949, WJAR-TV became Rhode Island's first television station. The TV station was originally affiliated with the Outlet Department Store, in downtown Providence. In 1980, the department store was sold and Outlet Communications, which had acquired additional stations, became strictly a broadcasting company. In 1996, NBC acquired Outlet Communications - which owned a station in Columbus, Ohio, and one in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., as well as Channel 10 -- in a deal valued at $396 million. -- With reports from Journal business writer Timothy Barmann Posted by Steve Peoples CommentsDavid | April 6, 2006 11:06 AM link The first thing the new owners should do is fire the morning team frank and Kelly have to go. I like channel 10 but I would watch any more because of the two of them. Neal Neal | April 6, 2006 11:28 AM link I would welcome a change to a news format that does not strive to be entertaining. I see entertainment all evening. I dislike the "carrot on a stick" method of saying "more at six" or "details at 11" to entice me to watch a later news cast. if you know the news, report on it. Phil Brindamour | April 6, 2006 12:08 PM link Here are some improvements Media General can make right off the bat. I was an avid viewer of Channel 10 years ago but today, most of their news programming is not to my liking so I rarely, if ever watch. -No more first birthdays. What a waste of air time. Well, that would be a start. Much more to be improved but lets take it in steps! Marc | April 6, 2006 1:06 PM link I think it's time for Patrice to bid us all Adieu! Philip edwardo | April 6, 2006 2:03 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
I hope this is good news for Rhode Island. I used to watch channel 10, but got tired of their pandering type of news and their dragged out weather reports. Their sports coverage has always been good and some of their investigative reporting is ok too. But they really need to do more quality reporting on issues that pertain to the average, hard-working Rhode Islander.