- Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns WJAR, has acquired some assets of local station WLNE.
- The acquisition has resulted in the departure of at least two on-air personalities from WLNE, also known as ABC6.
- Meteorologist Kelly Bates and sports director Nick Coit both announced via social media that they are no longer with the station.
PROVIDENCE – Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns Providence TV station WJAR and acquired some assets of local station WLNE last week, says it's committed to producing "distinctive content," but the company will have to do it without at least two familiar faces to Southern New England viewers – meteorologist Kelly Bates and sports director Nick Coit.
Bates and Coit have both announced their departures from WLNE, also known as ABC6, via social media.
Sinclair takes over ABC6 in Rhode Island
"Good grief! It happened again!!," Bates wrote on Facebook Sept. 10. "A number of us ABC6 folks are now looking for work. If a resume crosses your desk from someone at ABC6, do yourself a favor and hire them."
Coit wrote Friday, Sept. 12, "Slowly been processing the news that after over 11 years, the run at ABC6 is done. Probably hasn’t fully hit yet, and I’m sure it will, but that’s okay. Because I’m nothing but grateful."
Sinclair confirmed its purchase of the "non-licensed assets" of WLNE from Standard Media via an email to The Journal on Monday night, Sept. 15.
Will you still be able to watch ABC TV shows like Dancing with the Stars, The Golden Bachelor and ABC News?
"Sinclair is committed to producing distinctive content that delivers value andstrengthens the connectionto the local communities we serve," spokeswoman Jessica Bellucci said."WJAR and WLNE represent the best of local broadcasting in the region, and we look forward to building on that legacy to continue to serve viewers across Southern New England."
Sinclair "will provide services to WLNE pursuant to a JSA/SSA agreement," Bellucci said. JSA refers to a joint sales agreement, where stations can share advertising sales, and an SSA is a shared service agreement, where certain services at two stations are consolidated. Sinclair did not provide details of the agreements.
WLNE is an ABC affiliate, while WJAR, also known as NBC10 is affiliated with NBC. They're both in the Providence-New Bedford Designated Market Area.
According to the Federal Communications Commission's website, FCC rules "effectively prohibit a merger between any two of the big four broadcast television networks: ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, but some consider JSAs and SSAs as a way around the rules since they don't require a license transfer.
In her response to questions from The Journal, Sinclair's Bellucci didn't address how many people had lost jobs as a result of the transaction.
Reaction from Bates and Coit
Beyond encouraging employers to hire her former colleagues, Bates, who has been voted best female meteorologist of Rhode Island by the readers of Rhode Island Monthlymultiple times, says she's looking for work.
"So it happened again. It happened again," Bates said in an emotional video on Facebook. "Our station was just bought by the station that I worked for previously. And that parent company has decided I'm a redundancy and needed to go."
After 17 years, Bates left her job with NBC10in September 2021 following a contract dispute. ABC6 hired her in June of 2022, and she returned to the airwaves with much fanfare.
"So, no tears this time. I know what to expect with this company," Bates said in the video. "But if anyone's looking for an effective communicator, person who can make great homemade bracelets, and someone who's dedicated and loyal, and hardworking, please feel free to reach out to me, because I could use a job."
Like Bates, who grew up in NorthAttleboro, Massachusetts, Coit is a Southern New Englander, having grown up in North Plymouth, Massachusetts, and graduating from Plymouth North High School, according to his biography still on the ABC6 website.
"Big picture, no idea what the future holds, but for now, it’s reset, reload and look forward to new adventures," Coit wrote on Facebook.
Coit said he was lucky for the chance to cover Super Bowls, World Series and other major sporting events. He expressed gratitude for the chance to work with former Channel 6 sports anchor Ken Bell, whom he called a "tremendous mentor," and ABC6 sports anchor and reporter Ian Steele, whom he called the "best partner in the business."
Coit also works in radio, co-hosting “Cordischi & Coit” Saturday mornings on sports radio 103.7 FM and broadcasts games for Brown University Athletics.
Coit wrote, "Lastly, man, I love Rhode Island. It’s become a second home. The people, the communities, the places. I’m emotional thinking about how much they all mean to me. Life here is & continues to be wonderful. Will be around for sure. Still have that radio show, those games at Brown & those great students at URI."
