New England Cable News

New England Cable News
New England Cable News
Launched	March 2, 1992
Owned by	NBCUniversal
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Slogan	New England's News Station
Country	United States
Language	English
Broadcast area	Massachusetts eastern Connecticut central Connecticut Vermont Maine New Hampshire Rhode Island
Headquarters	Newton, Massachusetts
Sister channel(s)	Comcast SportsNet New England
Website	New England Cable News
Availability
Cable
Available on select cable systems	Check local listings for channels

New England Cable News (NECN) is a regional 24-hour cable news television network owned and operated by NBCUniversal (as part of the NBC Owned Television Stations division) serving the New England region of the United States. It is very similar to CNN in structure and style, but focuses more on regional news. The channel is also similar to Northwest Cable News, which covers the Pacific Northwest. Its main studios are located in Newton, Massachusetts (near Boston), but operates several news bureaus in the New England area, including Manchester, New Hampshire; Hartford, Connecticut; Worcester, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; and Burlington, Vermont.

New England Cable News maintains a remote camera in the television studio of Suffolk University in downtown Boston. New England Cable News is available across New England in 3.7 million homes and produces several original programs.

Overview

NECN was launched March 2, 1992, as a joint partnership between Continental Cablevision (now part of Comcast) and the Hearst Corporation.^[1] On June 18, 2009, Hearst sold its stake in NECN to Comcast, who began to operate it as a division of the Comcast Sports Group and Comcast SportsNet.^[2]

When Hearst owned a stake in NECN, it used the resources of several New England stations owned and operated by Hearst Television to assist in news coverage of the region. The Hearst stations include Boston ABC affiliate WCVB-TV 5 (for a period early in NECN's existence, the network rebroadcast WCVB's 6:00 p.m. newscast at 8:00 p.m.^[1]); New Hampshire's ABC affiliate WMUR-TV 9; ABC affiliate WMTW 8 in Portland (NECN and WMTW both maintain bureaus in the Time and Temperature Building in downtown Portland, though the operations are physically separate and NECN uses its own news vehicles in Maine); and WPTZ 5 and WNNE 31, Vermont's two NBC affiliates.

NECN is a training ground for local news reporters. Some of the better-known reporters who got their start at NECN include ABC's Dan Harris, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, and CNBC's Maya Kulycky. Several of Boston's current television reporters and anchors also began at NECN. Conversely, NECN has also employed some of the long-lived veterans of the Boston television market, including R. D. Sahl, Tom Ellis and Chet Curtis.

In addition to its cable production operations, NECN began to produce an 10:00 p.m. newscast for Boston FOX affiliate WFXT 25, known as FOX 25 News at 10:00 on September 7, 1993.^[3] Shortly after Fox Television Stations bought WFXT from the Boston Celtics, it chose not to renew the contract with NECN upon its expiration on October 1, 1995 (the station would launch its own news operation a year later);^[4] the next day, the newscast moved to UPN affiliate WSBK-TV and was renamed UPN 38 Prime News.^[5] The 10:00 p.m. newscast left the air on October 4, 1998, when WSBK canceled it to focus on sports and entertainment programming.^[6] Currently, NECN helps produce Worcester News TONIGHT and Worcester News TONIGHT 10:00 p.m. Update on Charter TV3 in Worcester which is shown weeknights at 6:00, 6:30, 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. The 10:00 broadcast is rebroadcast at 11:00, 11:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.

Comcast systems generally carry NECN as part of the limited basic tier, usually on a VHF channel (channel 6 in most Metro Boston communities). It is also seen on Verizon FiOS on channel 115 as part of local Digital, and on RCN on channel 318 as part of its Signature package. Most other cable TV systems in New England carry it, with the exception of Cox. The service is not available on satellite.

On January 18, 2010, NECN launched an HD version on Comcast systems. Although NECN-SD is generally part of limited basic on Comcast, it appears one needs to subscribe to the Digital Starter tier to get NECN-HD. Most Boston area viewers that subscribe to Comcast's Digital Starter tier can get NECN-HD on Channel 810. Verizon carries NECN-HD on channel 615, also as part of local digital, while channel 618 is NECN-HD's home on RCN.

In July 2013, as part of a corporate re-organization, NECN was moved into the NBC Owned Television Stations division—aligning it with NBC and Telemundo's owned-and-operated stations.^[7]

In December 2013 Time Warner Cable announced that NECN would be dropped from its lineups in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts by the end of the year.^[8] The future of the Portland, Maine bureau was called into question.^[9] The decision was widely criticized by Time Warner Cable customers, who solicited the intervention of public officials on their behalf. TWC subsequently decided to continue carrying NECN.^[10]

Programming

Newscasts

• The News at 5AM - Weekdays from 5:00-6:00 a.m. (Erick Weber and Kristy Lee)
• The News at 6AM - Weekdays from 6:00-7:00 a.m. (Erick Weber and Kristy Lee)
• The Morning Show - Weekdays from 7:00-9:00 a.m. (Steve Aveson and Bridget Blythe)

An early look at all the day's headlines, plus interviews with top news-makers, feature stories from around New England, real-time Metro Traffic reports and weather.

• NECN Newsroom - Weekdays from 9:00-11:00 a.m. (Erick Weber and Kristy Lee)
• NECN Midday - Weekdays from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Steve Aveson and Bridget Blythe)

Rolling New England news coverage throughout the morning.

• NECN Afternoon - Weekdays from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (repeated from 1:00-4:00 p.m.; Steve Aveson and Bridget Blythe)
• The News at 4PM - Weekdays from 4:00-4:30 p.m. (repeated from 4:30-5:00 p.m.; Latoyia Edwards and Mike Nikitas)
• The News at 5PM - Weekdays from 5:00-6:00 p.m. (Latoyia Edwards and Mike Nikitas)
• Broadside: The News with Jim Braude - Weekdays from 6:00-6:30 and 3:30-4:00 a.m. + Tuesdays-Fridays from 8:00-8:30 p.m.

Host Jim Braude is a regular contributor, offering opinion and analysis on the most important stories of the day, with interviews relating to politics, culture, business, education and technology. He also contributes to Election Night coverage.

• The News at 7PM - Weeknights from 7:00-7:30 p.m. (Latoyia Edwards and Mike Nikitas)
• The ONLY News at 9 - Weeknights from 9:00-10:00 p.m. (repeated from 10:00-11:00 p.m. and 12:00-1:00 a.m. (Latoyia Edwards and Mike Nikitas)

NECN's signature and primary newscast is a 60-minute show exploring the latest from New England, the nation and the world. It was called NECN TONIGHT until 2011 when MyNetworkTV station WSBK 38 Boston secured the MyTV affiliation and moved the 9:00 broadcast to 10:00 p.m. (the newscast is produced by WBZ-TV 4)

• NECN Saturday/Sunday - Weekends from 6:00-10:00 a.m. and 12:00-12:30 p.m. + Sundays from 10:00-10:30, 11:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-1:30 p.m. (Leslie Gaydos)
• NECN Saturday/Sunday - Saturdays from 5:00-7:00, 8:00-10:00, 10:30-11:00 p.m., 12:00-12:30, 1:00-1:30 and 2:00-4:30 a.m. + Sundays from 5:00-8:00, 9:00-10:00, 10:30-11:00 p.m., 12:00-12:30, 1:00-1:30 and 3:00-4:30 a.m. (Jackie Bruno)

A look at the weekend's top stories, along with weather and sports from CSN New England.

Other programming

• NECN Business - Weeknights from 6:30-7:00, 8:30-9:00 p.m., 3:00-3:30 and Saturdays from 5:30-6:00 a.m. (Latoyia Edwards and Mike Nikitas)

The day in business with Wall Street analysis, movers and shakers in the region, the nation and the world. Business editor Peter Howe contributes to this program. Sponsored by Comcast Business Class.

• CEO Corner - Saturdays from 5:00-5:30 a.m. and Sundays from 4:30-5:00 a.m. and 8:30-9:00 p.m.

Peter Howe hosts this half hour program which features interviews and discussion with New England’s key business leaders.

• CSN SportsNet Central - Mondays-Saturdays from 11:00-11:30 (repeated from 11:30 p.m.-12:00 a.m.) and Tuesdays-Saturdays from 4:00-4:30 a.m. (Hosted by various personalities from CSN New England)

A sports news and daily wrap up program similar to ESPN's SportsCenter. The program is rebroadcast from sister network Comcast SportsNet New England.

• CSN Sports Sunday - Sundays from 11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 a.m.

Michael Felger from Comcast SportsNet New England hosts this one-hour wrap-up sports show with some of the best sports stories from the week. The program is rebroadcast from sister network Comcast SportsNet New England.

• This Week in Business - Saturdays from 4:30-5:00 a.m. and Sundays from 12:30-1:00 and 8:00-8:30 p.m.

This Week in Business examines the business stories affecting the region. Co-hosted by NECN anchor Mike Nikitas and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Guzzi, this program also showcases many of New England's most important and influential business, technology and government leaders.

• The Boss - Mondays from 8:00-8:30 and weekends from 10:00-10:30 p.m.
• Money Matters Radio - Saturdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Massachusetts School of Law TV - Saturdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

News team

Current on-air staff^[11]

Anchors

• Steve Aveson - weekday mornings and afternoons (7:00-9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)
• Bridget Blythe - weekday mornings and afternoons (7:00-9:00 a.m. and 11:00-1:00 p.m.)
• Jackie Bruno - weekend evenings (5:00-5:30, 6:00-6:30 and 9:00-9:30 p.m.)
• Latoyia Edwards - weekday afternoons and weeknights (4:00-4:30, 5:00-6:00, 6:30-7:30 and 9:00-10:00 p.m.)
• Leslie Gaydos - weekend mornings and afternoons (6:00-7:30, 8:00-8:30, 9:00-9:30 a.m. and 12:00-12:30 p.m.); also weekday morning reporter
• Kristy Lee - weekday mornings (5:00-7:00 and 9:00-11:00 a.m.)
• Mike Nikitas - weekday afternoons and weeknights (4:00-4:30, 5:00-6:00, 6:30-7:30 p.m. and 9:00-10:00 p.m.); also co-host of This Week in Business (Sundays from 12:30-1:00 and 8:00-8:30 p.m.)
• Erick Weber - weekday mornings (5:00-7:00 and 9:00-11:00 a.m.)

Weather team

• Nelly Carreno - meteorologist; weeknights (4:00-4:30, 5:00-7:30 and 9:00-10:00 p.m.)
• Joe Joyce - meteorologist; weekday mornings and afternoons (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)
• Tim Kelley - meteorologist; weekends (6:00-7:30, 8:00-8:30, 9:00-9:30 a.m., 12:00-12:30, 5:00-5:30, 6:00-6:30 and 9:00-9:30 p.m.)
• Matt Noyes (member, AMS; member, NWA) - chief meteorologist; weekday mornings (5:00-10:00 a.m.)

Reporters

• Josh Brogadir - general assignment reporter
• Brian Burnell - Connecticut reporter
• Ally Donnelly - general assignment reporter; also fill-in anchor
• Peter Howe - business editor
• Alison King - political reporter
• Marnie MacLean - Maine reporter
• Justin Michaels - general assignment reporter; also fill-in anchor
• Scott Montminy - weekday morning traffic reporter (5:00-9:00 a.m.)
• John Moroney - general assignment reporter
• Alysha Palumbo - general assignment reporter
• R.D. Sahl - special correspondent
• Amy Sinclair - Maine reporter
• Jack Thurston - Vermont reporter
• Greg Wayland - general assignment reporter

Regional program hosts

• Jim Braude - host of Broadside: The News with Jim Braude (Weeknights at 6:00 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. + Tuesdays-Fridays at 8:00 p.m.)
• Paul Guzzi - co-host of This Week in Business (Sundays at 12:30 and 8:30 p.m.)

References

External links

• Official website