WNAC-TV

WNAC-TV was a pioneering television station that served the Boston metropolitan area for over three decades. It was notable for its early affiliations with major networks and its role in the development of New England's broadcast landscape. The station's history is marked by several ownership changes, format shifts, and its eventual replacement in the Boston market.

History

WNAC-TV first signed on the air on June 21, 1948, as the second television station in Boston, following WBZ-TV. It was originally owned by the Shepard Broadcasting Service, which also operated radio stations WNAC and WCOP. The station was a primary affiliate of the CBS television network and also carried programming from the DuMont Television Network. In 1957, following a complex series of transactions involving the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, the station's ownership was transferred to General Tire, which operated it through its RKO General broadcasting division. This period saw the station become a primary affiliate of the ABC network while maintaining a secondary relationship with CBS until 1961. After losing its network affiliations, it operated as an independent station for over a decade before briefly rejoining CBS from 1972 to 1975. The station's final years were plagued by license renewal challenges with the Federal Communications Commission related to RKO General's parent company, culminating in the station's license being revoked. WNAC-TV ceased broadcasting on December 31, 1981, and was replaced by the new WNEV-TV, which inherited its CBS affiliation.

News Operation

Throughout its history, WNAC-TV maintained a significant news presence in the Boston market. In its early decades, it produced local newscasts such as The Reporters and News 7. The station was an early adopter of Eyewitness News format conventions, emphasizing a team-based approach to reporting. Notable personalities who worked at the station included longtime Boston anchor Natalie Jacobson and sportscaster Bob Lobel. The news department also invested in technology, utilizing microwave and satellite feeds for coverage. During its final years as an independent, the station expanded its news programming, including early morning and prime-time broadcasts, competing directly with the network-affiliated stations from WBZ-TV and WCVB-TV.

Technical Information

WNAC-TV broadcast on VHF channel 7 from its studio and transmitter location in the Allston neighborhood of Boston. Its effective radiated power was 316 kW, and its tower height above average terrain was 305 meters. The station's signal covered much of eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and parts of Rhode Island and Maine. For a period, it also operated a satellite station, WNAC-TV channel 64 in Providence, to improve coverage in that market, though this was later sold and became WLNE-TV. The station broadcast in the standard NTSC analog format for its entire existence.

Coverage Area

The station's primary coverage area was the Boston designated market area, one of the largest in the United States. Its signal reached the major population centers of eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Worcester, and Lowell. The signal also penetrated into significant portions of southern New Hampshire, including the cities of Manchester and Nashua, as well as parts of northern Rhode Island and southwestern Maine. This extensive reach made it a key broadcaster for major regional events and Boston Bruins hockey games.

Programming

As an early network affiliate, WNAC-TV carried a full slate of programming from CBS, DuMont, and later ABC, including popular shows like I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners. After becoming independent, it developed a strong schedule of local programming, children's shows, movies, and off-network syndicated series. It was known for its extensive sports coverage, serving as the longtime broadcast home for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. The station also produced notable local programs such as the children's show Boomtown and the afternoon movie showcase The Early Show. In its final years, it aired a mix of syndicated talk shows, classic television series, and locally produced specials.

Category:Television stations in Boston Category:Defunct television stations in the United States Category:RKO General