Your Gateway to Pawtucket’s Past, Present & Future
NBC 10 Parent Company Takes Over Operations of ABC6 in Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Sinclair Broadcast Group, the parent company of WJAR NBC10, has acquired the non-license assets of WLNE-TV, better known as ABC6, in a move that reshapes the television market in Rhode Island. The deal, announced this week, gives Sinclair control over ABC6’s equipment, infrastructure, advertising sales, and day-to-day operations. The broadcast license for ABC6 remains with Standard Media Group, which continues to hold legal responsibility for the station. Industry experts describe the arrangement as a Shared Services Agreement (SSA) and Joint Sales Agreement (JSA). These deals allow one station to manage another without formally owning its license, a structure that has become increasingly common in U.S. media markets.
Changes already underway
Following the agreement, ABC6 has begun layoffs, including the very well like and popular meteorologist Kelly Bates. Longtime and award winning sports reporter Nick Coit, and other newsroom staff. Technical operations, such as master control, are expected to be consolidated under Sinclair management. Both companies have stated that ABC6 and WJAR will continue to operate as separate stations with their own programming and branding. However, in similar arrangements elsewhere in the country, stations have shared newsgathering resources, on-air video, and even portions of their news staff.
Regulatory context
The Federal Communications Commission monitors SSAs and JSAs because of concerns they can reduce competition and diversity of voices in local news markets. Since the broadcast license for ABC6 remains with Standard Media, Sinclair’s acquisition does not require a license transfer.
Impact on Rhode Island viewers
The agreement brings two of Providence’s major network affiliates into a close operational partnership. While newscasts on NBC10 and ABC6 are expected to remain separate, viewers could see more overlap in content and reporting as the stations share resources.
The long-term effects on local journalism, staffing, and the competitive media landscape in Rhode Island remain to be seen.
What Helena Foulkes’ Run for Governor Means for Pawtucket
By Shawn Moore - Helena Foulkes is back in the race for Rhode Island governor, and while the headlines will focus on her rematch with Gov. Dan McKee, cities like Pawtucket have the most to gain, or lose from her campaign.
Pawtucket is at a crossroads. Hasbro’s decision to pack up and head to Boston is more than a corporate relocation. It’s a blow to local pride and a reminder of how fragile our economic base can be. Foulkes, with her background as a top CVS executive and CEO, promises to strengthen Rhode Island’s business climate. The question is whether she can turn boardroom success into policies that keep jobs here and attract new ones.
Infrastructure is another critical issue. The Washington Bridge fiasco showed just how damaging poor planning can be for commuters, businesses, and families. Pawtucket residents, many of whom rely on safe, reliable routes into Providence, need more than lip service. Foulkes’ call for accountability at the Department of Transportation is welcome, but follow-through will matter most.
Then there’s the cost of living. Rising rents, higher utility bills, and expensive groceries are squeezing families in Pawtucket harder than ever. Foulkes’ campaign promise to tackle affordability could resonate here, especially if she prioritizes affordable housing and relief for working-class communities.
Education and trust in government round out her message. By advocating for local control of schools and creating an inspector general’s office, Foulkes signals that she understands the frustration many Rhode Islanders feel about being left out of the decision-making process.
For Pawtucket, this campaign is more than politics. It’s about whether the next governor will finally put communities like ours at the center of Rhode Island’s future. Helena Foulkes says she’s ready to lead. Now it’s up to voters to decide if she’s the one to deliver.
Editorial: Hasbro’s Departure Is More Than a Business Move. It’s a Blow to Pawtucket’s Soul.
Pawtucket, RI When Hasbro confirmed it would relocate its corporate headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston’s Seaport District by the end of 2026, it wasn’t just another story of a company chasing modern office space. For Pawtucket, this decision represents something far deeper: the loss of a century-long pillar of identity, community, and economic stability.
Hasbro is not just a company headquartered here; it’s woven into the fabric of Rhode Island life. For generations, if you grew up in Rhode Island, chances are you knew someone who worked at Hasbro. The toys and games produced under its name didn’t just entertain millions worldwide, they also paid mortgages, put kids through college, and kept small businesses in Pawtucket afloat.
The consequences of this move will be felt immediately. Over 700 employees work at the Newport Avenue headquarters, with about 600 of them Rhode Island residents. Even if some are offered remote flexibility, fewer people walking through Pawtucket’s streets every day will mean fewer lunches bought at local delis, fewer errands run on lunch breaks, and fewer dollars circulating through neighborhood businesses.
But the impact goes beyond economics. This is a hit to our civic pride. Hasbro wasn’t just a global brand. It was our global brand. Pawtucket, a city working hard to reinvent itself after the decline of manufacturing, could always point to Hasbro as proof that world-class creativity and business could thrive here. With this exit, that sense of local identity risks fading.
Yes, city and state leaders offered Hasbro every incentive imaginable (Contrary to what some are saying, they actually did). Tax breaks, cheap land in the I-195 corridor, even the Apex site. Yet, in the end, the company chose Boston. That tells us something sobering. Incentives alone can’t buy loyalty.
There’s also an element of déjà vu here. Hasbro has threatened to leave Rhode Island every few years, and now they’ve finally followed through. The question becomes what do we do now? Do we let this departure define Pawtucket as a city corporations abandon? Or do we seize this moment as an opportunity to diversify, redevelop, and welcome industries better aligned with the city’s future?
Pawtucket deserves better than to live in Hasbro’s shadow. Or its absence. This city has resilience baked into its DNA. It powered the American Industrial Revolution. It can, and must, reinvent itself again.
Hasbro may be leaving, but Pawtucket’s story is far from over.
👉 We want to hear from you. What do you think Hasbro’s departure means for Pawtucket, and how should the city move forward? Share your thoughts with us on our Entering Pawtucket Facebook Group page and join the conversation.
LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS IN PAWTUCKET
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Upcoming Events
Empanada Fest – Pawtucket Arts Festival
August 20, 2025, PAWTUCKET Get ready Pawtucket. The Pawtucket Empanada Fest is back and hotter than ever.
- Sunday August 31st, 2025
- 4pm 9pm
- Main Street & Roosevelt Avenue
Join us for a BLOCK PARTY filled with mouthwatering empanadas live music folk performances and unforgettable fun for the