View source for WLBZ

{{Short description|Television station in Bangor, Maine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WLBZ
| above = [[Semi-satellite]] of [[WCSH]], [[Portland, Maine]]
| logo = WLBZ NBC 2 Bangor, Maine Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| branding = WLBZ 2; ''News Center Maine''
| digital = 2 ([[VHF]])
| virtual = 2
| translators = 4 WGCI-LD [[Skowhegan]]
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''2.1:''' [[NBC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1954|09|12|p=y|br=yes}}
| image = WCSH NewsCenter Maine 2024.svg
| image_size = 200px
| location = [[Bangor, Maine]]
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = taken from former sister station [[WZON|WLBZ radio]]
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WTWO (1954–1958)|WLBZ-TV (1958–1997)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 2 (VHF, 1954–2009)|'''Digital:''' 25 ([[UHF]], 2002–2009)|<!--'''Translator:'''|57 W57AQ [[Calais, Maine|Calais]]-->}}
| owner = {{ubl|[[Tegna Inc.]]|''(sale to [[Nexstar Media Group]] pending<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=August 19, 2025 |title=Nexstar Buying Tegna For $6.2 Billion |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |access-date=August 19, 2025 |website=TV News Check |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819205146/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |archive-date= August 19, 2025}}</ref>)''}}
| licensee = TEGNA [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] Broadcasting, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations = [[WCSH]]
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[independent station|Independent]] (1954–1955) |[[CBS]] (1955–1959)|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (secondary, 1959–1965)}}
| erp = 3 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|192|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 39644
| coordinates = {{coord|44|44|10.2|N|68|40|15.1|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{url|https://www.newscentermaine.com/}}
}}

'''WLBZ''' (channel 2) is a [[television station]] in [[Bangor, Maine]], United States, affiliated with [[NBC]] and owned by [[Tegna Inc.]] The station's studios are located on Mount Hope Avenue in Bangor, and its transmitter is located on Rider Bluff in [[Holden, Maine|Holden]].

Although identifying as a separate station in its own right, WLBZ is considered a [[semi-satellite]] of [[sister station]] [[WCSH]] (channel 6) in [[Portland, Maine|Portland]]. WLBZ's [[master control]], as well as some internal operations, are housed at WCSH's studios on Congress Square in [[Neighborhoods of Portland, Maine|Downtown Portland]]. WLBZ clears all network programming as provided through its parent, [[simulcast]]s most of WCSH's newscasts (with local weather inserts) and airs most of its [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] programming (though in some cases at different times). There are also some programs that only air on WLBZ while some are only seen on WCSH. WLBZ also airs separate [[station identification]]s and commercial inserts. Although WLBZ and WCSH are based in different locations and technically serve separate [[media market|markets]], the two essentially operate as one station. With their combined resources, the stations provide statewide coverage not offered by any other outlet in Maine.

WLBZ previously served as the default NBC affiliate for the [[Presque Isle, Maine|Presque Isle]] market, which did not have an affiliate of its own. It is carried in the local tier of Spectrum's cable system in Presque Isle, and is also offered as the NBC affiliate in the Presque Isle [[Dish Network]] and [[DirecTV]] channel lineups. This changed in 2020,<ref>{{cite news |title=What became of WAGM's plan to add NBC? |url=https://www.radiodiscussions.com/showthread.php?723136-What-became-of-WAGM-s-plan-to-add-NBC |work=Radio Discussions |publisher=RadioDiscussions.com |date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=February 9, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> however, with the sign-on of NBC affiliate [[WWPI-LD]] by [[CBS]]/[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]/[[CW+]] affiliate (and sister station of rival [[WABI-TV]]) [[WAGM-TV]].<ref name="wagm-wwpinbc16">{{cite news |title=WAGM announces launch of NBC Affiliation |url=https://www.wagmtv.com/content/news/WAGM-announces-launch-of-NBC-Affiliation-511731462.html |work=WAGM-TV |publisher=[[Gray Television]] |date=June 24, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to its main signal, WLBZ operates [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] digital [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|repeater]] '''WGCI-LD''' on VHF channel 4. Licensed to [[Skowhegan]], this station has a transmitter in [[Norridgewock, Maine|Norridgewock]]'s Larone section. 

==History==
[[File:Mitey2-mt.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Logo as WTWO featuring its "Mitey Two" mascot.]]

The station began broadcasting on September 12, 1954, as WTWO (sometimes rendered as "W-TWO"), an [[independent station]] locally owned by Murray Carpenter.<ref name=wlbz-earlyyears>{{cite web|title=WLBZ 2 History|url=http://www.wlbz2.com/company/about_us/history/default.aspx|work=WLBZ2.com|access-date=May 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702002028/http://www.wlbz2.com/company/about_us/history/default.aspx|archive-date=July 2, 2008}}</ref>  The following January, it began carrying some [[CBS]] programming,<ref name=bt-wtwocbs>{{cite news|title=WTWO (TV) Joins CBS-TV|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/55-OCR/BC-1955-01-10-Page-0097.pdf|page=81|access-date=May 31, 2011|newspaper=[[Broadcasting-Telecasting]]|date=January 10, 1955}}</ref> becoming a full affiliate by September 1955<ref name=bt-wtwocbsprimary>{{cite news|title=WTWO (TV) Anniversary|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/55-OCR/BC-1955-09-12-Page-0117.pdf|page=117|access-date=May 31, 2011|newspaper=Broadcasting-Telecasting|date=September 12, 1955}}</ref> (prior to this, CBS programming was seen on [[WABI-TV]] (channel 5), which became a primary NBC affiliate). In 1958, WTWO was sold to the Rines family's Maine Broadcasting System, owner of WLBZ radio (620 AM), [[WZAN|WCSH-AM]]-[[WCSH|TV]] in Portland, and [[WJZN|WRDO]] in [[Augusta, Maine|Augusta]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Frederic L. |title=The Rines Family Legacy|publisher= Arcadia Publishing|location=Charleston, TN|year=2005 |pages=128 p. : ill. ; 24 cm|isbn=0-7385-3882-5|oclc=62522312|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hbHBe0VA4IIC|lccn=2005926756}}</ref><ref name=b-saletorines>{{cite news|title=Bangor Tv, Phoenix Am Sold|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/58-OCR/BC-1958-03-24-Page-0009.pdf|page=9|access-date=May 31, 2011|newspaper=Broadcasting|date=March 24, 1958}}</ref>  The new ownership changed the station's call letters to WLBZ-TV that June to match its new radio sister (which the Rines had owned since 1944).<ref name=b-wtwotowlbz>{{cite news|title=Marcoux Appointed to WLBZ-TV|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/58-OCR/BC-1958-06-30-Page-0084.pdf|page=84|access-date=May 31, 2011|newspaper=Broadcasting|date=June 30, 1958}}</ref> (The [[WTWO]] calls now reside on the NBC affiliate in [[Terre Haute, Indiana]].) The following year, channel 2 swapped affiliations with WABI-TV and joined NBC in order to match WCSH-TV; the two stations also began to share a secondary [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliation (previously, ABC programming was only cleared on WABI).<ref name=by1958>{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1958|year=1958|page=A-142|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive-BC-YB/1958/TV%20%20BC%20YB%201958%20B&W.pdf|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref><ref name=by1959>{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1959|year=1959|page=B-37|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive-BC-YB/1959/Television%20BC%20YB%201959%20B&W-6.pdf|access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The ABC arrangement remained in place until 1965, when WEMT (channel 7, now [[WVII-TV]]) signed on as a full-time ABC affiliate.

In its first decades on the air, channel 2 was best known as the home of Eddie Driscoll. He hosted many programs on the station including ''Weird'', ''[[Dialing for Dollars]]'', ''The Great Money Movie'', and ''My Backyard''. Driscoll was also known for his improvisation skills and sense of humor. He retired from WLBZ-TV in 1986, and died on September 24, 2006, after suffering from [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref name=wlbz-earlyyears />

In the 1970s, WLBZ-TV added a repeater in [[Calais, Maine|Calais]], W57AQ on channel 57, with a transmitter in [[Meddybemps]] shared with W61AO (which repeated WABI-TV). W57AQ allowed cable systems in [[Atlantic Canada]] to distribute WLBZ by a microwave link from the border, doubling or even tripling the station's coverage area and viewership. Most Canadian cable systems dropped WLBZ after 1996 once American television signals became available to them by satellite, with the last one doing so in 2010. Although a "[[flash-cut]]" to digital on VHF channel 8 was considered, it was instead decided to return the W57AQ license to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC), which deleted it on April 29, 2010.<ref name="fcc-w57aqdefunct">{{cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=18390|title=In re: LPTV/TV Translator Station Of...|last=Hashemzadeh|first=Hossein|date=April 29, 2010|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=June 19, 2010}}</ref>

In 1981, WLBZ radio was sold off, becoming WACZ (it is now [[WZON]]); in 1997, the -TV suffix was dropped. In 1998, the Maine Broadcasting System (by this time controlled by the Rines-Thompson family) sold WLBZ and WCSH to the [[Gannett Company]].<ref name=nerw-saletogannett>{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Ian Taylor, RIP|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-980108.html|access-date=May 31, 2011|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=January 8, 1998}}</ref>  In 2000, the station essentially began serving as a semi-satellite of WCSH, when commercials and network programming began to be played from Portland.<ref name=bdn-11pmwcshonwlbz>{{cite news|last=McGarrigle|first=Dale|title=WLBZ to switch anchor teams|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FKtJAAAAIBAJ&pg=1748%2C611855|access-date=December 29, 2011|newspaper=[[Bangor Daily News]]|date=August 3, 2000}}</ref> However, as early as 1989, WLBZ had been reducing its personnel and consolidating some internal operations with WCSH.
[[File:News center logo.png|150px|thumbnail|Previous News Center logo used until 2016.]]
In 2002, WLBZ signed on a digital signal on [[UHF]] channel 25, bringing NBC's high definition programming to Eastern and Central Maine.<ref name=wlbz-earlyyears />  WLBZ's broadcasts became digital-only, effective June 12, 2009. However, the station kept its digital operations on channel 25 until September 10, when it was moved to the VHF channel 2 space previously occupied by the analog service.

In 2012, WLBZ's station logo was immortalized in a running sketch series for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' called "Maine Justice", a parody of [[court show|courtroom shows]] featuring a judge and a bailiff with [[Louisiana]] accents who "try" to act like New Englanders. The sketch returned later that season, namely the March 9, 2013, episode.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2013/03/10/maine-justice-returns-latest-episode-saturday-night-live/|title='Maine Justice' returns in latest episode of 'Saturday Night Live'|last=Gass|first=Travis|newspaper=[[Lewiston Sun-Journal]]|location=Lewiston, Me.|date=March 10, 2013|accessdate=January 22, 2023}}</ref>

This aired in the same year Gannett entered a [[Carriage dispute|dispute]] against [[Dish Network]] regarding [[Retransmission consent|compensation]] fees and Dish's AutoHop commercial-skip feature on its Hopper [[digital video recorder]]s. Gannett ordered that Dish discontinue AutoHop on the account that it is affecting advertising revenues for WLBZ. Gannett threatened to pull all of its stations (such as WLBZ) should the skirmish continue beyond October 7 and Dish and Gannett fail to reach an agreement.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Loose|first=Ashley|title=DISH customers may lose Gannett programming, including 12 News KPNX, over AutoHop feature|url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/dish-customers-may-lose-gannett-programming-including-12-news-kpnx-over-autohop-feature|access-date=October 6, 2012|publisher=[[KNXV-TV]]|date=October 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011013154/http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/dish-customers-may-lose-gannett-programming-including-12-news-kpnx-over-autohop-feature|archive-date=October 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Vuong|first=Andy|title=Gannett threatening to black out stations in its dispute with Dish|url=http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21710959/gannett-threatening-black-out-stations-its-dispute-dish|access-date=October 6, 2012|newspaper=[[Denver Post]]|date=October 6, 2012}}</ref> The two parties eventually reached an agreement after extending the deadline for a few hours.<ref>{{cite news|last=Warner|first=Melodie|title=Dish, Gannett Reach New Deal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444897304578044401930225948|access-date=October 8, 2012|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=October 8, 2012}}</ref>

On June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. WCSH and WLBZ were retained by the latter company, named [[Tegna Inc.|Tegna]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed {{!}} TEGNA|date = June 29, 2015|url = http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|publisher=Tegna|access-date = June 29, 2015}}</ref>

==News operation==
Originally, WLBZ operated its own news department and produced local newscasts from its Bangor studios. For most of its history, it was a solid, if distant, second in [[Nielsen ratings]] behind WABI. In 1989, WLBZ began simulcasting some of WCSH's newscasts prepared with a statewide view. Initially, this was limited to morning, noon, and weekend newscasts; however, on June 26, 2000, WLBZ dropped its 5:30&nbsp;p.m. newscast in favor of WCSH's newscast,<ref name="bdn-5:30pmwcshonwlbz">{{Cite news |last=McGarrigle |first=Dale |date=July 1, 2000 |title=WLBZ-2 to add 5th newscast |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-wlbz-2-to-add-5th/169079788/ |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=Bangor Daily News |page=D2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> with the 11 p.m. newscast following suit on September 11.<ref name=bdn-11pmwcshonwlbz/> WLBZ still aired separate newscasts covering Bangor weeknights at 5 and 6 (which were locally produced at its facilities), with all other newscasts originating from the WCSH studios in Portland.<ref name=bdn-11pmwcshonwlbz/> By 2015, the 5 p.m. newscast had also been converted to a simulcast; on October 8, 2015, the 6 p.m. newscast, WLBZ's last standalone newscast, was discontinued and replaced with a WCSH-produced newscast.<ref name=bdn-wlbznewsend>{{cite news|last1=Harrison|first1=Judy|title=WLBZ to shift 6 p.m. Bangor newscast to Portland|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2015/09/25/news/bangor/wlbz-to-shift-6-p-m-bangor-newscast-to-portland/|access-date=September 27, 2015|work=[[Bangor Daily News]]|date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> As mentioned, these statewide programs tend to take on a regional feel with coverage from Portland, Bangor, or wherever news occurs around the state. During the weeknight newscasts, WLBZ still produces its own weather forecast segments from Bangor with meteorologist Steve McKay.<ref name=bdn-11pmwcshonwlbz/><ref name=bdn-wlbznewsend/> On August 9, 2010, there was an expansion of the statewide weekday morning show to 4:30 with the new segment being called ''News Center Early Morning Report''.

WLBZ and WCSH have used the ''News Center'' branding for their newscasts since the 1970s, even before consolidating. Additionally, both stations featured [[Frank Gari]]'s "Good News" music package from 1986 until October 22, 2008, when it was dropped (except during "Storm Center" coverage) in favor of standardized music and graphics seen on other Gannett stations.

After then-[[The WB|WB]] affiliate [[WPXT]] in Portland shut down its news department in Fall 2002, WLBZ and WCSH entered into a news share agreement with that station resulting in a nightly prime time newscast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Routhier |first=Ray |date=September 14, 2002 |title=WCSH to begin 10 p.m. newscast – on WPXT |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wcsh-to-begin-10-p/120727310/ |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=Portland Press Herald |page=B1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Originally called ''News Center at 10 on Maine's WB 51'', it was seen every night for thirty minutes. On weeknights, news and sports segments originated from WCSH's facilities while WLBZ produced the weather segment from its studios. Weekend broadcasts aired entirely from Portland. ''News Center at 10'' was formatted in a similar manner to the statewide shows simulcasted on WLBZ and WCSH except for having a slight Portland focus since WPXT was that market's WB affiliate. In September 2006, the production became known as ''News Center at 10 on The CW Portland'' after WPXT switched to [[The CW]]. WLBZ's role in the newscast was eliminated on November 6, 2008, when WCSH moved the prime time broadcast to its "News Center Weather Plus" feed and entirely reoriented the newscast to the Portland market (with WLBZ no longer doing the weather forecast). The "News Center Weather Plus" feed on WLBZ-DT2 and the live video on their websites was replaced with the national Weather Plus service. ''News Center at 10'' was eventually canceled by WCSH after a six-year run.

An outdoors and human-interest program called ''Bill Green's Maine'' airs Saturday nights at 7 on WCSH and WLBZ. In 2003, WCSH launched ''207'', a local lifestyle/entertainment magazine-type show which airs weeknights at 7&nbsp;pm on both stations simultaneously. The "207" name comes from Maine's [[Area code 207|telephone area code]].

In October 2005, WLBZ and WCSH began offering [[NBC Weather Plus]] on new second [[digital subchannel]]s. Known as "News Center Weather Plus", the service could also be seen on the websites of both stations through live streaming video and digital cable. In late-December 2008 as a result of Weather Plus closing on a national level, WLBZ-DT2 and WCSH-DT2 shifted to a format featuring a loop of local news headlines and weather forecasts. The service retained the "News Center Weather Plus" branding and digital cable carriage but the online live video was dropped. WCSH's weeknight meteorologist Joe Cupo can sometimes be seen on "News Center Weather Plus" providing statewide weather forecasts. Like the main signal, WGCI offers "News Center Weather Plus" on its second digital subchannel. As of February 2014, the channel no longer broadcasts on television.

In addition to the main studios in Bangor and Portland, WLBZ and WCSH share two bureaus in the state. This includes the Midcoast Bureau (on Camden Street/[[U.S. Route 1 in Maine|US 1]]) in [[Rockport, Maine|Rockport]] and the [[Lewiston, Maine|Lewiston]]–[[Auburn, Maine|Auburn]] Bureau (on Main Street/[[ME 11]]/[[ME 100]]/[[US 202]]) in Lewiston.

In January 2018, WLBZ and its sister station WCSH rebranded their newscasts under the ''News Center Maine'' moniker.

On June 1, 2020, WLBZ and WCSH premiered an hour-long weekday newscast at 4 p.m.

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WLBZ<ref>{{Cite web |title=Digital TV Market Listing for WLBZ |url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WLBZ#station |access-date=March 29, 2025 |website=RabbitEars.Info}}</ref> and WGCI-LD<ref>{{Cite web |title=Digital TV Market Listing for WGCI-LD |url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WGCI-LD#station |access-date=March 29, 2025 |website=RabbitEars.Info}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.1 
| [[1080i]] || rowspan="8"| [[16:9]] || WLBZ-HD || [[NBC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.2 
| rowspan="7"| [[480i]] || Crime || [[True Crime Network]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.3 
| Quest || [[Quest (American TV network)|Quest]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.4 
| Nest || [[The Nest (TV network)|The Nest]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.5 
| ShopLC || [[Shop LC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.6 
| GetTV || [[Get (TV network)|get]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.7 
| QVC || [[QVC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 2.8 
| HSN || [[HSN]]
|}

===Translator===
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|39642|3=WGCI-LD}}''' 4 [[Skowhegan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}}

{{Bangor TV}}
{{Presque Isle TV}}
{{NBC New England}}
{{ION New England}}
{{Tegna}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wlbz}}
[[Category:1954 establishments in Maine]]
[[Category:Get (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:NBC affiliates]]
[[Category:The Nest (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Tegna Inc.]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954]]
[[Category:Television stations in Bangor, Maine|LBZ]]
[[Category:True Crime Network affiliates]]