Sinclair Acquisition of ABC6: Local Personalities Depart Amidst Media Consolidation in Rhode Island
The Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of WJAR, has acquired assets of WLNE (ABC6) in Rhode Island, leading to the departure of familiar faces and raising concerns about media consolidation. Meteorologist Kelly Bates and sports director Nick Coit have both announced they are seeking new employment.
The Acquisition and its Impact on ABC6's Lineup
Sinclair confirmed the purchase of "non-licensed assets" of WLNE from Standard Media on September 15, 2025. While Sinclair promises "distinctive content," the immediate impact has been the loss of popular on-air personalities. Kelly Bates announced her departure via Facebook on September 10, 2025, and Nick Coit followed on September 12, 2025. The acquisition transforms the local TV market into one dominated by two large conglomerates.
Jessica Bellucci, a spokeswoman for Sinclair, stated that the company is "committed to producing distinctive content that delivers value and strengthens the connection to the local communities we serve." Sinclair will provide services to WLNE through a Joint Sales Agreement (JSA) and a Shared Service Agreement (SSA), though specific details were not disclosed.
Reaction from Bates and Coit
Kelly Bates, a multiple-time winner of the "Best Female Meteorologist of Rhode Island" award by Rhode Island Monthly, expressed her disappointment on social media. She previously worked for NBC10 (owned by Sinclair) for 17 years before joining ABC6 in June 2022 after a brief contract dispute. Her message was to please hire the members from ABC6 looking for work because they are dedicated and talented people.
"Good grief! It happened again!! 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." - Kelly Bates
Nick Coit, a Southern New England native, shared his gratitude for his 11 years at ABC6. He highlighted the opportunities he had to cover major sporting events and expressed appreciation for his colleagues, including former Channel 6 sports anchor Ken Bell and current anchor Ian Steele. He also confirmed he is grateful for the radio show and continues to enjoy his time in Rhode Island and working at Brown University and URI.
"Slowly been processing the news that after over 11 years, the run at ABC6 is done...Because I’m nothing but grateful." - Nick Coit
Rhode Island Media Landscape Shifts
The acquisition of ABC6 by Sinclair is part of a larger trend of media consolidation and staff reductions in Rhode Island. The Providence Journal, owned by Gannett, has also experienced buyouts, as has RIPBS. This has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of journalists working in the state.
- Providence Journal lost three veteran employees to buyouts.
- RIPBS announced staff buyouts amidst financial concerns and record assets.
- ABC6 saw the departure of Kelly Bates and Nick Coit due to the Sinclair acquisition.
Concerns over Media Conglomerates and Political Leaning
The ABC6 takeover effectively creates a two-conglomerate TV market in the region, with WPRI-12 (CBS) and WNAC-64 (Fox) being owned by Nexstar. Both Nexstar and Sinclair have been identified as leaning towards the right politically, raising concerns about potential bias in news coverage. Nexstar's corporate PAC contributions lean Republican, and Sinclair has been known to push conservative content.
The reduction of newsrooms and consolidation of the media landscape in Rhode Island means fewer news sources and media consolidation with right-leaning tendencies.
