WJAR Set to Become First Providence Station to Broadcast in HD

After acquiring WLNE in March, Citadel Communications CEO Phil Lombardo said that one of his main goals would be to launch an HD newscast, pointing out that there are currently no stations in the Providence market airing local news in high definition.

Well, it looks like NBC-affiliate WJAR is set to change that.

WJAR general manager Lisa Churchville told The Providence Journal this week that her station, which is owned by Media General, would begin broadcasting in HD this month, perhaps even this week.

“We feel we’re the market leader, and we should be the ones to do it first,” Churchville told the Journal, saying that WJAR has spent roughly $2 million over the past three years to convert its operations to HD.

The Journal reports that CBS-affiliate WPRI and Fox-affiliate WNAC are also in the midst of converting to HD. It appears that Lombardo’s WLNE may end up being that last Providence station to make the switch.

Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.