Editing WCSH

{{Short description|Television station in Portland, Maine}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WCSH
| logo = WCSH NBC 6 Portland, Maine Logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt = In a blue box with gray trim, the letters WCSH in a sans serif next to a serif 6 in a red-purple gradient and the NBC peacock.
| branding = WCSH 6; ''News Center Maine''
| digital = 31 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 6
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''6.1:''' [[NBC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1953|12|20|p=y|br=yes}}
| image = WCSH NewsCenter Maine 2024.svg
| image_alt = The words "News Center" in a bold, all-caps sans serif above the word MAINE, lighter and spread out in a black-bordered box, next to the NBC peacock.
| image_size = 200px
| location = [[Portland, Maine]]
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = "Congress Square Hotel"
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 6 ([[VHF]], 1953–2009)|'''Digital:''' 44 (UHF, 2002–2020)}}
| owner = [[Tegna Inc.]]
| licensee = TEGNA [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] Broadcasting, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations = [[WLBZ]]
| former_callsigns = WCSH-TV (1953–1997)
| erp = 1,000 kW
| haat = {{convert|587.9|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 39664
| coordinates = {{coord|43|51|30|N|70|42|39|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.newscentermaine.com/}}
}}
'''WCSH''' (channel 6) is a [[television station]] in [[Portland, Maine]], United States, affiliated with [[NBC]] and owned by [[Tegna Inc.]] The station's studios are located on Congress Square in [[Neighborhoods of Portland, Maine|Downtown Portland]], and its transmitter is located on Winn Mountain in [[Sebago, Maine|Sebago]]. Together with [[WLBZ]] (channel 2) in [[Bangor, Maine|Bangor]], which simulcasts most of WCSH's local newscasts, it is known as '''News Center Maine'''.

WCSH is the oldest operating television station in Portland, signing on in December 1953. It was an outgrowth of [[WZAN|WCSH radio]], one of NBC's charter affiliates when it was constituted as a radio network in 1926, and broadcast from its namesake, the Congress Square Hotel in downtown Portland, for nearly 25 years. Founded by [[Henry P. Rines]] and sold to Tegna predecessor [[Gannett Company]] in 1997, it has generally been the highest-rated station in TV news in the market since the mid-1980s.

==History==
===Establishment===
When the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) lifted its [[Federal Communications Commission#Freeze of 1948|four-year freeze]] on television station applications in April 1952, four bids had already been received to start new stations in [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], which was allocated two commercial [[very high frequency]] (VHF) channels and a third on the new [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) band.<ref name="Port520414">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120718595/thaw-only-first-step-tv-technicians-pre/|date=April 14, 1952|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120718558/first-tv-station/ 13]|first=Harold J.|last=Boyle|title=Thaw Only First Step: TV Technicians Predict Maine Won't Go On Air Till Late 1953|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120718595/thaw-only-first-step-tv-technicians/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> One of these came from the Congress Square Hotel Company, owner of Portland radio station [[WZAN|WCSH (970 AM)]], which had filed for channel 11 in 1948 but amended its application when only VHF channels 6 and 13 were assigned.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/12bcf529-0e63-778e-78db-453ac9f69534|title=FCC History Cards for WCSH|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=October 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004125114/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/12bcf529-0e63-778e-78db-453ac9f69534|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 1952, the FCC ordered [[comparative hearing]]s to decide who should be given [[construction permit]]s for channels 6 and 13. Two groups sought each channel; Congress Square's application was rivaled by one from the Oliver Broadcasting Company,<ref name="Port521003">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120718715/fcc-orders-hearings-on-local-tv-stations/|date=October 3, 1952|page=8|agency=Associated Press|title=FCC Orders Hearings On Local TV Stations|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120718715/fcc-orders-hearings-on-local-tv-stations/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> which owned station [[WBAE (AM)|WPOR]].<ref name="Port520722">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120719143/tv-scramble-wpor-bids-for-precious-chan/|date=July 22, 1952|page=14|title=TV Scramble: WPOR Bids For Precious Channel|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120719143/tv-scramble-wpor-bids-for-precious/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

The third VHF channel in southern Maine was channel 8 at [[Poland Spring, Maine|Poland Spring]], and activity around this channel would proceed to unblock channel 6 in Portland. The FCC granted a permit in early July 1953 to Mount Washington Television, a group headed by former Maine governor [[Horace A. Hildreth]] containing principals from Oliver as shareholders.<ref name="Even530709">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120719321/the-television-situation-hildreth-dec/|date=July 9, 1953|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120719247/television/ 28]|title=The Television Situation... Hildreth Decision Awiated To Clear TV Picture Here|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120719321/the-television-situation-hildreth/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Oliver withdrew its channel 6 application on July 30, 1953, and the FCC immediately awarded the Congress Square Hotel Company a permit for channel 6, WCSH-TV. This was the second construction permit for a Portland TV station, with [[WPMT (Maine)|WPMT]] (channel 53) already being built.<ref name="Port530730">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105748286/wcsh-owners-granted-first-vhf-tv-permit/|date=July 30, 1953|page=1|first=May|last=Craig|title=WCSH Owners Granted First VHF-TV Permit In Portland|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=July 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717045851/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105748286/wcsh-owners-granted-first-vhf-tv-permit/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

Because WCSH had conditionally purchased television equipment 18 months prior, it was assured delivery of its order to put channel 6 on the air by the end of 1953. WCSH-TV announced its intention to be Portland's [[NBC]] affiliate, matching WCSH radio—which had carried NBC's very first program when [[NBC Radio Network|the radio network]] began in November 1926 and previously had been part of [[Broadcasting Company of America|the WEAF chain]] that preceded it.<ref name="Even530730">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120720047/new-tv-here-to-go-on-air-by-year-end/|date=July 30, 1953|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120720375/new-tv/ 2]|title=New TV Here To Go On Air By Year End|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312203426/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120720047/new-tv-here-to-go-on-air-by-year-end/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="Bang261115">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120720292/big-time-on-the-radio-hook-up-of-40-sta/|date=November 15, 1926|page=7|title=Big Time On The Radio: Hook-up of 40 Stations Tonight—Mary Garden, Will Rogers and Many Others|newspaper=The Bangor Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120720292/big-time-on-the-radio-hook-up-of-40/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --><ref name="Port531208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105749857/wcsh-has-proud-28-year-history-of-broadc/|date=December 8, 1953|page=23|title=WCSH Has Proud 28-Year History Of Broadcasting|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042441/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105749857/wcsh-has-proud-28-year-history-of/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The transmitting facility would be erected in [[Falmouth, Maine|Falmouth]],<ref name="Port530911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120720649/wcsh-tv-transmitter-house-plan/|date=September 11, 1953|page=24|title=WCSH-TV Transmitter House Plan|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312203423/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120720649/wcsh-tv-transmitter-house-plan/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> while WCSH's quarters in the Congress Square Hotel were extensively refitted to house the television station: a large radio studio was converted for television use, and a new studio was created out of a former storage room to house a kitchen for cooking shows.<ref name="Even531208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120721687/infant-wcsh-tv-takes-over-parent/|date=December 8, 1953|page=30|title=Infant WCSH-TV Takes Over Parent|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312203416/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120721687/infant-wcsh-tv-takes-over-parent/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

The first [[test pattern]] was sent out on November 29,<ref name="Port531130">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120721486/wcsh-tv-test-pattern-hits-wide-area-rep/|date=November 30, 1953|page=16|title=WCSH-TV Test Pattern Hits Wide Area, Reports Reveal|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120721486/wcsh-tv-test-pattern-hits-wide-area/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> and on December 20, 1953, WCSH-TV began broadcasting.<ref name="Port531220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105749986/new-wcsh-tv-station-starts-programs-toda/|date=December 20, 1953|page=11B|title=New WCSH-TV Station Starts Programs Today|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|location=Portland, Maine|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 17, 2022|archive-date=July 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717045952/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105749986/new-wcsh-tv-station-starts-programs/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The station's broadcasting activity steadily increased in its early years, with such local shows as the home decorating program ''Your Home and You''; ''Youth Cavalcade''; the noontime women's program ''Living Down East''; ''The Dave Astor Show'', a teen dance program; and early and late evening newscasts.{{r|thompson|p=85}} By January 1955, it was broadcasting 18 hours a day and had become a secondary affiliate of the [[DuMont Television Network]] in its final years of operation after WPMT closed the month before.<ref name="SunJ550126">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120722144/wcsh-tv-programing-starts-at-7-a-m-ru/|date=January 26, 1955|page=24A|first=Johnny|last=Robinson|title=WCSH-TV Programing Starts At 7 A. M., Runs 18 Hours Daily|newspaper=Sun-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042441/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120722144/wcsh-tv-programing-starts-at-7-a-m/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The Rines family, who had founded WCSH radio and television, also owned the Maine Broadcasting System with radio stations [[WJZN|WRDO]] in [[Augusta, Maine|Augusta]] and [[WZON|WLBZ]] in [[Bangor, Maine|Bangor]]. It expanded its TV holdings north in 1958 when it bought WTWO, an [[independent station]] in Bangor owned by Murray Carpenter, and made it into an NBC affiliate as WLBZ-TV.<ref name="thompson">{{Cite book|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/The-History-of-Broadcasting-in-Maine-1990.pdf|title=The History of Broadcasting in Maine: The First Fifty Years|year=1990|publisher=Maine Association of Broadcasters|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131145941/https://worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/The-History-of-Broadcasting-in-Maine-1990.pdf|url-status=live|isbn=978-0-9627719-0-3}}</ref>{{rp|74}}

[[File:TV Station.JPG|left|thumb|alt=A four-story office building in an urban environment with W C S H and NBC signage|The WCSH studios at 1 Congress Square in downtown Portland]]
After 50 years of radio and television operations in the Congress Square Hotel, WCSH opted to move its broadcasting businesses into more modern quarters. The studio portion of the hotel complex had become overcrowded despite multiple additions. In 1977, WCSH moved one city block to occupy a four-story building at 1 Congress Square, which received a two-story addition containing studio space; WCSH radio moved to separate facilities in [[Scarborough, Maine|Scarborough]].<ref name="Even770428">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120723224/wcsh-tv-at-new-location/|date=April 28, 1977|page=36|first=Lyn|last=Liljeholm|title=WCSH-TV At New Location|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312215039/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120723224/wcsh-tv-at-new-location/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The Maine Broadcasting System continued to own the radio station until 1981, when it was sold and changed call letters; WLBZ radio in Bangor was also sold, while the television properties were retained.<ref name="Even800514">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120725144/sale-of-wcsh-radio-awaits-fcc-approval/|date=May 14, 1980|page=32|title=Sale of WCSH radio awaits FCC approval|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312215044/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120725144/sale-of-wcsh-radio-awaits-fcc-approval/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Even810305">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120725399/radio-station-recognizes-past-wynz-lets/|date=March 5, 1981|page=8|first=Dyke|last=Hendrickson|title=Radio station recognizes past: WYNZ lets the old times roll|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120725399/radio-station-recognizes-past-wynz/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Particularly beginning in the 1980s, WCSH made its mark as the dominant station in Portland-market ratings, even if it sometimes irked NBC. The station was heavily protective of its 6 p.m. newscast, resulting in far more frequent preemptions of network sports events. In 1994, WCSH did not air 38 percent of NBC's 502 hours of sports programming that year—the most of any of NBC's 213 affiliates and more than double the preemption rate of [[WSMV-TV]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]—which the network begrudgingly tolerated because the station delivered strong performance for the network's daytime and prime time entertainment shows. Events as diverse as the second games of [[NBA on NBC|NBA]] doubleheaders and golf tournaments were not aired to provide a consistent airing of the 6 p.m. ''NewsCenter'' and to air movies which drew more viewers.<ref name="Port950210">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120751657/nbc-affiliates-policy-irks-sports-fans/|date=February 10, 1995|page=5D|first=Bob|last=Smyth|title=NBC affiliate's policy irks sports fans, network|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042441/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120751657/nbc-affiliates-policy-irks-sports/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

===Gannett/Tegna ownership===
{{Quote box
| quote = We made the decision as a family in response to scary terms like 'high-definition television' and '500-channel universe'.
| author = Frederic L. Thompson
| source = president of the Maine Broadcasting System, on the sale of WCSH and WLBZ<ref name="Bang971015">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120726039/gannett-buys-channels-2-6-sale-expecte/|date=October 15, 1997|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120726263/gannett-purchasing-maine-broadcasting/ A10]|first=Susan|last=Carney|title=Gannett buys Channels 2, 6: Sale expected to be completed by early 1998|newspaper=The Bangor Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed -->
| align = right
| width = 250px
| salign = left
}}
The Rines-Thompson family exited the local broadcasting industry after 72 years (44 of them owning WCSH) by selling WCSH and WLBZ to the [[Gannett Company]] in 1997. It had negotiated exclusively with Gannett for several months after approaching several potential acquirers. The family had decided to sell because of deregulation in broadcasting and costly new technological mandates, such as the forthcoming conversion to [[Digital television in the United States|digital television]]. The family earned a handsome return on its original investment in WCSH radio in 1925.<ref name="Port971015">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120725760/two-maine-television-stations-to-be-sold/|date=October 15, 1997|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120725829/wcsh/ 7A]|first=Dean|last=Lunt|title=Two Maine television stations to be sold to Gannett Co. Inc.|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The transaction also marked the entry of large station groups into Maine. For most of the broadcasting era, Maine had been traditionally dominated by locally based owners, including families.<ref name="Port971015a">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120726613/family-owned-tv-stations-sale-signals-e/|date=October 15, 1997|page=7A|first=Dieter|last=Bradbury|title=Family-owned TV stations' sale signals end of era|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

WCSH's digital signal on UHF channel 44 signed on in April 2002,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2006-Factbook/TV-Factbook-2006-Vol%20I.pdf|title=WCSH-DT|page=A-1057|work=Television Factbook|year=2006|via=World Radio History|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131092724/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2006-Factbook/TV-Factbook-2006-Vol%20I.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> bringing high definition network television to the area. WCSH's broadcasts became digital-only, effective June 12, 2009;<ref name="Port090611">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120753513/tv-stations-to-go-all-digital-on-friday/|date=June 11, 2009|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120753561/digital-tv/ A10]|first=Ray|last=Routhier|title=TV stations to go all digital on Friday|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> the station elected to continue broadcasting on channel 44 (using [[virtual channel]] 6),<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> which it did until being repacked to channel 31 in 2020.{{r|re}} As part of the [[SAFER Act]], WCSH kept its analog signal on the air until June 27 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of [[public service announcement]]s from the [[National Association of Broadcasters]].<ref name="FCC Nightlight">{{cite web|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-291375A1.pdf|title=UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=June 14, 2024}}</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|date = June 29, 2015|url = http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|publisher = Tegna|access-date = June 29, 2015|archive-date = July 2, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150702005302/http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|url-status = live}}</ref> The two stations adopted the brand News Center Maine in 2018 upon the rollout of a combined website for Portland and Bangor news coverage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wjbq.com/wcsh-6-and-wlbz-2-are-re-branding-as-news-center-maine/|publisher=[[WJBQ]]|date=January 4, 2018|first=Jeff|last=Parsons|title=WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2 Are Re-branding as News Center Maine|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=March 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304070245/http://wjbq.com/wcsh-6-and-wlbz-2-are-re-branding-as-news-center-maine/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Local programming==
===News operation===
{{Further|WLBZ#News operation}}
Newscasts were part of WCSH's schedule from its first television broadcasts in 1953,{{r|Even531208}} and the station was airing early evening and late evening newscasts by 1955.{{r|SunJ550126}} While the station typically trailed WGAN-TV/WGME in the news ratings for most of its history, this changed in February 1986 when WCSH surpassed WGME at 11 p.m. and tied channel 13 in the vital 6 p.m. news slot.<ref name="Even860520">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120751336/ratings-month-livens-up-networks/|date=May 20, 1986|page=4|first=Steve|last=Campbell|title=Ratings month livens up networks|newspaper=Evening Express|location=Portland, Maine|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Later that year, the station would surpass WGME at 6 and proceed to do so for at least the next 16 years.<ref name="Port021214">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120752000/channel-6-surpasses-rivals-in-ratings/|date=December 14, 2002|page=2B|first=Ray|last=Routhier|title=Channel 6 surpasses rivals in ratings again|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|location=Portland, Maine|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> This was aided by stability in its evening news team and NBC's strong national program lineup in the 1990s.<ref name="Port000206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120751931/top-of-the-news/|date=February 6, 2000|page=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120751903/news/ 8E]|first=Ray|last=Routhier|title=Top of the news|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|location=Portland, Maine|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> On-air talent like anchors Pat Callaghan and Cindy Williams and meteorologist Joe Cupo were mainstays on channel 6 for years. Cupo left in 2016 after 37 years when Tegna offered voluntary retirement packages,<ref name="Port160415">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120753139/meteorologist-cupo-to-hand-over-the-rain/|date=April 15, 2016|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120753106/cupo/ A6]|first=Ray|last=Routhier|title=Meteorologist Cupo to hand over the rains|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> while Williams retired in 2021 and Callaghan in 2022 after tenures of 32 and 43 years, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maine Anchor Pat Callaghan Retiring After 43 Years|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/maine-anchor-pat-callaghan-retiring-after-43-years/245358/|first=Kevin|last=Eck|work=TVSpy|date=November 21, 2022|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=November 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121211108/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/maine-anchor-pat-callaghan-retiring-after-43-years/245358/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/veteran-maine-anchor-to-retire-after-32-years/236391/|title=Veteran Maine Anchor Plans Retirement from the News Business After 32 Years|date=November 11, 2021|first=Kevin|last=Eck|work=TVSpy|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=November 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112131428/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/veteran-maine-anchor-to-retire-after-32-years/236391/|url-status=live}}</ref>

From the 1980s onward, WLBZ's local operations were progressively cut back, a trend that accelerated after Gannett took over. While WLBZ had already simulcast WCSH's morning and weekend newscasts since 1989, regional 5:30 and 11 p.m. newscasts were instituted in 2000 with split weather forecasts for each area, with WLBZ only airing separate 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.<ref name="Port000802">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120726822/nbc-stations-consolidating-plan-statewi/|date=August 2, 2000|page=3B|first=Ray|last=Routhier|title=NBC stations consolidating, plan statewide broadcasts|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> WLBZ ceased producing separate local newscasts altogether on October 8, 2015; all newscasts on both stations now originate from Portland, though Bangor viewers continue to see separate weather forecasts.<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|archive-date=September 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915043918/http://bangordailynews.com/2015/09/25/news/bangor/wlbz-to-shift-6-p-m-bangor-newscast-to-portland/|url-status=live}}</ref> The presence of WLBZ in the News Center Maine operation has resulted in a newscast with a stronger statewide news focus than its competitors in the Portland market.{{r|Port021214}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-same-old-story-portland-42978|title=Market Eye: Same 'Old' Story in Portland|first=Michael|last=Malone|date=July 17, 2011|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=May 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516220837/https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-same-old-story-portland-42978|url-status=live}}</ref>

After [[The WB]] affiliate [[WPXT]] shut down its news department in fall 2002, WCSH and WLBZ entered into a news share agreement with that station, resulting in a nightly prime time newscast.<ref name="Port020914">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120727310/wcsh-to-begin-10-pm-newscaston-wpxt/|date=September 14, 2002|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120728859/news/ 6B]|first=Ray|last=Routhier|title=WCSH to begin 10 p.m. newscast—on WPXT|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312215046/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120727310/wcsh-to-begin-10-pm-newscaston-wpxt/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The half-hour ''News Center at 10'' moved to a digital subchannel of WCSH in 2008 when WPXT opted out of the arrangement, citing a lack of advertising support.<ref name="Port081202">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120729218/dispatch/|date=December 2, 2008|page=B2|title=Dispatches|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312215043/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120729218/dispatch/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In the early 2010s, WCSH tried its hand again at airing news for WPXT, with the addition of a 7 a.m. hour of WCSH's morning newscast branded as ''News Center Morning Report Xtra''.<ref name="b&c-wpxtwcshamnews">{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=Gannett's WCSH Portland to Produce WPXT News|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/475563-Gannett_s_WCSH_Portland_to_Produce_WPXT_News.php|access-date=October 21, 2011|newspaper=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=October 21, 2011|archive-date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042512/https://www.nexttv.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Non-news programming===
From 2000 until the host's retirement in 2019, the News Center Maine stations aired human interest and outdoors program ''Bill Green's Maine''; Green had gotten his start at WLBZ before moving to Portland and WCSH in 1981.<ref>{{Cite magazine|magazine=The Maine Mag|url=https://www.themainemag.com/2764-bill-green/|title=Bill Green|first=Lisa|last=Belisle|date=July 2015|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026211444/https://www.themainemag.com/2764-bill-green/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2019/10/29/outdoors/maine-broadcasting-icon-bill-green-will-retire-in-november/|work=Bangor Daily News|date=October 29, 2019|first=John|last=Holyoke|title=Maine broadcasting icon Bill Green will retire in November|access-date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120173930/https://bangordailynews.com/2019/10/29/outdoors/maine-broadcasting-icon-bill-green-will-retire-in-november/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Port191030">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120754752/tvs-every-mainer-now-ready-to-sign-of/|date=October 30, 2019|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120754776/green/ A8]|first=Ray|last=Routhier|title=TV's 'every-Mainer' now ready to sign off|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Reruns now air weekdays at 12:30PM, replacing Tegna's now-canceled in-house talk show Daily Blast Live.

WCSH debuted ''207'', a weeknight lifestyle and entertainment magazine aired weeknights at 7&nbsp;pm, in 2003. It was named for the state's area code, [[Area code 207|207]].<ref name="Bang030829">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120754933/local-news-hybrid-show-207-to-debut-on/|date=August 29, 2003|page=C7, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120754969/magazine/ C8]|first=Tom|last=Groening|title=Local news-hybrid show '207' to debut on Portland station|newspaper=The Bangor Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

==Subchannels==
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WCSH<ref name="re">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WCSH#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WCSH|website=[[RabbitEars]]|access-date=October 23, 2015|archive-date=February 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205084324/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WCSH#station|url-status=live}}</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" | 6.1
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=8| [[16:9]] || WCSH-HD || [[NBC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.2
| rowspan=7| [[480i]] || Crime || [[True Crime Network]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.3
| Quest || [[Quest (American TV network)|Quest]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.4
| 365 NET || [[365BLK]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.5
| OUTLAW || [[Outlaw (TV network)|Outlaw]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.6
| ShopLC || [[Shop LC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.7
| CONFESS || Confess
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.8
| OPEN || No programming
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.newscentermaine.com/}}

{{Portland Maine TV}}
{{NBC New England}}
{{Tegna}}

[[Category:1953 establishments in Maine]]
[[Category:Court TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Former Gannett subsidiaries]]
[[Category:NBC affiliates]]
[[Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Tegna Inc.]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1953]]
[[Category:Television stations in Portland, Maine|CSH]]
[[Category:True Crime Network affiliates]]