Cox, The Pilot, WVEC discontinue LNC5 TV venture

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By Philip Walzer
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 4, 2011

NORFOLK

LNC5, a joint television news venture linking Cox Communications Inc., The Virginian-Pilot and WVEC-TV (Channel 13), is over.

The venture, forged in 1997, had featured "Pilot 13 News," a live 10 p.m. newscast on Cox's Channel 5, until it was discontinued in January 2009.

Since then, Channel 5 had been rerunning the most recent WVEC newscasts and featuring headlines from The Pilot's website and print editions. That ended at midnight New Year's Eve, Cox Vice President Leigh Ann Woisard said.

Channel 5 on Monday featured a blue screen with the message: "Effective December 31, LNC5 has ceased programming and will no longer be available. At this time no decision has been made on a replacement for channel 5."

A news release from Cox, The Pilot and Belo Corp., which owns Channel 13, said the LNC venture had been profitable. "However, the changing media landscape and shifting viewer needs have caused the partner organizations to reprioritize their efforts."

Tod Smith, WVEC's general manager, said Monday: "When LNC launched, the Internet wasn't really a factor in the media landscape. People now have access to information unlike what they had in the past."

Smith said the station and newspaper continue to maintain a partnership. The Pilot features Channel 13's forecasters in the weather sections of its print edition and website. WVEC's late-night newscasts promote headlines in the following morning's edition of the paper.

"This particular venture is over; the shelf life has ended," said Maurice Jones, The Pilot's president and publisher. "But in terms of us continuing to partner, we all are committed to doing that."

Philip Walzer, (757) 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com

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I Wish They Would Keep It On Air or Multicast it.

Submitted by gccradioscience on Sun, 01/09/2011 at 5:31 pm.

I really like LNC 5 and I hope that it will get a chance to make it back on
cable television or digital cable. I wish other local TV stations would do the same such as showing the reruns of the local news even if its on a multicast station such as news on 13-3 and the weather and radar of 13-4. News and weather is very important in our daily lives especially when we are working or don't have the time to tune in at 6 AM, 12 PM, 5-6 PM, and 11 PM. Sometimes we don't feel like watching the regular TV and we have our own schedules. LNC 5 is a great example of what we need on multicast television on the other 13-3 (news) and 13-4 (weather) and if possible sports 13-5.

Rural Customers residing between markets

Submitted by midway123 on Wed, 01/05/2011 at 10:08 pm.

A great number of people west of Hampton Roads commute daily to pionts east. This is a terrible time to remove the ability to check weather and roads conditions in Hampton Roads. Some of the Cox Customers live in West Point and New Kent but are stuck with Richmond based local channels even though their daily lives are involved in Hampton Roads. They've never cared about the rural customers since taking over the smaller cable companies. Maybe cable will go the way of Video Update and other video stores when Redbox and Netflix came along. Maybe Direct Tv or Dish will send me a coupon! One HD DVR Wow. FIOS will never get here..I don't think it works in the dark.

Its a sad Day....

Submitted by Mr_G on Wed, 01/05/2011 at 4:12 pm.

I will switch to FiOS and drop cox if FiOS puts in a station like LNC5. I will miss it.

Wow cox whats next?

Submitted by docspacecd1 on Wed, 01/05/2011 at 10:47 am.

I grew up in Portsmouth and I'm now living in Pa but I do miss LNC 5. We don't have anything like that up here. Thanks alot cox go ahead and put on another shop at home channel. By the way the drivers up here are worst than down there, I miss Tidewater and I'm ready to come back. Cox, Please put in its place another media outlet like LNC.

LNC5

Submitted by Mary Thomas43 on Tue, 01/04/2011 at 3:56 pm.

I personaly feel that it should have stayed because when the regular news goes off for people who work late at least they still get to see LNC5 to catch up on what they missed ealier. If you don't put LNC5 back on please don't do any more shopping chanels or Realty shows. Find something Educational.

Ahem...

Submitted by batgeek on Tue, 01/04/2011 at 8:10 pm.

"for people who work late at least they still get to see LNC5 to catch up on what they missed ealier"

there's this wonderful thing now-a-days...it's called "The Internet"....

ramble time

Submitted by NOVAboy on Tue, 01/04/2011 at 1:41 pm.

As a subscriber to Directv I've never seen the channel so I won't miss it. They will probably put in another "shopping channel" because they pay to on cable or sat. To the person who wanted RFDTV, Please.... That channel is great if you live in a RURAL area! Watching cattle auctions and shows on caring for your horse and the best corn to grow don't work well around cities. Granted they do show HEE HAW once a week and they have a lame polka show that is great for a grin. For the person who wants huntin' & fishin' watch the Outdoor Channel. One reason FIOS isn't expanding as much is the fact they are waiting for their 4G to bet better so they won't have to wire everywhere. You can get it just like you get things on your cell. Just wait!

RFDTV

Submitted by idgas on Wed, 01/05/2011 at 11:52 am.

That channel is great if you live in a RURAL area? Come on now, you need to get out more. There is more RURAL area than there is CITY in the viewing area. Ever heard of PUNGO? Eastern Shore? Smithfield, Suffolk, Franklin, and so on, there is a lot of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach that is still Rural. We have plenty of farming, cattle, horses and produce grown in all of the viewing area. Norfolk is the only place that I know of that does not STILL have a farm but there is still livestock there and they are NOT in a ZOO! RFDTV is really an interesting channel better than another info commercial channel. Need to offer something for everyone.

News from TV

Submitted by youngpolitic on Tue, 01/04/2011 at 4:26 pm.

How many people seriously watch local news on tv. I will admit that I usually go to pilotonline or the websites for one of the news stations to see the feeds. As far aas sales channels what are you guys talking about I've never noticed them. I know they are there but they usually just seem like the names change. I have them blocked on my cable box.