View source for WSNN-LD

{{Short description|Television station in Sarasota, Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{distinguish|WSNN}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Update|date=May 2023}}
{{Rewrite|date=May 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = WSNN-LD
| city                   = Sarasota, Florida
| logo                   = SNN logo 2023.png
| logo_size              = 160px
| location               = {{ubl|[[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]]–[[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]]–|[[Venice, Florida|Venice]]–[[North Port, Florida]]}}
| country                = United States
| airdate                = {{Start date and age|2011|12|13|p=y}}
| digital                = 26 ([[ultra high frequency|UHF]])
| virtual                = 39
| branding               = SNN: Suncoast News Network
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''39.1:''' [[MyNetworkTV]]|''for others, see {{Section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner                  = [[Nexstar Media Group]]{{r|wsnntonxst}}
| licensee               = Nexstar Media Inc.
| sister_stations        = [[WFLA-TV]], [[WTTA]]
| callsign_meaning       = "Suncoast News Network"
| former_callsigns       = WLWN-LD (2011–2014)
| former_channel_numbers = '''Digital:''' 39 (UHF, 2014–2018)
| erp                    = 14.9 [[kilowatt|kW]]
| haat                   = {{Convert|147.8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 189978
| class                  = [[Low-power broadcasting#Television|LD]]
| coordinates            = {{nowrap|{{coord|27|20|27|N|82|27|54|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline, title}}}}
| licensing_authority    = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| website                = {{url|http://www.snntv.com/}}
}}

'''WSNN-LD''' (channel 39) is a [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power television station]] in [[Sarasota, Florida]], United States, affiliated with [[MyNetworkTV]]. Owned by [[Nexstar Media Group]] as [[sister station|sister]] to [[NBC]] affiliate [[WFLA-TV]] (channel 8) and [[The CW|CW]] [[owned-and-operated station]] [[WTTA]] (channel 38), the station's '''Suncoast News Network''' ('''SNN''') service provides news coverage focusing primarily on the [[Sarasota metropolitan area|North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (including [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota]], [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee]], and [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte]] counties). SNN operates in conjunction with the ''[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]'', and is headquartered in downtown Sarasota. The station's transmitter is located on Fruitville Road east of the city.

==History==
[[File:WSNN-LD Suncoast News Network logo.png|thumb|right|WSNN-LD logo used from 2014 to 2023.]]
The SNN operation was launched on July 17, 1995, exclusively on [[Comcast]]. Over its history, it was branded as ''SNN Local News'', ''SNN Local News 6'', ''SNN News 6'' and ''Six News Now'', which were often used interchangeably. SNN received national attention in 2007, when a clip of chief meteorologist Justin Mosely (who worked with the channel from 2004 to 2013 and returned in March 2014) reacting frightened after a [[cockroach]] crawled up his leg during a live weather segment went [[viral video|viral]] after it was posted on various video websites including [[YouTube]].

In November 2008, the ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' (then owned by [[The New York Times Company]]) announced that it would sell SNN News 6, and stop broadcasting at the end of December 2008. This deadline was extended after the company struck agreements with a group of investors, led by SNN general manager Linda DesMaris and her husband Doug Barker, to purchase the channel;<ref name=sht-snnsale2008>{{cite news|last1=Pollick|first1=Michael|title=SNN TV to be sold to its top executive|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081115/ARTICLE/811150337|access-date=September 24, 2014|work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|date=November 15, 2008}}</ref> however on January 25, 2009, one of the investors dropped out of the deal. On January 29, 2009, the ''Herald-Tribune'' announced that SNN News 6 would go [[dark (broadcasting)|dark]], effective at midnight on January 29, 2009.<ref name="dark">{{cite web|last=Pollick |first=Michael |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090127/ARTICLE/901270357/2107/BUSINESS?Title=SNN_News_6_will_go_dark__awaiting_deal |title=SNN News 6 will go dark, awaiting deal |publisher=HeraldTribune.com |access-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> The company would later find another investor in Phil Lombardo, CEO of the television station group [[Citadel Communications]] in Bronxville, New York. On February 26, 2009, after a four-week hiatus, SNN was back on the air under the management of LDB Media, LLC, with the majority of its former on-air staff.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hielscher|first1=John|title=SNN set to return to the air Thursday|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090225/ARTICLE/902250356|access-date=August 13, 2014|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=February 25, 2009}}</ref> Since its inception, the channel was exclusively carried on Comcast's systems in Sarasota and Charlotte counties. In the summer of 2012, SNN struck a carriage deal with Verizon FiOS to add the channel; FiOS began carrying SNN in the Sarasota area at 2&nbsp;a.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]] on September 13, 2012. Over time, other cable systems were added, expanding coverage around the Sarasota–Manatee area.

In January 2014, Lombardo and Citadel Communications acquired a majority interest in the company.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lombardo acquires majority stake in SNN|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140101/ARCHIVES/401011032?p=1&tc=pg|access-date=August 13, 2014|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=January 1, 2014}}</ref> As a result, Citadel took over broadcast operations of SNN. During February 2014, the SNN studio facilities underwent a major remodeling. One month earlier on February 12, SNN debuted a new graphics package. weather graphics were rolled out on February 22. On March 2, the channel debuted a new logo (an "SNN" [[wordmark]] with a blue wave underneath) and rebranded as ''SNN – Suncoast News Network''. The following day on March 3 at 5&nbsp;p.m. Eastern, SNN unveiled a new main news set and weather center (the latter of which incorporates the logo previously used under the ''SNN Local News 6'' brand). The station's image resembles those of Citadel stations [[WLNE-TV]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], and [[KLKN]] in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], who have become sister stations to SNN. It was also the only non-ABC affiliated television station owned by Citadel after [[CBS]] affiliate [[WHBF-TV]] in [[Rock Island, Illinois]], was sold to [[Nexstar Media Group]] in 2014; in 2019, Citadel sold WLNE and KLKN to [[Standard Media]], with WSNN being the only remaining television station under Citadel ownership until July 2023.

On September 24, 2014, Citadel announced that SNN's operations would be merged with its [[Terrestrial television|over-the-air]] television station in Sarasota, WLWN-LD (channel 39), on October 15; as part of the consolidation, WLWN changed its call letters to WSNN-LD.<ref name=sht-wsnnld>{{cite news|last1=Pollick|first1=Michael|title=SNN adds over-air TV broadcast|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140924/ARCHIVES/409241040/-1/search10?Title=SNN-adds-over-air-TV-broadcast|access-date=September 24, 2014|work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|date=September 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006115714/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20140924/ARCHIVES/409241040/-1/search10?Title=SNN-adds-over-air-TV-broadcast |archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name=b&c-wsnnld>{{cite news|last1=Malone|first1=Michael|title=Citadel Taking Florida Cable News Net to Broadcast|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/citadel-taking-florida-cable-news-net-broadcast/134291|access-date=September 24, 2014|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=September 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006065124/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/citadel-taking-florida-cable-news-net-broadcast/134291|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> The combined station retains SNN's existing programming and cable carriage. On April 15, WSNN launched two subchannels from [[Katz Broadcasting]]: [[Grit (TV network)|Grit]] and [[Laff (TV network)|Laff]].

On May 16, 2019, it was announced that Standard Media, led by former [[Young Broadcasting]] and [[Media General]] executive Deb McDermott, would acquire Citadel's WLNE and KLKN for $83 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/235076/mcdermott-in-the-station-game-with-wlne-klkn/|title=McDermott In The Station Game With WLNE, KLKN|website=TVNewsCheck|language=en-US|access-date=May 16, 2019}}</ref> The sale was completed on September 5.<ref>[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1809933&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=22591 "Consummation Notice"], ''CDBS Public Access'', [[Federal Communications Commission]], Retrieved September 6, 2019.
*[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1809932&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=11264 "Consummation Notice"], ''CDBS Public Access'', [[Federal Communications Commission]], Retrieved September 6, 2019.</ref>

SNN was the first television news operation to convert to an all digital-disk-based [[non-linear editing system]] through [[Avid Technology|Avid]]. SNN was one of the first news operations to have a combined print and broadcast newsroom, collaborating with the ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' on news content. Since 2002, SNN has maintained a content-sharing agreement with [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]-based [[NBC]] affiliate [[WFLA-TV]] (channel 8) and [[NBC News]], which allows SNN to use stories from WFLA, NBC News and NBC-affiliated stations (that agreement replaced an earlier deal between the channel, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] [[owned-and-operated station]] [[WTVT]] (channel 13), and the now-defunct CONUS Communications), and also allowed for cooperation between the ''Herald-Tribune'' and the ''[[Tampa Tribune]]'', prior to [[Media General]]'s sale of that paper to [[Berkshire Hathaway|World Media Holdings]] in 2012.

SNN also operates one weather and traffic camera since April 2014; the camera was installed atop of One Sarasota Tower, under a brand licensing deal with various local companies over the years. SNN began multiplex programming on February 2, 2015. On June 15, 2015, Verizon FiOS changed channels of SNN from 26/526 to channel 9/509. In 2016, SNN upgraded graphics and slightly updated logo. Later that year, the Herald Tribune moved out of their former space and made their way next door into the old SunTrust building. It is unclear if SNN will be moving to the new facility as in 2018, [[Sarasota Memorial Hospital]] announced it would buy out the old Herald Tribune building and re-construct the entire area. In 2018, SNN re-vamped their website, now offering live-streams of their Skycam, newscasts as they happen, job offerings, calendars and event planning.

On May 19, 2023, Citadel Communications COO Ray Cole announced that WSNN-LD would be sold to Nexstar Media Group (owner of WFLA-TV and [[WTTA]] (channel 38)) for $1 million. Nexstar had previously acquired [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] television stations [[KCAU-TV]] in [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]], WHBF-TV in the Quad Cities, and [[WOI-DT]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] from Citadel in 2014 (Nexstar still owns KCAU-TV and WHBF-TV).<ref name="wsnntonxst">{{Cite web |title=WFLA-TV & WTTA-TV to expand leading local news presence in 3-county region with Nexstar's acquisition of WSNN-LD in Sarasota |url=https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/wfla-tv-wtta-tv-to-expand-leading-local-news-presence-in-3-county-region-with-nexstars-acquisition-of-wsnn-ld-in-sarasota/|access-date=May 22, 2023|website=WFLA.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Station Trading Roundup: 1 Deal, $1,000,000|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/station-trading-roundup-1-deal-1000000-3/|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=July 15, 2023}}</ref> The sale was completed on July 20.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/consummationDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076f91896b18a201896f366b0503ba&id=25076f91896b18a201896f366b0503ba|title=Notification of Consummation|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=July 20, 2023|accessdate=July 22, 2023}}</ref> On September 1, with WTTA becoming Tampa Bay's station for [[The CW]], WSNN-LD would transition to carrying MyNetworkTV in prime time from WTTA, the latter which rebroadcasts the network overnights from 1 to 3 a.m.

==Programming==
SNN features live newscasts for {{frac|7|1|2}} hours on weekdays and two hours on weekends, barring any [[breaking news]] that could extend its time, as well as live weather segments during the morning and evening hours, with more frequent updates during [[severe weather]] events. The station occasionally broadcasts parades in the area, including boat shows and fireworks shows near Christmas and New Year's.

In addition to regular rolling news programming, SNN also shows airs two local talk shows:

* ''Suncoast FYI'', hosted by Nancy O'Neil, is focused on speaking with non-profit and volunteer leaders around the Sarasota Area about events and programs
* ''Suncoast POV'', hosted by Craig Burdick, is focused on speaking with civil, political, and business leaders about current events
SNN also carries a limited selection of syndicated programming seen on its sister stations.

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WSNN-LD<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSNN#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WSNN|website=[[RabbitEars]]|accessdate=January 31, 2025}}</ref>
! [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! Short name
! Programming
|-
! scope = "col" | 39.1 
| [[1080i]] || rowspan="4" | [[16:9]] || WSNN-HD || [[MyNetworkTV]]
|-
! scope = "col" | 39.2 
| rowspan=2| [[480i]] || WSNN-D2 || [[Grit (TV network)|Grit]]
|-
! scope = "col" | 39.3 
| WSNN-D3 || [[Laff (TV network)|Laff]]
|-
! scope = "col" | 39.4 
| [[1080i]] || WSNN-D4 || [[Court TV]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Bay News 9]] – a similar 24-hour regional cable news channel for the [[Tampa Bay Area]] operated by [[Spectrum]]
* [[News 13 (Central Florida)|News 13]] – a similar 24-hour regional cable news channel for the [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] area operated by Spectrum

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.snntv.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/SuncoastNewsNetwork/ SNN Facebook page]
* [https://twitter.com/SNNTV SNN Twitter page]
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/SNNLocalNews6 SNN YouTube page]

{{Tampa Bay TV}}
{{Ft. Myers TV}}
{{MNTV Florida}}
{{NXST TV}}
{{LocalCableNews}}

[[Category:2011 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:24-hour television news channels in the United States]]
[[Category:Grit (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Laff (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Low-power television stations in Florida|SNN]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Nexstar Media Group]]
[[Category:Sarasota, Florida]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2011]]
[[Category:Television stations in the Tampa Bay area|SNN-LD]]