{{Short description|Television station in Portland, Maine}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox television station | callsign = WGME-TV | logo = WGME 2006 flat.svg | logo_alt = A light blue CBS eye next to a light blue sans serif numeral 13, with a blue box beneath and the widely spaced letters "W G M E" in white | logo_size = 200px | image = Wpfo-logo.svg | image_alt = The Fox network logo next to a rectangle with pointed left end containing a numeral 23, matching the numeral 13 in the WGME logo, with the words "On Your Side" printed on three lines to the right | image_size = 220px | branding = {{ubl|CBS 13|Fox 23 (13.2)}} | analog = | digital = 15 (UHF) | virtual = 13 | translators = | affiliations = {{ubl|'''13.1:''' CBS|'''13.2:''' Fox|'''13.3:''' The Nest}} | founded = | airdate = {{start date|1954|5|16}} | location = Portland, Maine | country = United States | callsign_meaning = "We're Gannett of Maine", for former owner Guy Gannett<ref>{{cite news |last=Bosisio |first=Matt |title=Television: Channel 13 could be WGME in two weeks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-television-channe/194335218/ |access-date=March 27, 2026 |newspaper=Portland Press Herald |date=December 14, 1983 |location=Portland, Maine |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> | former_affiliations = ABC (1954–1958) | former_callsigns = WGAN-TV (1954–1983) | former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 13 (VHF, 1954–2009)|'''Digital:''' 38 (UHF, 2002–2019)}} | owner = Sinclair Broadcast Group | licensee = WGME Licensee, LLC | sister_stations = WPFO | erp = 1,000 kW | haat = {{convert|500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | class = | facility_id = 25683 | coordinates = {{coord|43|55|29|N|70|29|27|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}} | licensing_authority = FCC | website = {{ubl|'''13.1:''' {{URL|https://wgme.com/}}|'''13.2:''' {{URL|https://fox23maine.com/}}}} }} '''WGME-TV''' (channel 13) is a television station in Portland, Maine, United States, affiliated with CBS and Fox. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside WPFO (channel 23). The two stations share studios on Northport Drive in the North Deering section of Portland; WGME-TV's transmitter is located on Brown Hill northwest of Raymond, Maine.
Channel 13 began broadcasting on May 16, 1954, as WGAN-TV. It was owned by Guy Gannett Broadcasting Services, owner of radio station WGAN in Portland and publisher of several Maine newspapers including the ''Portland Press Herald''. It was an affiliate of CBS and ABC at the outset and broadcast from a facility shared with the ''Press Herald'' in downtown Portland. In 1959, transmission moved to the Brown Hill site, with a {{convert|1619|ft|m|adj=on}} tower that was briefly the world's tallest man-made structure, and the station occupied its present studio facility in 1977. After WGAN radio was separated from the TV station in 1983, channel 13 changed its call sign to WGME—"We're Gannett of Maine"—on January 1, 1984. It was the leading TV news station in Maine until the mid-1980s, when it was surpassed by WCSH (channel 6).
Guy Gannett sold its business assets in the late 1990s, with the television station group being purchased by Sinclair. In 2007, Sinclair began producing a 10 p.m. newscast for WPFO, then the Portland market's Fox affiliate; it bought the non-license assets in 2013, continuing to produce local news for WPFO until the Fox subchannel outright moved to WGME-TV in December 2025.
==History== ===Construction and early years=== When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) resumed granting new TV station applications in 1952 after a multi-year freeze, it allocated Portland, Maine, two VHF channels, 6 and 13. The freeze had affected the first television station application in Maine, made by Guy Gannett Broadcasting Services,{{efn|Of no relation to the Gannett Company.}} owners of radio stations WGAN in Portland and WGUY in Bangor. In May 1952, Guy Gannett announced its intention to apply for channel 13.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 13, 1952 |title=Gannett Broadcasting Firm Seeks TV Channel 13 Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-gannett-broadcasti/189039452/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |page=15}}</ref> Later in 1952, the Community Broadcasting Service, owner of Bangor radio station WABI, applied for channel 13 in Portland.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 12, 1952 |title=WABI's First TV Application, Made In '51, Dismissed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-wabis-first-tv-ap/189587130/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=The Bangor Daily News |page=16}}</ref> With competing applications, channel 13 was pushed into a comparative hearing situation, and the FCC in October 1952 ordered hearings be held on the two applications apiece it had received for channels 6 and 13.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 3, 1952 |title=FCC Orders Hearings On Local TV Stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-fcc-orders-hearing/120718715/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |page=8}}</ref>
A third channel played into the channel 13 hearing dispute. Channel 8 had been allocated for use at Mount Washington, New Hampshire, from which it would cover Portland, and Mount Washington TV, Inc., was seeking that channel. Mount Washington and Community had a stakeholder in common: Horace Hildreth. In May 1953, Guy Gannett called on Hildreth to select one or the other application to prosecute because he could not own both channels, with their overlapping coverage areas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 6, 1953 |title=FCC Has WGAN Petition For Immediate TV Permit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-fcc-has-wgan-petition-fo/189039494/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Evening Express |pages=28}}</ref> On July 8, 1953, Mount Washington TV won the construction permit for channel 8, on the condition that its stockholders remove themselves from competing applications in Portland; these included not only Hildreth but the owners of an applicant for channel 6. If they did so, each channel would have one contested applicant. Another stockholder in Community, Murray Carpenter, declared he had no intention to drop out of the channel 13 contest.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 9, 1953 |title=The Television Situation... Hildreth Decision Awiated To Clear TV Picture Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-the-television-situation/120719321/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Evening Express |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-television/120719247/ 28]}}</ref> Carpenter responded to the FCC action by selling out his ownership interest in WABI radio and WABI-TV to Hildreth in exchange for his shares in the channel 13 applicant.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 25, 1953 |title=Carpenter To Sell Out Interest In WABI Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-carpenter-to-sell/189039466/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=The Bangor Daily News |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-carpenter/189587502/ 2]}}</ref> He then filed for channel 13 under his own name in August.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 3, 1953 |title=Bangor Man Files Bid For Channel 13 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-bangor-man-files-b/189039577/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-bangor-man/189039591/ 2]}}</ref>
On November 2, days before hearings were to begin, Carpenter simultaneously withdrew his channel 13 application and agreed to buy WGUY radio from Guy Gannett. He told the FCC that he had been unable to find financial backing for the TV station. This left Guy Gannett unopposed for channel 13;<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1953 |title=To Buy WGUY: Carpenter Seeks Permit Drop Channel 13 Bid |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/morning-sentinel-to-buy-wguy-carpenter/189039647/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Morning Sentinel |page=1|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> the firm received a construction permit on November 19 and declared its intention to be on the air within six months. The WGAN-FM site at Blackstrap in Falmouth was renovated to house the channel 13 transmitter facility; it had been built in 1946 with a possible television use in mind.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 20, 1953 |title=WGAN-TV Sets May As Goal For Full Telecast Operations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-wgan-tv-sets-may-as-goal/189587743/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Evening Express |pages=24}}</ref>
WGAN-TV began broadcasting on May 16, 1954,<ref name="Port540516">{{Cite news |date=May 16, 1954 |title=Maine's Most Powerful TV Station: WGAN-TV, On Channel 13, On Air At 5 P. M. Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-maines-most-power/189588406/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Sunday Telegram and Sunday Press Herald |pages=1}}</ref> as a primary affiliate of CBS<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 18, 1954 |title=WGAN-TV Joins CBS Network |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgan-tv-joins-cbs/189587925/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Sunday Telegram and Sunday Press Herald |pages=1}}</ref> with additional programming from ABC.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 25, 1954 |title=WGAN-TV Joins ABC Network |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgan-tv-joins-abc/189039785/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Sunday Telegram and Sunday Press Herald |pages=2}}</ref> It was the fifth TV station on the air in Maine; it displaced the combination of WPMT (channel 53) and WLAM-TV (channel 17), a pair of UHF stations in Portland and Lewiston–Auburn, as the local outlet for CBS and ABC programs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 24, 1954 |title=Video Versions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-video-versions/100796482/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Lewiston Evening Journal |page=2 |first=Johnny|last=Robinson}}</ref> At the outset, WGAN-TV offered a variety of local programs. Three newscasts a day were scheduled, utilizing the resources of Guy Gannett's five Maine newspapers;{{r|Port540516}} it also aired a daily afternoon variety show, ''The Lloyd Knight Show'', and locally produced educational and nature programs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 3, 1954 |title=Variety Of Local Shows Arranged |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-variety-of-local-s/189588264/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=18}}</ref> The station broadcast from an incomplete tower on reduced power{{r|Port540516}} until June 30.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 1, 1954 |title=WGAN-TV Telecasts Go On Full Power |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgan-tv-telecasts/189588577/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=1}}</ref> Channel 8 from Mount Washington debuted in September as WMTW. It had affiliations with CBS, ABC, and DuMont Television Network, splitting much of channel 13's audience for network programming.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 25, 1954 |title=New Television Station To Have Premiere Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/morning-sentinel-new-television-station/190315907/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Morning Sentinel |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|first=Ellie|last=Thompson|date=1990|title=The History of Broadcasting in Maine|publisher=Maine Association of Broadcasters|page=90}}</ref> WMTW continued to air some CBS programs until July 1958, when it became an all-ABC station.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 18, 1958 |title=Rocket's Old Story Vindicates Selke |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-rockets-old-story-vin/190316408/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=The Montreal Star |page=18|first=Pat|last=Pearce}}</ref> In addition to its main studio at 390 Congress, WGAN-TV maintained a "sidewalk studio" at street level at High and Congress streets.{{r|Port980909-Hist}}
WGAN announced its intention to build a new, taller TV tower in 1958.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 1958 |title=WGAN To Build Tallest Television Tower In State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgan-to-build-tall/189588665/ |access-date=January 23, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=1}}</ref> Such an expansion had been contemplated from the start, but an attempt to shuffle VHF television station allocations in New England—and possibly force WGAN-TV to another channel—stalled the move.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 1959 |title=Facility Cost $500,000: Tower Gains More TV Coverage Than Engineering First Predicted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-facility-cost-500/189588632/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Portland Sunday Telegram|pages=4E|first=Kenneth|last=Berry}}</ref> A {{convert|1619|ft|m}} mast was erected on Brown Hill near Raymond and began use on October 30, 1959. It was the world's tallest man-made structure at its completion,<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 29, 1959 |title=New WGAN-TV Tower Signals Starting Friday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kennebec-journal-new-wgan-tv-tower-signa/189589453/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Kennebec Journal |pages=10}}</ref> though the next year KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, eclipsed it with a {{convert|1676|ft|m|adj=on}} tower.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 20, 1960 |title=One Man's Opinion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-one-mans-opinion/190315316/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Daily News |page=Sunday 7}}</ref> While WGAN-TV was still losing money by 1961, the station improved its financial standing by the middle of the decade and attracted more than 40 percent of TV advertising revenue.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Guy Gannett VP seeks diversity at home, on job|work=Broadcasting|date=December 19, 1966|page=85|id={{pq|1014497747}} }}</ref> In February 1967, WGAN-FM 102.9 began broadcasting from the Raymond tower.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1967 |title=New Cannett FM Transmitter Goes On The Air |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-new-cannett-fm-transmitt/190315566/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Evening Express |page=12}}</ref>
Operations of WGAN AM and WGAN-TV moved in 1977 from downtown Portland to space in part of a former W. T. Grant department store in Portland's Northport Plaza shopping center.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 1, 1977 |title=WGAN AMTV Shift Almost Complete |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-wgan-amtv-shift-almost-c/190316790/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Evening Express |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 1976 |title=Ames To Open Store At Northport Plaza |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-ames-to-open-store-at-no/190316810/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Evening Express |page=39|first=Frank|last=Sleeper}}</ref>{{efn|The facility became the Northport Business Park in the 1980s when the other tenant of the Grant space, Ames Department Stores, closed and was replaced with a call center for L.L.Bean.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 20, 1986 |title=North Deering booming: Park earns top marks for comeback |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-north-deering-booming-p/190317011/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Evening Express |page=2|first=Frank|last=Sleeper}}</ref>}} When the radio stations were sold to Taylor Communications of Maine during 1983,<ref name="Even830819">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-staff-to-stay-taylor-co/133271683/|date=August 19, 1983|page=9|title=Staff to stay: Taylor Communications to buy WGAN-AM, FM|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> the WGAN call letters remained with them; WGAN-TV became WGME-TV, "We're Gannett of Maine",<ref name="SunJ840101">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-hello-maine-were-wgme/133272120/|date=January 1, 1984|page=3E|title=Hello Maine, We're WGME!|newspaper=Sun-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> on January 1, 1984.{{efn|The call sign changed from WGAN-TV to WGME-TV at the FCC on December 15, 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=25683|title=Call Sign History|website=Consolidated Database System|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> However, the station did not begin using the new call sign until January 1, 1984.<ref name="Even831215">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-stern-named-to-new-post/133271923/|date=December 15, 1983|page=48|title=Stern named to new post with Gannett|newspaper=Evening Express|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu -->}}
Channel 13 had been the traditional news leader in the Portland market until the mid-1980s. In February 1986, 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, WCSH 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 --> In 1989, WGME debuted a 5:30 p.m. newscast, ''1st News''. It was the first time a Portland station had produced an hour of early evening news since WCSH tried the idea in the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 6, 1989 |title=Channel 13 getting jump with earlier newscast |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-channel-13-getting-jump/190316426/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Evening Express |page=8|first=Jim|last=Sanville}}</ref> Further news expansions came in 1993 with the debut of ''Daybreak'', a morning newscast,<ref name="Port980909-Hist">{{Cite news |date=September 9, 1998 |title=History of WGME television |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-history-of-wgme-te/133271308/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=4A}}</ref> and in 1997 with a 5 p.m. news half-hour.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 26, 1997 |title=WGME launches assault in TV news war |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgme-launches-assa/190343129/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |page=3B|first=Ray|last=Routhier}}</ref> The latter helped give WGME the edge over WCSH in the 5:30 p.m. half-hour where the two stations competed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 20, 1998 |title=WCSH retains lead in local news ratings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wcsh-retains-lead/190343584/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |page=3B|first=Ray|last=Routhier}}</ref>
===Sinclair ownership=== Motivated by the impending expiration of the family trust that owned the company and a seller's market for broadcasting properties, Guy Gannett Communications put itself up for sale in 1998, ending 110 years of its history as a publisher.<ref name="Port980401">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-guy-gannett-commun/133271201/|date=April 1, 1998|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-gannett/133271175/ 7A]|first=Edward D.|last=Murphy|title=Guy Gannett Communications seeks buyer|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The Seattle Times Company acquired Guy Gannett's newspapers, while the firm's television stations were purchased by Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group for $310 million. WGME-TV had been the last major station in Portland to be locally owned.<ref name="Port980909">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-guy-gannett-sells/133271375/|date=September 9, 1998|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgme/133271324/ 4A]|first=Clarke|last=Canfield|first2=Ray|last2=Routhier|title=Guy Gannett sells WGME-TV station to broadcast giant|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The Guy Gannett purchase gave Sinclair diversification into affiliates of the Big Three networks and beyond a portfolio heavy with Fox, WB, and UPN stations.<ref name="Balt980909">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-buys-guy-gann/124317459/|date=September 9, 1998|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-sinclair-purchases-guy/124317434/ 5C]|first=Mark|last=Ribbing|title=Sinclair buys Guy Gannett TV stations|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The transaction closed on April 30, 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 30, 1999 |title=Sinclair takes over at WGME |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-sinclair-takes-ove/190343671/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgme/190343698/ 4C]|first=Clarke|last=Canfield}}</ref> One of the first moves made under Sinclair was the cancellation of weekend morning and noon newscasts in order to focus resources on weekday news programs with more viewers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 10, 1999 |title=Channel 13 cancels morning, noon news shows on weekends |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-channel-13-cancels/190343777/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |page=2B}}</ref> By 2011, WGME was still in second place to WCSH in the evening news ratings, especially at 6 p.m., where channel 6 had more than twice as many viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=July 18, 2011 |title=Market Eye: Same 'Old' Story in Portland |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-same-old-story-portland-42978 |access-date=February 1, 2026 |website=Broadcasting+Cable |language=en}}</ref>
On February 5, 2007, WGME-TV began producing a nightly 10 p.m. newscast for WPFO (channel 23), then Portland's Fox affiliate, after a news share agreement was established between the two. It aired from a secondary set at WGME's studios.<ref name="Port070125">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-wgme-to-do-news-sh/179120829/|date=January 25, 2007|page=B2|first=Edward D.|last=Murphy|title=WGME to do news show for Fox|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|location=Portland, Maine|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 15, 2025}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The news relationship expanded in 2010 when the newscast was lengthened to an hour; a new two-hour morning newscast from 7 to 9 a.m., titled ''Good Day Maine'', was added.<ref name="TVNC100317">{{Cite news |date=March 17, 2010 |title=WGME, WPFO To Expand Shared News |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wgme-wpfo-to-expand-shared-news/ |access-date=September 15, 2025 |website=TVNewsCheck |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2013, Sinclair acquired the non-license assets of WPFO from Corporate Media Consultants Group for $13.6 million.<ref name=b&c-wpfosinclair>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=Sinclair Acquires WPFO Portland (ME) Assets For $13.6 Million|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/496450-Sinclair_Acquires_WPFO_Portland_ME_Assets_For_13_6_Million.php|access-date=November 6, 2013|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable|date=November 6, 2013}}</ref> An affiliate of Sinclair, Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation, filed to acquire the license assets for $3.4 million on November 19, but the deal was not approved until June 23, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=7a83a1b2f99f4a45bd30c1b6063ebeb7&id=7a83a1b2f99f4a45bd30c1b6063ebeb7&goBack=N|title=Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date= September 15, 2025}}</ref> In 2024, WGME began airing a new lifestyle program, ''ARC Maine'', at 9 a.m.; the WPFO morning newscast was shortened to an hour, with the 8 a.m. hour replaced by ''The National Desk''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2024 |title=ARC Maine to launch on Fox23: A new kind of interactive show for your mornings |url=https://wgme.com/news/arc-maine/arc-maine-to-launch-on-fox23-a-new-kind-of-interactive-show-for-your-mornings |access-date=September 16, 2025 |website=WGME |language=en}}</ref>
Sinclair filed to buy WPFO outright from Cunningham in August 2025, following a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that struck down limitations on ownership of two of the four highest-rated TV stations in a market.<ref name="wpfosold">{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff3989fb19e0198a8f8015a0733&id=25076ff3989fb19e0198a8f8015a0733&goBack=N|title=Assignments|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=August 15, 2025|accessdate=August 16, 2025}}</ref> On December 8, 2025, the Fox affiliation was moved to WGME-TV's second subchannel, while WPFO's main channel flipped to Roar.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to watch FOX23 starting Dec. 8 due to over-the-air and cable channel changes |url=https://wgme.com/news/local/fox23-to-switch-over-the-air-broadcast-from-channel-231-to-132-starting-dec-8 |website=WGME-TV |access-date=December 9, 2025}}</ref> {{As of|December 2025}}, WGME–CBS airs {{frac|29|1|2}} hours a week of local news programs, not including news on WGME–Fox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/1a962d8f-ca0e-cc54-70bb-ae99e715e263/13c60a4e-0bdb-4367-93d7-f82ac0304e0f.pdf|pages=5–6|title=WGME CBS13 News Q4 2025 Issues/Programs List|date=January 7, 2026|website=Public Inspection File|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>
In addition to WGME, Sinclair owns Dielectric, a manufacturer of antennas located in Raymond that it purchased in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2013 |title=Sinclair buys Raymond antenna maker Dielectric |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2013/06/19/sinclair-buys-raymond-antenna-maker-dielectric/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |website=The Portland Press Herald |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Notable former on-air staff== * Tom Caron – sportscaster, 1988–1993<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 5, 1988 |title=Dropping anchor: Lewiston man finds home at Channel 13 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-dropping-anchorlewiston-ma/189039999/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Sun-Journal |pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-anchor/189040008/ 2E]|first=Sharon|last=Deveau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 13, 1993 |title=WGME's Caron jumps ship to join Pirates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-wgmes-caron-jumps-ship-to-j/189040020/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Sun-Journal |pages=29}}</ref> * Paul Dellegatto – meteorologist, 1985<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 19, 1985 |title=The Noon Report |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-tribune-the-noon-report/189039957/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Journal Tribune |page=2|type=Advertisement}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 24, 1985 |title=WSEZ drops contemporary hits for new racy rock format |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wsez-drops-contemporary/188367845/ |access-date=January 11, 2026 |work=News & Record |page=A9|first=Sue|last=Robinson}}</ref> * Frank Fixaris – sportscaster, 1965–1995<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 14, 2006 |title=Sportscaster dies in fire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-sportscaster-dies/190344800/ |access-date=February 1, 2026 |work=Portland Press Herald |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-fire/190344766/ A6]|first=Tess|last=Nacelewicz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 24, 1985 |title=WSEZ drops contemporary hits for new racy rock format |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wsez-drops-contemporary/188367845/ |access-date=January 11, 2026 |work=News and Record |page=A9|first=Sue|last=Robinson}}</ref>
==Subchannels== WGME-TV's transmitter is located northwest of Raymond, Maine.{{r|FCC-LMS-25683}} The station's signal is multiplexed: {| class="wikitable" |+ Subchannels of WGME-TV<ref name=rei>{{cite web|title=Digital TV Market Listing for WGME|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WGME#station|website=RabbitEars|access-date=January 9, 2016}}</ref> ! scope = "col" | Channel ! scope = "col" | Res. ! scope = "col" | Aspect ! scope = "col" | Short name ! scope = "col" | Programming |- ! scope = "row" | 13.1 | rowspan="2"| 720p || rowspan="3"| 16:9 || CBS || CBS |- ! scope = "row" | 13.2 | FOX || Fox |- ! scope = "row" | 13.3 | 480i || TheNest || The Nest |- style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;" ! scope = "row" | 23.1 | rowspan="2"| 480i || rowspan=2|16:9 || ROAR || Roar (WPFO) |- style="background-color:#DFEBF6;" ! scope = "row" | 23.4 | Antenna || Antenna TV (WPFO) |} {{legend|#DFEBF6|Broadcast on behalf of another station}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{officialwebsite|https://wgme.com/}} * {{URL|https://fox23maine.com/|"Fox 23" website}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|rec}} {{succession box|title=World's tallest structure<br />1,619 ft (493.5 m)|before=KOBR-TV Tower|after=KFVS TV Mast|years= 1959–1960}} {{s-end}}
{{New England TV}} {{Portland Maine TV}} {{SBGI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wgme-Tv}} Category:1954 establishments in Maine Category:CBS affiliates Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates Category:The Nest (TV network) affiliates Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954 GME-TV