NWCN – Unprofitable and unable to adapt to digital competition

Northwest Cable News (NWCN) was a regional cable news channel that operated in the Pacific Northwest, primarily serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Alaska. Launched on December 18, 1995, it was headquartered in Seattle and aimed to provide 24/7 news coverage tailored to the Northwest region.

NWCN was owned by Belo Corporation and operated as a joint venture with KING-TV 5. It was part of a broader trend in the 1990s of regional cable news channels, similar to New England Cable News or NY1, focusing on local and regional stories that larger national networks like CNN might overlook.

The channel offered a mix of local news, weather, sports, and feature stories specific to the Pacific Northwest. It covered breaking news, politics, environmental issues (significant in the region due to its natural landscapes), and community events. NWCN also provided regular weather updates, which were particularly relevant given the region’s diverse climates, from coastal storms to inland snow.

NWCN was available on cable systems throughout the Northwest, reaching approximately 2.9 million households at its peak. It was carried by major cable providers like Comcast and TCI (later AT&T Broadband). The channel was not available over-the-air, making it exclusive to cable subscribers.

The channel leveraged resources from sister stations owned by Belo, such as KING-TV, KGW in Portland, and KTVB in Boise, to produce content. This allowed NWCN to maintain a robust news-gathering network across the region. Its studios were located in the same building as KING-TV in Seattle’s South Lake Union area.

NWCN aimed to differentiate itself by focusing on in-depth regional coverage. For example, it provided extensive reporting on issues like the timber industry, Native American tribal affairs, and the tech boom in Seattle (driven by companies like Microsoft). It also aired live events, such as local sports and political debates, and partnered with regional newspapers for deeper investigative reporting.

The 1990s were a formative period for cable news, with the rise of national networks like CNN and the emergence of regional channels like NWCN. The channel capitalized on the growing demand for localized content, as cable television expanded and viewers sought alternatives to broadcast networks. However, NWCN faced challenges competing with national news outlets and securing consistent viewership in a region with a relatively sparse population outside major cities like Seattle and Portland.

NWCN operated for over two decades but struggled with profitability due to the high costs of 24/7 news production and competition from online news sources in the 2000s. The channel ceased operations on January 6, 2017, as Gannett (which acquired Belo in 2013) shifted focus to digital platforms and local broadcast news. At the time of its closure, NWCN had about 40 employees and was still reaching around 2 million households.