Maine Full-Power Television Stations by Media Market
Full-power television stations serve as the backbone of regional broadcasting, providing wide-reaching coverage and essential programming to diverse populations. In the state of Maine, these stations are organized by their specific media markets—the geographic areas served by a particular group of stations—to ensure efficient delivery of news, entertainment, and educational content.
Key Facts
- Bangor, Portland, and Presque Isle are the primary media markets serving Maine.
- Major networks including NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and PBS maintain a strong presence across the state.
- Several stations utilize digital subchannels (e.g., 5.2 or 7.2) to broadcast multiple networks from a single channel position.
- The region includes cross-border service, such as WMED-TV serving Saint John, New Brunswick.
Regional Broadcast Breakdown
The distribution of television stations in Maine is divided into three main hubs, each catering to the unique needs of its local population.
Bangor Media Market
The Bangor market features a mix of major network affiliates and public broadcasting. WLBZ handles NBC programming on channel 2, while WABI-TV (channel 5) carries CBS and The CW. WVII-TV on channel 7 provides ABC coverage along with Fox and MyNetworkTV on its second channel. Educational content is provided by WMEB-TV on channel 12 via PBS.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Portland Media Market
As a larger hub, Portland hosts a wider array of stations. NBC is served by WCSH (channel 6), ABC by WMTW (channel 8), and CBS by WGME-TV (channel 13). Fox programming is available via WPFO on channel 23, and The CW is broadcast by WPXT on channel 51. Public broadcasting is robust in this market, with both WCBB (channel 10) and WMEA-TV (channel 26) affiliated with PBS. Additionally, WIPL on channel 35 provides Ion Television services.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Presque Isle and Border Regions
In the northernmost part of the state, WAGM-TV (channel 8) serves as a primary hub, carrying CBS, Fox, and The CW across its main and subchannels. WMEM-TV (channel 10) provides PBS programming. Extending into Canada, WMED-TV (channel 13) serves the Saint John, New Brunswick area as a PBS affiliate.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Station Summary Table
| Media Market | Station | Channel | Primary Affiliation(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | WLBZ | 2 | NBC |
| Bangor | WABI-TV | 5 | CBS, The CW (5.2) |
| Bangor | WVII-TV | 7 | ABC, Fox/MyNetworkTV (7.2) |
| Bangor | WMEB-TV | 12 | PBS |
| Portland | WCSH | 6 | NBC |
| Portland | WMTW | 8 | ABC |
| Portland | WCBB | 10 | PBS |
| Portland | WGME-TV | 13 | CBS |
| Portland | WPFO | 23 | Fox |
| Portland | WMEA-TV | 26 | PBS |
| Portland | WIPL | 35 | Ion Television |
| Portland | WPXT | 51 | The CW, Heroes & Icons/MyNetworkTV (51.2) |
| Presque Isle | WAGM-TV | 8 | CBS, Fox (8.2), The CW (8.3) |
| Presque Isle | WMEM-TV | 10 | PBS |
| Saint John, NB | WMED-TV | 13 | PBS |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which stations in Maine provide PBS programming?
PBS programming is available through WMEB-TV in Bangor, WCBB and WMEA-TV in Portland, WMEM-TV in Presque Isle, and WMED-TV serving Saint John, NB.
How do digital subchannels work for these stations?
Digital subchannels allow a single station to broadcast multiple networks. For example, WAGM-TV uses channel 8 for CBS, 8.2 for Fox, and 8.3 for The CW.
Which station serves the Saint John, New Brunswick area?
WMED-TV on channel 13 serves the Saint John, NB area as a PBS affiliate.
What are the primary NBC affiliates in Maine?
The primary NBC affiliates are WLBZ in the Bangor market and WCSH in the Portland market.
Which Portland station carries Ion Television?
WIPL on channel 35 is the station affiliated with Ion Television in the Portland media market.