In 1997 Cox Communications, Landmark Communications and Belo Corporation formed a joint venture creating LNC, a 24- hour local news station airing on Cox channel 4 and later channel 5.
For thirteen years, LNC5 - Local News on Cable (channel) 5 - has rebroadcast WVEC-TV news and provided news headlines from the Virginian Pilot's Pilotonline. At the end of 2010, the contractual agreement that formed LNC5 expired and will not be renewed.
This change has no impact on WVEC-TV 13; WVEC broadcasts airing on Cox Channel 13 remain unchanged.
Board members Gary McCollum, Senior Vice President of Cox Communications Virginia, Tod Smith, General Manager of WVEC-TV, and Maurice Jones, President and Publisher, Pilot Media, agreed that LNC5 has been a profitable joint venture and valuable 'always on, always available' news resource for Hampton Roads. However, the changing media landscape and shifting viewer needs have caused the partner organizations to reprioritize their efforts.
LNC5 served viewers and advertisers until December 31, 2010. It has not yet been determined what content will air on channel 5.
