Maine Television Stations and Broadcasting

Maine's television landscape features three distinct Nielsen-designated market areas (DMAs) serving approximately 613,000 television households across the state. With 15 full-power digital television stations, including five Maine Public Broadcasting Network (PBS) stations, Maine residents have access to comprehensive local news, weather, sports, and entertainment programming from major broadcast networks.

15

Full-Power TV Stations

3

DMA Markets

613K+

TV Households

5

PBS Member Stations

📑 Table of Contents

📡 Maine DMA Markets Overview

Maine's television broadcasting is organized into three Nielsen-designated market areas (DMAs), each serving distinct geographic regions and population centers across the state.

Portland-Auburn DMA

National Rank: #78

TV Households: 439,030

Coverage Area: 11 counties (9 in Maine, 2 in NH)

Full-Power Stations: 8

Key Counties: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, York (ME); Carroll, Coos (NH)

Maine's largest television market, serving southern Maine and parts of New Hampshire with comprehensive local news and network programming.

Bangor DMA

National Rank: #156

TV Households: 147,060

Coverage Area: Central and eastern Maine

Full-Power Stations: Multiple

Key Counties: Penobscot, Hancock, Washington

Largest City: Bangor (Maine's third-largest city)

Maine's second-largest market, covering central Maine with strong local news presence and regional sports coverage.

Presque Isle DMA

National Rank: #206

TV Households: 26,880

Coverage Area: Northern Aroostook County

Full-Power Stations: 1 (WAGM-TV)

Primary Service: Remote rural area bordering Canada

Market Size: Area size comparable to Connecticut and Rhode Island combined

Maine's smallest but geographically largest market, focusing on local agriculture news and cross-border interests.

📊 Market Growth: The Portland-Auburn market has grown +1% from the 2023-24 season to 2024-25, reflecting steady population and household growth in southern Maine.

🏙️ Portland-Auburn Market Stations

As Maine's largest television market, the Portland-Auburn DMA features eight full-power television stations operating at effective radiated powers up to 137 kW, providing comprehensive coverage of major broadcast networks.

Call LettersChannelNetworkOwnerPowerCity of License
WCSH6NBCTegna Media100 kWPortland
WMTW8ABCHearst Television316 kWPoland Spring (serving Auburn/Portland)
WGME13CBSSinclair Broadcast Group1000 kWPortland
WPFO23FOXCMGC1000 kWWaterville (serving Portland)
WPXT51CWHearst Television-Portland

Featured Portland-Auburn Stations

WCSH Channel 6 (NBC)

NBC News Leader

Owner: Tegna Media

Established: December 1953 (Portland's oldest operating TV station)

Brand: NEWS CENTER Maine (jointly with WLBZ Bangor)

Coverage: Statewide through partnership with WLBZ

Notable: WCSH 6 is Portland-Auburn's #1 choice for local news, drawing larger news audiences than local CBS and ABC stations combined. The station operates from downtown Portland studios.

WMTW Channel 8 (ABC)

ABC Hearst Television

Owner: Hearst Television

City of License: Poland Spring (serving Portland/Auburn)

Power: 316 kW digital full-power

Sister Station: WPXT (CW)

Website: WMTW.com

Streaming: Content available to download and stream free through the station's website and mobile apps.

WGME Channel 13 (CBS)

CBS Sinclair

Owner: Sinclair Broadcast Group

Power: 1000 kW digital full-power

Sister Station: WPFO (FOX 23)

Coverage: Portland area with comprehensive local news, sports, weather

Website: WGME.com

Programming: CBS network programming plus local news coverage in the Portland, Maine area.

WPFO Channel 23 (FOX)

FOX Sinclair Duopoly

Owner: CMGC (operated by Sinclair)

Power: 1000 kW digital full-power

City of License: Waterville

Brand: FOX 23

Sister Station: WGME (CBS 13)

Operations: Part of Sinclair's duopoly strategy in Portland, sharing resources with WGME to consolidate operations and provide comprehensive news coverage.

💼 Ownership Consolidation: Ownership in Portland is dominated by national broadcasting groups such as Tegna, Hearst, and Sinclair, which manage duopolies (e.g., Hearst's WMTW and WPXT; Sinclair's WGME-TV and WPFO) to consolidate operations and maximize coverage efficiency.

📺 Bangor Market Stations

The Bangor designated market area serves central and eastern Maine, including the state's third-largest city and surrounding counties, with strong local news production and regional sports coverage.

Call LettersChannelNetworkOwnerPowerCity of License
WLBZ2NBCTegna Media51.3 kWBangor
WABI5CBS / CWGray Media39.8 kWBangor
WVII7ABCRockfleet Broadcasting-Bangor
WFVX-LD22FOX / MyNetworkTVRockfleet Broadcasting27 kW (Low-Power)Bangor

Featured Bangor Stations

WABI Channel 5 (CBS)

CBS Historic News Leader

Owner: Gray Media (formerly Community Broadcasting Service)

Established: January 31, 1953 (Maine's first television station)

Location: Studios on Hildreth Street in West Bangor

Transmitter: Peaked Mountain in Dixmont

Networks: CBS (primary), The CW Plus

Website: WABI.tv

Market Position: For its entire existence, WABI has often earned more viewership than competitors WLBZ and WVII combined. Of the big three network-affiliated television stations in the area, it offers the most live newscasts originating from Bangor.

WLBZ Channel 2 (NBC)

NBC NEWS CENTER Maine

Owner: Tegna Media

Power: 51.3 kW digital full-power

Brand: NEWS CENTER Maine (jointly with WCSH Portland)

Sister Station: WCSH Channel 6 Portland

Market Position: Strong #2 in Bangor market

Statewide Coverage: Although WLBZ (Bangor) and WCSH (Portland) are based in different locations and technically serve separate markets, the two essentially operate as one station, providing statewide coverage not offered by any other outlet in Maine.

WVII Channel 7 (ABC)

ABC Multi-Market Coverage

Owner: Rockfleet Broadcasting (formerly Downeast Television)

Signed On: October 15, 1965 (originally as WEMT)

Location: Studios in West Bangor

Transmitter: Black Cap Mountain (shared with WFVX-LD via channel sharing agreement)

Sister Station: WFVX-LD (FOX 22)

Extended Coverage: WVII-TV serves as the default ABC affiliate through cable for the Presque Isle market, as that area does not have an ABC affiliate of its own. Carried in Charter Spectrum's local tier in Presque Isle and available on Dish Network and DirecTV.

WFVX-LD Channel 22 (FOX)

FOX MyNetworkTV Low-Power

Owner: Rockfleet Broadcasting (through Bangor Communications, LLC)

Power: 27 kW low-power

Virtual Channel: 7.2 (RF channel 7)

Sister Station: WVII-TV (ABC 7)

Programming: FOX network programming plus MyNetworkTV

Technology: Transmits using shared spectrum from sister ABC affiliate WVII-TV through a channel sharing agreement.

🌲 Presque Isle Market Stations

Maine's smallest television market serves northern Aroostook County, a remote rural area bordering Canada with a geographic size comparable to Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.

WAGM-TV Channel 8 (CBS/FOX/CW)

CBS FOX CW News Leader

Owner: Gray Media

Established: 1956 (only full-power commercial station in Northeast Maine)

Brand: News Source 8

Location: Studios on Brewer Road in Presque Isle

Transmitter: Northern section of Mars Hill Mountain (among wind turbines)

Sister Station: WWPI-CD Channel 16 (NBC, Fort Kent/Presque Isle)

Website: WAGMTV.com

Market Leadership: WAGM's NewsSource 8 broadcasts have routinely ranked as the highest-rated local newscasts in the United States based on Nielsen market share.

Coverage Area: Aroostook County (approximately 6,829 square miles - larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined)

2024 Updates

  • Morning Newscast Change (November 2024): Gray Media eliminated the station's locally produced weekday morning newscast, in favor of simulcasting the morning newscast from WABI in Bangor. Other newscasts remain produced in Presque Isle.
  • Sports Coverage: Sports director Rene Cloukey retired in November 2024 after 40 years of covering Aroostook County sports.

WWPI-CD Channel 16 (NBC)

NBC Low-Power

Owner: Gray Television Licensee, LLC

Type: Class A low-power facility

City of License: Fort Kent

Transmitter: Mars Hill (serving Presque Isle market)

Sister Station: WAGM-TV Channel 8

Programming: NBC network content with shared local news production with sister station WAGM-TV (CBS).

🌍 Cross-Border Coverage: The Presque Isle market focuses on local agriculture news, cross-border interests with Canada, and serves a predominantly rural population with specialized regional programming.

🎭 Maine Public Broadcasting Network (PBS)

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN), branded as Maine Public, operates five full-power digital television stations across Maine, providing PBS programming to approximately 1.3 million residents in Maine and portions of New Hampshire.

About Maine Public

Maine Public is operated by the Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation, which holds the licenses for all Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) stations licensed in Maine.

Television Stations

  • WCBB (Lewiston/Augusta) - First educational TV station in Maine, signed on November 13, 1961; third in New England
  • WMEA-TV (Biddeford/Portland) - Serves southern Maine and the Portland market
  • WMEB-TV (Orono/Bangor) - Flagship station for the Bangor area
  • WMED-TV (Calais) - Serves eastern Maine
  • WMEM-TV (Presque Isle) - Serves northern Maine

Multicast Channels

Maine Public broadcasts multiple subchannels via ATSC 1.0 standards:

  • 10.1 (HD): Main PBS channel with high-definition programming
  • 10.2 (Create): DIY, cooking, travel, and arts programming
  • 10.3 (World): Documentary and international programming
  • 10.4 (PBS Kids): 24/7 children's educational programming

Note: As of December 25, 2024, live streaming is not yet available for the CREATE channel.

Coverage Area

Primary: All populated portions of Maine

Extended: Nearby parts of NH, MA, and Canadian provinces:

  • New Brunswick
  • Quebec
  • Nova Scotia (cable)
  • Prince Edward Island (cable)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador (cable)

How to Watch

Over-the-Air: Free with HDTV antenna

Online: MainePublic.org, PBS.org, PBS App

Cable: Available throughout Maine and Atlantic Canada

Streaming: Free live stream for Maine residents with PBS Account

Recent Network Expansion

📡 2024 Network Growth: Seven new rural FM sites were added in 2024 to bolster overall over-the-air reach. As of 2025, MPBN's translator network supports nearly 30 total transmission sites, including translators, which collectively distribute alerts and programming across the state.

📺 Cable Distribution: MPBN Television is carried on Bell Aliant Fibe TV and other cable systems in parts of Quebec and most of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

📰 NEWS CENTER Maine - Statewide News Coverage

NEWS CENTER Maine is Maine's premier NBC-affiliated media company, operating as a joint brand for WCSH 6 (Portland) and WLBZ 2 (Bangor), owned by TEGNA, Inc. The two stations provide combined statewide news coverage unmatched by any other television outlet in Maine.

Station Overview

  • WCSH 6 (Portland): Established December 1953, oldest operating TV station in Portland
  • WLBZ 2 (Bangor): Serves central and eastern Maine
  • Offices: Downtown Portland and Bangor
  • Brand Launch: 2018 (combined website and unified brand)

Market Leadership

  • Portland-Auburn: WCSH 6 is Portland's #1 choice for local news, drawing larger audiences than local CBS and ABC stations combined
  • Bangor: WLBZ 2 maintains strong #2 position in the Bangor market
  • Statewide: Largest TV news audiences in Maine

Digital Platforms & Streaming

NCM+ Streaming Service

  • Platforms: Roku, FireTV, AppleTV, web browser, mobile app
  • Website: NewsCenter Maine.com/watch
  • Content: Live newscasts, weather coverage, breaking news, special reports
  • Additional Features: VERIFY fact-checking, LockedOn sports, exclusive original content
  • Live and On-Demand: All content available to stream both live and on-demand

Streaming TV Services

NEWS CENTER Maine stations (WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2) are available on major streaming TV platforms:

  • Hulu Live TV
  • Fubo
  • AT&T TV
  • YouTube TV
  • Philo

Note: Streaming service content is identical to over-the-air and cable/satellite broadcasts.

Quick Facts

Owner: TEGNA, Inc. (NYSE: TGNA)

Network: NBC

Markets Served: Portland-Auburn (#78), Bangor (#156)

Combined TV Households: 586,090

Website: NewsCenterMaine.com

News Coverage

Local News: Comprehensive Maine state news

Weather: Detailed forecasts for all regions

Traffic: Real-time traffic updates

Sports: Maine high school, college, and professional sports

Breaking News: 24/7 coverage of developing stories

📡 Cable, Satellite, and Streaming TV Providers

Maine residents have access to multiple cable, satellite, and streaming TV providers offering local channels, regional sports, and hundreds of entertainment options.

Spectrum (Charter Communications)

Most Widely Available

Coverage: 78.17% of Maine (1,064,922 people)

Service Area: Entire Maine area

Pricing (2024)

  • Internet Only: $49.99/month (up to 300 Mbps, no data caps)
  • TV Select: $64.99/month (125+ channels)
  • TV + Internet Bundle: $114.98/month
  • Max Speed: Up to 1,000 Mbps available statewide

Features

  • 150+ channels including sports
  • Spectrum TV App for streaming anywhere
  • Month-to-month billing (no long-term contracts)
  • No annual commitment required
  • Watch live or stream on-demand

Xfinity (Comcast)

High-Speed Leader

Coverage: 9.61% of Maine (130,914 people)

Service Area: South, southwest, and east Maine

Pricing (2024)

  • Internet Only: $55/month (200 Mbps base plan)
  • TV + Internet Bundle: Starting around $115/month
  • Max Speed: Up to 2,000 Mbps (fastest in Maine)
  • Average Speed: Up to 1,632 Mbps statewide
  • Minimum Speed: 1,200 Mbps packages

Features

  • Some of the fastest internet in Maine
  • Varying channel lineups for TV bundles
  • Xfinity Stream app for mobile viewing
  • Limited availability (smaller footprint than Spectrum)

Other Cable Providers

Atlantic Broadband

  • Coverage: 2.82% of Maine (38,420 people)
  • Service Area: Southwest Maine
  • Services: Cable internet and TV packages

Consolidated Communications

  • Type: Regional provider
  • Services: DSL, fiber internet, TV

Fidium Fiber

  • Type: Fiber-optic provider
  • Availability: Expanding coverage in Maine
  • Services: High-speed fiber internet

Satellite TV Providers

DISH Network

  • Coverage: Available statewide (satellite)
  • Local Channels: Carries local affiliates for Maine markets
  • Features: Hopper DVR, mobile app

DIRECTV

  • Coverage: Available statewide (satellite)
  • Local Channels: Local affiliates for Portland, Bangor, Presque Isle markets
  • Features: NFL Sunday Ticket (optional), Genie DVR
  • Note: Good option for rural areas with limited cable access
📺 Choosing a Provider: Spectrum offers the widest coverage across Maine with no long-term contracts, while Xfinity provides the fastest speeds in select areas. Satellite providers (DISH, DIRECTV) are excellent options for rural areas where cable is unavailable.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Maine has three distinct Nielsen-designated market areas (DMAs):

  • Portland-Auburn (#78): 439,030 TV households - Maine's largest market serving southern Maine and parts of New Hampshire
  • Bangor (#156): 147,060 TV households - Serving central and eastern Maine
  • Presque Isle (#206): 26,880 TV households - Maine's smallest market serving northern Aroostook County

Combined, these three markets serve approximately 613,000 television households across Maine as of the 2024-25 television season.

Portland-Auburn's main broadcast television stations include:

  • WCSH Channel 6 (NBC): Tegna Media - Portland's #1 news station, established 1953
  • WMTW Channel 8 (ABC): Hearst Television - Serving Auburn/Portland with 316 kW power
  • WGME Channel 13 (CBS): Sinclair Broadcast Group - Comprehensive local news and CBS programming
  • WPFO Channel 23 (FOX): CMGC - FOX network affiliate operating from Waterville
  • WPXT Channel 51 (CW): Hearst Television - CW network programming

All stations provide local news, weather, sports coverage, and network programming. WCSH draws larger news audiences than local CBS and ABC stations combined.

Maine Public Television is available through multiple viewing options:

Over-the-Air (Free)

  • Use an HDTV antenna to receive signals from five full-power stations statewide
  • Main channel (10.1 HD) plus subchannels: Create (10.2), World (10.3), PBS Kids (10.4)

Online Streaming (Free)

  • Website: MainePublic.org and PBS.org
  • PBS App: Available on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV
  • PBS Kids: 24/7 live stream at PBSKids.org
  • Note: Live streaming free to Maine residents with PBS Account (free to create)

Cable/Satellite

Available throughout Maine and Atlantic Canada on most cable systems including Spectrum, Xfinity, and Bell Aliant Fibe TV.

NEWS CENTER Maine is the joint brand for WCSH 6 (Portland) and WLBZ 2 (Bangor), both NBC affiliates owned by TEGNA, Inc. The brand launched in 2018 with a combined website for Portland and Bangor news coverage.

What Makes It Unique:

  • Statewide Coverage: Although technically serving separate markets, WCSH and WLBZ essentially operate as one station, providing statewide Maine news coverage not offered by any other outlet
  • Market Leadership: WCSH is Portland's #1 news station; WLBZ is strong #2 in Bangor
  • Combined Resources: Shared news teams, weather forecasts, and digital platforms
  • Largest Audiences: Home of the largest TV news audiences in Maine

How to Watch:

  • Over-the-air: Channel 6 (Portland), Channel 2 (Bangor)
  • Streaming: NCM+ app (Roku, FireTV, AppleTV), NewsCenter Maine.com/watch
  • Live TV Services: Hulu Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV, AT&T TV, Philo

Spectrum (Charter Communications) has the widest coverage in Maine, available to approximately 78.17% of the state's population (1,064,922 people). Spectrum covers the entire Maine area and is the most widely available cable provider.

Why Choose Spectrum:

  • 150+ channels including comprehensive sports coverage
  • Up to 1,000 Mbps internet speeds available statewide
  • Month-to-month billing with no long-term contracts
  • Spectrum TV App for streaming anywhere
  • TV + Internet bundles starting at $114.98/month

Alternative Providers:

  • Xfinity: 9.61% coverage (130,914 people) - fastest speeds (up to 2,000 Mbps) but limited availability in south/southwest Maine
  • Atlantic Broadband: 2.82% coverage (38,420 people) - southwest Maine only
  • DISH/DIRECTV: Available statewide via satellite - good option for rural areas with limited cable access

Yes! There are several ways to watch local Maine TV channels without a cable subscription:

1. Over-the-Air Antenna (Free)

  • Purchase an HDTV antenna (indoor or outdoor)
  • Receive free local channels: NBC (WCSH, WLBZ), ABC (WMTW, WVII), CBS (WGME, WABI), FOX (WPFO, WFVX)
  • Also receive Maine Public PBS stations with multiple subchannels
  • No monthly fees - completely free after antenna purchase

2. Live Streaming TV Services

  • Hulu + Live TV: Includes local NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX affiliates
  • YouTube TV: Local channels plus cable networks
  • Fubo: Sports-focused with local channels
  • Philo: Budget option with some local channels
  • AT&T TV: Local channels and premium networks

3. Station-Specific Streaming Apps (Free)

  • NCM+ (NEWS CENTER Maine): Free streaming on Roku, FireTV, AppleTV, web
  • Maine Public PBS App: Free with PBS Account for Maine residents
  • WMTW.com: Stream Channel 8 content online
  • WGME.com/watch: Stream CBS 13 content

Yes, WABI-TV Channel 5 is still broadcasting and remains one of Bangor's most popular television stations!

WABI Today:

  • Owner: Gray Media (acquired from Community Broadcasting Service)
  • Networks: CBS (primary), The CW Plus
  • Historic Significance: First television station in Maine and first in northern New England (signed on January 31, 1953)
  • Market Leadership: For its entire existence, WABI has often earned more viewership than competitors WLBZ and WVII combined
  • Local News: Offers the most live newscasts originating from Bangor of the big three network affiliates

Facilities:

  • Studios: Hildreth Street in West Bangor
  • Transmitter: Peaked Mountain in Dixmont
  • Power: 39.8 kW digital full-power

Website: WABI.tv - Watch live, stream on-demand content, and access local news, weather, and sports coverage.

Yes! The Presque Isle market (DMA #206) has local television service through WAGM-TV Channel 8 and WWPI-CD Channel 16, both owned by Gray Media.

WAGM-TV Channel 8 (CBS/FOX/CW)

  • Brand: News Source 8
  • Networks: CBS (primary), FOX, The CW Plus
  • Established: 1956 - only full-power commercial station in Northeast Maine
  • Coverage: Aroostook County (approximately 6,829 square miles)
  • Facilities: Studios on Brewer Road; transmitter on Mars Hill Mountain
  • Historic Achievement: NewsSource 8 broadcasts routinely rank as highest-rated local newscasts in the United States based on Nielsen market share

WWPI-CD Channel 16 (NBC)

  • Type: Class A low-power station
  • City of License: Fort Kent (serving Presque Isle market)
  • Programming: NBC network content with shared local news from WAGM

ABC Affiliate Coverage:

The Presque Isle market does not have a local ABC affiliate. WVII-TV (ABC 7) from Bangor serves as the default ABC affiliate through cable (carried on Charter Spectrum, Dish Network, and DirecTV).

Related Resources

Last updated on November 27, 2025