You’ve felt it, haven't you? That weird sensation when you flip to channel 13 at 6:00 p.m. and the face staring back at you isn't the one you’ve seen for the last forty years. It’s a bit like coming home and realizing someone rearranged your furniture while you were out. Rochester is a "legacy" town, a place where we hold onto our news anchors like they’re family members. But lately, the landscape of rochester tv news stations has shifted so fast it’ll give you whiplash.
The days of Don Alhart, Doug Emblidge, and Ginny Ryan all being on the same set feel like a lifetime ago, even though some of those departures are still fresh. Honestly, trying to keep track of who owns what and which reporter moved to which station is a full-time job.
The End of an Era at 13WHAM
For decades, 13WHAM (ABC) was the undisputed king of the hill. It wasn't even close. If you grew up in Brighton or Greece, 13 News was basically the background noise of your childhood dinner. But things got complicated. Don Alhart, who literally holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a TV news broadcaster, finally hung up the microphone on June 6, 2024.
That was the "big one."
When Don retired after 58 years, it didn't just leave a hole in the 6:00 p.m. slot; it felt like the end of a specific kind of Rochester institution. You've also got the Sinclair factor. 13WHAM is operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group (technically owned by Deerfield Media), and if you spend five minutes on a local Reddit thread, you’ll see people arguing about the "Terrorism Alert Desk" or the political leanings of the corporate bosses.
Despite the corporate drama, Scott Hetsko remains a local hero. You know how it is—if Scott says there’s a lake effect snow band coming for Webster, people actually go out and buy the bread and milk. Trust is a hard thing to build in 2026, but Hetsko still has it.
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News 8 WROC: The Gritty Underdog That Grew Up
WROC-TV (CBS) is technically the oldest station in town, dating back to 1949. For a long time, they were the perennial number two or three, but they've been making moves. Owned by Nexstar, they’ve leaned heavily into the "Rochester First" branding.
They’re the ones who snagged some of the veteran energy when other stations were letting it go. It’s kinda funny how the market works. While 13 was losing legends, News 8 was steadying the ship. People like Eric Snitil have built a massive following by being, well, human. He’s the kind of guy who will explain the science of a "bomb cyclone" without making you feel like you failed high school physics.
A lot of viewers have actually switched over to channel 8 recently. Why? Because it feels a little less "corporate" than the Sinclair-run 13 or the family-owned but sometimes budget-looking WHEC.
News10NBC: The Small-Town Feel in a Mid-Sized Market
WHEC is the NBC affiliate, and they’ve always had a bit of a different vibe. Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting out of Minnesota, they’re one of the few stations left in the country owned by a family-run company rather than a massive media conglomerate.
Does it show? Sometimes.
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They have "Rochester's only live, local Doppler Radar," which they mention roughly every four seconds. It’s their thing. They lost Ginny Ryan a couple of years back—she was the heart and soul of that station for 35 years before moving into a communications role at Rochester Regional Health. Losing a face like hers is a gut punch to any station's ratings.
Currently, they’re leaning on people like Berkeley Brean, who is basically the investigative bulldog of the city. If there’s a story about a crooked landlord or a city hall mess, Berkeley is usually the one standing in a driveway with a microphone.
The Rise of the "Other" Options
Don't forget about Spectrum News 1. It’s cable-only (unless you have the app), but they have a distinct advantage: they never stop. It’s a 24-hour cycle. If a massive fire breaks out in the South Wedge at 2:00 a.m., Spectrum is usually the first one there because their whole model is "rolling news."
Then there’s WXXI. If you’re tired of the "if it bleeds, it leads" style of local news, WXXI is the intellectual sanctuary. It’s NPR-affiliated, deep-dive reporting. They don't have the flashy graphics or the "Breaking News" sirens, but they actually explain the why behind the school board meetings.
Why Your Favorite Reporters Keep Disappearing
You might notice a lot of "new faces" lately. It's not just you. The industry is in a weird spot.
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Local TV news used to be a destination career. Now, it’s often a stepping stone. Young reporters come in from Syracuse or Ithaca, work 70 hours a week for not much money, and then head to a bigger market like Buffalo, Cleveland, or even NYC after eighteen months.
It makes it hard to build a connection with the viewer. When you don't know the reporter's name, you care a little less about the story. That’s why the "lifers" like Glenn Johnson or Scott Hetsko are so valuable to these stations. They are the glue.
How to Actually Watch Local News in 2026
If you’ve cut the cord, you aren't stuck with a digital antenna (though Pinnacle Hill makes antenna reception pretty great in most of the county).
- 13WHAM streams via their website and the "Stirr" or "NewsON" apps.
- WROC (News 8) is heavy on the "RochesterFirst" app, which is actually one of the better-designed local news apps.
- WHEC (News 10) has their "News10+" streaming channel on Roku and Apple TV.
Actionable Steps for the Informed Rochesterian
If you want to stay actually informed without getting overwhelmed by the 11:00 p.m. doom-scrolling, here is how you should handle rochester tv news stations:
- Diversify your weather sources. Don't just rely on one app. Follow Scott Hetsko (13), Eric Snitil (8), and Glenn Johnson (10) on social media. When all three agree that a blizzard is coming, start shoveling.
- Use the streaming apps. You don't need a $100 cable bill. Download the NewsON app on your smart TV; it’s free and carries most of the local broadcasts live.
- Support local journalism. Whether it's the Democrat and Chronicle (owned by Gannett, which has its own issues) or the non-profit work at WXXI, local news only survives if people actually watch or read it.
- Check the "Investigative" segments. Instead of just watching the headlines, look for the "WHEC News10NBC Investigates" or "13WHAM On Your Side" segments. That’s where the real work happens that affects your taxes and safety.
The faces change, and the logos get updated, but the core of Rochester news stays the same: it’s about neighbors telling neighbors what’s happening. Whether you're a loyalist to channel 8, 10, or 13, you're part of a local tradition that's survived everything from the fall of Kodak to the rise of TikTok.