NBC 10 WJAR has its roots in The Outlet Company, a department store started in 1894 by Joseph and Leon Samuels. Located in downtown Providence, R.I., the Outlet Department Store expanded rapidly, selling clothing and accessories at discount prices.

In 1922 the company went on the air with WJAR radio, and in 1949 WJAR-TV became Rhode Island's first television station.



Over the next 30 years, the Outlet Company acquired additional television stations throughout the country. In November of 1980, the department store, which had grown to occupy an entire city block in downtown Providence, was sold. Outlet Communications was now solely involved in commercial broadcasting.


WJAR was purchased by NBC in February 1996 and was one of 14 stations owned and operated by the network for 10 years.


NBC 10 marked another milestone in its long history with the beginning of digital broadcasts in April 2004. WJAR-DT broadcasts on channel 51. The station's digital signal is also available to Cox Cable high-definition subscribers on channel 700.

NBC Universal announced in April 2006 that it was selling NBC 10 and three other stations to Virginia-based Media General. The acquisition was completed on June 26, 2006. The station continues to be the leader in news and information for Southern New England.