Jessica Haslam watches the last Channel 56 newscast that isn't just a screaming copy of the Channel 7 newscast. Jack Hynes was there:

... "With bitter reflections we sign off for the last time ... we say goodnight and goodbye," Hynes said. ...

Josh Turiel in turn says farewell to Karen Marinella et al.:

... The Channel 56 newscast was our preferred one for many years - a little slower, more sober, and the staff consisted of primarily local people who had worked together for years. That's how I prefer my newscasts - not the usual MTV-paced stuff (Channel 7 was a pioneer in that regard, unfortunately). But my demographic isn't as relevant, and the trend is clear. ...

Hinghamweather videoed the last four minutes:

If you're a Web geek, you know that uber-stylin' Web 2.0 Web sites have three distinguishing characteristics: Big rounded boxes, big type (big is the new small) and gimcrackery effects that show off your mad JavaScript skills. In other words, something that looks like a control panel on the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Ladies and gentlemen: The all-new Channel 56 Web site. Check out those sleek rounded boxes with the big type! And see if you can beat the JavaScript as you race your cursor across the orange toolbar (ignore the yellow toolbar; it just has boring dropdown menus). All to get ready for the Channel 7-ized 10 p.m. news, which starts tomorrow:

Jesse Noyes reports that Channel 7 is making Matt Lorch the anchor of the 10 o'clock news on Channel 56 - which is of interest to people who just can't say "Lorch" often enough, if not Amy at Pasquinade.

Also, the new Gary LaPierre on WBZ is some guy from a New York station (who did grow up in Massachusetts, though).

Channel 4 finally admitted that CBS4Boston was stupid, announcing it's going to call itself WBZ again. John Daley notes:

Now that that's settled we learn that Channel 7 has been cleared to absorb Channel 56, which should add up to Channel 63. But I don't think that's how it works.

The City of Xebec's Demise remembers:

Channel 56, when it was still Channel 56, would put up a special title card between after-school cartoons every Friday the 13th, showing Fred Flintstone being alarmed by a black cat and wishing us kids a happy Ft13. Even way back then I felt oddly touched that they went through the effort. ...

Because WLVI is just too perfect. In any case:

Dan Kennedy ponders the growing ownership concentration among local TV stations:

... The Boston TV market isn't going to become any less local -- but it is about to get more concentrated and less diverse. That's bad news you're not likely to see on 7 or 56. ...

Great. That's just what we need. More of the same, frets Steve Garfield, who wants Channel 38 to bring back Ask the Manager.

Brian Kane recalls Channel 56 and Channel 38 back in the days when you still needed to adjust that silly round antenna to get them.

The owner of Channel 7 is buying Channel 56. First step, of course, is to lay off more than 100 employees. Second: Can the 10 o'clock news (but don't worry - you'll be able to watch Channel 7 news at 10 on 56).

Latest developments in this late-breaking story.

We go to Steadfast Correspondent for this live report:

... Although nothing has been confirmed, I am hearing that Sept. 8 will be the last broadcast of "The Ten O'Clock News" on WLVI-TV 56.

Once the only 10 p.m. newscast in Boston, the station's ratings have tanked over the past few years as Fox 25 News at 10 has blown them out of the water.

WVLI reportedly lost $750K last year on their news division. ...

Or maybe this is all wrong.

Listen up, all you Bob Gamere fans: WLVI's "Candlepins for Dollars" will air at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, starting on March 4. Frank Mallicoat will host the weekly pro-bowling show, to be taped at Pilgrim Lanes in Haverhill.

If you don't mind waiting for the download, you HAVE to see the promo, which shows a mutant smallball careening through the Big Dig and downtown Boston, smashing through landmarks everywhere (memo to whoever came up with this otherwise great video: Boston doesn't have electric commuter trains).

Via Mark Jurkowitz.

Your Big Dig commute just got a whole lot more exciting: