Under new ownership, WJLA-TV takes a slight turn to the right

There’s a new owner and a new approach to the news at WJLA-TV, Washington’s ABC affiliate. Under the direction of its ambitious corporate parent, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station’s news operations have taken a subtle but noticeable turn to the right.

In July, Sinclair received federal approval of its $985 million purchase of WJLA, its sister cable news station, NewsChannel 8, and six other stations owned by Allbritton Communications. Allbritton, which continues to own Politico , had operated WJLA for 40 years. Since completing the acquisition, Sinclair has moved swiftly to remodel WJLA, by far the largest and most important asset in the company’s rapidly expanding portfolio. The company has spent $2.8 billion over the past three years to buy stations, and now owns or operates 164 of them, making it the largest station operator in the nation.