LCTV show celebrates Don Carrigan’s 50 years in broadcast business
Lincoln County Television is proud to present a one-hour special with legendary Maine broadcaster Don Carrigan on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m., on Spectrum/Tidewater 7 and LCTV.org.
“This November marks 50 years since Don started full-time as a reporter and broadcaster,” says Talkin’ Town Talk host and LCTV Executive Director Larry Sidelinger.
“Over the decades he’s covered everything from basketball games and horse races, to county fairs, commercial fishing, Maine farmers, and politics in Augusta and Washington, D.C. If it’s about Maine - the real Maine - Don has told the story. We thought people would like to hear more about it from him.”
A native of South Bristol, where he still lives, Carrigan believes that the key to his work is “chronicling the life and lives of the people where you live. You report on the life all around you.”
Carrigan’s career started during the summer of 1973, before his last semester at University of Maine - Orono, when he juggled three part-time media jobs. By the fall, he was working full-time for WLBZ-TV in Bangor, and eventually became the station’s news director over his 19 years there.
In the early 1990s, Carrigan worked for U.S. Senator Bill Cohen for three years and went on to work for Maine Public Broadcasting. During that part of his career, he covered every Maine Governor since Ken Curtis, and Maine politicians including Margaret Chase Smith, Bill Hathaway, George Mitchell, and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller.
The Aug. 5 show on LCTV includes guest appearances from Don’s colleagues at NewsCenter Maine where Don has worked since 2003, including Amanda Hill, Bill Green, Pat Callaghan, Rob Caldwell, and Kirk Cratty. Long-time Carrigan fans will appreciate a mention for Togus the Cat, his co-host for WCSH-TV winter weather reports.
“You’ll also want to tune in to hear how Don and his colleagues earned an Emmy by telling an ‘Only in Maine’ story about log-hauling vehicles invented 120 years ago,” says Sidelinger.
Currently, Carrigan reports with WCSH-TV’s “207” show, where he continues to tell stories that Mainers want to hear.
Tune in Aug. 5 to hear the whole story. The show will be available for On Demand viewing at LCTV.org and LCTV’s YouTube channel after the premiere.
Lincoln County Television broadcasts on Spectrum/Tidewater 7 and LCTV.org as Lincoln County’s non-profit public access community television station and media center. The station presents government meetings, educational programs, community events, and original weekly, monthly and special shows for Lincoln County residents of all ages.
Follow LCTV on Facebook and Instagram and LCTV.org.