Mark Zinni Has Left WFSB After 12 Years

The long-time anchor announced his departure from the Hartford-based station following a decade-plus tenure.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Jobs — General

Empty modern broadcast news desk in a professional television studio with acoustic wall panels. — Mark Zinni has departed WFSB in Hartford after a 12-year tenure, leaving a significant vacancy in the station's evening broadcast lineup. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Mark Zinni has officially departed WFSB after serving as an anchor for Eyewitness News for 12 years. The news follows a period of speculation after the broadcaster removed his profile from the station website in August 2026.

Why it matters

Zinni was a prominent fixture on local airwaves, anchoring the 5, 6, and 11 p.m. broadcasts for the station. His exit marks a significant change in the broadcast lineup for Hartford-area viewers.

Zinni spent 12 years with the station and previously took a two-month leave of absence from the airwaves starting around Labor Day 2025.

The players

Mark Zinni

He is a veteran broadcast journalist who anchored the 5, 6, and 11 p.m. news programs for WFSB in Hartford.

WFSB

This is a prominent television station based in Hartford that serves the Connecticut broadcast region.

The details

Mark Zinni confirmed his exit from the network via a social media post on October 8, 2026. This announcement followed the removal of his professional profile from the WFSB website in August 2026.

September 2025: Zinni began a two-month absence from airwaves.
August 2026: Zinni's profile was removed from the WFSB website.
October 2026: Zinni officially left the station.
October 8, 2026: Zinni announced his departure on Facebook.

Market Landscape

The departure of a long-standing anchor reflects a broader shift in local newsrooms as stations adapt to changing viewer habits and evolving broadcast teams. This move positions the station to potentially restructure its flagship evening news programs as it navigates a competitive media landscape.

Viewers who rely on the 5, 6, and 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcasts will see changes to the anchor lineup. Regular viewers should monitor the station's evening programming to see how the team structure evolves following this staff change.

The takeaway

Zinni leaves behind a 12-year legacy at the station, representing a notable transition for local broadcast news. Audience members often develop strong familiarity with long-time anchors, making such personnel shifts a significant event for local daily viewing habits.