He was credited with being an innovator in the television news industry, breaking away from the conventional mold that had been used by other independent stations.

[1][5] WCKT changed its call letters to WSVN in 1983, and at the end of 1988, WSVN lost its affiliation with NBC and Ansin, after rebuking then CBS chairman Laurence Tisch's offer to purchase the station,[5] found himself without network affiliation.

He shortened the time spent on individual news stories, relied heavily on video and audio effects, and emphasized "on-the-spot" reporting.

[7] Ansin was the only person who has received the United Way's Alexis de Tocqueville Award for philanthropy in three different cities.

[2] Ansin and his brother Ron, former Massachusetts commerce commissioner, donated $2.6 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston and their Youth Service Providers Network.

[12] The Sunbeam Television broadcast operations are expected to continue within the Ansin family, led by Andrew and James.