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You know, if it weren't for the rights being so blippin' expensive, I'd have suggested that the leagues would just give up on the RSNs and put the games on indie stations (including affiliates of MyNetworkTV, which is hardly a network at all by this point anyway) like the old days. As it stands currently, though, I think streaming services like YouTube, Amazon, or even ESPN+ are probably the most likely candidates to get those kinds of rights.

They need to cut their losses and put the teams on their apps (especially STIRR), and even consider putting some games back on their stations. This would be great synergy in markets where they not only have secondary stations that would benefit from airing live sports, but the rights to those teams from Fox Sports RSNs. Sooner or later they're going to have to address the "Fox Sports" issue...might as well kill it off sooner than later when the rights to the name expire. And why the hell do they still have the Tennis Channel?

People may hate me for saying this, but I'm now at the point of saying Sinclair should just shut down the RSNs (or perhaps consolidate to a few stronger ones) and move on. Obviously the fallout during COVID is not Sinclair's fault in the least, and unfortunately the lack of abundant sports programming right now is not helping matters. They should leverage their station portfolio by expanding their original content for the stations.

Unfortunately, the cost of airing sports is so expensive, that subscriber and retransmission fees are such an enormous factor as the cost of sports has shot through the roof. I was devastated when WUAB lost the Indians in 2001. But it was one of the last stations to do their own telecasts (with an increasing slate of Fox Sports games), and what else was to be expected when the Dolan Family bought the team from Dick Jacobs? Larry Dolan helped start STO in 2006, and they owned Cablevision. They ended up selling their Cleveland-area clusters to Adelphia, whose territory became part of TWC in their bankruptcy collapse. Sports just needs to break away and let those who want to pay for it get it. The system is broken and is long overdue for a reality check that COVID-19 has certainly helped with.

How was it a "big mistake" for the Royals to re-sign with FSKC? The team still gets paid its rights fees, even when providers drop the network. It's Sinclair and the rest of the ownership group taking all the risk regarding carriage. As for the Royals having their own RSN, been there done that. It lasted four years before going dark and signing with FSKC.

They didn't say they're going to use "8.1" on the UHF allotment. You cannot assume its going to be 8.1, because they haven't announce what virtual channel they're going to use. As long as they still own WFAA on RF 8, it's still going to be VC 8.1 on WFAA. It could be 8.4 or 8.8, etc., but it's too early to tell what VC they're going to use on the UHF once the KMPX deal is completed. Now Estrella's option agreement to get VHF 8 (and its just the VHF assets (antenna/transmitter, not WFAA's studio or programming), that transaction will come after the KMPX transaction is completed. And that option will last for five years after closing. And then once that option transaction get exercised and completed, you'll likely see a callsign and virtual channel swap. Post-Option Closing: WFAA - VC 8.1 - RF 30 - Decatur - Tegna - ID 73701 KMPX - VC 29.1 - RF 8 - Dallas - Estrella - ID 72054 So Tegna is paying Estrella to go on the UHF allotment, and the Option price for Estrella is $5M. So Estrella is essentially pocketing $14M to move to VHF (should they exercise on that option). This was similar to the KNSO/KGMC facility swap that happened earlier this year when Telemundo swap sticks with Cocola, getting Telemundo off VHF 11 to UHF 27.

The virtual MVPD business is dying. Sony pulled the plug on Playstation Vue. The remaining services are in a war of attrition, hiking rates and slashing content even as subscribers flee. Not offering the very content that subscribers have demonstrated a willingness to pay for is suicidal.

The sad part is that now your only options in order to get the RSNs now are either Hulu Live, DirecTV and the local cable companies. That's it. I'm afraid some of my early predictions of Sinclair collapsing may be becoming true all because of a disastorus acquisition. As we've seen with Tribune with all of the bad buys in the 2000s and 2010s, Meredith with Time, Inc and now Sinclair with the RSNs all it takes is one bad buy and it'll set down a path that will eventually lead towards a sale (I'll save it for Speculatron though) and we're seeing that happening with Sinclair. Whether you like Sinclair's politics or not its not the must runs or their political leanings that has doomed Sinclair (it may be part of it but not the whole reason for this) its the bad acquisition of the RSNs at a time where many people such as myself are cutting the cord is what's doomed Sinclair (on top of that Dish dropped them while Sinclair was in the process of closing its acquisitions of the RSNs). Sinclair needs to figure out quick to reinvent the RSNs or else they may be in serious trouble.

WJXT 1986 Eyewitness News WFMY News 2 1982 KSTW 10 o'clock News 1988 KLAS Channel 8 Eyewitness News 1991 KMOV 10pm News 1991 WAKR (WVPX) 23 Newsday 1980

He delivered his marks before late sports last night in the delayed 11 pm edition. He said he was looking forward returning to Chicago where he was born and lived, and the return to sister station WMAQ. He mentioned how exciting it was to first come to 30 Rock to work. He also mentioned that he would be back in the building on occasion as his kids grandddude works in the building. He also thanked Natalie in particular for the personal friendships and support as they have kids the same age - a toddler and infant and they will continue that over face time. Much more satisfying to the viewers than his barely mentioning it at the end of the 4 pm news.

I've seen Dan a few times on GMA Weekend and think he does a great job there. I'm more of a fan of the calm style delivery of news, but I'm guessing more people prefer the more urgent, "shouting" delivery of the news. At least Muir only does it for the opening headlines.

I think Rob Nelson was an amazing talent for a morning show. But, yes, Phil Lipof is great himself, too.

Actually I don't see the Nexstar NBC package coming to KFOR. I imagine that either KFOR is going to get the variant of the KOIN pkg that WKRN will be getting October 1 or, they may wait until the localized version of the Graphics that will be used on NewsNation starts to get rolled out to to the stations (and that'll be awhile before that happens)

I have to wonder what teams such as the Kansas City Royals was thinking when they reupped their contract with Fox Sports Kansas City? I have serious doubts the Royals were even aware of what I think was a mistake reupping with FSKC. Granted being a small market team it would be difficult for the Royals to start an RSN (at least by themselves) but they could've at least talked to Spectrum about launching an RSN of its own (with the Royals having some control over its network) or have a significant stake in Fox Sports Kansas City when they signed the deal with Sinclair. But from all indications they did nothing other than signing the deal to stay on FSKC for the foreseeable future and it's proving to be a big mistake for the Royals.