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If only the people who think they know everything knew who's actually commenting on this thread.

As if we needed more reasons to loathe Jeff Zucker and what he's done to two networks, as well as our society and daily lives, Rolling Stone pretty much confirms it all, and then some... https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/jeff-zucker-cnn-resign-affair-cuomo-trump-1319698/ It's just my opinion, but this man should never be entrusted with anything, or anyone, ever again.

Lead In. We know that in major markets that CBS is not first with even local newscasts (we have data for Chicago, Minnesota, et al on another thread) We can assume that CBS is not winning in other major markets (NYC, LA, DFW, the list goes on) and that does not help. Even in markets where CBS does well with news (WCCO, for example says they have #1 from 5-7 Central) the viewer is a creature of habit- what stops them from switching to GMA or Today at 7am?CBS not only needs to provide quality programming but also burdened with providing such good programming that the viewer breaks their normal habits. Same sentiment translates to CBSEN.

Another question, should they dump Norah, do they move back to NY ,and do they go outside the bench and snap up someone from the O&Os or someone from the national cable news nets

I get your point here but CBS has been the #3 evening newscast since the mid-1980s shortly after Dan Rather (undoubtedly a recognizable star) took the helm. I certainly don’t think Scott Pelley “sucked” and the network having been in the same spot it’s been in for 40 years is not an indication of one anchor sucking, more so that the network itself has failed to captivate audiences.

Heads up: The link above is broken because..."copy of Currents News V2" isn't great for SEO? Anyway, some context here: The client was presented with two "draft" looks to go into production - and that's the one that was chosen. It is what it is.

to be fair, there were two WBKBs in Chicago and the first ultimately wound up on channel 2 lmao Graham, Hearst and Hubbard have not participated in this M&A mayhem because they are diversified entities. I do believe that within 1-3 years, all three will be selling their TV chains outright.

It's only more accessible if you get TV over-the-air and your remote only has arrow buttons -- or your TV has an actual dial. Other than that, I get the feeling you have something against WCNC... I'm sure Graham, Hearst, and Scripps would dispute your characterization of them as "dead-end owners".

Careful what you wish for. This ain't your daddy's Cox. I should reword that.

I see station divestments...but I also see the possibility of situations such as WTLV getting ABC on DT2, WJAX hosting Fox on DT2, and then WJXX/WFOX sold off to 'minority/women ownership' KNHL-style with their 'owner' as a figurehead and their programming being contractually non-competitive. How the FCC hasn't addressed that station purchasing strategy by now after Sinclair started shifting affiliations from their sidecars...this deal is a regulatory mess that needs to set case law precedent.

FOX 5 will still be #2 and WSB will still be #1 WXIA will still be #3 until WGCL passes them up. WAGA's philosophy has been what's WSB doing? How are they covering the story? Let try to out do them? Despite Cox/Apollo deal one thing for sure they can screw up any station, but not the mothership WSB-TV. FOX doesn't want WHBQ and there was a reason why they got sold. FOX didn't do much investment into WHBQ.

I'm staying out of the hypotheticals, at least in this thread (any such belongs in Speculatron). This is, however, a terrible deal for all parties. For those at any stations involving these parties, it is a good time to update resumes. There will likely be a lot of carnage afterward.

Apollo needs to not have ANY stake in the new iteration of Tegna, and if that needs to be accomplished with further trades of Tegna stations to Apollo to recoup the balance of Apollo's planned stake, then so be it. Otherwise it'll be rejected on its face. For perspective, the Dumont Network died in part because the FCC considered them and KTLA and WBKB/2 Chicago to be co-owned because Paramount Studios (which owned both, neither of which were ever Dumont affiliates!) had a minority stake in Dumont. Thus, Dumont couldn't purchase any more O&Os when they desperately needed to.

Correct, that should on its own be a black eye. At a minimum, they need to divest (to an independent buyer) the markets that both are in - namely Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Memphis and Seattle - to an independent buyer not already in those markets. This has Sinclair-Tribune written all over it.

Well, yes. But if the FCC does approve it, it should be with a requirement to divest stations in (going off the top of my head) Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Seattle.

Well, let's hope the FCC at least requires divestitures in markets where both Cox and Tegna have stations.

Standard General can't afford to buy Tegna on their own, so Apollo is allegedly a silent partner with no voting stock (*SNERK*). These station trades are proof of this; Apollo and Standard are simply picking the company apart just to buy it. Nevermind that Byron Allen offered significantly more for Tegna and was rejected.

It's very puzzling.

I can absolutely see Hilton Howell hiring Dave Lougee the second Soo throws him overboard.

In Atlanta, I'm sure there are a lot of happy faces at Fox 5.

The marketplace has clearly collapsed when two private equity vultures are attempting to pick apart a company too big to fail like this. It's an atrocious deal that'll set back local news in a time when they can't afford to. Soo Kim and Apollo are buying Tegna merely to gut it, starve it, then break it up.

There aren't conflicts as Cox Media Group and Standard Media Group are not merging into one company. Yes, it is a bit muddy consider that Apollo will be a banker for each (a non-voting, non-controlling part in the case of Standard General which is the private equity firm that owns Standard Media Group). Since technically CMG and SMG are two separate broadcasting companies there's no need to spin anything off at this time. So in Atlanta CMG will continue to own WSB while Standard will own WXIA/WATL. Interestingly enough there are some swaps in this deal. They don't seem to be included to jump over regulatory hurdles so I find them curious. Cox Media Group acquires Tegna's major market stations in Texas Standard Media Group acquires WFXT Boston CMG acquires current SMG stations WLNE Providence, KLKN Lincoln, KBSI Cape Girardeau, and WDKA Paducah And at least one division will be spun off. Premion, Tegna's OTT sales arm, will become a stand-alone company.

I'm surprised there wasn't more in addition to this. There are still conflicts in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Seattle, and others.

Weigel doesn’t need to buy the station if they’re able to get H&I, Movies! and Decades cleared. And they’d be the only one capable of buying the station if they wanted.

Sad news from former WJKS (WCWJ) news and sports anchor Glen Fisher. It was on WJKS-TV Facebook fanpage that former WJKS, ESPN, FOX Regional Sports, and KCAL 9 sports anchor Alan Massengale had passed away today. Alan's wife, Elizabeth posted on her Facebook page said that Alan had a bad fall this morning which caused a severe brain bleed, and he was put on full life support. Alan's wife and her three adult children made the difficult decision to not have him suffer. Prayers and condolences go out to The Massengale Family in this exceedingly difficult time. UPDATE: Alan Massengale's bad fall/severe brain bleed was the result of his death due to his battle with colon cancer.