CircleSeven

Gray is about to grow in Atlanta. Just two months after acquiring WGCL/WPCH from that transformative Meredith deal, Gray has struck a deal to acquire the Telemundo outlet WKTB-CD from Capital Media Group. The price was not disclosed in the article. But we will know once they file that paperwork..... EDIT 4:27pm/ET: And Lo and behold, the paperwork is up. $30M is the purchase price.

Some good news out of South Texas. Scripps is almost ready to light up KRIS 6's new UHF signal. The station has filed an STA to operate KRIS 6 on its new RF 26 allotment at 812kW (over 80% of its authorized power (1MW)). I wished they would've filed this last month, so they would've gotten approval and lit up in time for the Winter Olympics, which is already underway.....

Follow up. Allen completed the KIKU acquisition on Monday (1/31). Don't know when they'll get rid of the endless infomercials they currently air. But the sooner they get that new programming on air, the better...

A big departure out of NOLA. Longtime WWL anchor Karen Swensen is "retiring from local news" at the end of the Febuary books period.

A couple of notes. One R&O. WYMT (12 > 20) Also...... So follow up to this. The FCC has granted the State of Alaska a waiver of the the tolling rules and have extended the construction deadline for those 15 translators in the rural communities until July 11, 2022. The reasoning is given the state's climate and short construction period (during the summer months), and also needing more time to replace outdated equipment (and its not just the transmitter). I have a feeling they might have to extend that date again in the future.

WABC's President & General Manager Chad Matthews has been appointed as new President of the ABC Owned Television Stations. No word on who'll replace Matthews as GM of Channel 7.

New NPRM. NCE Ch. 4, Vernon, Alabama. Back in November, the Alabama Educational Television Commission filed a petition for a new non-commercial allotment in Vernon, AL

Small follow-up. KSWO announced earlier this month that they have lit up a new transmitter in Lawton. So they've likely have lit up K31MK-D. Also on the article, they've announced that they're going to have "stronger signals" in Altus & Wichita Falls. About that Wichita Falls signal, last year, Gray bought an unbuilt permit, K19KE-D in Jolly, TX from that Landover Media deal. The contour serves the immediate Wichita Falls area. No word on when they'll light that up. The Altus one is not new (KKTM-LP), as the station has had that repeater for years. They're switching RF channels from 17 to 21. So once is said and done, KSWO will have three big translators in those key-populated areas in the market.

Okay Gray is getting another LP. This time its near Huntsville. They're getting Huntsville's WMJN-LD from Emmanuel Broadcasting for $330K. As you can see WMJN & WAFF's contours, the LP serves the southwest part of the viewing area, including the immediate part of Huntsville. Not sure it this signal would be moved post-consummation. But what's the point in having this LP when WAFF's main signal is already on the UHF dial (RF 15)? Unless that part of the viewing can't get WAFF's main signal.....

Variety states that former ABC News & MSNBC anchor Kendis Gibson will be the new morning & noon anchor at WFOR, the CBS O&O in Miami. No word on when he'll start this new endeavor.

....And now Block has pulled its signals from Dish Network.

Your statement is clear speculation because Gray didn't officially announce what they're going to use that LP for that purpose. On Page 13 of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the last sentence in that page stated this. So its clear that it will repeat programming from WJHG. What we don't know is whether this LP will stay at the current tower facility or move it to WJHG's tower (which is shared with WECP-LD).

And more LP-picking. This time, near Panama City. They're getting W31EP-D from Innovative Media Technologies, Inc. for $75K. Currently, the contour for that LP primarily serves Panama City Beach and areas east of Laguna Beach. Not sure what Gray would use it for, since it already has a larger LP in WECP-LD.

Big departure coming to D.C. Longtime WTTG Meteorologist Sue Palka is retiring on March 23 after over 36 years at channel 5. She stated that while she's retiring from her weather duties, she could still be involved in some feature reporting & some live events from time to time.

Two more R&Os for Gray's newest west coast outlets. KVVU (9 > 24) KPTV (12 > 21)

Sinclair has renewed affiliation agreements with Fox & NBC in 30 markets.

Two R&Os. One NPRM. R&O: KNOE (8 > 24) RF 9 NCE, Fort Bragg, CA NPRM: WNYT (12 > 21)

Gray is fetching another LP just south of Nashville. They're getting Lewisburg's WFET-LD (formerly W29DM-D) from Lora Bailey for $125K. This feels like WOIO. Getting the LPs in these hard to reach places. Or areas where they can't receive the main signal.

So follow up. Weigel has now completed the WJLP deal, as of today (1/7).

No one should be really surprised. For the last several years it seems that the network's goal is for the affiliate to air their daytime show on its recommended timeslot. Look at all of those stations that use to carry Y&R at 4pm prior to a few years ago (i.e. KMOV, WAFB).

Gray continues to pack those LPs. They're snagging 24 more LPs from Winemiller's Lowcountry Media for $3.75M. The one that I'm eyeing is the W35ED-D Florence. This is somewhat big because ever since WMBF launched over 13 years ago, its main signal doesn't reach Florence. Here the contour of both signals (WMBF & W35ED). Having a Florence LP would be a big plus for those Pee Dee residence who want to see NBC programming without relying on cable.

There's no limit in terms of how many HD channels you have. There are some that carry three HD streams (some are Gray stations, i.e. KCRG). As long as the stations don't go over the bandwidth limit of 19.4MB for ATSC 1 signals. Not sure what the limit is on ATSC 3 signals.

I should also point out regarding the W29FR. Its antenna/transmitter resides at the former WJFB facility near Lebanon (which Weigel moved it to the immediate part of the area earlier this year). I wouldn't be surprised if Gray moves it closer to the city (possibly WSMV's tower), should it gets the greenlight. It appears Gray is not done. They're snagging six more LPs from DTV America for $210K. W29FP-D Montgomery, AL W18FA-D Gainesville, FL W19EX-D Gainesville, FL W17EL-D Ocala, FL W36FL-D Athens, GA W24OD-D New Bern, NC Don't know why they need three transmitters near Gainesville. But the Athens one is probably for competitive reasons. WGCL's rival WSB has a fill in translator in Athens (RF 17).

A small M&A. Gray is LP-picking again. They're grabbing six more LPs from Lowcountry Media for $1.165M. K19MZ-D Arriba, CO K32OG-D Pueblo, CO W19FA-D Bangor, ME W36FM-D Etna, ME W31FD-D Beaufort, SC W29FR-D Lebanon-Nashville, TN Interesting note about W19FA one. The allotment on RF 19 was formerly occupied by WABI before it moved back to VHF.

Scripps has filed petitions to switch all six Montana (MTN) stations to UHF. KBZK (13 > 27) KPAX (7 > 25) KRTV (7 > 22) KTVH (12 > 31) KTVQ (10 > 20) KXLF (5 > 15) I don't think I'm much of a fan of switching in these mountainous areas in which most of those households have outdoor antennas, which works well with VHF.