CircleSeven

New Retrans scuffle. Its Disney and YouTube TV. The mouse is reminding its viewers that it could lose its networks (including ABC & ESPN) before midnight Friday, if a deal is not reached.

This needs to be said. Despite being the new chief, Conklin is staying in his morning shift. So no word on who will take Thomas's evening slots.

Gray has filed two new petitions today. Both are in the Lone Star. KOSA (7 > 31) KTRE (9 > 24)

And just a day after they filed that request in Iowa, the FCC granted it. Also, Weigel has completed the California & DC transactions (KHTV/KSFV, KPOM, KVME & WAZT) on 12/1.

A big departure in Jacksonville. Longtime WTLV/WJXX reporter from Ken Amaro is retiring after over 42 years at the station. The station gave him a big sign-off on Wednesday.

They should've waited until after tomorrow..... Unless the Meredith stations have a different end date.

And just like that, the FCC has greenlighted this Black Hills expansion.

Seems that they've switched to the similar graphic pack WAVE 3 received.

Gray is removing its stations from NewsON at the end of the year. They will continue to stream on Syncbak's VUit.

And speaking of the devil, the LP (now known as KDIT-CD) filed to move its signal closer to Des Moines. Surprisingly, Weigel had to file a request so they can move to the proposed facility (Alleman). Because earlier this month, the FCC placed a condition on the license to cover grant that they had to operate its signal continously for a twelve-month period at their current facility (Baxter).

Former WJLA chief meteorologist Doug Hill passed away suddenly in NC yesterday.

It wasn't really Gray's fault. It was owners of KCPM that kept the station off the air all that time. I wouldn't be all that shocked if Gray try to bid for that allotment again. Also, do they want to bid for Aberdeen again (KABY)? WNYS was suppose to move to RF 15 in the repack. That was before Apollo turned-in that license. There also a few that were occupied by the late Jim Rogers' Intermountain West Communications group. Including two (Ely, NV & Jackson, WY) that those stations were later moved to the east coast. Initially, the FCC didn't want KVNV & KJWY to be moved, but the courts gotten involved and reversed their decision. ____________________________________________________________ Some good news in the Cornhusker State. For the first time since the tower collapse almost two years ago, KOLN has now lit up RF 10. This STA message stated that it was lit up last Thursday (11/18). The station has informed its viewers to rescan their TVs after 10am tomorrow (11/23). No word on when KSNB's UHF 24 signal will be up and running yet.

So big follow up regarding two new allotments (Ch. 9 Freeport, IL & Ch. 26 Eagle River, WI). The two are a part of 27 construction permits of full power television stations that'll be up for auction, which is tentatively scheduled to begin next June.

With all of that "updating" and "refreshing", you would think they would have a brand new studio set........

This would be the second time Channel 11 went 4am. First time was between September 2010 to June 2014.

A small M&A. Weigel is getting another LP. It's buying Bartow, FL's W14DQ-D for $100K. The LP has a permit to move it closer to Orlando on VHF-low RF 3.

A few weeks back, KOTA switched to the overused WMC pack. While sister KEVN switched to the WCTV pack. Videos courtesy of "Studio 7 Media Archive"'s YT page. Video courtesy of "DADOSUPERMARIO 2" from YT.

This is yet another attempt for Gray to have an in-city translator for those viewers in Shelby County who are unable to receive WMC's VHF 5 signal. Earlier this year, WYMP filed an app to move the LP closer to the city. Last summer, WMC filed an app for a fill-in translator on RF 14 (despite the FCC placing a hard freeze on new DRTs a decade ago). Then last November (the Black Friday dump), they filed that petition to get the full power off of VHF 5 and move it to UHF 30. As of now (10/29), the FCC has yet to act on either one of these measures.

It only took nine months, but Rosenworcel has now been appointed as permanent chair of the FCC. Gigi Sohn will take the vacant commissioner's seat.

So a new M&A. Gray is acquiring another LP. Gray is buying this LP WYMP-LD in Bryce, MS from 5GTV, LLC for $500K. Now I was thinking why would they want an LP close to Tupelo when they don't have a full power signal in that market? As I was looking at RabbitEars, WYMP applied to move the RF 14 signal closer to Memphis. Back in September of last year, I'd explained about WMC applying for a digital replacement translator on RF 14. Since FCC had placed a permanent freeze on new fill-in translators, the station asked for a "waiver" to get approval. As of today, the FCC hasn't acted on this application. So I guess they're new approach is to buy an already-established LP, so they can move it closer to Memphis and light it up as an in-city translator of WMC. Also this need to be mentioned, too. Back last November, WMC filed a petition to move its full-power signal from VHF 5 for UHF 30. And almost 11 months later, this petition has yet to be acted on.

You must not have seen my previous post above. Almost for certain those radio simulcasts (from the incumbent owner) will likely see the ax once Weigel completes the deal.

WTVM's new graphics in action. This was last from last Sunday. Vid courtesy of "Studio 7"'s YT page.

So just in time for the November books in the Twin Cities. This coming Wednesday (10/20), KARE 11 will turn off VHF 11 and light up UHF 31.

New M&A from Gray. Remember back during the Schurz deal six years ago, Gray divested what was "KOTA" to a female-ran broadcaster? Now Gray wants that station. It is acquiring MeTV outlet KHME/KQME from Legacy Broadcasting for $500K. Pai's dereg order eliminated the Eight Voice Test. So it can easily acquire a non top-4 outlet. They say that "the new" KOTA (formerly KEVN) is ranked #1, and KHME is not in the top-4. I should also point out the only other Legacy outlet is KMLU in northern Louisiana. Could they be snagging that too?

Didn't they drop it some weeks back?