CircleSeven

A couple of M&A approvals today. The KTNL deal in Sitka, AK to Ketchikan Television. The KASA deal (along with the plethora of LPs & translators in NM) to NBC/Telemundo. .....and they got it. Deal completed today (9/15).

OMG! Giorgio Moroder's Chase as a news open. Wow!

Follow up. The FCC has greenlighted the Lotus acquisition today (9/10). This approval comes with a condition: So close this deal by three weeks from now (10/1). Or you won't be able to until after the FCC renews your license. I've never seen this kind of stipulation before.....

It is difficult to find a vacant channel that wouldn't cause intereference with stations on the same allotment in adjacent markets. Especially when you live in the Northeast quadrant of the country where the use of the TV spectrum is extremely high (even post-repack). Also, you have these Class A LPs that are protected from being displaced from their allotments (unlike the regular LPs and translators). Most of the channel changes have happened in roughly smaller markets in the South, Midwest & West where they're not using that much spectrum. I was shocked to see WRGB found a channel given that heavy spectrum use in that part of the country. Take for example, RF 20 in Cleveland (where LP station WLFM-LD occupies, the one Gray just bought). If they want a full power allotment on RF 20, the FCC wouldn't allow it because it would greatly interfere with that Sinclair station in Pittsburgh (WPGH 53, also on 20) and that PBS outlet in Detroit (WTVS 56, also on 20). Here's the contours of the three stations (the LP, and the two full powers) I'm talking about. I'm not saying don't give up hope. I'm also not saying to hold your breath either. This is why you see Gray gobbling up on these unbuilt LP-permits and some operating LPs. I'm hoping they'll light some of these up and not let it sit and let the permits expire. __________________________________________________ Anywho, we have a new M&A. Weigel is getting more LPs. They're buying four Class A LPs (three from SoCal and one in VA, west of DC) from Venture Technologies for $17M. KHTV-CD & KSFV-CD Los Angeles for $7M. KPOM-CD Ontario, CA for $7M. WAZT-CD Woodstock, VA $3M. KPOM shares spectrum with KSFV; while KHTV shares spectrum with already-owned KAZA-TV. And let me also mention that Weigel has completed the WZME sale from NRJ TV on 8/31. Also, another M&A from last month. Scripps bought a couple of LPs-permits from Mako Communications for $70K. K32OR-D Palm Springs, CA W33EP-D Key West, FL Also, Nexstar has gotten the FCC greenlight of the KGBT deal. So it'll be a legal duopoly with KVEO once its closes. And finally, KSNB received its construction permit for its RF 24 York allotment. The Federal Register posted the final rule eight days after the R&O was posted (8/31). And received the permit three days after that (9/2). That was fast. Should the installation of the KOLN tower be completed, this would be the first time all big-4 network stations (based out of Lincoln and on its primary .1 signals) would be easily reachable in the capital city. That includes KLKN (ABC) & KFXL (Fox).

That change happened this week. Feder first reported on the change last month. LMAD & Drew Barrymore switched slots, with Drew moving to 9am.

Dale Hansen signed off one final time on WFAA tonight. But the opening of tonight's 10pm got me. They reenacted the 'Taxi' promo he did when he left KDFW 4 for Channel 8 over 38 years ago. And they brought in longtime VO guy John B. Wells to drive the Taxi. Videos Courtesy of WFAA's YT page.

I'm glad the O&O's are pulling from the "oversized" standard the network is pushing.

New PRMs today. Gray has filed four new petitions to get them off of VHF. KMVT (11 > 16) KNOE (8 > 24) KSCW (12 > 28) WYMT (12 > 20)

Gray is LP-picking again. This time, its in Richmond. They're acquiring WRID-LD from Daystar (Word of God Fellowship) for $630K. I don't see this being more than a UHF repeater to WWBT & WUPV (since they're on RF 10 & 8, respectively).

There's an amendment regarding one of the petitions. Dominion Broadcasting's WLMB Toledo proposed to move from VHF 5 to UHF 35. It was advanced to NPRM on March 4. But it appears to be a complaint north of the border (don't know if CRTC or Global TV complained). The Canadians feared that WLMB's new signal could interfere with Sarnia-Oil Springs, ON Global affiliate CIII-29, which operates on the same allotment (RF 35). Here's the contours of both signals (WLMB new signal & the CIII-29's). So, WLMB has amended its petition to swap its antenna from an omni-directional to a directional one. But it appears that they want to stay on RF 35. Don't know if this would remedy the Canadian's interference concerns. The contours don't look much different.

Two R&Os. KCWX (5 > 8.) with six DTS signals. KSNB (4 > 24, Superior > York). This is really good news for the Nebraska station, as they're already in process of building the new KOLN tower at Beaver Crossing.

KFVS has a different graphic pack than WSAZ (I believe that's what you meant) and WXIX.

ESPN has filled one of Maria's former slots. Holly Rowe has been appointed as new sideline reporter for Saturday Night Football.

New petition today. WNYT wants to vacate VHF 12 for UHF 21.

That ended when Dr. Phil moved from WMAQ to WBBM.

I strongly doubt you'll see WYTV or KTKA going to Nexstar proper, given both are within the top-4 in their respective markets. They could exercise the option and then reassign them to Mission, like they've done with the other former sidecars (Shield, Tamer, etc.) On the other hand, KNVA (like WBDT) is not in the top-4. And because of the Pai Dereg Rule eliminating the eight-voice test, Nexstar could easily acquire KNVA outright. Also to keep in mind the FCC still treats KBVO Llano as a "satellite" of KXAN (even though it airs different programming).

New M&A. Nexstar want to exercise its option to acquire outright Vaughan's WBDT. It already owns NBC outlet WDTN.

That's it? That's a stale lineup if they're going to air it for the entire 7 days. You would think they would air something different, or at least move the shows around a bit on the weekend.

A small M&A. Weigel gets another LP. They're acquiring Marshalltown, IA KDAO-CD from MTN Broadcasting for $195K. Two things come to mind. One, their signal only serves the immediate Marshalltown area which is northeast of Des Moines. So I wouldn't be surprised if Weigel moves it closer to the capital city, should this deal be completed. Another thing is that Weigel is getting another LP, in the same city where the Hearst station (KCCI) carries their crown jewel MeTV. They also bought an unbuilt LP-permit (in one of the HC2 deals) near Orlando, where another Hearst station (WESH) carry MeTV. Hearst has been one of strongest groups to carry the network. And it would be a shame if it gets moved off of full power signal for the LP. I'm hoping they add the other networks on the LP and keep MeTV on Channel 8.

Hoping they'll turn this into an in-city translator viewers can get, without relying on that problematic VHF signal.

One NPRM. One R&O. NPRM: KVVU (9 > 24) R&O: Channel 26 Eagle River

Fox 29 does this "Sports in a Minute", which is nothing more than a taped sports segment during Good Day.

It's official. Maria Taylor joins NBC Sports. From the release:

New PRM. Gray wants Presque Isle, ME's WAGM off of VHF 8 and move to UHF 28. This is very interesting because, their close sister station to the south of them (WABI) is on the VHF dial (RF 13). Their former owners moved them off of UHF (RF 19) a decade ago. Could this be reversed in the future? ______________________________ Also, this the probably the first time I've seen a break up of a channel sharing arrangement. Telemundo O&O in Providence WRIW, has ended its CSA with Scripps' Ion O&O WPXQ. The station is now off the air, as they try to find a new channel to share with.

Tom Koch's replacement on 13...........