CircleSeven

Did KRIS 6 switch yet?

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?

Jersey Matters hosted by former news anchor Larry Mendte. It airs twice on the weekends. WDPN also carries it.

WOW! This could be Weigel's biggest acquisition yet (in terms of price)...... They're acquiring PMCM's WJLP for $62.5M! The deal also includes NYC LP outlet WNWT-LD. So PMCM has now sold both of its TV stations. WDPN was sold to Marantha Broadcasting (owners of WFMZ) in 2015 for $25M.

Update. Seems that Vaughan has withdrawn the application. Don't know why that it. EDIT: I just thought of this just now. Remember when Sinclair started shifting the networks around earlier this year? They moved Fox to the sub of WKEF. That probably made WRGT a non top-4 station and WBDT the new 4th ranked station.

The Tegna signals could be blacked out on Dish Network on Wednesday.

New PRM. Another Gray station wants to get off of VHF. KKCO wants to move from VHF 12 to UHF 30.

So Dakota News Now continues is fulfillment of expanding newscasts by adding weekend morning shows. It was launched a couple of weeks back (9/18). To not compete with KELOland, their shows are aired on the late morning hour at 9am. It airs on KSFY on Saturdays after the 2nd hour of Good Morning America; and on KDLT on Sundays after Meet The Press.

Happy October. New M&A. Weigel is snagging another CA station. They're getting Bishop's KVME from Venture Technologies (Bellagio Broadcasting) for $4M. This comes after Weigel bought three other Venture stations in the LA market last month.

"First Alert" for a news brand........ The question is why?

New M&A. Looks like Byron Allen is grabbing another TV station in Hawaii. Allen Media is acquiring Honolulu station KIKU from RNN National for $4M. Remember last year, the station acquired ABC outlet KITV 4 from SJL Broadcasting for $30M.

KPIX airs EN at 6:30pm. I sure they'll keep that airing. And KABC (in LA) airs WNT @ 6:30 (KGO @ 5:30).

Two PRMs (KNOE & WYMT) have advanced to NPRM. I really thought the WYMT one would be the hold up petition giving that they're roughly close to Cincinnati's WLWT (which serves northern Kentucky) whose also on RF 20. Look at the two contours here. _________________________________ There is a hold up, however regarding Medford Oregon's KTVL move from VHF 10 to UHF 16. A religious broadcaster theDove Media (the owner of LP station KDSO-LD, which currently occupies on RF 16) filed comments against KTVL's move to their allotment. They say it would "lose" its "unique voice" in the market if the LP gets displaced, and that CBS would be lost to about 9,000 people should the channel move occurs. What's even more shocking is that they even written a "counterproposal" to have a "new" full power signal on RF 16. KTVL wrote a reply to their comments stating that if they want a full power signal, there are five other vacant UHF allotments they can file a petition for. Listen, I understand that theDove wants to stay on RF 16 and not want a big CBS affiliate taking their allotment or whatever. But here's the problem. theDove doesn't have any standing. LPs & translators don't get protection over their allotments (Class A LPs DO get protection, but KDSO-LD is not a Class A). So if a full power wants to occupy on an allotment an LP is currently in, they can do so. That means the LP has to find a new allotment to go to. So I think in the end, the FCC is going to greenlight KTVL's UHF switch, and put theDove's "counterproposal" to bed.

So we now know what they'll be using WLFM-LD for. WOIO will be launching a new Telemundo affiliate for Northeast Ohio with new callsign "WTCL", beginning January 1st. Still hope they can repeat WOIO on a sub (19.10) on that stick for those in-city folk who can't get 19 on RF 10.

I just watched a news piece on a closing of a well-known Wendy's at "Dave Thomas Circle". And I'm shocked to see WRC still using the 2016 gfx post-Olympics. You would think they would've switched like the rest of the group before the games......

Okay. The Tegna sale talk is in this thread in the Speculatron.

They also use that version for Nightline. Oh, so I see 20/20 with the "regular" on-screen bug. Why can't they just be consistent with what they use?