CircleSeven

The closings are happening before we say goodbye to 2020....... The Univision, WLII & WARZ transactions have been finalized.

In the last few Christmases I remember, they wouldn't even do a Christmas morning broadcast. So I'm surprised they did one today.

And here's it is. The FCC just greenlighted the Univision transaction.

KMGH didn't move frequencies. KMGH's main signal is still on RF 7. And of course their translator KZCO-LD (RF 30). But since Scripps bought KCDO & KSBS, they have added the 7.1 feed on KCDO (RF 23) & KSBS-CD (RF 19). But staying on topic, it appears that KWGN (RF 34) is the ATSC 3 test station carrying KWGN, KDVR, KMGH & KUSA main feeds. This explains why the ATSC 1 feed of KWGN is now on RF 36 (KDVR's RF ch.)

It has yet to be finalized. But it's pretty much a forgone conclusion......

Two new greenlights today. The WARZ-CD transaction to Capitol Broadcasting. And the Weigel acquisition of KAZD, KYAZ, KMOH (& KEJR-LD) from HC2 Holdings.

No it has nothing to do with the WWOR's NJ License. Even though "New Fox" & "News Corp." are two separate companies, both are still controlled by the Murdochs. When Pai eliminated the Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership (NBCO) rule (part of that dereg rule he had in 2017), the Murdochs didn't need to ask for a waiver. But when the Third Circuit vacated & remand Pai's dereg measure in the fall of 2019, it reinstated the NBCO rule, thus them asking for a permanent waiver this time. Even though it already had a permanent waiver to keep the Post & WNYW (since 1993), it didn't have one for The Post & WWOR, even though it granted them temporary waivers on three occasions (2001, 2006 & 2014). I guess the reason why they gave them this temp waiver this time, they're basically saying lets wait until the outcome of the media ownership case in the Supreme Court. So for example, if SCOTUS rule that the NBCO stays, then the temporary waiver will stay active for 180 days after ruling. If its the other way around and they rule NBCO no longer needed, then the Murdochs would keep Fox 5, My 9 & the Post. Pai could've easily granted them a permanent waiver. But I think he's banking on a Republican-controlled SCOTUS to rule in their favor so the court can put an end to the NBCO once and for all.

He's getting Ray Cortopassi's former slots (7-10am & 4pm).

Looking at the guides: It appears that the new KFVE (fka KSIX-TV) in Kona is airing the "K5" (KHNL-DT2) stream on 6.1. Telemundo (which was on 6.1) moved to 6.2. The listing also shows that Telemundo is simulcasted for the Oahu viewers on KHNL 13.6. Not sure when the KKAI-DT2 carriage of Telemundo ended.......

This petition has now advanced to an NPRM, the comment phase of this rulemaking process.

.....And now KSLA has the WMC pack.

WTVM, WVUE, KAIT, WFIE, KCBD, KSWO, KAUZ, KGMB/KHNL. WWNY also haven't switched (even though this was a United Comm. outlet).

New station with the WMC pack. KFYR. The station also switched their music to 615's High Velocity V.3.

Little follow up. The FCC greenlighted the WLII deal to Liberman on Thursday (12/10). This means that Univision acquisition by Searchlight Capital & ForgeLight Investors should be approved soon. The two firms would have majority interest in Univision. While Grupo Televisa will keep the remaining stake. The FTC appears to have cleared the deal earlier this week.

And the deal is done. Completed Tuesday (12/08).

Buried in the "Black Friday" dump, Gray filed two new PRMs, each asking for new allotments. VHF 9 in Freeport, IL UHF 26 in Eagle River, WI I went in detail on the proposed Freeport allotment in the Gray thread. I'll also mention (even though this was before the dump) that University of Missouri filed to move KOMU from VHF 8 to UHF 27.

So it appears that two more PRMs came up in the "Black Friday" dump. And these are petitions for two NEW allotments. Gray is proposing to have a new full power allotment on VHF 9 in Freeport, IL. This probably explains why Gray wants KCRG off of RF 9......... Just to follow up, Gray sold WIFR's former UHF allotment (RF 41) in the spectrum auction. And moved the channel to a low power signal (RF 28). And since then those viewers have complained about not receiving the new signal. They've also simulcasted its channel on Weigel's LP in Rockford (WFBN-LD 23.11). WIFR even mentioned about "applying for a new license" on their spectrum page. This proposed VHF allotment makes sense since that part of Illinois is mostly rural. And the signal is better for folks who have outdoor antennas on the roofs. Unlike in the urban areas with big buildings, the VHF signals (like WBBM on RF 12) don't penetrate well like UHF signals do. I wished WIFR would've chose to move to VHF-high, instead of deciding to channel share (which they ended up not doing). Okay, the other allotment is UHF 26 in Eagle River, WI. I'm sure this is for competitive reasons. Quincy's WAOW has a repeater in Eagle River (WYOW). And I guess WSAW may want one in the Northwoods as well.......

It's been greenlighted.

CBS News has appointed Adriana Diaz & Jericka Duncan as new anchors of the CBS Weekend News. Jericka will anchor Sundays from CBS HQ in New York City. She'll start this Sunday (12/6). Adriana will anchor Saturdays from the CBS News bureau in Chicago. She'll start the following Saturday (12/12).

This happened ten years ago tonight. That's when WPVI placed a circle around the now 53-year old "6" insignia. Vid courtesy of "ekt8750" from YT.

Update. This was quick as hell! The FCC has issued a Report & Order (R&O), effectively approving the channel changes to KARE (11 > 31), KGW (8 > 26) & KPNX (12 > 18). Now the stations will have 30 days to file a minor change application for a construction permit on their new allotments. I'm sure they'll be filing those promptly.

Okay, going back to the PRMs. I'm looking at the contours of both proposed changes of KECI & KTVM in Montana. Both are asking to change to RF 20. There's a portion where both signals will overlap. Would it be difficult for viewers getting either one of these signals, if both are on the same frequency? _______________ New Petition. KMYU in Utah wants to move from 9 to 21.

Already mention on the NewsNation thread but color me surprised....... Nexstar has struck a deal with YouTube TV to carry WGN America. The carriage will begin on January 19. Will they carry Channel 9 or those other locals streams as well? ___________________________ But here's the really big news. The FCC just greenlighted the WPIX deal to Mission.

This one is done. Completed Monday (11/30). WZME in Bridgeport, CT is the only NRJ station that's left......

Chairman Pai announced he will be leaving the agency on January 20.