CircleSeven

Good!! I dunno how many folks watches Jeopardy on that early 11am timeslot, after TPIR. But kudos to KTVT for returning the midday news. Follow-Up on the WCWG/Lockwood deal. The FCC has gave its greenlight earlier today.

Another new M&A tonight. This time we go to the Delmarva. B&C states that WMDT is being sold by a new firm Marquee Broadcasting for $9M. EDIT: 1:07am/EDT (8/9), Here's the paperwork.

If Nexstar passes on WMYD & KOFY, what I don't want to see is them getting gobbled up buy a "Spectrum Speculator". Those two stations are too good to be sold by a company that they only care for is to cash-in at auction time. Those stations will go bye-bye post-auction, if that's the case. I wished Fox would acquire WMYD, but it can't happens because it has to keep the eight separate owners rule. I think the question is why would LIN want a low-rated station in a sub-100 market, like WAOE. Many of these groups would want a leading station. Yes LIN own 7 sub-100 market stations (2 involves using its shell card, Topeka & Youngstown), but most are among the top rated. It would be stupid for LIN to just have a low-rated MyNetworkTV stated and have not have one of the bigger stations like WMBD, WEEK or WHOI. AFAIK, WAOE is basically shell bate.

Brady would probably have a baby and file a complaint, if it does come to fruition. He owns WICZ. On earlier post, I speculated that Media General would acquire the Granite stations, because it wouldn't have any sort of conflicts. The overlapped markets (Duluth & Fort Wayne), one of them would be assigned to that Galloway shell (I think he holds the Sheild). The article states that one of the deals may include Granite. Should they acquire Granite, I don't think that it will include KOFY or WMYD. That would be just too big for them. Should Nexstar goes ahead and acquire Granite, several things need to be sorted out, not only the situations in Peoria & Syracuse, which I think there's several issues in itself, but the current LMA in other existing/new Sinclair/Nexstar markets. It looks like Sinclair will win another Big-4 duopoly soon (like in SA with WOAI/KABB) in El Paso (KDBC/KFOX). If both are going to move to a new facility in 2014 like they said they were going to do, where are going to move to? Or are they going to build it from scratch (which is very unlikely). Other markets include Harrisburg, Rochester. I think, the Rochester one basically be done after it expires. I don't think Nexstar will lose any sleep if WUHF move to WHAM, because there busy hubbing the other NY stations anyway. Harrisburg could be a real tricky situation since Sinclair will operate both WHP and WHTM, while they still have that LMA with WLYH. In other words, 7 years ago when they both partnered to do the LMAs in Rochester, Peoria & Harrisburg, and while both have more then one shell I think they have all the capital that they don't really need/continue to have an LMA. Peoria will be one hot mess. Should Nexstar acquires WEEK (and they would no doubt have come with a Mission), you know what they're going to do. I'm not sure if WMBD's building is big enough to occupy two stations and two master controls. I would love to see WHOI having an in-house news operation. If Sinclair was smart enough, they would probably think about the spots to where they could build a facility, and yes they would have to recruit personnel and buy sets and HD equipment and such. OR, should WEEK move to WMBD, WHOI could have the WEEK facility all to themselves, and move WYZZ to join WHOI. But whatever the case maybe, this would be one of the most complicated moves I've ever see in regards of move of station operations. If the LMA in Peoria & Syracuse never happened, this would be an easier pill to swallow, I tell you.

I don't think the speculation shifts all that much. Let's remember eleven days ago NPG formed a shell to get KIDK from Fisher. I still have a strong feeling that Gray and Raycom could form something together. But at this rate, anything can happen at this point. And what do you know, this is NPG's first divestiture of a TV station in two decades. Here's KJCT's release on the news.

OMG, Gray is about to have a SHELL???!! TVNewsCheck have posted that News-Press & Gazette Company has announced that it has agreed to sell KJCT Grand Junction to this newly formed company, Excalibur Broadcasting, LLC for over $3M. It also states that other non-FCC licensed assets will be sold by Gray proper for $9M. Excalibur is ran by former Gray Regional VP & GM of leading station WSAZ 3. This move will break that longtime sister-station relationship between KJCT & Colorado Springs' ABC station KRDO, since Pikes Peak owned the two stations in the early 80s.

Okay here's the follow. Based on the KOHD's asset purchase agreement, it has agreed to 'have a direct feed of all of' KEZI's newscast for a minimum of 5 years after the deal gets consummated.

I don't think they'll sale the other two markets, and Sinclair is already in one of those markets, and will be at the other once it closes. So Chambers don't have much to worry about. I wonder what Zolo is going to with KOHD. I think they truly wanted some sort of local news programming, since spinning off from KOIN 6's satellite. But since I've last seen it, they still aired certain KOIN 6 news on certain timeslots.

We have another little M&A deal today. TVNewsCheck states that Chambers Communications, which owns the Oregon ABC stations outside of Portland including KEZI & KDRV, is selling Bend's KOHD to Zolo Media, which owns former KOIN 6 satellite station, KBNZ-LD for $2.35M.

Hey 24994J, it appears that they didn't fix that Snowden OTS text. They'd showed it again on the 6am show, just now.

Antonio Mora returns to the national scene. B&C states today that Antonio Mora will host a weeknight panel-discussion, current affairs talk program called "Consider This". This program will air on the new Al Jazeera America network, which will launch on August 20th.

New FCC Approval. And this one was filed seven months ago. WLOV, the Fox Station in Tupelo, Mississippi filed an application of consent to Assign the License from Lingard Broadcasting Corporation to Tupelo Broadcasting, Inc. For $500K. Lingard Broadcasting is owned by Jack Lingard. From this attachment in this application, it explains the interest in terms of the people involved. Lingard is the brother of the majority owner of WTVA Inc, Jane Spain. Tupelo Broadcasting is owned by Matthew Dee, the son of Jane Spain. So basically the stations is being exchange from one next-of-kin to the other. Anyway, the application was posted on the FCC site December 26, and just today, after almost seven months, the FCC has finally greenlighted the application. If we remember back in late January, it took nine months for the FCC to approve WXVT's app from Saga to the sons of the owner of WABG. __________________________________________________ NBC is reorganizing its local TV division. The B&C is posting that the 16 stations from Telemundo Station Group and New England cable news channel, NECN will merge with the 10 NBC O&Os from NBC Owned Television Stations, will merge to form the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations division. NBC Owned Stations president, Valari Staab will head the newly form division. ________________________________________________ It looks like Litton will rule Saturday Mornings. First ABC, Now CBS. TVNewsCheck stating that Litton Entertainment will produce six new E-I compliant shows that will air on Saturday Mornings on CBS. The brand will be entitled "The CBS Dream Team, It's Epic".(I hope they change the name overtime). B&C stated that Litton is expected to announce the lineup of season 3 of Litton's Weekend Adventure, which airs on the ABC affiliates. They're going to think of something because one of the current shows will be moving to the CBS block on September 28th. This will be the second time where a programmer is involved in two Saturday morning programming blocks for two different networks. Remember 4Kids Entertainment with 4KidsTV (Fox) and The CW4Kids (CW)?

DAMN!!!! 30%??!!!! The unemployment rate will not help much once Brady starts consolidating 11 & 13. All Pappas need to do now is to find the who should buy the Nebraska cluster (maybe Sinclair can complete the former Pappas Nebraska chain, like they got KPTM/KXVO). They can give KAZA to that firm that's buying the Una Vez Mas stations. And sell the remaining stations (KDMI/KCWI, WLGA, WIWN) to those speculators who want to see them turn into those wireless broadband towers. And are they even out of the woods yet, as in terms of their debt, even if they sell the remaining assets?

Follow-Up Time. And it looks like Brady didn't want to get KYMA for nothing. It appears that he will acquire KSWT from Pappas for $900K. And will use the 'failed station waiver' card to get it. If this sticks, it would be the third time a true Big-3 network duopoly has formed, after Gannett's WTLV/WJXX Jacksonville & Nexstar's KSEE/KGPE Fresno.

From the Bakersfield Californian today, It looks like the building of Nexstar's KGET was partially collapsed on Saturday. It didn't stop the folks fron getting their 11pm show on time.

Damn. I don't think I ever remember Kemberly being a fill-in anchor. Have she ever filled in before?

Good Luck being in the Sincrap's dungeon. All the best for her.

I just thought of something. Since they have a Hampton offices (as well as their hub in Richmond), WSKY could be the group's new flagship station. ________________________ We have a consummation and another new M&A this morning. Hubbard has consummated its sale of Pittsfield MA's WNYA from Venture Technologies. Hubbard has operated this station under a joint sales agreement since their acquisition announcement back in Febraury, and applied for a failed station waiver to acquire it (similar to what Freedom & Sinclair did for WCWN). And it appears that the largest Azteca America affiliate group, Una Vez Mas Holdings has agreed to transfer control the licenses (including KAZD) to Northstar Media, LLC for $700K. Here's the full transaction description.

New M&A today. Lockwood acquires WSKY 4 Manteo, NC for $1.1M ($1,104,944.20). I'm not too sure if they are going to benefit anything with this station. Based on their schedule, it looks like they get what's leftover syndie shows the other stations didn't want or not have room for.

The videos may be a repost. But today is the 18th anniversary of the devastating and deadly Heat Wave in Chicago. The mercury reached 104° at O'Hare Field and 106° at Midway Airport, with heat indecies at Midway reached a scorching 122°. Here's WBBM's 10pm news open from July 13, 1995. And a follow up special report about the Heat Wave, eight days later on July 21. Videos Courtesy of GillSB8109 from YT. ____________________________________________ Of course last year, Chicago had three straight days of 100+° temperatures (July 4-6), but thanks to the preparedness of Heat Emergency Advisories & Warnings (which they never used until the last day of the heat wave), and many cooling facilities, the fatality levels were greatly reduced.

Oh it's going to be more than that before its all over. Or at least, when they finish construction of the new set at the KSEE facilities in the fall. Even though they say both will have separate brands, anchor pairs and whatever, what I said earlier, I still think we will see some sort of a la Nexstar's Eyewitness News kind of brand where they would end up simulcasting news on both 24 & 47. I mean anything can happen between now and when the changes get implemented in the fall. And you have to look at Nexstar's very first market where they currently simulcast news on both WYOU & WBRE, and they're 1 DMA higher than Fresno. I wouldn't be shocked if Nexstar would do the same thing in Fresno.

New Retrans Battle!! This time its Time Warner Cable & Journal. B&C is posting that Time Warner & Journal have until June 30 to come up with a new deal or the Journal stations will be yank. It includes Journal's flagship station WTMJ. Time Warner is pointing out that Journal is seeking 200% of their programming, and has taking a stance on broadcasters' egregious demands from without delivering more value.

That happened last week, as those Luna shortened ads became widescreen as well.

I assume KENV in Elko (somewhat a satellite of KRNV) will stay in the Nevada fold, with KVBC I mean KSNV. The only station they haven't sold yet is Beartooth NBC. And KFXP will probably stay being assigned by Compass Communications. This should be open season for Bonten to acquire Beartooth NBC to connect with Missoula/Butte's KTVM/KCFW/KECI. Or Yellowstone could acquire Bonten's Montana properties.

Thank you for telling me. I knew they weren't buying all the Makos for nothing. All those stations are will be toasted after auction time. None of those station have any significants anyway, but its still bad nevertheless. I thought we dealt with this spectrum crunch after the 2009 DTV transition four years ago. And now they want 120khz of more spectrum off the Broadcast TV grid? And then stations that keep their stations, are going to have to move channels again. Where's the money for those stations to reallocate. And some stations would have to share the same frequency. I know I've been preaching this on this board almost regularly and I do apologize. But this what I think this is just as important than the over growing media M&A consolidation craze. It's pitiful to see Sinclair gobbling stations up like Pac-Man. But its even worst for these 'speculators' NRJ, OTA Broadcasting, LocusPoint, Local Media TV and now Landover are even at their own buying sprees, but we know what they're going to do with them. They don't care about the future of broadcast television. They only care about how much a broadcaster is willing to sell for their spectrum, instead of the long-lasting future of over-the-air broadcast television. and that alone is just plain pitiful.