effseesee

 

The Binghamton situation should be a major concern. Nexstar may not be able to buy Granite now as it develops a chokehold on Binghamton television around WBNG (which is a towering market leader).

 

 

WBNG has had a chokehold on Binghamton television since the beginning of television. Having one company own all three full power sticks in town wouldn't make one bit of difference.

NBC in Binghamton is a LP. Thus Nexstar can keep WIVT/WBGH and Misson would get WBNG and the whole thing will operate from the WBNG building.

That sure changes things in the speculation...maybe a sign that NPG is headed for the market, while Gray may be a buyer after all (they were heavily rumored to be for sale)? Although one station could be a blip, it could start a trend...

 

A shell for one station rarely happens unless it is clear that they are trying to start something...

I think it has more to do with the market, than anything else. GJ is market 185 and Hoak already runs CBS and FOX in town. Given the limited amount of ad revenue, it wasn't if KKCO and KJCT would pair up, it was when. It's getting really hard to have 3 unique shops in these markets any more.

 

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.

 

It was only a matter of time before one of the three shops in town was swallowed up by another. Given the state of the KSWT studio building, I would assume KSWT will move into the KYMA building once this is done.