TVIntheDesert

The wheel of uncertainty continues to spin at KPHO/KTVK: http://www.ftvlive.com/todays-news/2015/11/10/news-director-out-the-door-in-phoenix

I think KUSI fits hand and glove with Sinclair, even without a network affiliation. I would take it that the McKinnons would like to find an owner with similar intentions for the station if they were to sell, and I think Cox or Graham would take the conservative lean out of KUSI.

Yes, but we all know that most cable/satellite TV subscribers will just switch to another provider if a dispute isn't settled in a timely manner. Eventually, that time will come when Sinclair will have a dispute with DirecTV, Cox, Charter, etc., and the viewer will have to switch again. Then this will lead to more cord-cutting, unless you're in a rural area where you might not get the over-the-air signal and your only choices are the two satellite providers. Broadcasters' hunger for more retrans dollars, along with the declining subscriber base of cable/satellite services, will eventually be the downfall of the large station groups. They'll make money in the short-term, but they'll have to continue to justify increased retrans fees (if they negotiate in cost per subscriber economics) even if the cord-cutting trend continues.

Sorry for bringing up an old subject, but this morning a KPNX live van drove past me on the freeway, in need of new wraparounds (the truck still had the mention of "azcentral.com" and the pre-2011 Gannett "Globe-G" logo). I know re-wrapping their vans isn't a top priority, even though Gannett/Tegna has been known for cost cutting these past few years. I also saw a KPHO live truck going the other direction on the freeway. I'm not sure how they're going to consolidate the KPHO and KTVK logos on their fleet, since they're somewhat trying to keep the stations' images separate for the time being.

The radio stations may be profitable, but probably could do better in revenue. They just switched their national sales rep last month.

KSAZ has been the one station in the group to really embrace Roger Ailes' influence as Chairman of FOX Television Stations. Before 2005, FOX 10 really tried to report without any political slant.

KNXV seems to be stable talent-wise. It's Scripps' tinkering that hasn't led to full stability. Then again, every English-language station except for FOX 10 is going through changes.

Actually, KPHO, and especially their weather team, would be a step down from Scripps.

I could see them placing WMAR in the incentive auction. What they might get for the spectrum might be worth as much as the station itself, since they've just about abandoned the idea of being any kind of player in Baltimore. One of Sinclair's three stations could take ABC.

And KNXV is one of Scripps' few stations that is actually on the upswing (given they're competing with Tinkering TEGNA, Mediocre Meredith, and a FOX O&O that doesn't take themselves too seriously, that's not much of a feat).

Not as weird as Las Vegas with Scripps, Sinclair, Nexstar and Meredith. I know it's early to tell what will happen there, but will Sinclair and Nexstar be able to keep the viewers at KSNV and KLAS, respectively?

Just in time for the 2016 election, Sinclair is adding more political programming to its stations, while at the same time, expanding Sharyl Attkisson's role at the company. http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/84799/sinclair-signs-attkisson-for-sunday-am-news

KASW has gone to Nexstar domain branding confusion too (even though the site is still under construction).

Another M&A to report about: KAIL in Fresno, CA (currently a MyNet station), sold for $3M to a group called Aperio Communications Broadcasting Corporation. The station had been owned by the family of the late A.J. Williams for nearly 50 years, and has always been run on a shoestring budget. No word on whether or not KAIL will be converted to a Spanish station (all the Spanish networks, save for Azteca America, have full-powered affiliates there).

It appears that some Scripps stations have renewed "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" through the 2017-18 season. Most likely the old Journal stations, but it seems kind of odd for a group that was gung-ho about letting go of the shows everywhere their stations aired it.

I just found this story, which praises one of KNXV's biggest advertisers, Sanderson Ford (they sponsor the nightly sports segment on the station). Someone should have taught this guy some journalism ethics: http://www.abc15.com/news/region-west-valley/glendale/sanderson-ford-receives-presidents-award-for-tenth-consecutive-year

I noticed that the Nexstar logo is already at the bottom of KLAS's home page. On the other hand, the KASW website hasn't been updated since mid-January, when SagamoreHill still owned the station.

I believe the Black Canyon studios of KPHO are too large and old (asbestos build, maybe?) for KASW to move in. I wouldn't be surprised if Nexstar found some space near the airport for the station, most likely near KNXV - that seems to be the new "broadcast row" in town.

They also named the former Director of Sales for the Telemundo Arizona stations, Denise McManus, as General Manager. It appears they're staying at the KTVK facilities at 5555 N. 7th Avenue until May, according to the KASW info link at nexstar.tv.

More vestiges of Jim Rogers' ownership of KSNV are disappearing. It appears Sinclair successfully got their behind-the-scenes workers, which had been represented by a local chapter of the IBEW union, to decertify the chapter. Now, I could care less whether or not they are represented by a union, but the General Manager's comments seem to toe the company's anti-union line. http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/82476/sinclairs-ksnv-employees-opt-out-of-ibew

He must like Seattle so much that he doesn't mind working for Sinclair. In other Phoenix market news, according to KAET's Facebook page, the nightly newscast produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism which has been in the works since last summer premieres on Monday, January 26th.

Let me guess, KNXV will announce she will be their replacement for Connie Colla in 3...2...1?

Ed Munson wants to keep his own (KPHO) people for the most part. That may not be a good sign for the future of KTVK's top rated "Good Morning Arizona." The KPHO casts just don't have the viewer loyalty KTVK has.

KTVK has the rights to the MNF games, while KPHO has aired Thursday night games in previous seasons.

Given they've actually been investing money in some of their latest properties (see Memphis, although it hasn't paid off for them yet), they might not do much. They should know if they do mess with anything, that will be a boon for KTNV and incoming owner Scripps (which actually does invest heavily in news, unlike Sinclair and Nexstar) or even KVVU. I expect more staff turnover in the next year at KSNV than I do KLAS.