NowBergen

11 hours ago, DonDonP1 said:

I was hoping for Seattle’s KIRO 7 to be the youngest CBS O&O, but then again I hope Skydance Media would outbid Sony and Apollo in the bidding war for Paramount Global. If Sony and Apollo buy Paramount, then I hope Skydance would buy the CBS-branded assets and the Paramount-owned cable networks and streaming services.

Sony and Apollo have indicated that they plan to only keep Paramount Studios and sell off CBS (including CBS News & owned stations), Paramount + and cable stations.  That avoids any Cox conflicts.  Shari Redstone has said she was against selling to break the company up but the cash may be too good an offer to turn down. 

2 hours ago, doublejman69 said:

You guys are setting up yourselves for disappointment if you think the networks, cox, graham, Scripps (yikes) or any other broadcast company is buying any Sinclair station.  
 

It’s been reported that Sinclair is looking to unload small market stations, most likely CW, mynet and independents. Sinclair will sell those underperforming stations to a private equity firm, then they will gut the stations or let the network and syndicated contracts expire and sell the spectrum to god casters. 
 

I think the thing to look for is what network contracts are due to expire. That could be a sign to what stations sinclair unloads. 

Exactly.  I doubt Sinclair will sell whichever stations they divest one by one to multiple owners.  The level of regulatory filings and lawyers fees would be significant - especially for an on the cheap broadcaster whose sports subsidiary is bleeding cash.  It will be as one group, probably effected as a spinoff or similar tactic to a private equity firm (most current broadcasters would either be over the limit or can't afford the price).  

As to which stations, we should probably hold back speculation because the truth is every single person on this forum that has a Sinclair station in their market or one they watch often, would want that station sold.  At some point, Sinclair may provide clarity on the criteria for disposal (there were a few hints in the report - like stand alone stations where there is no duopoly or nearby Sinclair station - islands in Sinclair's footprint) but until then, it is all speculative.

He can only buy WPIX if he sells a boatload of stations.  He is not willing to do that.  Time for him to end the Mission charade and walk away.

Other stations including News12NJ reported this last Friday.

Here is an interesting hypothetical (or it may not be in reality) in light of the FCC ruling on WPIX.  One of their news vans struck a pedestrian adult and child this morning in NJ.  Luckily both were not severely injured.

If the victims decide to file a lawsuit, who would they sue?  Nexstar or Mission (or both?). If Mission said not us, that could reinforce the FCC ruling.  An interesting situation since this is not a duopoly with a Nexstar station in the market.

Aww, poor Nexstar... They got caught circumventing ownership caps.  With no other Nexstar station in the market, a bridge too far.  

https://www.nexttv.com/news/nexstar-urges-fcc-to-reverse-ruling-ordering-sale-of-wpix

On 4/19/2024 at 3:34 PM, Adam MadMan said:

Scripps is dumping The CW from its stations.

I saw earlier where Nexstar is now spinning it that they took the affiliation away from Scripps and moving it to Nexstar stations.  Only problem is that is in only possible in a few of the impacted markets.  

Interesting.  Optimum has it as WMBC TV has evidently decided to drop whatever they had and is carrying it.  But, the Merit webpage gives the wrong channel number.  Not a positive sign.

55 minutes ago, GraphicsMan said:

Also WNJU has been in there current Linden, NJ facility for 20 years since 2004. Also the FCC has probably got to approve the move they have to have a presence in their city of license even if newscast are moving to 30 Rock according to guidelines.

WNJU has been broadcasting from Fletcher Ave in Fort Lee since CNBC moved up 9W to Englewood Cliffs.  I think before that they were in a small building in Teterboro.  Both locations are a couple counties away from Linden.

I think I read a couple of months ago, when they used the studio for another purpose, that they cannot move until a new joint WNBC-WNJU newsroom facility is opened in 30 Rock.  A newsroom in Fort Lee and a studio at 30 Rock is not a feasible solution.   I'm sure the suits at NBC have a plan, we are just not privy to it.

Note, TelevisaUnivisions WXTV is licensed to Paterson NJ but studios are located in Teaneck.

5 hours ago, MD TV said:

Sinclair struck a deal with the ABC O&Os to carry the Charge! network starting today:

 

https://sbgi.net/charge-and-abc-owned-television-stations-enter-into-new-network-affiliation-agreement/

It is replacing ThisTV which replaced LAFF.  Looked at my program guide, repeats of Chips, CSI and L&O:Criminal Intent just doesn't seem an attractive proposition.  All can be found elsewhere.

10 minutes ago, ATLNewsExpert said:

Remember what happened with Lisa LaFlamme? She's only 59 but was let go shortly after she went gray while Lloyd Robertson anchored well into his 80's.

No offense, but who?  I don't recognize those names from WCBS or WNBC in the 80s, 90s, to today.

5 hours ago, TellyGenic said:

A Chuck and Sue reunion conversation is being promoted as part of the half hour 50th Anniversary tribute to Chuck, airing Thursday at 7 pm.

They have shown a couple of clips during the week, as well as some comments she made at the luncheon held on Monday at the Rainbow Room.  Can't wait to see more...

5 hours ago, DENDude said:

A lot of you will disagree with me on this but, I think Scripps should have right of first refusal at WPIX seeing how they once owned it.   Or better yet, shake down mission broadcasting & force mission into being it's own company (it will never happen), prohibit Nexstar from doing ANYTHING for Mission stations nationwide (Websites, ad sales, ect). I'm happy that the FCC is finally taking some action against Nexstar & Mission.

I would imagine that if that is the case, it would be in the purchase contract from Scripps.  Scripps control of WPIX was always intended to be temporary until Nexstar found a way to purchase the station, directly or through its Mission beard.  That is how the original contract was, that Nexstar could buy the station from Scripps.  Not sure why Scripps agreed to being a short term caretaker but they did.  Whether they maintained a right of first refusal should the station become available again is in the contract details which most of us probably are not privy too.  The first question, after Nexstar exhausts any/all available appeals, is are they willing to part with the number of stations required to purchase WPIX directly?  I would think many of the stations in smaller markets are direct/indirect duopolies (or more) and is Nexstar willing to give them up? and who could buy them?  Sinclair and most likely Gray are probably in the same boat edging close to the cap (including the long obsolete UHF discount) considering WPIX is a DMA 1 station broadcasting on the VHF band.  

Last night during the 5 pm hour, they showed one of Chuck's long form reports (I miss those, it is what made News4 special in the 80s) where he reported on the B17 bombers, and found a person who flew with his dad, then allowed them to have a reunion.  A touching story of the life of WW2 bombers and their post war lives.  I assume we will see more of that tonight as well.  They also seem to be making a concerted effort of including Sue Simmons, either mentioning her, stories with her and pieces of Chuck's interview with her.  No matter how messy her departure was, you can never take away the great Chuck & Sue pairing and was a big part of Chuck's success & longevity.

Definitely updated and expanded article including the reason the FCC views WPIX differently: no other Nexstar stations in the DMA 1.  

FCC has rules Mission (Nexstar) must sell PIX11 within a year.  Nexstar has been fined as well for essentially being over the ownership limit.  If Nexstar wants to keep the station they’ll need to sell others to stay under the cap. Good to see this side car crap finally got called out 

https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-orders-mission-to-sell-wpix-fines-nexstar-dollar18-million

A shorter summary:  https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-orders-mission-to-sell-wpix-fines-nexstar-dollar18-million

On 3/20/2024 at 1:33 AM, AmericanErrorist said:

 

Do they actually have English-speaking Telemundo talent cross over?

Many NBC/Telemundo co-located stations do that. I’ve seen T47 reporters on WNBC.  One WNBC weather person subs on T47.  

Caught a promo earlier today celebrating Chuck Scarborough anchoring the news on WNBC for 50 years. Seems NBC4 has a lot planned next week.  More info is on the station’s website: 

 nbcnewyork.com/chuck 

I just tuned into today’s 11 am news. Dave Price was at a weather video screen, shot from a slight angle, all looked fine on my TV.  So far.  Update, the full weather report at 11:20 was I'm guessing in front of a green screen, straight on shot.  Camera did hot follow him walking.  To viewers, no big deal, and mixing it up a bit is fine.  It utilizes all the capabilities of the studio.  

I’m a routine WNBC viewer. As a viewer I have not noticed these changes (I saw Matt walk to the weather display the other night) nor see a quality difference in the projection on my large UHD set.  I see no issue with changing it up sometimes.  Just like anchors don’t stand in exactly the same spot in front of the big video wall for each story in a newscast.  Although I got used to the angled view at the weather video wall (also used on other NBCU stations) I did notice a more straight on view which I said to myself, hmm - glad to see that.   Before throwing the station to the curb let’s see how things progress.  Technical issues do pop up on occasions.  None of this impacts what’s most important to viewers - content. 

9 hours ago, TVNewsLover said:

Dave Carlin and Jennifer Bisram today, although Dave’s Instagram indicates he’s filling in for Doug.

Dave Carlin specifically stated he was sitting in for Doug Williams at the beginning of the 7 am hour.  

Does anyone know the construction status of the new Disney/ABC complex and when it is expected to be completed?  I doubt the bean counters at Disney want to invest much in the current Lincoln Square facilities knowing they are abandoning them at some point.

Why do their screens look like old iPhones?

22 hours ago, Geoffrey said:

CBS 2 CBS News New York recently added traffic to their ticker/flipper, but, once again, the execution is sloppy.

 

Each bus route is listed separately, even if they all say "planned - route change" or "expect delays". The result is a seemingly endless stream of one bus route at a time with generally the same status update. I'm outside of the city and not familiar with the buses, but it didn't seem like there was some bus armageddon the last few days that required so much dedicated screen time, so my guess is that these statuses are fairly routine. At one point on Saturday when I paid attention, the bus-by-bus information filled the flipper for about five minutes. 

 

It just seems like they're looking for automated data feeds to stick on the flipper without any care to the utility of the information. (And while we're at it, I've never found the seven-day forecasts for different towns across the area particularly helpful. I'd rather that be replaced with something like a today/tonight/tomorrow with a short text description to go along with the simple icon. And I'm not in love with the lottery there, either -- but hey, it's a feed that probably requires zero maintenance!)

 

My solution, if bus routes were really important to keep, would be to have "expect delays" and then all of the affected routes listed together. Then repeat for other statuses. Same information, but keeps it moving.

 

Below is an example from this morning, beginning at around 0:30 and remaining on screen for the three minutes left in this clip.

 

Sorry for the unhinged rant.

 

 

That Chevy ad is tacky.  It smacks of smaller market TV.  Isn't there a better way to show sponsorship as all the stations do with sponsored sports reports?