NowBergen

Actually more limited. Assuming Nexstar is rewarded by taking over Tegna, (owning KTVI, KSDK & KPLR) a subchannel on KMOV (Gray) is a the unlikely only option. Truth is ABC should have e dumped KDNL decades ago. Now they are stuck.

I think viewers have spoken about trump blackmail and freedom of speech! The fact ABC has lived with a zombie station like KDNL for so long doesn't give me much hope.

It will be interesting with 2026 renewals coming up for both station groups what stand Disney will take. Will they attempt to move a few stations to show they can seriously rip affiliations away if station groups get too testy, and, include clauses that limit preemptions like this? All of a sudden, Nexstar and Sinclair's bargaining power has diminished. And not just with ABC, as I'm sure NBC and CBS were watching intently. Taking Brendan Carr's role in this out for now, they didn't accomplish very much other than opened up outrage about free speech & forced censorship and incurred viewer criticism that Sook actually refers to. Will the outrage carries over to the FCC and impacts Nester's application to buy Tegna?

In St. Louis, you would have thought ABC would have kicked KDNL and Sinclair aside. Not sure why they put up with a zombie operation.

Just saw that both press releases from Sinclair and Nexstar included an almost identical line that "our decision to preempt the program was independent of any government interaction and influence. That fact both had similar statements make one think 1- it was written for them and 2- its confirmation of the opposite.

I'm sure Uncle Perry, even with Carr's support and encouragement, couldn't do this alone anymore and had to cave. If viewers were boycotting both group's stations, and with the new linear season starting, there was more to lose than hold on.

Yes, due to Mizzou. Thing is ABC/ESPN also broadcast ACC and others.

Add in the DVR ratings, as I was not up but did DVR it.

Outside O&O markets, where Sinclair and Nexstar may not be a big factor, wouldn't that depend on the local affiliate's ownership broadcasting those sub channels?

Nexstar and Sinclair may force all network streamers to reconsider. One way the networks can fight back is to have a live feed and available to cable customers to show both that there are alternative distribution channels that make them irrelevant. Time for Disney, Paramount and Comcast to take the aggressive approach with these broadcasters.

Although Nexstar has not been overtly far right in coverage, commentary and speaking points like Sinclair is, they have decided that they are the censors for all of America, and it's a biased censor. That is wrong. The choice should be up to the viewer. The viewer is the ultimate censor. If they don't like a show, or a commentator, or a news product, they watch something else. Most of us have made those choices before. Sadly I am traveling to a market where all commercial TV is now controlled by either of these companies. If I watch the news, it will be streamed from my home market where Sinclair does not exist and Nexstar has a distant 5th place station.

That is my question too. They should allow their viewers choice, including self censuring by not watching. Most of them are probably asleep by then anyway.

I would assume all three are highly leveraged already. Despite the deep pockets of Disney, Paramount Skydance and Comcast, the costs even for them would be prohibitive. Filling in holes in major markets may be a strategy they pursue but is it worth the cost when all three have an alternative distribution channel?

Although that may be a possibility there are some markets where Nexstar and Sinclair control every commercial TV station in a market. And that possibility is about to get worse if the Tegna purchase is approved.

He also has a grudge against the NFL. He wanted to be an owner, settled for the Generals in the second class original USFL, then when a deal was made he was not offered to bring the team to the NFL or become an NFL owner.

There was another report issued last night that dealt with the censorship issue and in light of some more recent supreme court rulings. The fact Carr was openly advocating for the action - on several interviews, resulting in soft coercion either direct/indirect pressuring Nexstar and perhaps Sinclair to take their action, or for ABC to self censor beyond normal standards and practices, would still be considered a violation of first amendment rights. What has been overlooked when Kimmel realized that what he said (which seems more about not fitting a particular desired narrative) did issue an apology on X. What adds insult to this is Sinclair's demand Kimmel donate to TPUSA, an organization that based on public records had $85M in revenue. Carr's statement "there is an easy way or a hard way to do this" can be interpreted as a direct threat to ABC. In the meantime you have the regime leader continuing to threaten any critical coverage with censorship and license revocation (not withstanding that he does not understand what elements of broadcasting are actually licensed, the process needed and history of how rare license revocation is). A sound bite on the news this morning is his complaining that news media (except Fox propaganda) turn even good news about him into bad. His very fragile ego is not of anyone's concern. If that was the case he should never be in public office. Every president has been criticized and mocked for many decades. The press must look at all aspects and short term and long term impacts in reporting the news. The issue however, is no longer just Kimmel. It is direct and implied threats to censorship and losing first amendment protections for news organizations, media, and even individuals for something the regime leader does not like. That is scary and why you find MAGA republican like Ted Cruz even concerned, not to say others in the MAGA media universe. An interesting tidbit on the news this morning, which again does not fit in the desired narrative and will cause anger. So far, all the forensic analysis of the alleged shooter's computers, other electronic devices, papers etc find no link to far left groups.

Another example of why media consolidation is not always a good thing. Considering in some markets, every commercial anglo TV station is owned by Nexstar and Sinclair, the danger is even worse. There are no independent voices other than Sinclair's unabashed far right slant or Nestar's corporate direction. Not sure how that's in the public interest.

Exactly. He said he grew up up in a MAGA household which is a fact. Snowflakes don't like the facts. In the end this is censorship with more threatened by Carr and trump. We still have a Constitution and First Amendment. Those are at odds with each other. We have the right to praise, criticize, mock or whatever else as long as we don't make threats. That is illegal and crosses a line. It is time broadcasters fight back and protect our freedoms. The capitulation to trump only emboldens him to do mare, with ABC and CBS paving that way.

Probably sports to with Nick Coit being fired. Within months the news operation will go, just simulcast of WJARs.

She has dipped her toe into online before, doing forecasts on an RI centric Facebook group, which probably isn't that good an option today. The online "paper" has a meteorologist - but focuses on major meteorological events than routine. Sadly her options may be limited, including other staff members let go in this mess, like the Sports Director Nick Coit who served as a mentor to many URI Sports Media majors over the years if they want to stay in the area. What is scary is this is the future, where media in a mid market is controlled by only two companies with fall out beyond just staff redundancy reductions. I have a hard time understanding how this is in the public's interest.

It also has nothing to do with her capabilities as a meteorologist. She is highly popular. She was more than competent considering she had stability throughout NBC and Media General ownership.

I think you hit a key consideration. What do the families want? It may be what it is in its present form, or some other approach. I would assume any major change would wait until after next year's 25th anniversary (still seems like yesterday). I look forward to it every year, the memories flood in and in the end, the families will drive the future. The networks don't mind giving up their morning program on the NY O&Os once a year.

From the Boston Globe: Providence’s NBC10 will take over ABC6, reshaping TV market in Southeastern New England In a significant upheaval for the Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts news market, WJAR-TV, the top-rated NBC affiliate, is taking over WLNE-TV, the market’s ABC station, the station’s parent company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, confirmed to the Globe. Employees at WLNE — known as ABC6 — were told about the sale on Thursday and some staff were laid off, meteorologist Kelly Bates said in a video posted on Facebook. Read the full story from Globe Rhode Island.

From the Boston Globe: Providence’s NBC10 will take over ABC6, reshaping TV market in Southeastern New England In a significant upheaval for the Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts news market, WJAR-TV, the top-rated NBC affiliate, is taking over WLNE-TV, the market’s ABC station, the station’s parent company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, confirmed to the Globe. Employees at WLNE — known as ABC6 — were told about the sale on Thursday and some staff were laid off, meteorologist Kelly Bates said in a video posted on Facebook. Read the full story from Globe Rhode Island.

There is nothing other than Kelly Bates announcement on any local media websites, including Sinclair's Providence station. Sadly none of the rotating group of owners invested in WLNE (or when it was WTEV) other than relocating studios and operations to Providence. The few attempts (Dave Layman, John Ghiorse) just didn't move the needle. WJAR has a tradition there, and pre Sinclair would win their timeslot when they had a technical glitch and broadcast dead air (really). I would expect they would simulcast WJAR newscasts and close the Providence studios completely assuming this is true in some fashion.