GoldenShine_10

St. Louis would have a triopoly, so under current rules one would have to be sold. Courts would take a serious look there given the market size and the fact it would leave only one other newsroom (Gray's KMOV) I think the fact it leaves only one other news-producing station would be a major sticking point there. It's not the worst issue (talking to you, Scranton - I see no way WNEP doesn't get sold there on antitrust grounds) but it is concerning. If there were 2 news producers left, they would probably be able to absorb such by turning off KPLR.

That station would be one of the most likely to get forced to be sold - not by the FCC, but by courts. Since there would be an effective monopoly there.

WMYT likely gets shoehorned away. WCNC and WJZY would be the duopoly in that case I would think, with Fox or CW on 36.2. (From my interpretation, top-4 rule no longer exists, but still cannot legally form triopolies)

From what I can tell, with that court decision, owning 2 stations is legal even if in the top 4. However, triopolies (and beyond) are not legal.

The comprehensive exhibits will be so key.

Has the Deltavision deal completed yet? I know Gray really has to be kicking itself now for not going into Greenville when it had the chance. Yeah, it's the Mississippi Delta, but you've got everything around it covered and a lot to support it...

If Nexstar and Tegna make the rumored deal, that could potentially get the hands off some of the triopolies through trading pieces. I know Louisville has a triopoly pending through Block, while this deal creates one in Fort Wayne. (Rockford and Lafayette, LA are low power third stations.) One of the pieces in each of those markets could be traded to Nexstar, in exchange for something that is in a market that Gray is not present in but creating a triopoly (or more) with Nexstar.

It will be the messiest acquisition ever. At least 2/3 of them overlap, many of them with triopolies or quadropolies created. In Little Rock, it forms a quintopoly. I see no way they would be allowed to own THAT much, even though I am sure they will keep quite a few duopolies. The latest Gray moves do, interestingly, help somewhat in that the triopolies they have created can become trade pieces in some markets to possibly help both parties - to an extent. But there's going to almost certainly be a challenge.

It's a bit surprising, but I guess they are conceding the far west. That said, they would have been sister stations to KPTV/KPDX, and given them a stronger position out there. Especially if Cowles ever decided to sell, that would give them a strong Northwest cluster.

If approved: Lafayette is a tiny one-station market. Terre Haute, Rockford, Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Evansville are Gray/Nexstar markets, while Columbus-Tupelo and Montgomery are Gray/someone else (that said, Morris and Bahakel would be prime for Nexstar). Huntsville remains a 3-station operation, while Paducah would be Gray and a local owner (as long as Paxson doesn't walk away, since Nexstar would probably love WPSD). Probably because that would leave them with the #1 and #2 stations in the market and likely would create bigger hassles than a #1 and #3 station acquisition. Also, someone else might be shopping that station like Scripps. What this means for the three new markets: Indiana - Only missing Indianapolis. That will be a difficult one barring a trade. Mississippi - Only missing Greenville. They missed the chance with The Delta News, but if Deltavision doesn't complete the acquisition, Gray could jump on it for peanuts.

One thought about WBKI - could it be sold to one of the other incumbents in the market to become a duopoly with WHAS or WLKY?

WHIO is for sale right now.

That seems a bit far-fetched. They probably will need an out clause in Louisville in case such a deal is not accepted. The $80M price tag also makes that seem like a possibility. It does strengthen them in Illinois (only missing Chicago, which would require picking off from a network) and Ohio (missing Columbus which is out of reach, as well as Dayton and Youngstown, which both have reasonable options).

It seems, among owners, Gray and Tegna are most willing to go off the signal into the streaming world, but even they are behind.

I would assume that the area will become part of the Billings market. I agree, it's like a local co-op or the City of Glendive will set up translators.

I suspect that such will be the case if the deal otherwise cannot go ahead. They probably designed the deal with potential "out" options. Grand Junction, Lafayette and Twin Falls have no concerns. KKTV could also go to 30.2 for better coverage in Pueblo as well.

I think Colorado Springs would be where the biggest cuts would be. The other two markets don't have any Scripps presence, so I don't expect much change personally.

WSYM had its news come from WILX until Scripps acquired WXMI if I recall correctly, so it is like back to square one there. I think the Colorado issue for Gray was that they had zero pathway into Denver. They would have either had to deal with Tegna (who might be looking for assets themselves) or with CBS (which would have been an expensive acquisition or would have required trading crown jewels).

Unless NP&G is for sale itself - and Gray now has a clean acquisition of that. But it does take Gray out of Idaho and out of Colorado. They probably also felt there were no good acquisitions in the region to complement their stations, such as Cowles in the Northwest not being for sale. KATC is a no-brainer, since I am sure for years they have wanted to get into Lafayette, and Scripps is isolated there.

You almost have to wonder if the state of Mississippi will become, essentially, one large market? Although the Delta is often the forgotten part of the state...and does feel isolated from a media perspective.

Maybe a Billings owner like Cowles could step in and tie it to KULR?

Closest sister stations to there would be in Austin or San Antonio. Unless they have a studio or bureau in San Angelo?

Even though they are missing the biggest piece of the state (the Twin Cities)...

I think losing the SEC was the last straw for Gray and CBS in Atlanta, as that was their most reliable ratings draw (other than a couple of Falcons game, which Gray could bid for the OTA rights of cable and streaming games anyway). I've also heard that, in the southern edge of the market, people are more likely to watch WMAZ for CBS programming and related news, even though it's a Macon station.

Since the NFL still requires streaming-exclusive games to have a local broadcaster air them, that would be an easy gain for Falcons games on Gray, without CBS prices.