Sinclair creates virtual triopoly in Columbus, Ohio

[T.L. Hughes 753]

As was previously discussed on an earlier thread a few months ago, Sinclair Broadcast Group was looking to create a virtual triopoly in Columbus, Ohio by entering into a shared services agreement with Manhan Media-owned WWHO (that company, which does not own any other stations outside of WWHO, purchased the station last month from LIN TV).

 

Now, TVSpy and Broadcasting & Cable have reported that Sinclair has officially reached a deal to operate the CW affiliate under an SSA with Manhan, giving Sinclair some degree of control of three of the five full-power commercial stations in the Columbus market, with four network affiliations between said three stations. Sinclair already owns outright ABC affiliate WSYX, which carries the MyNetworkTV programming service on its second digital subchannel; it also operates Fox affiliate WTTE also under an SSA with Cunningham Broadcasting, whose stock is 90% controlled under trusts in the name of the children of Sinclair founder David Smith.

 

Ironically, this comes the same week as the FCC released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding media ownership, and a coalition led by Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, the Media Alliance, the National Organization for Women Foundation, the Communications Workers of America, Common Cause, the Benton Foundation and the Media Council Hawaii calling for the FCC to eliminate SSAs.

[skbl17 188]

Sincrap gets another station?! :bang:

 

I mean, it's an SSA, but still.