Confirmed: Newport selling stations to Nexstar, Cox, Sinclair

[Viper550 291]

The reason why Nexstar and Sinclair can operate Mission and Cunningham they way they do is because the FCC's rules on local marketing/shared servies/joint sales agreements are too vague, they don't account for companies that one group's shareholders have control over or at least have stock in, they just see the fact that they're operated in a different area and named separately as considering them different companies, even though they may operate these agreements in so many areas that it should raise red flags. But any layman can see it for the way that Sinclair and Nexstar operate their SSA partner companies really is, an abuse of a loophole that needs to be rectified.

 

To be fair, Canada does have a rule like that ... but it only applies in relation to the "3:1 rule", which requires that cable/satellite providers carry three channels from competing broadcasters for each channel they carry that is owned by an entity "related" to them (and with Rogers, Bell, and Shaw owning both television outlets and *ahem* broadcast distribution undertakings, this rule does have some impact).

 

By the CRTC's definition, Shaw and Corus Entertainment (the latter was a spin-off from Shaw) are considered to be "related" by the CRTC, despite being independently run and traded companies, because of their connection to the Shaw family. If we went by that type of logic when determining if a duopoly is legal or not, Mission/Nexstar and Cunningham/Whatever/Sinclair would be not allowed.

[bhratbrat 437]

Could someone please explain to me how the Sinclair purchase of WPMI/WJTC is actually legal? There is just no way the FCC could allow this to go through; they have really got to do something to stop these intra-market mergers because markets across the country are losing individual, competing voices in TV news at a frightening rate. That's a problem and one of the purposes of the FCC is to prevent exactly this type of thing.

 

Anyhow, it would be a real shame to see Sinclair merge WEAR's news operation with WPMI's. 'PMI has made incredible strides since being bought by Newport and they now have the highest quality news product in this market, IMO. The ratings may not yet reflect that, but it is only a matter of time with them consistently gaining and holding onto great reporters, the best lead anchor team, set, graphics package, and overall on-air presentation in the market. Not to mention, the quality at WKRG and WALA has just deteriorated to the point that it's sad (the amatuer hour, known as FOX 10 News and the dirt-cheap WKRG with it's washed up, phony anchors and poor production value) and WEAR is still the same boring, slow-paced newscast it's always been, focusing of course on the northwest Florida portion of the market. **END OFF-TOPIC RANT**

 

I just really hope the FCC doesn't allow this. I think it would be a real disservice to viewers here.

 

SIDE NOTE: This is my first post on TVNT since the early 2000's, when I used to post in middle school as "EyewitnessAction" on the old message boards. Now I'm finishing up J-school. Oh, how time flies. So, anyway - Hey y'all.

 

The way its been going, you are gonig to see this happen. The way that I have just noticed is that an unknown company named Deerfield Media will be buying out WPMI and WJTC only by license. There will probably be a better chance that LOCAL15 might have its own operations or might get merged in with WEAR.

[13WHAMfan 5]

Another note about WHAM... now that WSYR is owned by Nexstar, I guess master control will be moving back to WHAM (unless a company already in Buffalo or Syracuse decides to buy WHAM)... Master control and some other facilities were centralized at WSYR after Newport bought the stations from Clearchannel.

 

Another question is whether or not WSYR will continue central-casting with the other stations acquired by Nexstar that they were already providing master control for... and whether stations like WROC/WUHF in Rochester will move their master control facilities to Syracuse from their stations or vice-versa?

 

As for the WXXA deal, that is very unfortunate, if they indeed lose their news department. The WROC/WUHF duopoly is embarrassing in Rochester... there is only one newscast each day on Fox (at 10pm). Its pretty much recycled news from the 6pm newscast on WROC, with a few other bits and pieces thrown in, along with a "sports extra," presented on a small one-anchor stand-up separate set. I guess it is better than nothing, but it would be really great if someone started a real Fox affiliate news station here. It would certainly shake things up a bit... but that is certainly just a dream as that will probably never happen.

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

http://rbr.com/missions-share-of-nexstarmission-newport-buy-revealed/ (Little Rock)

http://rbr.com/sinclairs-newport-built-mobile-pensacola-quartet/ (Mobile)

 

Both of these articles break down the financial arrangements between the owners (Mission and Deerfield) and the arrangements made with Nexstar and Sinclair, respectively.

WPMI and WJTC may have some chance of not merging with WEAR and WFGX due to their distance between stations and completely different audiences....but KLRT and KASN may be doomed into consolidating with KARK and KARZ.

[10Viewer 334]

Seeing WKRC being sold to Sinclair is shocking. I have no doubt many staffers are probably looking to jump ship. I know I would.

 

Despite what some have said about Sinclair 'investing' in their news operations, I think Sinclair will be detrimental for WKRC.

[T.L. Hughes 890]

Nexstar has added three more Newport Television stations to the 10 that it had already purchased on July 19, with the announced acquisitions of Fresno CBS affiliate KGPE, and two Bakersfield stations, NBC affiliate KGET and Telemundo affiliate KKEY-LP, for $35.4 million. Nexstar has also acquired Burlington, Vermont's Fox affiliate WFFF-TV and ABC affiliate WVNY under a separate deal with Smith Media for $17.1 million, with Mission Broadcasting set to operate WVNY under a shared services agreement upon the sale's closure.

 

The story here: http://www.tvnewsche...ations-in-ca-vt

[CircleSeven 1955]

Nexstar has added three more Newport Television stations to the 10 that it had already purchased on July 19, with the announced acquisitions of Fresno CBS affiliate KGPE, and two Bakersfield stations, NBC affiliate KGET and Telemundo affiliate KKEY-LP, for $35.4 million. Nexstar has also acquired Burlington, Vermont's Fox affiliate WFFF-TV and ABC affiliate WVNY under a separate deal with Smith Media for $17.1 million, with Mission Broadcasting operating WVNY under a shared services agreement.

 

The story here: http://www.tvnewsche...ations-in-ca-vt

 

The first thing I would have thought was News-Press & Gazette would get KGPE 47 & KGET 17 in Central Cail since they didn't initially pick those the first time around. Now this will leave WHAM in Rochester & KMTR in Eugene. Nexstar proposed acquisition of WFFF/WVNY would mean Smith Media's only property will be WKTV in Utica. Wow talk about the year of the station group acquisitions.

[T.L. Hughes 890]

The first thing I would have thought was News-Press & Gazette would get KGPE 47 & KGET 17 in Central Cail since they didn't initially pick those the first time around. Now this will leave WHAM in Rochester & KMTR in Eugene. Nexstar proposed acquisition of WFFF/WVNY would mean Smith Media's only property will be WKTV in Utica. Wow talk about the year of the station group acquisitions.

 

What seems odd about this is that Nexstar chose to purchase the three Newport stations nearly four months after purchasing another 10 stations from the same group. It would have made sense just to purchase KGET, KGPE and KKEY alongside the other ten it acquired from Newport.

[CircleSeven 1955]

What seems odd about this is that Nexstar chose to purchase the three Newport stations nearly four months after purchasing another 10 stations from the same group. It would have made sense just to purchase KGET, KGPE and KKEY alongside the other ten it acquired from Newport.

 

Check this out. Here's the latest status on the Newport transactions based on applications from the FCC site. The FCC Approved so far, the WXXA one to Sheild, the Duopoly in Tulsa & Jacksonville including WTEV to Cox, and most of the Nexstar Stations listed here & here. FCC have yet to approve the Little Rock duopoly (KLRT/KASN) to Mission or any of the Sinclair/Deerfield transactions. I don't get that fact why they didn't announce they wanted KPGE/KGET on the earlier deal. But I assume that Nexstar probably wanted to wait until the FCC granted the big chunk of stations before getting the two central Cali stations.

 

The reason why I stated News-Press & Gazette earlier was because they'd already planned to get KEYT 3 in SB from Smith Media and the KPGE/KGET stations was still on the market at that time. So I was like, why not get the other two in Cali since they'd been on a buying spree (after signing on KNPN, and just got KMIZ/KQFX) and I wouldn't think NPG would acquire a station east of the Mississippi anyway.

 

Since Boston Ventures (the parent of Smith Media, LLC) apparently want to dump stations, I would love to see Gray getting WKTV.

[effseesee 101]

Check this out. Here's the latest status on the Newport transactions based on applications from the FCC site. The FCC Approved so far, the WXXA one to Sheild, the Duopoly in Tulsa & Jacksonville including WTEV to Cox, and most of the Nexstar Stations listed here & here. FCC have yet to approve the Little Rock duopoly (KLRT/KASN) to Mission or any of the Sinclair/Deerfield transactions. I don't get that fact why they didn't announce they wanted KPGE/KGET on the earlier deal. But I assume that Nexstar probably wanted to wait until the FCC granted the big chunk of stations before getting the two central Cali stations.

 

The reason why I stated News-Press & Gazette earlier was because they'd already planned to get KEYT 3 in SB from Smith Media and the KPGE/KGET stations was still on the market at that time. So I was like, why not get the other two in Cali since they'd been on a buying spree (after signing on KNPN, and just got KMIZ/KQFX) and I wouldn't think NPG would acquire a station east of the Mississippi anyway.

 

Since Boston Ventures (the parent of Smith Media, LLC) apparently want to dump stations, I would love to see Gray getting WKTV.

 

KGPE in Fresno is a dog of a station. It gets hammered in both ratings and revenue by the other stations in the market, especially ABC O&O KFSN. Unless Nexstar intends to find another station in the market to pair with, I don't quite understand this.

 

The duopoly in Bakersfield is good, but the market is dreadful. Over 20 percent of the market lives below the poverty level. But at least they're not overpaying like Fisher did for KBAK/KBFX.

 

It's pretty clear Smith is getting out of the TV business. Maybe Bill Worden didn't want to go through another ownership change. Maybe Nexstar can find another partner to buy WKTV and thus control every station in that market.

[CircleSeven 1955]

Check this out. This is from a post from the Arkansas TV News Blogspot Page Here a quote from two weeks ago.

 

Begining of the End for KLRT News?.....

 

This from a tipster:

 

Nexstar came to the FOX 16 studios and gave employees the option to extend their medical benefits from mid-November through the end of the year - presumably "in the event" they are laid off. Looks like the end is near and the sale of Newport's stations will soon close. Employees were also given the "opportunity" to apply for jobs at KARK...too bad there are just a few available. I think most people are so bitter about this whole thing that they won't go that route, unless they truly love Little Rock and wish to call it home for the long term. Most will seek employment elsewhere. And for anyone who thinks it's "Mission Broadcasting" running the show, you're crazy - all talks to employees have been done by Nexstar, save one.

 

For some of you that said there would be some consolidation, you can clearly see that it will end up being that. One of the latest coments from that specific page was posted earlier tonight.

 

just heard that tomorrow is not going to be a happy day around the Metroplex.

 

I sense it will not be a good day tomorrow in the halls of channel 16.

 

I find this hard to believe since they're going to have a real quadopoly of channels 4, 16, 38 & 42 in the capitol 'metroplex', its this same company that cried foul last year filing an anti-trust lawsuit in Fort Wayne against Granite after WFFT lost FOX and gave it to WISE on its sub and along with WISE's tag-team partner Malara's WPTA 21 Alive has 5 network affiliates. (4 really since MyNet is syndie service) (At this time the FCC hasn't gave its ruling on the matter yet). But its okay to control FOUR full power stations in market bigger than Fort Wayne. And acquiring most of its Newport Properties left and right. I'm shocked Gannett & Allbritton isn't throwing an anti-turst lawsuit on Nexstar on this matter. Or have the DOJ sent out a decree consent (remember Sinclair tried to get WTVR and make a shell for WRLH called "Carma"?). Whatever it is, I hope the folks that could end up losing their jobs would find something somewhere in the field someday.

[CircleSeven 1955]

Latest news on the Newport transactions from the FCC Site, and it may not be good news for some. The FCC has approved this afternoon the Newport stations going to Sinclair. Here's the rundown, the stations include, the Mobile Duopoly WPMI/WJTC, WHP, KSAS, WKRC & WOAI. Plus the transfer of control of two Sinclair stations (KMYS & WSTR (Star 64)) and an acquisition of a Nexstar station (KBTV) to its new 'shell-er', Deerfield Media (which will technically own WPMI/WJTC). Notice at this point, which station (or stations) have not been approved as of yet? And I'm not talking about Nexstar proposed acquisitions in California & Vermont (acquired from Smith), which is separate.

[TexasTVNews 1377]

Is any stations or the owners going to appeal on this? Sinclair is Sincrap!

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

WPMI and WJTC was likely approved because of the geographic breakup of the market....WEAR and WFGX are far removed from the rest of the market (focusing almost exclusively on the Florida side of the market including Pensacola) while the rest of the market mostly ignores Florida, focusing on Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama.

 

Aside from the top 7 commercial stations (all major affiliates plus WJTC), there are two PBS affiliates, three religious stations, and three stations broadcasting nothing but infomercials and paid programming in the market. 4 stations to the FCC is a drop in the bucket compared to the other 11 full powered stations in the market

 

As for Little Rock, the implications are much more severe with one company controlling 4 stations in the market. The cross town consolidation may not be sitting well with the FCC.

[stevieboy247 42]

Is any stations or the owners going to appeal on this? Sinclair is Sincrap!

 

I wish. Sinclair sucks monkey balls!

[effseesee 101]

Is any stations or the owners going to appeal on this? Sinclair is Sincrap!

 

Too late. You have 30 days after the application has been filed and put out for public notice to file a petition to deny.

[effseesee 101]

Update: Fisher Broadcasting, through a subsidiary, is purchasing NBC affiliate KMTR in Eugene, OR. Fisher currently owns the CBS affiliate in Eugene, KVAL, and produces news programming for FOX affiliate KLSR.

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

With December just a few days away, I wouldn't be surprised to see these sales start closing very soon....probably as soon as Monday.

[13WHAMfan 5]

So, if I'm not mistaken, WHAM-TV is the last of the stations to be sold... I'm interested to see who will buy them. Interesting how they're the last one, especially since they're the leading station in Rochester and have been for quite some time.

[effseesee 101]

So, if I'm not mistaken, WHAM-TV is the last of the stations to be sold... I'm interested to see who will buy them. Interesting how they're the last one, especially since they're the leading station in Rochester and have been for quite some time.

 

Given how Sinclair and Nexstar have gobbled up just about everything in New York state, I'm still surprised that one of them hasn't picked this one up. Other than those 2, the only other parties who would possibly be interested would have operations elsewhere in the state (Gannett, Lin, Granite).

[13WHAMfan 5]

Thankfully neither of them have bought it. I think Gannett or Lin would be good owners, compared to Granite (just look at WKBW). I'm not quite up to snuff with FCC regulations but Gannett owns the main Rochester newspaper (Gannett was founded in Rochester), so I'm not sure how that would work, but I'm that would seem like a good move. I know in Phoenix there is a similar arrangement.

 

LIN owns WIVB, which would be a good way to share resources since there are a few areas where Buffalo and Rochester affiliates overlap news coverage often. This would also be very beneficial if Gannett were to buy because not only would WHAM have WGRZ to pull information from Buffalo, but they would also have the option of collaborating with the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester.

 

 

But still, I'm really surprised that WHAM is the last station standing left to be sold.

[CircleSeven 1955]

Or how about this and I'm personally modifying.

 

How about this company, "Give Light, so the Rochesterians can find their own way"....... This company also owns a station smaller than Rochester. Just a thought.

 

If not this company, then Robert Allbritton's club or Lilly, but if Lilly gets it (like they have WTVG/WJRT) they would probably cut left and right and probably kick Don Alhart to the curve (like they did Bill Harris at WJRT).

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

Or how about this and I'm personally modifying.

 

How about this company, "Give Light, so the Rochesterians can find their own way"....... This company also owns a station smaller than Rochester. Just a thought.

 

If not this company, then Robert Allbritton's club or Lilly, but if Lilly gets it (like they have WTVG/WJRT) they would probably cut left and right and probably kick Don Alhart to the curve (like they did Bill Harris at WJRT).

 

 

Lilly seems like the most likely suitor...

 

Rochester seems like the kind of market they would buy a station in...and having a virtually identical logo to ABC castoff WTVG could be a major plus (if they decided to consolidate graphics)

 

The good news is that it's not a same-market sale like most of Newport's selloffs, so it would be a different owner in the market instead one who already owns stations...

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

WKRC's General manager is leaving, in the wake of Sinclair acquisition......

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/general-manager-les-vann-leaving-wkrc_b71622

 

Earlier, WPTY/WLMT's News Director Pete Jacobus left the station as well.

 

With Sinclair, it's only a matter of time before the deal is done. Same could go for the approved Nexstar stations as well.

[13WHAMfan 5]

I just thought of something... I know Hearst owns the Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT station WPTZ... perhaps they'd be interested in a top rated station in a mid-sized city? I doubt it though because I haven't heard of them buying anything as of late.

 

As for Lilly, yes it would be a good thing because it would still be a separate buying party so we would still have affiliates all owned by different companies (despite the Nexstar news agreement on Sinclair's WUHF FOX).