Sinclair...Again

[Thundershock MN 169]

I'm going to say this outright and realize that they have to air the Newscasts under their affiliation clause and not have it pre-recorded from an NBC affiliate and I am happy that SInclair is investing in a news and information program for KDNL for them to retain ABC.

There is nothing to stop them from outsourcing it. They just might not be able to find a new partner.

 

I'm also curious if KSDK may be compelled to end their news agreement with KDNL so as to help win favor with the FCC in clearing the Belo/Gannett merger. Even as the KMOV shell spinoff still raises concern with me.

 

If that was the case, KDNL may have no other option but to restart something loosely resembling a news op.

That's the whole reason...period! I posted this earlier in the thread:

 

First, this quote from the article "A Gannett spokesman said the decision to end the partnership is unrelated to Gannett's announcement last week that it is acquiring Belo Corp. of Dallas, which owns KMOV Channel 4 in St. Louis." is complete BS. Of course it does! Gannett is going to draw some scrutiny with it's Belo purchase and the STL market in particular. They are trying to convince everyone that Sander/Tucker will be operating the stations separetely. By all accounts Sander/Tucker's roles are basically going to be like a trustee, for lack of a better term. There is no reason to draw additional attention to yourself with another news share agreement in the same market. I don't expect them to say "Yep, our Sander's purchase of KMOV is why we did this" as that would draw an even more watchful eye. But, let's be real here this was all because of the Belo purchase.

 

And, they aren't getting just "some scrutiny" as I originally expected but a fullblown FCC/DOJ enema. Gannett would have gladly kept taking S!nclair's money but, they knew it wasn't going to fly.

 

Wasn't the Gannett-Belo deal done after the agreement was ripped up? Plus we aren't sure if Gannett will be allowed to keep both KMOV and KSDK, there may easily be a forced divestiture/trade clause in the final deal.

 

It may be a combination of both the Gannett-Belo deal plus the internal assumption that Sinclair was going to acquire the Local TV LLC stations and put KDNL with KTVI.

The two events occurred in the same week a few days apart from one another. But I think you're right, it was a combination of the Belo-Gannett deal as well as Sinclair assuming it was going to get KTVI via Local TV.

 

Now it looks like Sinclair is scrambling to get some sort of newscast on KDNL on 1/1/2014 so it can still honor its affiliation agreement.

The Belo deal was announced June 13th. The KSDK/KNDL newscast agreement announcement was June 20th. So, exactly one week later.

 

I don't think S!nclair assumed they were getting KTVI. They may have liked to but, I really don't think they thought it was a sure thing. Plus, As I've stated elsewhere KTVI was in a wierd situation with the KPLR LMA adding another layer. It might have involved working (or negotiating a sale) with another party, Tribune.

 

S!nclair was by all accounts blindsided. Gannett/KSDK unilaterally terminated the agreement (which I'm sure is within their right to do.) So, I don't think S!nclair agreed to it because they thought a KTVI purchase was in the bag. They were handed a letter that said "We're Out". They had no say in the matter.

 

I posted S!nclair's options earlier in the thread. Again, operating under the theory that their afffliation agreement with ABC contains a "newscast clause" I'll repost these options:

 

1. Purchase KTVI(/KPLR by way of the LMA) and fold their operations into KDNL. This would be a worst case scenario for folks in the STL market as it could potentially leave them with only 2 tv news voices. The KMOV/KSDK combo & the combo of KTVI/KPLR/KDNL. That said I think the valuation of the Local TV properties makes it much less likely for a Sinclair purchase. Therefore, I see this as the least likely option.

2. Partner with another station in the market. Again that basically leads you to the KTVI/KPLR combo. Depending on who purchases KTVI(/KPLR by way of the LMA) this may or may not be an option.

3. Partner with a sister station hire and few reporters at KDNL to file reports. Picture something along the lines of the old KUTV - WTVX arrangement. Sinclair will soon have 2 respected ABC affliates in the Pacific Time Zone, KATU & KOMO. So, in theory KDNL could partner with either KATU or KOMO, allowing them to produce the newscasts from their facilities with reports from the field reporters in STL. And, due to the time zone difference the newscasts could potentially be done live with little to no disruption to KATU or KOMO's newscasts. Right now if I was hazarding a guess I'd think some variation of this is most likely.

4. Restart an in-house operation. As I stated earlier in the thread, this could be a bit of a bessing in disguise. If ABC has a "newscast clause" written into their agreement w/ KDNL/Sinclair (which I think they do) this could essentially force them to restart an in-house operation if they can't find a new partner. And, the "marketplace" that caused KDNL to abandon their newscasts has changed drastically since then. The consolidation in the STL market could present an opportunity to gain a foothold this time around.

5. Beg ABC to release them from said "newscast clause." If ABC did finally put this into the affliation agreement I'd be shocked if they let them out. Especially when it appears ABC allowed them to do the bare mininum amount of news in order to get the "newscast clause" into the affliation agreement.

 

So, they only have 3 options left and #5 seems highly unlikely. If it was up to me I'd go with option #3 to start with the goal of working towards option #4. It would spare the Fisher stations from the seemingly inevitable layoffs as they would be doing double the output. It would give KDNL a solid presentation and production value vs. rushing to start something in-house. You could have a dedicated anchor team for the KNDL newscasts. Have them periodically do appearences in the STL market. And, once they get a foundation built they can move the whole operation to STL. It's really the best of both worlds (or close to) as S!nclair would have little risk vs. dumping a large amount of cash into a full scale new operation. S!nclair could instead make incremental investments as they go which is much more palatable. STL viewers would have a polished newscast vs. one quickly slapped together.

 

So, here we are Sinclair is looking to establish some sort of "newsroom" at KDNL. To what extent, IDK. The job jostings referenced by tyrannical bastard are here, here & here. IDK, but my first thought reading the tea leaves (job discriptions) makes me think it might be a morning show.

[Thundershock MN 169]

 

I'd hate to see Sinclair buy KLAS but its a good opportunity for them. I still want to know where all of this money is coming from.

 

Plus if they get a hold of KRNV, that will certainly be the end of the KTVU simulcasts on KRXI.

 

Banks or cash reserves. Interest rates are really low right now. It is favorable market to borrow money for investments. On the flip side if you are sitting on piles of cash interest rates are so low it's more favorable to spend your money on new investments in order grow your money.

 

So, Intermountain West's Jim Rogers states he has no near term plans to sell there remaining stations, including KSNV. But,then your President/COO, Ralph Toddre, says “We’re nowhere near being close to any agreement,” he continued “It’s just conversations” with regard Reno's KRNV being sold. Then Toddre says it’s “absolutely not” KSNV being sold. And, Rogers said there was no contract with Sinclair for the Reno station, but did not deny that there are some discussions going on.

 

So, your not selling your stations but, you admit to having conversations about selling....OK...talk about doulble speak. And, your having conversations but, not with Sinclair...huh? Who's really left to talk to? And, if your looking to sell oops "have conversations" wouldn't your first call be to Hunt Valley. And, I'm supposed to believe you when you say your not selling the remaining stations...well except that that station in Reno but, that doesn't count. But, seriously we aren't selling in Las Vegas, really. And, That dumping of syndicated programming on KSNV is really just a good long term plan and not making the books look better for an eventual sale.

 

I think the cat got let out of the bag and the deal isn't "done" quite yet.

[broadcastfan9751 140]

 

http://mobile.broadcastingcable.com/blog/Station_to_Station/33947-Could_Reno_Conversations_Lead_to_Next_Sinclair_Deal_.php

 

B&C seems to think another deal or two is forthcoming - Sinclair looks to be talking to gain KRNV Reno and an unspecified station (not KSNV) in Las Vegas.

 

 

KLAS would make sense as Landmark owns it and wants to sell it but doesn't believe it would get full market value given the depressed market in Las Vegas (albeit improving slowly), and that is what the article suggests is most likely.

 

Sinclair has a duopoly of netlets in the market, but no Big 4 stations and no newscasts. One of KVCW or KVMY would need to be sold or shelled.

 

If either of these deals happen, expect another petition to deny from Free Press since it would give Sinclair a triopoly in both markets (In Reno, Sinclair own KRXI and operates Deerfield's KAME, while in Vegas, Sinclair owns KVCW and KVMY).

 

As for KLAS, when the sale of WTVF was originally announced, Landmark stated that KLAS wasn't for sale, but said that could change if it found a buyer that understands the Las Vegas market. And of course, Sinclair already owns KVCW and KVMY, so it seems like the perfect opportunity for Landmark to cash out.

[Mrtraveler01 738]

So, here we are Sinclair is looking to establish some sort of "newsroom" at KDNL. To what extent, IDK. The job jostings referenced by tyrannical bastard are here, here & here. IDK, but my first thought reading the tea leaves (job discriptions) makes me think it might be a morning show.

 

The job descriptions keep saying "new information and talk show". I'm starting to wonder if its less of a traditional newscast and more like something that Belo did in NOLA when they axed a traditional WWL 9 PM newscast for a news/talk program called The 504.

 

http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2013/04/wwl-tv-produced_9_pm_newscast.html

[Samantha 2895]

 

If either of these deals happen, expect another petition to deny from Free Press since it would give Sinclair a triopoly in both markets (In Reno, Sinclair own KRXI and operates Deerfield's KAME, while in Vegas, Sinclair owns KVCW and KVMY).

 

As for KLAS, when the sale of WTVF was originally announced, Landmark stated that KLAS wasn't for sale, but said that could change if it found a buyer that understands the Las Vegas market. And of course, Sinclair already owns KVCW and KVMY, so it seems like the perfect opportunity for Landmark to cash out.

 

This is Landmark's last television station. I think they are seeing the economies of scale issue in local TV and know they don't stand a chance, even waiting for better economic times.

 

IWCC is just three station units right now:

 

-KSNV, Jim Rogers's baby

-KRNV, which is a good medium-market acquisition (and fits what SBG is doing)

-Beartooth NBC (KTVH+), which strangely wasn't sold to Frontier. I have no idea why this station isn't being sold.

 

Something tells me there are problems at IWCC. Even though I've heard from others that they're doing better now, they've shed half their portfolio with possible further sales, KSNV is shedding its syndies, and they're hanging on to Beartooth NBC.

[effseesee 101]

If he sells Reno, somebody's offering a decent number for it. It's likely that it will also mean the end of the tiny news bureau in Elko.

[Mrtraveler01 738]

I just happened to notice this but it looks like that WPEC is using the same time/temp/ticker graphic that the other Sinclair stations are using.

 

Is this a sign of newly acquired stations like WPEC picking up the Sinclair graphics package?

 

 

http://widget.newsinc.com/fullplayerwvars.html?wid=4299&cid=506&spid=25106705&freewheel=90615&sitesection=wkeftv_wld

[sanewsguy 511]

Probably not. That news ticker looks nice compared to the crap KABB uses (they use something completely different).

[Mrtraveler01 738]

 

Probably not. That news ticker looks nice compared to the crap KABB uses (they use something completely different).

 

True. It's actually pretty nice for a Sinclair graphic.

 

I only asked because I've seen this ticker on WKEF/WRGT as well as WCHS.

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

Here's WEAR's news ticker...even though it's from 2011 it's still being used today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5fe1JqGsjE

 

It sort of reflect's Sinclair's (legacy station) lower thirds, but I'm thinking it's some ready-to-use template after seeing this from WHIZ-TV in Zanesville, OH. It comes up at :24,

(you can also enjoy this micro-market meltdown as the anchor clearly forgot her mic...)

[Mrtraveler01 738]

 

Here's WEAR's news ticker...even though it's from 2011 it's still being used today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5fe1JqGsjE

 

It sort of reflect's Sinclair's (legacy station) lower thirds, but I'm thinking it's some ready-to-use template after seeing this from WHIZ-TV in Zanesville, OH. It comes up at :24,

(you can also enjoy this micro-market meltdown as the anchor clearly forgot her mic...)

 

Haha, you can tell by the look on her face that she was wondering if she had her mic on or not and then the look on her face when she finally realizes "oh s**t I don't have my mic on". Gotta love small town news.

 

It does look like she has a job in broadcasting still, she's at WTVG in Toledo now. Which is good because we all make mistake (and this time no one cussed).

 

BTW: Here are the examples of WCHS and WRGT which seem to use a ticker design similar to the one that WPEC now uses.

 

 

[AaronQ 282]

Here's WEAR's news ticker...even though it's from 2011 it's still being used today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5fe1JqGsjE

 

It sort of reflect's Sinclair's (legacy station) lower thirds, but I'm thinking it's some ready-to-use template after seeing this from WHIZ-TV in Zanesville, OH. It comes up at :24,

(you can also enjoy this micro-market meltdown as the anchor clearly forgot her mic...)

WLOS in Asheville used that ticker as well.

[hathawaynson2 39]

I ran into an RBR/TVBR article regarding Sinclair and Cunningham and I noticed this;

"Cunningham is stepping in as buyer for Chesapeake Television Inc.,"

 

I don't know if Cunningham is buying stations for Chesapeake or not or going through an name change of some sort.

 

here is the article if anyone is interested in reading it:

http://rbr.com/sinclair-spins-to-cunningham-hsh/

[CircleSeven 1955]

 

I ran into an RBR/TVBR article regarding Sinclair and Cunningham and I noticed this;

"Cunningham is stepping in as buyer for Chesapeake Television Inc.,"

 

I don't know if Cunningham is buying stations for Chesapeake or not or going through an name change of some sort.

 

here is the article if anyone is interested in reading it:

http://rbr.com/sinclair-spins-to-cunningham-hsh/

 

Since Chesapeake is a subsidiary of Sinclair, and assuming that WJAC will be part of the new subsidiary once everything gets formed post-M&A, Cunningham is buying the license to competing station WWCP. So its basically saying that there buying the station "on behalf of". It doesn't say that Cunningham is buying Chesapeake.

 

Speaking of which, on the 18th this month will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, SIX months since the Barrington applications was filed (it was filed March 18, and that's now longer than the length of time for the LIN/New Vision deal to get approved). And as you've witnessed, it is still waiting on that greenlight from the FCC. The ComCorp apps were filed on May 6, so that's over four months. So throughout all that time, the only big deals that gotten approvals, since March was the smaller Cox stations and the Fisher stations. I'm not counting those bigger deals that were filed from June onward, since those are now docketed.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

 

Since Chesapeake is a subsidiary of Sinclair, and assuming that WJAC will be part of the new subsidiary once everything gets formed post-M&A, Cunningham is buying the license to competing station WWCP. So its basically saying that there buying the station "on behalf of". It doesn't say that Cunningham is buying Chesapeake.

 

Speaking of which, on the 18th this month will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, SIX months since the Barrington applications was filed (it was filed March 18, and that's now longer than the length of time for the LIN/New Vision deal to get approved). And as you've witnessed, it is still waiting on that greenlight from the FCC. The ComCorp apps were filed on May 6, so that's over four months. So throughout all that time, the only big deals that gotten approvals, since March was the smaller Cox stations and the Fisher stations. I'm not counting those bigger deals that were filed from June onward, since those are now docketed.

 

The Fisher and Cox deals were clean ones if I recall correctly, as in they had minimal conflicts. The ComCorp and Barrington deals have significant conflicts so that may be the holdup - could they deny them or order divestment?

[CircleSeven 1955]

 

The Fisher and Cox deals were clean ones if I recall correctly, as in they had minimal conflicts. The ComCorp and Barrington deals have significant conflicts so that may be the holdup - could they deny them or order divestment?

 

I have not seen any transactions getting officially denied, but it has been held up. I think it probably had something to do with Sinclair having to divesting WSYT to Brady. But it doesn't explain about the Peoria situation. The Flint situation would give them a virtual triopoly (WEYI-WSMH-WBSF). On the Comcorp station, virtual triplesticks would be formed in Evansville & Shreveport, yet I haven't seen any petitions of deny of those applications.

 

Also I never seen the FCC ordering a station group to divest a station forcefully. And sadly, I don't see them doing that. I think there big goal is to eliminating the UHF discount and get this auction stuff going next year.

[broadcastfan9751 140]

 

I have not seen any transactions getting officially denied, but it has been held up. I think it probably had something to do with Sinclair having to divesting WSYT to Brady. But it doesn't explain about the Peoria situation. The Flint situation would give them a virtual triopoly (WEYI-WSMH-WBSF). On the Comcorp station, virtual triplesticks would be formed in Evansville & Shreveport, yet I haven't seen any petitions of deny of those applications.

 

Also I never seen the FCC ordering a station group to divest a station forcefully. And sadly, I don't see them doing that. I think there big goal is to eliminating the UHF discount and get this auction stuff going next year.

 

That's probably what's holding it up, because the FCC is prohibited by statute from approving a sale for 45 days after the application has been filed except for Form 316 "Pro Forma" assignment applications. And of course, Sinclair can't buy WSTM unless it sells WSYT, so it will probably be another two weeks or so before the FCC approves it.

[LTSC1980 112]

WTTA become first Sinclair-owned myTV station drop "myTV" branding recently. It has renamed to Great 38.

[Nelson R. 569]

WTTA become first Sinclair-owned myTV station drop "myTV" branding recently. It has renamed to Great 38.

We'll see if WMYA, WRDC and WMYV follow suit.

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

I doubt WFGX will drop their "My35" branding, especially because they are now sister stations with independent WJTC "UTV 44" over in Mobile.

[hathawaynson2 39]

Hmmm... seems interesting, WSTR dropped the my 64 branding for Star 64.

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

 

Hmmm... seems interesting, WSTR dropped the my 64 branding for Star 64.

 

They've had that branding for a while now....it goes back to when the station was "Star 64" up until they lost UPN and replaced it with the WB when Sinclair dumped UPN from most of their stations back in 1998.

 

WRDC does something similar...they refer to themselves as "myRDC" using a MyNetwork-esque logo...

[Mrtraveler01 738]

 

WTTA become first Sinclair-owned myTV station drop "myTV" branding recently. It has renamed to Great 38.

 

One of the new programs being offered with the rebranding is a current affairs program called "Our Issues Tampa Bay"

 

http://www.great38.com/sections/community/features/right_now/

 

Further research shows that there are versions of this in Pittsburgh and Minneapolis as well.

 

http://www.thecwtc.com/sections/community/features/our-issues/

http://www.wpgh53.com/shared/sections/community/features/our_issues_pittsburgh/

 

I bring this up because we were discussing some open positions at KDNL for a new "news and talk program" earlier in this thread and I wonder if this means that we'll be seeing "Our Issues: St. Louis" instead of a brand new newscast.

 

That being said, I think this was a good idea on Sinclair's part to distance itself from the My Network branding, since it's pretty worthless anyways. Hopefully we'll see more of the CW and My Network affiliates have a local identity.

[TVIntheDesert 183]

KVCW Las Vegas was "Gold 33" as KFBT before it took The CW. KVMY is currently called "My LVTV" - they could always drop the "My" and refer to themselves as "LVTV 21" (because "Gold 21" doesn't have much of a ring to it).

[sanewsguy 511]

 

One of the new programs being offered with the rebranding is a current affairs program called "Our Issues Tampa Bay"

 

http://www.great38.com/sections/community/features/right_now/

 

Further research shows that there are versions of this in Pittsburgh and Minneapolis as well.

 

http://www.thecwtc.com/sections/community/features/our-issues/

http://www.wpgh53.com/shared/sections/community/features/our_issues_pittsburgh/

 

I bring this up because we were discussing some open positions at KDNL for a new "news and talk program" earlier in this thread and I wonder if this means that we'll be seeing "Our Issues: St. Louis" instead of a brand new newscast.

 

That being said, I think this was a good idea on Sinclair's part to distance itself from the My Network branding, since it's pretty worthless anyways. Hopefully we'll see more of the CW and My Network affiliates have a local identity.

 

Only reason these exist is because the FCC requires a certain amount of local public affairs programming be produced. At your major station, that would be the local newscast. But for stations that can't produce news for whatever reason usually come up with this in order to maintain the license.