Sinclair...Again

[Mrtraveler01 738]

 

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.

 

I'm not sure how KDNL gets away with it then, they have hardly anything in terms of local affairs programming. They just carry the KSDK produced newscasts and paid programs from various local churches. That's about all they do in terms of local-affairs.

 

Surprisingly they haven't hosted a local current affairs program recently so this would be a step in a positive direction for KDNL.

 

But I'm not worried about KDNL not meeting it's FCC obligations, I'm just wondering what kind of parameters it sets for KDNL in terms of requiring them to have a local news program (and how it defines it to be exact) and if this current affairs program is some sort of loophole around that requirement now that it will be losing it's KSDK-produced newscasts come 1/1/2014.

 

(Yeah, I'm thinking about this too much probably but it caught my eye when we were talking about Great 38).

[CircleSeven 1955]

The FCC has greenlighted the Titan Stations going to SBG today, KMPH-KFRE, KPTM & KPTH. They are still waiting for the greenlight on the El Paso's TOC from Cunningham to Sinclair proper, making it the sister of KFOX 14.

 

This also leaves the Cunningham's TOC to Michael Anderson proper, WWCP, Barrington Stations, and the Allbritton Stations. The latter, we'll probably have to wait a good while for that. And yesterday, we'd reached the 6 month mark since the Barrington stations paperwork was posted.

[Samantha 2895]

 

I'm not sure how KDNL gets away with it then, they have hardly anything in terms of local affairs programming. They just carry the KSDK produced newscasts and paid programs from various local churches. That's about all they do in terms of local-affairs.

 

Surprisingly they haven't hosted a local current affairs program recently so this would be a step in a positive direction for KDNL.

 

But I'm not worried about KDNL not meeting it's FCC obligations, I'm just wondering what kind of parameters it sets for KDNL in terms of requiring them to have a local news program (and how it defines it to be exact) and if this current affairs program is some sort of loophole around that requirement now that it will be losing it's KSDK-produced newscasts come 1/1/2014.

 

(Yeah, I'm thinking about this too much probably but it caught my eye when we were talking about Great 38).

 

The ABC affiliate agreement just says "news Program". Again, as on page 20, the WLOS version:

 

"Station agrees to broadcast locally produced news Programs of at least one-half hour each leading into Monday through Friday broadcasts of: (i) ABC's morning news Program, (ii) ABC's evening news Program, and (iii) ABC's late night Programming. A failure to satisfy this requirement may, at ABC's option, result in a termination of this Agreement subject to notice and an opportunity to cure..."

 

The question is, then, what is a "locally produced news Program"?

[sanewsguy 511]

 

The ABC affiliate agreement just says "news Program". Again, as on page 20, the WLOS version:

 

"Station agrees to broadcast locally produced news Programs of at least one-half hour each leading into Monday through Friday broadcasts of: (i) ABC's morning news Program, (ii) ABC's evening news Program, and (iii) ABC's late night Programming. A failure to satisfy this requirement may, at ABC's option, result in a termination of this Agreement subject to notice and an opportunity to cure..."

 

The question is, then, what is a "locally produced news Program"?

 

Ultimately doesn't matter how ABC (a network) defines it. Somebody should find out what the FCC defines news/public affairs program as.

 

 

The FCC has greenlighted the Titan Stations going to SBG today, KMPH-KFRE, KPTM & KPTH. They are still waiting for the greenlight on the El Paso's TOC from Cunningham to Sinclair proper, making it the sister of KFOX 14.

 

This also leaves the Cunningham's TOC to Michael Anderson proper, WWCP, Barrington Stations, and the Allbritton Stations. The latter, we'll probably have to wait a good while for that. And yesterday, we'd reached the 6 month mark since the Barrington stations paperwork was posted.

 

Taking forever on Barrington. Sinclair should just cut a deal to operate the stations already and put the stations out of their misery they've had under Barrington...

[GoldenShine9 1513]

 

The FCC has greenlighted the Titan Stations going to SBG today, KMPH-KFRE, KPTM & KPTH. They are still waiting for the greenlight on the El Paso's TOC from Cunningham to Sinclair proper, making it the sister of KFOX 14.

 

This also leaves the Cunningham's TOC to Michael Anderson proper, WWCP, Barrington Stations, and the Allbritton Stations. The latter, we'll probably have to wait a good while for that. And yesterday, we'd reached the 6 month mark since the Barrington stations paperwork was posted.

 

Those are probably moving quicker since they have fewer (or no) conflicts.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

SBG is taking out another loan, $1.2 billion, perhaps for its next acquisition:

 

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sinclair-to-raise-additional-term-loan-and-revolving-commitments-and-amend-certain-terms-224385071.html

[roscoryan 21]

Some thoughts from USA Today:

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/19/sinclair-broadcast/2819599/

[hathawaynson2 39]

 

The FCC has greenlighted the Titan Stations going to SBG today, KMPH-KFRE, KPTM & KPTH. They are still waiting for the greenlight on the El Paso's TOC from Cunningham to Sinclair proper, making it the sister of KFOX 14.

 

This also leaves the Cunningham's TOC to Michael Anderson proper, WWCP, Barrington Stations, and the Allbritton Stations. The latter, we'll probably have to wait a good while for that. And yesterday, we'd reached the 6 month mark since the Barrington stations paperwork was posted.

 

I wonder what happens if the Barrington Stations paperwork reaches the 7th month mark? would this mean the deal is off???

[Samantha 2895]

 

I wonder what happens if the Barrington Stations paperwork reaches the 7th month mark? would this mean the deal is off???

 

Nothing. There are some Sinclair filings that have sat with the FCC for years on end.

[CircleSeven 1955]

I wonder what happens if the Barrington Stations paperwork reaches the 7th month mark? would this mean the deal is off???

Even if it's a full year (which I don't think it'll sit that that long), I don't think they'll relinquish the deal. One thing is because Barrington was basically a "dormant" station group company, that didn't do much infrastructure since acquiring it from Raycom. Only one station in that whole group is HD (WACH).

 

Both Barrington & Granite fits the "dormant" category. Four Points was in that same boat, they had to bring Nexstar to operate those stations.

 

Nothing. There are some Sinclair filings that have sat with the FCC for years on end.

One case in point, WNAB. Sinclair wanted to acquire the station under a failed station waiver, while they already had a duopoly, WZTV & WUXP. The paperwork have been sitting there since July 2005.

[Rusty Muck 4374]

It's a radio-related story, but this concerns the S!nclair of radio, Cumulus Media. And it's big (emphasis mine):

 

 

Update 9/20: The FCC has rejected the sale of 104.1 KTDK Sanger to Whitley Media.

Stating that the license transfer is not a true sale in that all economic risk would remain with Cumulus as Whitley would get the same brokerage fee regardless of the price he sells the station for, Cumulus would remain the defacto owner of the station.

 

 

The APA, by providing for Whitley to be reimbursed out of the sale proceeds for any losses and expenses he incurs in operating the Station, makes it clear that all of the economic risk of operating the Station would remain with Cumulus. Likewise, because Whitley is required to remit to Cumulus all of the proceeds from the sale of the Station, less his expenses and his brokerage fee, Cumulus would retain all of the risk of loss and potential for profit from the sale of the Station to a third party. Whitley will receive his brokerage fee and no more, whether the Station is sold for $1 million or $10 million. Given these “economic realities,” we conclude that the agreement between Cumulus and Whitley cannot be reasonably characterized as a proposed $100 sale of the Station to Whitley and that Cumulus would remain the owner of the Station.

Cumulus spun-off KTDK to Whitley in order to LMA 103.3 KESN from ESPN. That LMA was set to begin as soon as the KTDK spinoff to Whitley closed. Now both are on-hold indefinitely.

[Samantha 2895]

 

It's a radio-related story, but this concerns the S!nclair of radio, Cumulus Media. And it's big (emphasis mine):

 

I think the radio LMAs are different: I think radio LMAs and time brokerage agreements actually count toward ownership limits.

[TexasTVNews 1377]

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/change-in-federal-rules-could-impact-sinclair-broadcast-groups-expansion_b104702

[TVIntheDesert 183]

 

It's a radio-related story, but this concerns the S!nclair of radio, Cumulus Media. And it's big (emphasis mine):

 

 

I've still think (to this day) that Clear Channel is the Sinclair of radio, because the companies operate so similarly, in terms of size and political bent. Cumulus is the Nexstar of radio, in my opinion.

[ToriElectra 292]

Man, it's weird how Cumulus has bloated up over the past couple of years, espically considering it's what used to be ABC Radio.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

Up to 162 stations for Sinclair (not sure what the other 4 stations are, it was 149 after Allbritton, 150 with a side deal in Altoona-State College, now +8 should be 158). Still enormous to say the least and surely they are not done...

 

http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/New%20Age%20-%20Press%20Release.pdf

 

None are high-rated stations anyway (WCTV dominates Tallahassee, WNEP dominates Scranton-Wilkes-Barre and WCJB dominates Gainesville) so it is a fairly cheap deal.

[Samantha 2895]

These are stations that will require SBGI investment. The Gainesville one I think has its news produced by INN. Both WTLF and WOLF boast news produced by someone else (WCTV and WBRE respectively).

[GoldenShine9 1513]

 

These are stations that will require SBGI investment. The Gainesville one I think has its news produced by INN. Both WTLF and WOLF boast news produced by someone else (WCTV and WBRE respectively).

 

I would expect the WTLF-WCTV combination to end; I don't think Gray gets along well with Sinclair. WOLF-WBRE might continue as Nexstar has several agreements with Sinclair (and vice versa).

[CircleSeven 1955]

It was no shock that New Age wanted out. It was more clear after they sold it Maine properties. So SBG will be in two new markets (Scranton & Gainesville), while expanding in Tallahassee. Now what they have to do is to start up in-house news ops in the two Florida markets, since the Gainesville situation is outsourced in Iowa, and WTLH's news is produced by Gray's WCTV. I strongly doubt that news agreement will last long post-transaction. It would be nice if they put in some capital and have WTWC/WTLH have their own news ops. there.

 

And I see another Sinclair/Nexstar alliance, with Nexstar on the driver's seat. They'll probably won't do much with the NEPA situation, but to just let Nexstar produce its 10pm news for them. So I expect this arrangement there to be a status quo. I don't think the arrangement will go further like a full fledge LMA/JSA/SSA, like the other markets (which I think some of those are getting ready to expire soon).

 

What I'm really shocked that these acquisitions didn't include the Chattanooga stations WFLI/WDSI. After all, WTVC provides its 10pm news to WFLI every weeknight. Are there other buyers who's eyeing WFLI/WDSI. Or could this fear heavy opposition from the other stations in that market.

.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

 

It was no shock that New Age wanted out. It was more clear after they sold it Maine properties. So SBG will be in two new markets (Scranton & Gainesville), while expanding in Tallahassee. Now what they have to do is to start up in-house news ops in the two Florida markets, since the Gainesville situation is outsourced in Iowa, and WTLH's news is produced by Gray's WCTV. I strongly doubt that news agreement will last long post-transaction. It would be nice if they put in some capital and have WTWC/WTLH have their own news ops. there.

 

And I see another Sinclair/Nexstar alliance, with Nexstar on the driver's seat. They'll probably won't do much with the NEPA situation, but to just let Nexstar produce its 10pm news for them. So I expect this arrangement there to be a status quo. I don't think the arrangement will go further like a full fledge LMA/JSA/SSA, like the other markets (which I think some of those are getting ready to expire soon).

 

What I'm really shocked that these acquisitions didn't include the Chattanooga stations WFLI/WDSI. After all, WTVC provides its 10pm news to WFLI every weeknight. Are there other buyers who's eyeing WFLI/WDSI. Or could this fear heavy opposition from the other stations in that market.

.

 

That puzzles me too...maybe an oversight or planning for a future deal? But that would require 2 shells to do.

 

162 stations is downright crazy though...how can anyone manage that much? That's got to be over 15% of all major and semi-major commercial stations in all markets in America! (based on an average of 5 in each market once averaging large and small markets).

[sanewsguy 511]

 

That puzzles me too...maybe an oversight or planning for a future deal? But that would require 2 shells to do.

 

162 stations is downright crazy though...how can anyone manage that much? That's got to be over 15% of all major and semi-major commercial stations in all markets in America! (based on an average of 5 in each market once averaging large and small markets).

 

Living in a Sinclair market, they've managed to make it work. Sinclair LOVES standardization, not just in news sets, graphics, voiceovers, and music. Most of their stations (particularly their CW/Mynet stations) air "Thursday Night Lights".

 

Most have the Mark Hyman town halls and commentaries. Almost all air the "Right Side with Armstrong Williams" (whether they bury it in the "graveyard slot" like KMYS is a different question).

 

Almost all air "Ring of Honor Wrestling" (which is painful to watch by the way, and I don't like wrestling to begin with, hell WWE is much better).

 

As was pointed out earlier,

 

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/

 

they even standardize public affairs shows. Although KABB/KMYS airs something similar to this weekend mornings at 5:30AM, they call it "Focus on South Texas". Same concept though.

 

They standardize syndicated shows and keep spending to a bare minimum.

 

And they all have that god-awful in-house CMS (except KOKH).

 

Basically they micromanage all 162 stations from Baltimore. It's difficult I'm sure but they've managed to make it work. That's why they have regional group managers (KABB/WOAI's John Seabers happens to be one of them, overseeing all the Texas stations and I think OKC as well).

 

They basically use the stations to suck what little ad revenue (coming mostly from the car dealerships and the politicians) they can get out of the stations plus retrans thereby making the Smiths of Baltimore richer.

 

They are bulking up for purposes of retrans (so they have more to bring to the table as they have more stations).

 

While I'm not in the position to question Sinclair's business strategy because I have nothing to do with them, personally I think 162 is a little much. No, I don't want to pressure the FCC to stop them or whatever.

 

Sinclair can figure out on their own when enough's enough, and I'm betting the end result won't be pretty...

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

 

Living in a Sinclair market, they've managed to make it work. Sinclair LOVES standardization, not just in news sets, graphics, voiceovers, and music. Most of their stations (particularly their CW/Mynet stations) air "Thursday Night Lights".

 

 

I know WABM up in Birmingham airs "TNL"....but WJTC has been running a "Game of the Week" on Friday nights for as long as they've been independent (it used to be a co-production with Comcast Cable but that went away when Comcast shut down production in Mobile back in 2009). I think it's an in-house production since it's still in 4x3 SD while Birmingham (and possibly other markets) outsources it to a production company.

[sanewsguy 511]

 

I know WABM up in Birmingham airs "TNL"....but WJTC has been running a "Game of the Week" on Friday nights for as long as they've been independent (it used to be a co-production with Comcast Cable but that went away when Comcast shut down production in Mobile back in 2009). I think it's an in-house production since it's still in 4x3 SD while Birmingham (and possibly other markets) outsources it to a production company.

 

KMYS' version of "TNL" is all in-house as far as I know. They do rent a production truck from Jones Mobile Television but use their only SNG vehicle to send the signal back to KMYS/KABB. At master control commercials are inserted and the 4:3 picture is stretched to fill the screen.

 

The director, graphics operator, camera people, field crew, producers, etc., are all KABB employees (yes, they even use one of their account executives as a camera operator).

 

WABM probably outsources it to another production company due to lack of in-house production operations/no newsroom. That'll probably end once Sinclair takes over WBMA from Allbritton.

 

"Game of the Week" is a holdover from the Newport days and they've managed to keep it because Sinclair already does the same thing in most other markets (although it's on Thursdays because school districts are more willing to allow the Thursday game to be broadcast over the Friday game, and in Texas, it is forbidden to telecast high school football on Fridays, but it's permitted any other day).

[broadcastfan9751 140]

According to the FCC database, the licensee names for the Fisher stations have changed to reflect Sinclair's ownership, but they apparently decided not to go with the Sinclair standard "KXXX Licensee, LLC" name, instead opting to use names like "Sinclair Media of (city/state), LLC". Also, it doesn't appear that there were any applications filed with the FCC for this.

 

Examples:

 

KOMO is now using "Sinclair Media of Seattle, LLC"

 

KATU is now using "Sinclair Television of Portland, LLC"

 

KUNS is now using "Sinclair Broadcasting of Seattle, LLC"

 

The radio stations are now using "Sinclair Radio of Seattle, LLC"

[tyrannical bastard 3951]

The oversight of WFLI/WDSI is somewhat head-scratching....but it could be the start of YET ANOTHER deal that the Boys from Baltimore (or the Honchos of Hunt Valley) are scheming....

 

As for Gainesville and Tallahassee, could they a part of the new Chesapeake subsidiary, should it ever get off the ground and Barrington ever get sold? If the FCC starts restricting ownership, you know that they are going to pull this card, in effect, starting an "entirely different" company with "different" management...that could also shell out stations on their own!

 

This whole New Age deal seems like an excuse to prop up WTWC, which has suffered for years and was even rumored to be for sale a few years back.