TVIntheDesert 183 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 I'm wondering if Sinclair had a part to play in the Media General-Young merger, i.e. if they were aggressively going after either or both companies before they decided to merge? Now that we know SBG was going hard for Belo (trying to take it from Gannett after the deal was announced) and was also likely the #2 bidder for Local TV LLC. If Sinclair had successfully got both those groups, they would have 201 stations right now assuming all deals were approved. Had Sinclair snatched Belo from the hands of Gannett, that would have probably ignited more outrage than the Allbritton deal (given the even more extreme overlap among their stations compared to Gannett's issues in St. Louis and Phoenix). They would have had to place a good chunk of the Fisher group into their shells. Now, it seems that they just want to pick a fight with the FCC and FTC just to say they did. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90817 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVIntheDesert 183 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 I do wonder if LIN's going to sell. They're private equity-backed (HM Capital Partners owns a huge chunk of stock, albeit most of it being of a non-voting variety), and there were rumblings that they were talking to Meredith about a merger... A LIN-Meredith merger seems logical to fend off a Sinclair takeover of either group, since Meredith Local Media is run by an ex-LIN exec and has other former LIN managers installed within the group. They would have to sell (or shell out) one of their stations in Hartford, though. But, that's Speculatron bait. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90818 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanewsguy 511 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 A LIN-Meredith merger seems logical to fend off a Sinclair takeover of either group, since Meredith Local Media is run by an ex-LIN exec and has other former LIN managers installed within the group. They would have to sell (or shell out) one of their stations in Hartford, though. But, that's Speculatron bait. LIN could just use its Vaughan shell for 'FSB. Both are good newscasts, but WTNH has the edge (content-wise) WFSB (ratings-wise). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90826 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 LIN could just use its Vaughan shell for 'FSB. Both are good newscasts, but WTNH has the edge (content-wise) WFSB (ratings-wise). I have strong doubt that LIN would use the Vaughan card for Hartford and Portland. Well, the worst scenario would be Portland could a triopoly bate, with KPTV having to be assigned to the shell, because KOIN & KPTV (Meredith also owns MyNet KPDX) are within the top-4. But I don't think it'll fly easily in Hartford if WFSB & WTNH (and let's not forget LIN also owns MyNet WCTX) are the two top stations in Connecticut. But in the case of both cities, all four news stations have very established news departments, and I doubt LIN would want to break any of that. Especially in Connecticut where both WFSB & WTNH competes well. Having them consolidate would turn heads in the state. Therefore, it's would be better for them to just spin-off, instead of having all the hassle of sitting and waiting on the greenlight for a very long time. Hartford is not like Topeka. Not by a longshot. If one get spun-off, it bet not be by those dirty heathens. Anybody but them. Hell, y'all can call Ms. Barr now and let PNS buy back WFSB. It used to be their flagship back in the day. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90830 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 In the crazy scenario that Sinclair had actually succeeded in getting Belo, as well as Local TV, for a total of 201 stations at this point (assuming they had no role in the Media General-Young deal and didn't try to take either company), they would have stations in 92 markets as well...plus many duopolies, triopolies and even quadropolies in a few cases. Forget the cap, that would put them close to, if not over, 50% coverage. Even with the UHF discount, they would be close to 30%. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90833 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 It makes us wonder where the money is coming from as well...secret donors? or are they just taking on endless debt? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90856 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 If the UHF discount is eliminated, than it shouldn't be since Sinclair would be decimal points shy of the 39% line and buying any of the aforementioned groups would easily put them over the top. If I'm not mistaken, past UHF discounts would be grandfathered, so S!nclair would still have a lot of breathing room. It makes us wonder where the money is coming from as well...secret donors? or are they just taking on endless debt? The latter. Cumulus Media is doing the same thing with the same tactic right about now, but Cumulus at least sells stations to third parties in order to get the equity to finance their absurd megadeals (ie, spinning off select stations to Townsquare valued at $250M in order to merge WestwoodOne - the former NBC, Mutual and RKO - into Cumulus Radio, the former ABC Radio). S!nclair is just taking on mountains of debt with no answer for it. If anyone is dumb enough to donate money to S!nclair, they deserve to lose their shirts. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90861 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVIntheDesert 183 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 It makes us wonder where the money is coming from as well...secret donors? or are they just taking on endless debt? I think several people have had the same thing come to mind. The Koch brothers? They wanted to buy the Tribune newspapers at one point, so they do have an interest for media. But, I doubt there's a conspiracy to secretly buy a stake in a TV group that is on a major buying spree to influence American pollitics. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90869 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I think several people have had the same thing come to mind. The Koch brothers? They wanted to buy the Tribune newspapers at one point, so they do have an interest for media. But, I doubt there's a conspiracy to secretly buy a stake in a TV group that is on a major buying spree to influence American pollitics. If the Koch brothers purchased a stake in S!nclair, everyone would have known about it and did this already... :beat: There's really nothing secret going on here. S!nclair is compulsively buying things for the sake of buying them, and they've always exploited the shell game loophole (which, again, is very much legal) to the hilt. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90887 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 If the Koch brothers purchased a stake in S!nclair, everyone would have known about it and did this already... :beat: There's really nothing secret going on here. S!nclair is compulsively buying things for the sake of buying them, and they've always exploited the shell game loophole (which, again, is very much legal) to the hilt. Yeah, but Sinclair (well...really their lawyers) told us that they don't play any of those shell games or exploit any loopholes, and that we hurt their feelings to suggest such an offensive thing. (Sinclair is really the TV equivalent of a drunken sailor) Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-90899 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breaking News 829 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Newsblues Headline 10.16.13 New owner Sinclair cleans house in Seattle So what going on at KOMO4 who are The Smith Bros getting rid of now since it part of the Sinclair Dynasty??? KOMO4 employees be prepared to be gutted like a fish. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91000 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I knew it! It was only a matter of time.... What did I say. They better get their resumes... I feel sorry for them. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91011 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 That will happen at most of their stations for sure. I am sure they had their resumes out. I wonder if the competition is hiring? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91021 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Newsblues Headline 10.16.13 New owner Sinclair cleans house in Seattle So what going on at KOMO4 who are The Smith Bros getting rid of now since it part of the Sinclair Dynasty??? KOMO4 employees be prepared to be gutted like a fish. Just wait until S!nclair's string of M&A luck runs out and the company collapses from within. Expect mass purging of employees on a Clear Channel-sized scale in the coming years as S!nclair winds up as the mother of all toxic assets. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91065 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Just wait until S!nclair's string of M&A luck runs out and the company collapses from within. Expect mass purging of employees on a Clear Channel-sized scale in the coming years as S!nclair winds up as the mother of all toxic assets. What would happen to all those stations if Sinclair collapses? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91067 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samantha 2895 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 In defense of Sinclair (!) here, KOMO was Fisher's crown jewel and an operation that might have been bloated. A lot of the cleaning could also be of redundant Fisher Broadcasting corporate positions. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91069 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 What would happen to all those stations if Sinclair collapses? They would likely follow the Clear Channel route in radio... where a handful of major market stations centralized voice tracking methods in ther "Premium Choice" service. NewsCentral 2.0, anyone? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91074 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Newsblues Headline 10.16.13 New owner Sinclair cleans house in Seattle So what going on at KOMO4 who are The Smith Bros getting rid of now since it part of the Sinclair Dynasty??? KOMO4 employees be prepared to be gutted like a fish. Wonder if KING, KIRO, or KCPQ are hiring? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91082 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC 7 Denver 1715 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Wonder if KING, KIRO, or KCPQ are hiring? KING/KONG may be. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91085 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 So Sinclair is once again taking the cheap approach and making KOMO a victim of their management. If this approach doesn't work in markets like Columbus or Dayton, why would they think it will work in a very ccompetitive market like Seattle where the competitors invest tons in their stations? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91101 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Sorry for the double post. Sometimes it doesn't post correctly on my phone Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91102 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVIntheDesert 183 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 KING/KONG may be. I don't think KING will be hiring until the day Gannett has the keys... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91107 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 I don't think KING will be hiring until the day Gannett has the keys... And you know how Gannett tries to cutback too. They might hire but, they might have to trim the fat meat too. Just sayin'. If the Deathstar have those keys, let's hope they won't be like those dirty devils of Maryland. But nothing will happen until the FCC greenlights it, and that alone still could be eons away. I wouldn't be shocked if we go past the start of 2014 before we see the light turning green. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91108 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 I don't think KING will be hiring until the day Gannett has the keys... I was thinking more like KIRO. Seems like a great opportunity to poach some viewers from KOMO (especially if KOMO's on-air product starts to degrade in quality) and finally get out of its third place rut. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91109 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 I was thinking more like KIRO. Seems like a great opportunity to poach some viewers from KOMO (especially if KOMO's on-air product starts to degrade in quality) and finally get out of its third place rut. That would be nice to see. It would also be nice if Tribune get their game up with Q13's newscast too. And I wouldn't be shocked if they get some hires if those devils start letting go folks. It would be KIRO 7's & KCPQ's time to shine. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12568-sinclairagain/page/35/#findComment-91110 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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