montydavis 7 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Seriously what are the chances the Sinclair-Allbritton deal will go sour? Dave is hinting at a Hearst takeover. :party: Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90842 Share on other sites More sharing options...
localnewswatch 6 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Seriously what are the chances the Sinclair-Allbritton deal will go sour? Dave is hinting at a Hearst takeover. :party: I think, because it IS legal, it would eventually go through. But, I think it's going to have so many problems with the FCC that Allbritton and Sinclair will probably end up calling it quits. I still wouldn't be surprised to see Sinclair keep the stations. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90852 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BehindNYNews 147 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 I just really want WJLA to be picked up by ABC Local. It is such an important market. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90853 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickp 337 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 ABC can buy themselves WJLA as a way for Sinclair to not have to deal with anti competitive behavior and a quadrology of owning ABC in Washington and owning and controlling FOX, CW and MYNET in Baltimore within a 60 mile radius between Washington DC and Baltimore Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90857 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTVNews 1377 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Â I just really want WJLA to be picked up by ABC Local. It is such an important market. Â You not the only person who wants to see ABC/Disney buy WJLA, I second that. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90858 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 I just really want WJLA to be picked up by ABC Local. It is such an important market. But what happens to NC8? ABC has zero, I repeat ZERO, experience in running cable news channels. (The ABC News Now specialty channel doesn't count.) Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90860 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC 7 Denver 1717 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Â But what happens to NC8? ABC has zero, I repeat ZERO, experience in running cable news channels. (The ABC News Now specialty channel doesn't count.) Â Spun off to COX. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90863 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 But what happens to NC8? ABC has zero, I repeat ZERO, experience in running cable news channels. (The ABC News Now specialty channel doesn't count.) Spun off to COX. Or to Hubbard as a TV brand extension of WTOP? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90864 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Â Or to Hubbard as a TV brand extension of WTOP? Â Hubbard doesn't seem that interested in TV right now. Â I think their strategy is to expand their radio operations. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90866 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Even if Sinclair backs off, they could piece out NC8 and isolate it from WJLA though, since they seemed to want it REALLY bad... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90868 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanewsguy 511 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013  But what happens to NC8? ABC has zero, I repeat ZERO, experience in running cable news channels. (The ABC News Now specialty channel doesn't count.)  Why does experience running a cable news channel matter? Maybe they could take it on to get that experience. It's probably not likely, but I'm just saying. Sinclair has no experience either and they REALLY want NC8. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90870 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToriElectra 292 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Maybe give to Verizon to help supplement FiOS 1 (since unlike in NJ and LI, it never seemed to air news and mainly functions as sports overflow, with this they could really expand it). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90871 Share on other sites More sharing options...
montydavis 7 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Well, I'm hoping that Hearst ends up with them. Sinclair's plan is really to saturate the air with right-wing propaganda for the 2014 and 2016 elections with these purchases. Whether it would work or not is still unseen (since our country is not the same as in the Reagan era). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90872 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanewsguy 511 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Â Well, I'm hoping that Hearst ends up with them. Sinclair's plan is really to saturate the air with right-wing propaganda for the 2014 and 2016 elections with these purchases. Whether it would work or not is still unseen (since our country is not the same as in the Reagan era). Â oh gawd... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90873 Share on other sites More sharing options...
localnewswatch 6 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Maybe give to Verizon to help supplement FiOS 1 (since unlike in NJ and LI, it never seemed to air news and mainly functions as sports overflow, with this they could really expand it). This! Fios1 is DC is BIZARRE. It's always Sports Center! Thought it was going to news, I'd like to see Verizon get (NC8) it, although it just expanded to DirectTVV, and is also on Comcast, it would be removed from those subscribers, seems unlikely. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90874 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmkcool2002 8 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 ABC is already starting a cable news network with Univision known as Fusion. From the reports surfacing so far, it doesn't seem like ABC News personalities will have a major presence on the network but I still think that the likelihood ABC acquires another news network is slim to none unless they find a partner in crime to share the financial burden i.e. Hearst, who could possibly acquire the Albritton stations and already partners with ABC for it's other cable ventures (ESPN, A&E). Â Although, I wouldn't be surprised if ABC acquired the station because NC8 uses reporters and reports from ABC NewsOne and regular ABC News reporters so often, and a big chunk of their schedule includes replays of 20/20, Nightline, This Week and World News. If ABC were to acquire it solo, I think they would keep it the way it is, with DC based/political programming. And they would aim for it to be a 24/7 digicast net/online network. Â Cox and Verizon taking it could also be some other options, they could use NC8 in the same way TWC uses NY1 in New York and Hubbard would be smart to expand WTOP's revenue streams to television. Â Wouldn't be surprised if Albritton kept it either and turned it into Politico TV. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90878 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanewsguy 511 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Â ABC is already starting a cable news network with Univision known as Fusion. From the reports surfacing so far, it doesn't seem like ABC News personalities will have a major presence on the network but I still think that the likelihood ABC acquires another news network is slim to none unless they find a partner in crime to share the financial burden i.e. Hearst, who could possibly acquire the Albritton stations and already partners with ABC for it's other cable ventures (ESPN, A&E). Â Although, I wouldn't be surprised if ABC acquired the station because NC8 uses reporters and reports from ABC NewsOne and regular ABC News reporters so often, and a big chunk of their schedule includes replays of 20/20, Nightline, This Week and World News. If ABC were to acquire it solo, I think they would keep it the way it is, with DC based/political programming. And they would aim for it to be a 24/7 digicast net/online network. Â Cox and Verizon taking it could also be some other options, they could use NC8 in the same way TWC uses NY1 in New York and Hubbard would be smart to expand WTOP's revenue streams to television. Â Wouldn't be surprised if Albritton kept it either and turned it into Politico TV. Â All ABC/Disney is really doing with Fusion (from what I understand) is ad sales and distribution (since they have more experience with that than Univision). Univision is going to be the one handling day-to-day content and operations. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90879 Share on other sites More sharing options...
localnewswatch 6 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Guys, too much wishful thinking. Guessing the deal is far from off. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90880 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013  Hubbard doesn't seem that interested in TV right now.  I think their strategy is to expand their radio operations.  NC8 is so low-cost, that theoretically, the bulk of programming could originate from WTOP's "glass enclosed nerve center" either as a video simulcast or with independent-produced production. Plus they can translate much of Federal News 1500 into the visual spectrum with no issues. Boring as hell, but it's content.  It would be worlds away from what S!nclair wants to do, by turning that channel into a money-hemorrhaging machine by forcing it onto cable companies in exchange for retrans of their local stations.   Guys, too much wishful thinking. Guessing the deal is far from off.  But it's not the slam dunk everyone thinks it is, either. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90884 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jero23 105 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I'm putting my money on DCRTV's Dave Hughes, and his track record with breaking news is practically on point. It looks like this deal might be burnt like toast. Honestly, that is a good thing because it will result in something better. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90885 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013  Well, I'm hoping that Hearst ends up with them. Sinclair's plan is really to saturate the air with right-wing propaganda for the 2014 and 2016 elections with these purchases. Whether it would work or not is still unseen (since our country is not the same as in the Reagan era).  That's not the point. S!nclair's real problem is that they are taking on - in Carl Sagan terms - BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS of dollars in debt. They are operating in an unrealistic bubble that they can do all this M&A with no consequence whatsoever. After all, they are merely following the rules...  If When S!nclair collapses, it will be devastating for the entire telecommunications industry. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90886 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSSZNews 1051 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Something else I don't think a lot of us are thinking about-- Â If Thursday comes and goes without the US debt ceiling raised, I'm willing to bet the consequences mean all the M&A we know of is off. Â No. Really. ALL the M&A. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90889 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5585 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Â Something else I don't think a lot of us are thinking about-- Â If Thursday comes and goes without the US debt ceiling raised, I'm willing to bet the consequences mean all the M&A we know of is off. Â No. Really. ALL the M&A. Â THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90891 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Â That's not the point. Â S!nclair's real problem is that they are taking on - in Carl Sagan terms - BILLIONS UPON BILLIONS of dollars in debt. They are operating in an unrealistic bubble that they can do all this M&A with no consequence whatsoever. After all, they are merely following the rules... Â If When S!nclair collapses, it will be devastating for the entire telecommunications industry. Â Exactly, no company that grows this fast can sustain itself no matter what industry you're in. Â It will catch up to Sinclair eventually and it will be very painful for Sinclair and the entire TV industry. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-90898 Share on other sites More sharing options...
montydavis 7 Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Question: Why is it that KTUL (out of all the Allbritton stations, with the exception of WJLA) has the best news graphics? They just updated them, Are the others going with this (despite the sale to....ugh...SINCLAIR)? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/12623-allbritton-could-be-selling-too/page/20/#findComment-91258 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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