Nexstar...again

[mre29 1967]

On 1/28/2026 at 9:04 AM, Recovering Producer said:

I've never understood the area code as part of the local identity anywhere, but it definitely is a thing that exists in some communities...

 

I wonder if it's a thing mostly in areas that have one area code. New Hampshire, for example, still only has one area code, 603, a number that's popped up in branding over the years.

 

 

 

 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

We all know about the cuts that went down in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, but I have to wonder how the rest of the country is doing under Nexstar's cost-cutting binge.

I've heard reports that Creative Service departments are taking it hard across all of their stations, and may begin hubbing into regions if they haven't already.

[NowBergen 924]

6 minutes ago, tyrannical bastard said:

We all know about the cuts that went down in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, but I have to wonder how the rest of the country is doing under Nexstar's cost-cutting binge.

I've heard reports that Creative Service departments are taking it hard across all of their stations, and may begin hubbing into regions if they haven't already.

Didn't they report a loss today?  I would assume the amount of debt to buy Tegna is going to make things worse.  Plus the reduction in journalism at the bigger market stations.  I just scratch my head how the merger is a good thing....

[wafflecoast 9]

Obviously this was bound to happen eventually but...

 

The CW **might** be on the move in San Diego as soon as next Monday. Spectrum and Zap2It (Gracenote) listings show CW programming airing on KUSI, with KFMB-DT2 moving MNTV programming to 7-9pm, moving their 10pm news an hour earlier.

However, TitanTV listings don't seem to agree, there hasn't been an official announcement yet, and it's also only March (Nexstar usually does the switches in September, which is also when KFMB's CW contract officially expires). It would be weird for multiple schedule providers to make a mistake like this though, so I doubt they're incorrect

[ABC 7 Denver 1889]

24 minutes ago, wafflecoast said:

Obviously this was bound to happen eventually but...

 

The CW **might** be on the move in San Diego as soon as next Monday. Spectrum and Zap2It (Gracenote) listings show CW programming airing on KUSI, with KFMB-DT2 moving MNTV programming to 7-9pm, moving their 10pm news an hour earlier.

However, TitanTV listings don't seem to agree, there hasn't been an official announcement yet, and it's also only March (Nexstar usually does the switches in September, which is also when KFMB's CW contract officially expires). It would be weird for multiple schedule providers to make a mistake like this though, so I doubt they're incorrect

 

It's just set dressing. If Nexstar owns Tegna. Then they'll own KUSI, KFMB and KSWB.

[Samantha 2923]

Was this the plan? Oh, sure. We've known that for a while. But Tegna's CW agreement, which I obtained years ago when everything went down, does indeed expire August 31, 2026.

[wafflecoast 9]

I guess they're ending it early instead of waiting until September just like every other year. They launched this updated bug with their 4pm news today even though the switch hasn't happened yet. Real creative logo here... /s

[wafflecoast 9]

In a weird turn of events, KUSI became a CW affiliate tonight. However, I'm assuming KFMB didn't get the memo because they are also airing CW programming too. Strange that they became a CW affiliate the same night that the Tegna deal (unfortunately) went through

[gsrecaps 22]

KUSI is airing CW programming right now. I'm just checking them.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Nexstar wasted no time yoinking the CW from one station to another..

 

(Since KFMB is now a Nexstar station since Tegna is no more...)

[gsrecaps 22]

KFMB-DT2 has been removed on YTTV. KUSI now has the CW logo.

 

[SFTV 567]

KUSI just spent so much renovating their building to accommodate KSWB. It will be interesting how they will bring in KFMB. Seeing all the behind the scenes videos thru socials, looks like they only built 2 studios.

 

but that CW logo is a mess for KUSI

[PhotogNews 8]

A reddit user reporting their Nexstar station is moving away from CBS newspath, not sure if just one station or company wide:

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Journalism/s/Cnmd4ArgIW

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

33 minutes ago, PhotogNews said:

A reddit user reporting their Nexstar station is moving away from CBS newspath, not sure if just one station or company wide:

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Journalism/s/Cnmd4ArgIW

That's probably going to come back to bite them come affiliation renewal time, especially if "special reports" aren't going to be easily accessible outside the Newspath ecosystem...

[PhotogNews 8]

35 minutes ago, tyrannical bastard said:

That's probably going to come back to bite them come affiliation renewal time, especially if "special reports" aren't going to be easily accessible outside the Newspath ecosystem...

In a cross-posted at r/broadcasting, one mentioned their duopoly station set to lose FOX newsedge later this summer, in addition to NBC newschannel.

 

Those newswire agreement probably ending quicker than I thought.

[Recovering Producer 410]

2 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

That's probably going to come back to bite them come affiliation renewal time, especially if "special reports" aren't going to be easily accessible outside the Newspath ecosystem...

 

The rumored taking NewsNation special reports instead of networks is one of the areas where things have the potential to get messy and get lawyers billable hours.

My understanding of network affiliation agreements is they have a limit on the number of hours/year of network programming that can be preempted. Would blowing out network extended coverage of something (let's just say - as an example - a Presidential Inauguration where coverage starts around 9 am and runs well into the afternoon) count toward that limit? And what happens when/if a station is in breach of their affiiliation contract by removing too much network programming? 

Coincidentally, the current chair of the FCC is saying stations should have more control over how much network programming they preempt.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

We're in a very different era as affiliation agreements are very financially loaded with the networks basically having full control over their obligated airtime.

Way back when, networks had all of the good shows that everyone watched, so they paid affiliate stations to run their content.  If a show didn't do well, affiliates could pre-empt it in favor of something more profitable.

Fast forward to now, where networks consist of third-rate time-filling content, and a bunch of sports rights they have to pay for in a multichannel universe that's being eclipsed by streaming more and more each day.  And we're the ones who pay for it, through retransmission fees, collected by the stations,  who pass along to the networks who demand more and more for less and less (and even more sports).  When will it all implode?
 

[TVLurker 389]

4 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

When will it all implode?

We might be reaching that point but I wouldn't expect any radical change, broadcast TV as we once knew it is dead and it's not coming back.

[Megatron81 343]

I thought that CBS newspath is just segments in newscasts and I thought TV station groups can take it or not take it from the Big 4?

[tylerSC 67]

Since Nexstar acquired WJZY from FOX, they have totally disassociated from the FOX network news coverage. They rebranded from FOX46 to Queen City News. They never air any FOX News reports during newscasts. On special reports, they either have the local talent anchoring national coverage with sourced video, or they air News Nation coverage. If the TEGNA deal finally goes through, it will be disappointing to see them eliminate NBC News coverage from WCNC. And a bit ironic if the NBC News Channel is still in the same building.

Edited May 26 by tylerSC