Thundershock MN 169 Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 I wonder how they are doing this, especially in Charleston, with ABC since HSH was to have nothing to do with Sinclair's operations? The WCFT, WJSU and WMMP (formerly WCIV) licenses are still held by Sinclair. They are basically in limbo right now pending the FCC's ruling on the applications. As to why they left ABC on WMMP (formerly WCIV) for an extra week...IDK...your guess is as good as mine. But we're past the date that they were supposed to surrender the licenses, and they're still broadcasting? Did the FCC approve this or are they still broadcasting without a license? From the "Description of Transaction" attachment submitted with the application(s): "Given the requirement for a thirty day public notice period prior to Commission action on assignment applications, it is not possible for the Commission to grant this application prior to the September 29, 2014 Surrender Date. Accordingly, HSH Birmingham and STG respectfully request that the Commission issue an Order deferring the date upon which STG must surrender the license for the Station so as to permit consideration of this application. If the Commission does not timely indicate its consent to deferral of the Surrender Date pending action on the instant application, STG will be required to surrender the licenses for the Station on or before the Surrender Date as set forth in the Order. In order to permit a thoughtful review of the public interest benefits of this application, therefore, the parties urgently request that the Commission give its consent to the deferral of the Surrender Date until the earlier of ten (10) business days after the Commission has finally acted on this application or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this application." This request was made with all three applications. In addition, "STG notified Commission staff on September 29, 2014 that it had reached an agreement with HSH Birmingham to sell to HSH Birmingham the WJSU license and transmission equipment and that this assignment application would be promptly filed by the parties even though it would be outside the Surrender Date." So, even though the WJSU application was submitted after the surrender date the FCC was notified prior to Sinclair being forced to surrender the license. I think it's safe to assume at this point the FCC has deferred the "Surrender Date" for the three licenses pending their ruling on the assignment applications. It likely indefinite. In other words, if they deny the applications the license will be surrendered at that time (or, shortly thereafter.) And, Sinclair likely didn't want to take them silent as that would start the one year clock towards having the license cancelled. So, they now sit in limbo running "filler" programming until there fate is ruled upon by the FCC. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-116453 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet. But NewsChannel 8 in DC will be hosting its first "Town Hall". They did broadcast the Ferguson race relations town hall a few months ago, but that was hosted at WBFF. The topic this time is "The New Terror Threat" ABC7/NewsChannel 8 is holding a live town hall meeting on Thursday, October 16th to address the new terror threats in the world today. The televised town hall will include an expert panel and live audience for an all-sides, interactive discussion of the current terror threat, U.S. military action, DC politics, Homeland security, Middle East tensions and ISIL. http://www.wjla.com/contests/townhall Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-116793 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet. But NewsChannel 8 in DC will be hosting its first "Town Hall". They did broadcast the Ferguson race relations town hall a few months ago, but that was hosted at WBFF. The topic this time is "The New Terror Threat" Oddly WBFF, it two siblings and each of their off springs could not find the time to broadcast that town hall or will they broadcast this one. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-116806 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanewsguy 511 Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 None of Sinclair's stations here televise the town halls unless WOAI hosts them then they will air the first 30 minutes. They will probably post a link to the stream, though. They always do. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-116825 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixdup 0 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 ABC 33/40 in Birmingham is advertising a town hall on terrorism, online only. Didn't take long for them to get into the Sinclair SOP http://www.abc3340.com/category/289477/townhallstream Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-116880 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanewsguy 511 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 It's official. Gordon Peterson leaving WJLA at the end of the year. http://ftvlive.com/todays-news/2014/11/7/longtime-legendary-dc-anchor-to-retire Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-118162 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 It's official. Gordon Peterson leaving WJLA at the end of the year. http://ftvlive.com/todays-news/2014/11/7/longtime-legendary-dc-anchor-to-retire I wouldn't be surprised to see Bill Lord eventually recruiting Gordon back to W*USA... not as an anchor, but as a commentator and analyst. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-118170 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 I wouldn't be surprised to see Bill Lord eventually recruiting Gordon back to W*USA... not as an anchor, but as a commentator and analyst. Well it sounds like he doesn't want to retire from TV completely, so WUSA and Bill Lord would be foolish to not try to get him back from WJLA. So the real challenge begins for WJLA, Gordon and Maureen were the main reasons people switched from WUSA to WJLA. Now WJLA has to give people a reason to stay tuned, especially if Gordon does move to another station in town. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-118173 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Speaking of WJLA, I noticed that the graphic package for the weather is looking a little different. Looks like they're using the same fonts that the new Sinclair package uses. The ticker now also uses the same font. http://www.wjla.com/weather/maps/featured/ Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-118184 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Speaking of WJLA, I noticed that the graphic package for the weather is looking a little different. Looks like they're using the same fonts that the new Sinclair package uses. The ticker now also uses the same font. http://www.wjla.com/weather/maps/featured/ It's definitely the Dinot font. Sad thing is, if you look carefully, the pre-2013 glossy ABC logo is clearly still being used. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-118194 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 The FCC greenlighted the sale of three stations (WCFT, WJSU & WMMP) to HSH today. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-119308 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobvick 9 Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 The FCC greenlighted the sale of three stations (WCFT, WJSU & WMMP) to HSH today. ABC 33/40 is now on the .2 channel of WJSU now. Not sure why it is on there, since the way I understood it, Sinclair wasn't supposed to have anything to do with WJSU anymore. That puts ABC 33/40 back to having good coverage of east Alabama if it stays on. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-120241 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTSC1980 112 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I'm going to wonder what will WMMP/WCFT/WJSU become in 2015. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-120599 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvcg66b3r 100 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I'm going to wonder what will KVMY/WMMP/WCFT/WJSU become in 2015. Fixed. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-120600 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobvick 9 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 The station identification for ABC 33/40 now says: "WBMA-LD 58.1 Birmingham, WABM-DT 68.2 Birmingham, WDBB-DT 17.2 Bessemer, WJSU-DT 40.2 Anniston" So it must officially be on 40.2 for East Alabama now. Will be interesting to see what they do with WCFT, and WJSU 40.1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-120876 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundershock MN 169 Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 I'm having trouble getting the "quote" feature to work. But, with regard to WBMA-LD (ABC 33/40) simulcasting on the .2 of WJSU it doesn't mean Sinclair has anything to do with WJSU. WJSU is simply simulcasting programming from another (non co-owned) licensee/station in the market on a multicast stream. It's the same thing as WWOR simulcasting WPXO-LD on a multicast stream. Fox has no operational control over WPXO-LD. Likewise, Sinclair has no operational control over WJSU. However, given the "cozy" relationship between HSH and Sinclair I can see how this would raise some eyebrows. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-121198 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 The FCC greenlighted the sale of three stations (WCFT, WJSU & WMMP) to HSH today. As posted earlier, HSH ciosed on the 3 station deal (WCFT/WJSU/WMMP) on Friday. HSH now has 5 stations. And 2 more are currently pending. In other news, it looks like they want to keep Maureen Bunyan a little while longer......... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-124393 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Well it looks like the long-running partnership WJLA had with WTOP is about to come to an end. They just announced that they will be forming a new partnership with competitor WRC. http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/83559/wrc-wtopfm-create-news-partnership Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-124877 Share on other sites More sharing options...
montydavis 7 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Please make sense of this... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-124885 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTSC1980 112 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Please make sense of this... So they are giving up WMMP callsign? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-124888 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 It just so happens that the WGWG callsign was formerly used on Chicago's 87.7FM/Analog 6 when Tribune managed the station. It was just a couple of weeks since Weigel took over and changed the calls to WRME. So today WMMP became WGWG. But guess what y'all? The other two stations in Alabama ALSO have new calls!!!! WCFT is now WSES. And WJSU is now WGWW. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-124967 Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfuego35 90 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 It just so happens that the WGWG callsign was formerly used on Chicago's 87.7FM/Analog 6 when Tribune managed the station. It was just a couple of weeks since Weigel took over and changed the calls to WRME. So today WMMP became WGWG. But guess what y'all? The other two stations in Alabama ALSO have new calls!!!! WCFT is now WSES. And WJSU is now WGWW. I think I figured out what the GWG of WGWG and GW of WGWW mean. They are the initials of Graham Williams Group, the consulting company that Armstrong Williams runs. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-124968 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanewsguy 511 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 http://foxcharleston.com/ They redid their website using WordPress which none of the other Sinclair stations use. I know they are supposed to be unraveling their LMA with Sinclair so I wonder if this is a sign of things to come... Also note the "Top 4 News Headlines" thing. I wonder if they may be switching to WCIV for news in the near future. Hmm... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-125509 Share on other sites More sharing options...
montydavis 7 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 http://foxcharleston.com/ They redid their website using WordPress which none of the other Sinclair stations use. I know they are supposed to be unraveling their LMA with Sinclair so I wonder if this is a sign of things to come... Also note the "Top 4 News Headlines" thing. I wonder if they may be switching to WCIV for news in the near future. Hmm... I doubt it. They have had strong relationship with WCSC since the early 90s. If anything, perhaps a stand-alone news operation; highly doubtful for WCIV to produce their news, but who knows. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-125514 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike91 67 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I doubt it. They have had strong relationship with WCSC since the early 90s. If anything, perhaps a stand-alone news operation; highly doubtful for WCIV to produce their news, but who knows. Despite the unwinding of the LMA, Cunningham still has strong ties with Sinclair, and with Sinclair finally having a news outlet in Charleston, I would expect the production of WTAT's newscasts to be moved to WCIV. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/13752-fcc-approves-sales-of-allbritton-to-sinclair/page/10/#findComment-125515 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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