Sinclair Broadcast Group - General Discussion

[TVLurker 389]

12 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Another Deerfield purchase, this time, Sinclair wants to buy Rochester's WHAM...

 

https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/sinclair-buying-wham-rochester-from-deerfield-media/

 

 

Since MAGA controls the FCC. Might as well for them to abandon the pretense.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

On 9/9/2025 at 9:52 AM, tyrannical bastard said:

Another Deerfield purchase, this time, Sinclair wants to buy Rochester's WHAM...

 

https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/sinclair-buying-wham-rochester-from-deerfield-media/

 

 

Its not just that... Sinclair also wants to buy outright WEYI Saginaw from Howard Stirk Holdings and buy outright WGTU Traverse City from Cunningham.

 

Yes, already under Sinclair control but to make it a formality.

 

https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/station-trading-roundup-6-deals-10005000/

 

Edited September 10, 2025 by TheRolyPoly

[NowBergen 924]

4 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

 

Its not just that... Sinclair also wants to buy outright WEYI Saginaw from Howard Stirk Holdings and buy outright WGTU Traverse City from Cunningham.

 

Yes, already under Sinclair control but to make it a formality.

 

https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/station-trading-roundup-6-deals-10005000/

 

 

So essentially because they believe puppet Barr and the MAGA FCC will remove all ownership levels, the scam of side car ownership is ending with so called sales to Sinclair (and eventually Netflix).  The sadder news is that these two companies in particular, with Gray not too far behind, will control most television media outside of the top tier markets (where networks own most stations - Nexstar through their BS Mission side car owns the only non O&O station in my market, and they were ordered to divest it.). These really are not good moves for viewers, online, linear,  streaming etc.  Both these companies shut down and consolidate newsrooms.  It doesn't matter which station they broadcast the news on, its the same news and slants.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Can't wait until they try their luck with WPMI....AND WJTC.

 

That would make FOUR stations in the same market...that Sinclair would own outright if they decided to pursue full ownership.

 

Sinclair did gain that option when Deerfield bought them from Newport in 2012.

Edited September 10, 2025 by tyrannical bastard

[mre29 1967]

3 hours ago, NowBergen said:

 

So essentially because they believe puppet Barr and the MAGA FCC will remove all ownership levels, the scam of side car ownership is ending with so called sales to Sinclair (and eventually Netflix).

 

That I'd like to see. 

 

[NowBergen 924]

7 hours ago, NowBergen said:

 

So essentially because they believe puppet Barr and the MAGA FCC will remove all ownership levels, the scam of side car ownership is ending with so called sales to Sinclair (and eventually Netflix).  The sadder news is that these two companies in particular, with Gray not too far behind, will control most television media outside of the top tier markets (where networks own most stations - Nexstar through their BS Mission side car owns the only non O&O station in my market, and they were ordered to divest it.). These really are not good moves for viewers, online, linear,  streaming etc.  Both these companies shut down and consolidate newsrooms.  It doesn't matter which station they broadcast the news on, its the same news and slants.

oops, its an autocorrect typo I did not check.  Nexstar was the intended name.  My apologies.

[Georgie56 3661]

Now-former WLNE meteorologist Kelly Bates says the station has been picked up by Sinclair. I say "now-former" because she says she was a victim of layoffs.

Edited September 11, 2025 by Georgie56

[NowBergen 924]

12 minutes ago, Georgie56 said:

Now-former WLNE meteorologist Kelly Bates says the station has been picked up by Sinclair. I say "now-former" because she says she was a victim of layoffs.

This is awful news.  Sincrap now controls WjAR (NBC) and WLNE (ABC).  Nexstar controls WPRI (CBS), WNAC (FOX) and the CW.  There are no more independent voices in Rhode Island media.  WJAR is nothing like its former self.  Although WLNE has been a perennial also run since they signed on the air in the 60s, at least it was controlled by these mega broadcasters, who in Sinclair's case controls content.  I assume the WLNE newsroom is gone.  Another sad day in Rhode Island this week.

[nathannah 2792]

More and more it feels like that the Rincon deal was designed to get rid of some extra 'weight' and allow them to take over sidecars (and Rincon is a sidecar no matter how they spin it; that 'Sinclair, Inc.' badge is still on the bottom of all their Sinclair-hosted websites).

 

It's bitter irony that Standard Media/Soo Kim tried to become a broadcast giant and failed catastrophically every single time, and now with Sinclair back in control of their Bootheel stations, the company may be coming to a bizarre end. And to see WLNE finally capitulate and become just the redheaded stepchild to WJAR because is a sad thing indeed.

 

Two other effects of this; KLKN might end up as a part of NTV, and Sinclair could end up with controlling interests in both Marquee and CHSN if it turns out the direction I think it's going.

[Recovering Producer 410]

19 minutes ago, nathannah said:

More and more it feels like that the Rincon deal was designed to get rid of some extra 'weight' and allow them to take over sidecars (and Rincon is a sidecar no matter how they spin it; that 'Sinclair, Inc.' badge is still on the bottom of all their Sinclair-hosted websites).

 

It's bitter irony that Standard Media/Soo Kim tried to become a broadcast giant and failed catastrophically every single time, and now with Sinclair back in control of their Bootheel stations, the company may be coming to a bizarre end. And to see WLNE finally capitulate and become just the redheaded stepchild to WJAR because is a sad thing indeed.

 

Two other effects of this; KLKN might end up as a part of NTV, and Sinclair could end up with controlling interests in both Marquee and CHSN if it turns out the direction I think it's going.

 

The lack of any formal announcement is surprising. I don't doubt the WLNE thing is happening, just a question of what legal form it is taking. Sale agreement with immediate LMA until it closes, non-license sale, etc. 

 

As for the Sinclair/Rincon websites, you may also be right there. Time will tell. I've seen transition service agreements that remain in place up to a year after a sale. 

[TheRob 969]

This document, toward the end, mentions a promissory note and option agreement.

 

https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/c3d41c97-43bb-07ef-febb-2627853c6833/3efac637-ab6d-4f37-9f6e-d18c45b30a26.pdf

[NowBergen 924]

From the Boston Globe:

 

Providence’s NBC10 will take over ABC6, reshaping TV market in Southeastern New England

In a significant upheaval for the Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts news market, WJAR-TV, the top-rated NBC affiliate, is taking over WLNE-TV, the market’s ABC station, the station’s parent company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, confirmed to the Globe. Employees at WLNE — known as ABC6 — were told about the sale on Thursday and some staff were laid off, meteorologist Kelly Bates said in a video posted on Facebook. Read the full story from Globe Rhode Island.

[nathannah 2792]

Another story from the Rhode Island Current; no sign of a WARN notice at all from the state of bulk layoffs.

[Recovering Producer 410]

1 hour ago, TheRob said:

This document, toward the end, mentions a promissory note and option agreement.

 

https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/c3d41c97-43bb-07ef-febb-2627853c6833/3efac637-ab6d-4f37-9f6e-d18c45b30a26.pdf

 

Since it is the only remaining non-Sinclair operated Standard Media station: KLKN's public file shows a Rincon option agreement. 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

WPMI and WJTC have until December 2027 to choose to exercise an agreement to be acquired by Sinclair per their FCC filing.  It was executed in 2012.

 

As the clock is ticking on these agreements, expect Sinclair to cash in on them while they can.  This one's a 15 year option.

Edited September 12, 2025 by tyrannical bastard

[GoldenShine_10 263]

5 minutes ago, tyrannical bastard said:

WPMI and WJTC have until December 2027 to choose to exercise an agreement to be acquired by Sinclair per their FCC filing.  It was executed in 2012.

 

As the clock is ticking on these agreements, expect Sinclair to cash in on them while they can.  This one's a 15 year option.

 

One possibility is a WPMI-WEAR combination (being the two strongest stations) while turning off the other two stations, or a nickel-and-dime sale - if they can't go past 2 stations.

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 1158]

On 9/12/2025 at 12:18 AM, Georgie56 said:

Now-former WLNE meteorologist Kelly Bates says the station has been picked up by Sinclair. I say "now-former" because she says she was a victim of layoffs.

Should be noted, she was sacked by WJAR -- so to be sacked by the same company, twice -- has got to hurt

[mre29 1967]

Anyone else feel like this is Soo Kim effectively giving the industry the finger for his thwarted takeover of Tegna?

 

I feel bad for viewers in the Providence market who now only have two options for local TV news -- Sinclair and Nexstar.

 

[JCB4TV 362]

7 hours ago, MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie said:

Should be noted, she was sacked by WJAR -- so to be sacked by the same company, twice -- has got to hurt

Sinclair is looking for a Meteorologist at WGME should she still be interestered in reporting New England weather.

 

[Breaking News 888]

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/09/12/wjar-parent-company-buys-non-license-operations-for-rival-abc6-station/

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 1158]

4 hours ago, JCB4TV said:

Sinclair is looking for a Meteorologist at WGME should she still be interestered in reporting New England weather.

 

I have a pretty good idea she will be steering clear from any Sinclair stations....

[NowBergen 924]

11 hours ago, MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie said:

I have a pretty good idea she will be steering clear from any Sinclair stations....

 

It also has nothing to do with her capabilities as a meteorologist.  She is highly popular.  She was more than competent considering she had stability throughout NBC and Media General ownership.

Edited September 13, 2025 by NowBergen

[TVLurker 389]

9 hours ago, mre29 said:

Anyone else feel like this is Soo Kim effectively giving the industry the finger for his thwarted takeover of Tegna?

Soo Kim was unlucky when he tried to purchase Tegna. He would of succeeded in this current administration but not the previous one.

[GoldenShine_10 263]

16 hours ago, NowBergen said:

 

It also has nothing to do with her capabilities as a meteorologist.  She is highly popular.  She was more than competent considering she had stability throughout NBC and Media General ownership.

 

I see one of two scenarios for her:

 

1) She pulls a James Spann and starts a new online operation focused on Rhode Island

 

2) A Boston station (say, WCVB) decides to hire her

[newsman123 142]

13 minutes ago, GoldenShine_10 said:

 

I see one of two scenarios for her:

 

1) She pulls a James Spann and starts a new online operation focused on Rhode Island

 

2) A Boston station (say, WCVB) decides to hire her

are you serious? A boston station hiring her? no disrespect to her, but she does not have the onair look for a major market. she is too heavy. i think she’s great. But no way she goes to Boston.