Scripps - General Discussion

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Huh... interesting. WFTX and WXCW together? You know WFTX's news department would go away in favor of WINK's.

[Recovering Producer 410]

31 minutes ago, MidwestTV said:

 

I mean, at least they found one of the few local broadcast owners left? I'm curious what resources Sun Broadcasting has, though.

 

Being WINK/Fort Myers Broadcasting with oversized glasses and a fake mustache.

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

As if the market wasn't decimated enough with Hearst having WBBH and WZVN under one roof...

 

If there was a market Nexstar could trade into, this could be a possibility "IF" there's any regulatory issues that beleaguer these deals....

[Rusty Muck 4688]

1 hour ago, MidwestTV said:

 

I mean, at least they found one of the few local broadcast owners left? I'm curious what resources Sun Broadcasting has, though.

The McBrides already have a monopoly on radio in the market after Beasley bailed and split up their cluster between Sun and Fort Myers Broadcasting, which have been far more incestuous a pairing than Sinclair and Cunningham (or Nexstar and Mission). Now they are poised to have a near-total monopoly on information dissemination in Fort Myers, which is a very, very bad thing. They're also far-right, guaranteeing both deals will be rubber-stamped by Carr and Trusty.

 

At this point, when does Hearst bail and offload WBBH-WZVN, taking a major financial bath in the process? There is no way that they'll be able to compete with the McBrides in economy-of-scale.

Edited September 3, 2025 by Rusty Muck

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

1 hour ago, Rusty Muck said:

At this point, when does Hearst bail and offload WBBH-WZVN, taking a major financial bath in the process? There is no way that they'll be able to compete with the McBrides in economy-of-scale.

 

Not anytime soon. They just acquired them. Plus, Hearst RARELY sells. The last time was selling Island Television (KITV/KHVO/KMAU) in 2015 to SJL/Lilly.

 

If anyone will stick it out in the longrun, its Hearst.

 

I'm surprised Gray didn't take a swipe into WFTX considering their recent swap with Scripps.

[Rusty Muck 4688]

39 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

 

Not anytime soon. They just acquired them. Plus, Hearst RARELY sells. The last time was selling Island Television (KITV/KHVO/KMAU) in 2015 to SJL/Lilly.

 

If anyone will stick it out in the longrun, its Hearst.

Lol. Lmao. Lmfao. Not when the McBrides can price fix to their hearts' content with 11 radio stations and five television stations. Hearst has only one television station and a long-term LMA that they grossly overpaid for and they are not going to be able to compete. I said this the second the deal was struck and I'll say it now, $220M for WBBH-WZVN was an absolutely terrible and grossly irresponsible deal that never should have been made by Hearst in the first place.

39 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

I'm surprised Gray didn't take a swipe into WFTX considering their recent swap with Scripps.

Why would they when it's an older market that is in a permanently red state? Plus that area got devastated by Ian (wouldn't surprise me if the insurance payout the McBrides got is fueling their purchases as much as having a good ol' right-wing buddy in charge of the FCC).

Edited September 3, 2025 by Rusty Muck

[MediaZone4K 2661]

4 hours ago, MidwestTV said:

 

I mean, at least they found one of the few local broadcast owners left? I'm curious what resources Sun Broadcasting has, though.

Wow. Up until Waterman sold to Hearst, Ft Myers was one of the few markets I knew of with majority local ownership in television

 

I wonder if the news department remains, the scripps cast model continues, or do they try to make the news department more competitive? 

[GoldenShine_10 263]

43 minutes ago, Rusty Muck said:

Lol. Lmao. Lmfao. Not when the McBrides can price fix to their hearts' content with 11 radio stations and five television stations. Hearst has only one television station and a long-term LMA that they grossly overpaid for and they are not going to be able to compete. I said this the second the deal was struck and I'll say it now, $220M for WBBH-WZVN was an absolutely terrible and grossly irresponsible deal that never should have been made by Hearst in the first place.

Why would they when it's an older market that is in a permanently red state? Plus that area got devastated by Ian (wouldn't surprise me if the insurance payout the McBrides got is fueling their purchases as much as having a good ol' right-wing buddy in charge of the FCC).

 

If Gray wanted anything, it would be WINK. 

[Recovering Producer 410]

22 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

Wow. Up until Waterman sold to Hearst, Ft Myers was one of the few markets I knew of with majority local ownership in television

 

I wonder if the news department remains, the scripps cast model continues, or do they try to make the news department more competitive? 

 

No, no, and no. This is a play by WINK and partner companies to increase revenue (both advertising and retransmission) in the market with as little operational cost as possible, and eliminate a competitor. Maybe a few MMJs will get carried over. But the realistic outcome is WINK newscasts currently on WXCW will be moved to WFTX or they'll be simulcast on both WXCW and WFTX.

 

One other thing of note with this deal is Jim Schwartzel, the president of Sun Broadcasting, is a candidate for a U.S. House seat in 2026. Running in the crowded 19th District Republican primary to replace Byron Donalds who is running for Governor. 

Edited September 3, 2025 by Recovering Producer
added second paragraph

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 1158]

4 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

Huh... interesting. WFTX and WXCW together? You know WFTX's news department would go away in favor of WINK's.

But... but... the neighborhood reporters....

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Too bad the McBrides' sold the Browns decades ago to Art Modell.  I don't know what was worse, that, or their so-called "monopoly" in SWFL.

[Rusty Muck 4688]

2 hours ago, Recovering Producer said:

One other thing of note with this deal is Jim Schwartzel, the president of Sun Broadcasting, is a candidate for a U.S. House seat in 2026. Running in the crowded 19th District Republican primary to replace Byron Donalds who is running for Governor. 

Jim Schwartzel is a stooge for the McBrides who, thanks to them now having total control of the media, will ensure he gets softball coverage as he gets anointed as a congresscritter. Not that the election will ever be in doubt because Fort Myers is an uncompetitive super-safe Republican seat in deep maga territory as Donalds gets anointed as governor.

 

That is the other dirty little reason why Carr and Trusty will greenlight this deal in six months. And why Hearst is better off cutting bait, selling WBBH-WZVN or shutting them down outright, and walking away with the ginormous L.

[nathannah 2792]

I was seriously joking when I was talking about a WFTX sale with the Beasley cluster purchase...

 

This is probably much worse than I could ever imagine. I do think if Hearst tosses money at the market and good advertising emphasizing community service and weather (and absolutely going hard-in on holding local government officials accountable because FMB/Sun certainly won't), they should do fine, but having a broadcaster so ridiculously controlling a single market will backfire years down the line if there's a natural disaster or a mini Sumner Redstone situation among the Schwartzels and McBrides.

[DENDude 259]

7 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

Huh... interesting. WFTX and WXCW together? You know WFTX's news department would go away in favor of WINK's.

The FOX4 news dept is definitely going away.   That is a crazy combo to think of.  So now there will be basically no competition in SWFL, that's great (Not)-- gee kinda sounds like the current ownership situation in Grand Junction, CO with 3 companies owning everything (Nexstar, Gray & Mission Broadcasting). 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

18 minutes ago, DENDude said:

The FOX4 news dept is definitely going away.   That is a crazy combo to think of.  So now there will be basically no competition in SWFL, that's great (Not)-- gee kinda sounds like the current ownership situation in Grand Junction, CO with 3 companies owning everything (Nexstar, Gray & Mission Broadcasting). 

 

TBH that's two because Mission is a Nexstar "sidecar" so its two... Nexstar and Gray (soon, it'll be Scripps for KKCO and KJCT).

 

Fort Myers will soon be FMBC/Sun (one company with WINK, WXCW, WFTX, WANA, and WUVF/WLZE) and Hearst (WBBH/WZVN) with NBC having one (WWDT).

[Rusty Muck 4688]

28 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

TBH that's two because Mission is a Nexstar "sidecar" so its two... Nexstar and Gray (soon, it'll be Scripps for KKCO and KJCT).

 

Fort Myers will soon be FMBC/Sun (one company with WINK, WXCW, WFTX, WANA, and WUVF/WLZE) and Hearst (WBBH/WZVN) with NBC having one (WWDT).

Perry Sook wishes Mission and Nexstar could be as incestuous as Fort Myers Broadcasting and Sun Broadcasting are. Those two are literally the same company.

 

1 hour ago, nathannah said:

I was seriously joking when I was talking about a WFTX sale with the Beasley cluster purchase...

 

This is probably much worse than I could ever imagine. I do think if Hearst tosses money at the market and good advertising emphasizing community service and weather (and absolutely going hard-in on holding local government officials accountable because FMB/Sun certainly won't), they should do fine, but having a broadcaster so ridiculously controlling a single market will backfire years down the line if there's a natural disaster or a mini Sumner Redstone situation among the Schwartzels and McBrides.

I can't imagine Hearst is wanting to invest any more in such a small market where they are going to be a permanent second fiddle to the McBrides. It is in their best interests to draft up an exit strategy and fast. Sell WBBH to the McBrides at a fire sale price and walk away if they have to.

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

2 hours ago, Rusty Muck said:

That is the other dirty little reason why Carr and Trusty will greenlight this deal in six months. And why Hearst is better off cutting bait, selling WBBH-WZVN or shutting them down outright, and walking away with the ginormous L.

I'm gonna say this with all due respect. The idea of suggesting that Hearst would shut down an ABC and NBC station is, for lack of a better term, insanity. Yes, what WINK, Sun, whatever you wanna call them, is doing is insane and there is no reason for someone to have that much blatant control over a market. However, Hearst knew or should have known going in how powerful WINK was and how weak WFTX might be. Also, suggesting they sell WBBH to the McBrides is just as insane. 

 

Hearst is 2nd and 3rd place in several cities. Should we expect a sale of WLWT, WAPT and KHBS next? 

[Rusty Muck 4688]

1 minute ago, ColtFromGulfcoast said:

I'm gonna say this with all due respect. The idea of suggesting that Hearst would shut down an ABC and NBC station is, for lack of a better term, insanity. Yes, what WINK, Sun, whatever you wanna call them, is doing is insane and there is no reason for someone to have that much blatant control over a market. However, Hearst knew or should have known going in how powerful WINK was and how weak WFTX might be. Also, suggesting they sell WBBH to the McBrides is just as insane. 

You want them to stick around and be unable to compete against such a crushing monolith? Well okay then. It was a mistake for Hearst to have ever bought into that small market to begin with and it is even worse of an idea now. In the economy of scale game, Hearst is now going to be losing in Fort Myers, and losing dearly.

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

Besides, no matter how much asslicking (excuse my language), someone does with the FCC or DOJ, that means nothing. Or did we forget what happened with Sinclair. And did we also forget that debacle with Soo Kim, Leon Black and Tegna and Cox. 

[Rusty Muck 4688]

Just now, ColtFromGulfcoast said:

Besides, no matter how much asslicking (excuse my language), someone does with the FCC or DOJ, that means nothing. Or did we forget what happened with Sinclair. And did we also forget that debacle with Soo Kim, Leon Black and Tegna and Cox. 

The FCC was not run at the time by weaponizing political hacks like Carr and Trusty. Those past failed transactions mean nothing in this Brave New World dicated solely on political patronage.

[MediaZone4K 2661]

2 hours ago, DENDude said:

The FOX4 news dept is definitely going away.   That is a crazy combo to think of.  So now there will be basically no competition in SWFL, that's great (Not)-- gee kinda sounds like the current ownership situation in Grand Junction, CO with 3 companies owning everything (Nexstar, Gray & Mission Broadcasting). 

In all fairness, Fox 4 News is a nonstarter in the market. Scripps decimated the station.

 

While only two tv owners in the market is concerning from an oligopoly POV, from the viewers perspective, take this for what it's worth...

5 hours ago, MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie said:

But... but... the neighborhood reporters....

IMO despite Gulf Coast News being market leader, WINK is the better news product.

[JRyan 694]

The FCC is "modernizing" its rules due to changes in the economy and viewer trends.  The old saying still rings true "adapt or die."  The industry is recognizing this.  I would hardly call the incumbent FCC leadership political hacks because of this.  Change was going to come regardless of who happens to sit at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  You can call it political but the same could be said for any administration.

 

Back to Scripps, although they did give WFTX a new set fairly recently, the station is severely neglected.  To see them divested is not a surprise to me.  We will see what happens regarding its news department.  Perhaps Sun Broadcasting has other plans that is best discussed on a speculation forum.  Although it could go that way, I don't think it's 100% certainty that this is the end of its own news dept.  I'll say that much.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

1 hour ago, ColtFromGulfcoast said:

Hearst is 2nd and 3rd place in several cities. Should we expect a sale of WLWT, WAPT and KHBS next? 

 

I actually think they're #1 in most cities now.

 

From the three you mention, WLWT has done better over the years thanks to WCPO and WKRC's misfortunes, WAPT has become solid even if its not #1, and I think KHBS is the market leader there, if not close to it.

 

WBBH is the market leader, which probably made it attractive for Hearst to get. Here in Florida, WESH is a VERY STRONG second in Orlando, and WPBF is now the market leader in WPB.

 

I know y'all want them to sell to the McBrides, but then... that's how competition fades. I'll give Hearst a chance. They're one of the better national media companies out there IMHO.

[Rusty Muck 4688]

1 minute ago, TheRolyPoly said:

WBBH is the market leader, which probably made it attractive for Hearst to get. Here in Florida, WESH is a VERY STRONG second in Orlando, and WPBF is now the market leader in WPB.

WBBH remains a folly, a foolish waste of $220M in a small market in a deeply red state. Whoever pressured the family to blow that large amount of money with no ROI should have been fired. If it was a family member, they should have been disinherited.

3 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

I know y'all want them to sell to the McBrides, but then... that's how competition fades. I'll give Hearst a chance. They're one of the better national media companies out there IMHO.

Are you familiar with economy of scale? The McBrides are going to bully Hearst out of the market so quickly it won't be funny.

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

44 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

I know y'all want them to sell to the McBrides, but then... that's how competition fades. I'll give Hearst a chance. They're one of the better national media companies out there IMHO.

Who's yall? Don't put me in with them.

45 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

 

I actually think they're #1 in most cities now.

 

From the three you mention, WLWT has done better over the years thanks to WCPO and WKRC's misfortunes, WAPT has become solid even if its not #1, and I think KHBS is the market leader there, if not close to it.

 

WBBH is the market leader, which probably made it attractive for Hearst to get. Here in Florida, WESH is a VERY STRONG second in Orlando, and WPBF is now the market leader in WPB.

 

I know y'all want them to sell to the McBrides, but then... that's how competition fades. I'll give Hearst a chance. They're one of the better national media companies out there IMHO.

Be that as it may, if the logic of Hearst selling all non number one stations is allowed to be entertained then stations like KOCO would be on the block. 

 

Also, aren't they second in Pittsburgh and Baltimore as well, or did KDKA and WJZ fall from grace? Last I heard, those were the top dogs.