solidscooter 3 Posted June 4, 2015 Posted June 4, 2015 I've confirmed that Raycom is in talks with Drewry Communications about buying a station or stations. I'll report more as it comes.
solidscooter 3 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Posted June 11, 2015 $150 Million price tag being talked about. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/raycom-advanced-talks-drewry-stations/141599
GoldenShine9 1514 Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 That article also mentions Sinclair making an offer but that leaves multiple conflicts?
solidscooter 3 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Posted June 11, 2015 The group is not motivated to sell. They've had multiple offers and almost all of them got immediate no's. This is a serious talk because the price is MUCH higher than previous deals. My understanding is that Drewry believes the group is worth way more than it is in reality (and they were waiting for a hefty offer from a company like Raycom to buy). Raycom sees more potential in the licenses and the markets than subpar infrastructure. They can afford to fix things like news departments and buildings at relatively low cost to them. Plus, they need to expand west to keep competitive with Gannett (or whatever it's called), Nexstar, Sinclair, etc. The only conflict would be Amarillo, and I'm sure Sinclair would have happily sold KVII to get KFDA as its news is the most watched in The Panhandle. The price London offered back in '07 was $115 mil and I'm sure Sinclair's was similar. So I would say this is serious and I'm sure the reason everybody is keeping very tight lipped about it.
Samantha 2902 Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 The group is not motivated to sell. They've had multiple offers and almost all of them got immediate no's. This is a serious talk because the price is MUCH higher than previous deals. My understanding is that Drewry believes the group is worth way more than it is in reality (and they were waiting for a hefty offer from a company like Raycom to buy). Raycom sees more potential in the licenses and the markets than subpar infrastructure. They can afford to fix things like news departments and buildings at relatively low cost to them. Plus, they need to expand west to keep competitive with Gannett (or whatever it's called), Nexstar, Sinclair, etc. The only conflict would be Amarillo, and I'm sure Sinclair would have happily sold KVII to get KFDA as its news is the most watched in The Panhandle. The price London offered back in '07 was $115 mil and I'm sure Sinclair's was similar. So I would say this is serious and I'm sure the reason everybody is keeping very tight lipped about it. Raycom is in a good position to start building a Texas portfolio too, as they also have Lubbock and Tyler. This would really strengthen their presence in the Lone Star State and mark their entrance into Oklahoma. Speaking of which... What happens to KAUZ? Raycom might not be able to inherit the SSA for that station. It's Hoak's final television asset (the license, as Drewry owns everything else). Does Gray jump in?
NEOMatrix 1307 Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 For all we know, Hoak might cash out KAUZ and transfer the programming to one of KSWO's subchannels if a Raycom sale happens. Edit: Didn't realize that KAUZ and KSWO actually have SEPERATE studios.
Samantha 2902 Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 For all we know, Hoak might cash out KAUZ and transfer the programming to one of KSWO's subchannels if a Raycom sale happens. Apparently there is a pending sale of KAUZ to KAUZ Media, Inc., which is owned by a Lawton, OK businessman. But the sale application was filed in February 2014 and was probably affected by the FCC's abrupt March 2014 crackdown on SSAs. Also, on the separate studios note, I think Drewry's intent with KAUZ has been to operate the station with a Texas news bent. KSWO has always had its heart in Lawton, while KFDX and KAUZ were always competing for the Wichita Falls part of the audience.
solidscooter 3 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Posted June 11, 2015 Apparently there is a pending sale of KAUZ to KAUZ Media, Inc., which is owned by a Lawton, OK businessman. But the sale application was filed in February 2014 and was probably affected by the FCC's abrupt March 2014 crackdown on SSAs. Also, on the separate studios note, I think Drewry's intent with KAUZ has been to operate the station with a Texas news bent. KSWO has always had its heart in Lawton, while KFDX and KAUZ were always competing for the Wichita Falls part of the audience. You are correct. KSWO is always on the the Oklahoma side of news.
TheRolyPoly 2592 Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 Will there be any conflicts if Drewry was to sell its stations to Raycom? Because I can't think of any. In Waco: Raycom owns nobody, since there's Gray (KBTX/KWTX), Gannett/Tegna (KCEN/KAGS-LD), Drewry (KXXV/KRHD-CD) and Nexstar (KWKT/KYLE). In Amarillo: Nobody either, since you have Nexstar (KAMR), Mission, operated by Nexstar (KCIT/KCPN-LP), Sinclair (KVII) and Drewry (KFDA/KZBZ-LP/KEYU). Wichita Falls-Lawton: Nexstar (KFDX), Mission, operated by Nexstar (KJTL/KJBO-LP), Hoak Media, operated by Drewry (KAUZ) and Drewry (KSWO/KSWX-LP - Is KSWX, a 24/7 local weather channel?). Midland-Odessa: Nexstar (KMID/KPEJ), Investment Corporation of America, soon to be Gray (KOSA) and Drewry (KWES-KWAB).
Big Country News 435 Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 With KOSA being bought by Gray and a sale of KWES to Raycom eminent, KMID better step up their game.
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