Gray TV acquiring Schurz

[CircleSeven 1955]

And here's Harry Jessell's take on the WAGT mess, in his weekly editorial today.

 

Meanwhile, the B&C stated tonight that Gray was planning on implementing a separate news op for WAGT, but said it can't because of the injunction.

[detroiter313 180]

And I thought FCC handing RKO the ultimate "death penalty" back in the 80's is already enough, but as for what's happening now in Augusta, this is bananas!

[Guest NewsHound]

Well it seems the FCC and Department of Justice is in favor of WRDW. They will regain control of WAGT. When? I guess we will see what happens between now and Monday.

 

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/93056/what-to-make-of-the-strange-case-of-wagt/page/1

[CircleSeven 1955]

Well it seems the FCC and Department of Justice is in favor of WRDW. They will regain control of WAGT. When? I guess we will see what happens between now and Monday.

 

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/93056/what-to-make-of-the-strange-case-of-wagt/page/1

 

I posted that article last Friday. Even though Gray may have the feds on their side, the courts itself haven't made any final rulings in this case (as of yet).

[CircleSeven 1955]

Now Gray has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to yank that injuction that was placed last month.

[Guest NewsHound]

Now Gray has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to yank that injuction that was placed last month.

 

I'm absolutely sick that it was sent back to state court. It should be handled on a national level.

 

All I can say is, the state court better not be made up of ignorant blowhards like Michael Annis from the Augusta court who didn't give Gray a chance because he obviously watches WJBF. They need to yank that man's gavel away since he ruled over a case he knows absolutely nothing about and violated FCC protocol in his ruling, not once, but twice...

 

I fully anticipate WRDW will get WAGT. What happens next is anyone's guess. I also hope that WRDW has done what they said they did and built out a news department for WAGT, however I'm curious as to how they did so in less than a month in a very small building. I guess when you're under judicial pressure, you can do anything quickly.

[mardek1995 200]

If anything....this investigation will EXPEDITE the transfer of Media General's licenses to Nexstar. It's like the RKO General case times 100 all over again. And just like the financial crisis, Nexstar is waiting in the wings to take over much like the FDIC had banks ready to take over ones that failed.

 

It's the ultimate in hypocrisy as Nexstar has abused these laws way more than Media General and Gray have.....

So has Sinclair, and they've gotten away with it because they could.

[newsbot 271]

And now the Georgia Supreme Court has struck down the injunction, which places WAGT back under Gray control. The onus is now on Gray to make good on its promise to launch a separate news operation.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/local-business/2016-03-23/georgia-supreme-court-strikes-down-superior-court-injunction

[lugnuts6 91]

And thus ends this battle ..or what ???

[CircleSeven 1955]

And thus ends this battle ..or what ???

 

No this doesn't end the legal fight. But this would allow WAGT to participate in the incentive auction. Here's more from an e-mail WRDW GM John Ray sent to the staffers last night, which an excerpt was posted from this morning's B&C article:

"I am very pleased to share with you the great news that the Georgia Supreme Court issued an order GRANTING Gray’s emergency motion to stay the injunction previously issued by the Superior Court of Richmond County," Ray said in the email.

 

"Media General and Gray are cooperating to facilitate the smooth return of WAGT to Gray's operation and control. The logistics are complicated, and it may take a few days to accomplish the transition. We will, and we know that WJBF will, treat each other with complete professionalism and graciousness through this transition and afterward. At the end of the day, WJBF and WRDW share the same deep passion and commitment to this community, and nothing will change that.

 

The litigation will continue, but for now, Gray will be the owner as well as the operator of WAGT. I will continue to update you as developments occur. In the meantime, THANK YOU for your support, resolve, and patience through these difficult few weeks."

[CircleSeven 1955]

And now we're back to this......

 

WRDW has reintroduced WAGT this weekend, with Gray's WAGT website working as of yesterday.

 

WAGT will have a standalone weeknight 5:30pm & 7pm newscasts starting Monday. The morning (4:30-7am), 6pm & 11pm will be simulcasted with WRDW. The weekend morning show on WAGT will be discontinued "for the time being".

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 917]

And apparently with the new "newscasts" came a new set, according to TVSpy.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/gray-producing-newscast-on-wagt/167111

[Guest NewsHound]

And apparently with the new "newscasts" came a new set, according to TVSpy.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/gray-producing-newscast-on-wagt/167111

 

And once again TVSpy was wrong. That's not a new set. New desk maybe, but that is the secondary area of WRDW's existing 2004 Gil Jimenez set. That area is also used for LawCall on Sunday nights and during the morning show.

 

What's terrible is that this area still has the old duratrans left over from the Cinemagic graphics days. It was clearly evident on the 7pm last night when Kelly Wiley had a giant Cinemagic 12 duratran behind her.

 

New desk? Maybe. New set? Not even close.

 

However, the graphics used during the WAGT newscasts are a lot nicer than the ones used on the simulcast. Probably the best work Gray's graphics hub has done yet.

[hathawaynson2 39]

And once again TVSpy was wrong. That's not a new set. New desk maybe, but that is the secondary area of WRDW's existing 2004 Gil Jimenez set. That area is also used for LawCall on Sunday nights and during the morning show.

 

What's terrible is that this area still has the old duratrans left over from the Cinemagic graphics days. It was clearly evident on the 7pm last night when Kelly Wiley had a giant Cinemagic 12 duratran behind her.

 

New desk? Maybe. New set? Not even close.

 

However, the graphics used during the WAGT newscasts are a lot nicer than the ones used on the simulcast. Probably the best work Gray's graphics hub has done yet.

I want to ask this, where is they Gray graphics hub that everyone is talking about? I had a good thought it was in Topeka.

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 917]

My apologies... I thought it looked similar

[CircleSeven 1955]

Well here's something that's not related to the WAGT mess.

 

Here's some new info regarding KOTA's satellite station KDUH. The Scottsbluff Star-Herald stated on Tuesday, that the station (which its calls will become KNEP soon), will start airing NBC programming in early May. The station will be branded as NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff.

 

The station will also produce three weekday local newscasts at 12pm, 6pm & 10pm.

[TheRolyPoly 2449]

It's over.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fight-over-wagt-is-pretty-much-over/167790

 

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/2016-04-05/fight-over-wagt-26-effectively-over?v=1459893950

[CircleSeven 1955]

It's over.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fight-over-wagt-is-pretty-much-over/167790

 

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/2016-04-05/fight-over-wagt-26-effectively-over?v=1459893950

 

The only that's over is MG is not going to counteract from the State Supreme Court's ruling of that tossed injunction, and issue any future injunctions in the near term. That doesn't mean these both parties won't go back to court later on. The legal proceeding is still not over.

 

Both of these parties are fighting over the station just to get the proceeds from the auction (which bidding hasn't even started yet).

 

From an excerpt of a B&C article this afternoon:

Media General is still challenging the unwinding of its JSA with Schurz, the former owner of WAGT, in the Richmond, Country, Georgia Superior Court, but filed an amended complaint April 1 whose asks included: "any profits from the sale of the WAGT station's spectrum in the spectrum auction, if WAGT is sold in the spectrum auction."

[TheRolyPoly 2449]

Of course, but in terms of programming and control of WAGT, it is over.

[CircleSeven 1955]

Okay. Follow-up regarding the KYES transaction.

 

The owners of KYES is requesting an expedited processing of the sale of its station to Gray. GCI, which is one of the petitioners against the sale, is opposing this emergency request from Fireweed.

 

It other words, Fireweed wants an FCC approval NOW, or its station will go dark.

 

Gray also amended its application to add its public interest benefits to expedite approval. Also in the amended app, it noted that Fireweed tried to sell the station for years.

[TheRolyPoly 2449]

Okay. Follow-up regarding the KYES transaction.

 

The owners of KYES is requesting an expedited processing of the sale of its station to Gray. GCI, which is one of the petitioners against the sale, is opposing this emergency request from Fireweed.

 

It other words, Fireweed wants an FCC approval NOW, or its station will go dark.

 

Gray also amended its application to add its public interest benefits to expedite approval. Also in the amended app, it noted that Fireweed tried to sell the station for years.

 

You're pretty good at reading these FCC things. Keep them up! :-)

 

Anyways, I ask why they're taking so long with this but hopefully, Gray does get KYES.

[CircleSeven 1955]

 

Here's some new info regarding KOTA's satellite station KDUH. The Scottsbluff Star-Herald stated on Tuesday, that the station (which its calls will become KNEP soon), will start airing NBC programming in early May. The station will be branded as NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff.

 

The station will also produce three weekday local newscasts at 12pm, 6pm & 10pm.

 

A little follow-up.

 

The new NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff newscasts will debut tomorrow at 12pm.

 

It will be aired on both KNEP 4.2 & KSTF 10.2 (replacing the relay of Casper, WY's KCWY).

[CircleSeven 1955]

The first live broadcast of NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff, from earlier this afternoon.

 

Courtesy of NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff's FB wall.

EDIT 5/6: The callsign query has updated its calls to KNEP, even though the date states 2/16/16 (the date at which the Gray/Schurz sale was finalized).

[Eat News 4745]

I bet they had to inject some primer electrons into the local air supply to support all that live transmitting, while being careful not to accidentally zap some old people.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

With that branding I wonder if WOWT will change its brand to "NBC Nebraska Omaha"?