Rusty Muck 4378 Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Sunbeam has owned WSVN since 12/19/1962 while they've only owned WHDH since 93. Uh... why would they give WSVN up? After all, Sunbeam made WSVN into what it is today. So no? It's implied in the article that Cox would trade WFXT to NBC for WTVJ/WSCV and other cash considerations. If that happened, the Fox affiliation would go on WHDH by default, as NBC would be completely fine with nullifying the long-term contract. That would be a massive win for Ed Ansin, as he would own two of the largest Fox affiliates in the country. And Cox would wind up with the #1 station in Miami in WSCV as well as WTVJ (NBC wanted to leave Miami and had a deal to sell WTVJ to Post-Newsweek before the Great Recession happened). NBC would have an in-market signal for "NBC Boston" and a true duopoly with WNEU. Win-win-win all around. Fun fact: Cox initially owned channel 7 in Miami in a joint venture with the Knight-Ridder Newspaper chain, thus, the original WCKT calls. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153220 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Trading Boston for Miami makes no sense for either company. Boston is a top 10 market for Cox and WTVJ goes great with WCSV. I know Cox isn't happy about how they ended up with WFXT and NBC really wants to get into Boston, but this proposed trade doesn't make any logical sense. WTVJ is expendable for NBC. Miami is a strong market for WSCV and Telemundo, and Comcast has sunk a lot of money into rehabbing WTVJ... but if they need to relinquish them for WFXT, they will do it. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153222 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo 356 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 1.) Cox owns no stations -- and has no recent experience owning stations -- with Spanish-language programming on .1, so I have doubts about this. 2.) But, they do have duopolies in Orlando and Jax, so the idea of having a TV presence in another Florida city, Miami, where Cox already has several radio stations, could be appealing. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153224 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 It's implied in the article that Cox would trade WFXT to NBC for WTVJ/WSCV and other cash considerations. If that happened, the Fox affiliation would go on WHDH by default, as NBC would be completely fine with nullifying the long-term contract. That's not what he's referring to. Fee suggests that Ansin could trade WSVN to Cox for WFXT, then get rid of WLVI. That doesn't even begin to make sense. NBC trading something to Cox for WFXT makes more sense, but unless they'll get a lot more for WTVJ now than they would have prior to the work they've put into it, it doesn't make much sense. Now, I could see them trading WVIT and/or KNSD, plus cash to make up any difference. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153226 Share on other sites More sharing options...
channel2 979 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Which top ten market station would NBC be the most willing to part with? Their history indicates "none," but if it were their ONLY way to secure a decent Boston station... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153227 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 WNEU. (You asked.) Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153230 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2449 Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 But here's a question: Do you think Cox really wants a Telemundo station? They don't own any Spanish stations at all. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153252 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 429 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I wonder how Fox would feel having an affiliate in a former O&O market that totally would eschew Fox branding and would put off-hour Fox programming in overnights. I think they tolerate that in Miami given that WSVN came in during a nadir period for the network but in Boston a precedent was long set. Has Fox ever accepted an affiliate in the last 20ish years that did not brand to network convention? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153261 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToriElectra 292 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 I wonder how Fox would feel having an affiliate in a former O&O market that totally would eschew Fox branding and would put off-hour Fox programming in overnights. I think they tolerate that in Miami given that WSVN came in during a nadir period for the network but in Boston a precedent was long set. Has Fox ever accepted an affiliate in the last 20ish years that did not brand to network convention? KHON is a broderline case- they did brand as Fox 2 for their first few years, but they dropped that around 2006-ish. And they kept the Channel Two News branding through that period too. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153269 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 429 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 KHON is a broderline case- they did brand as Fox 2 for their first few years, but they dropped that around 2006-ish. And they kept the Channel Two News branding through that period too. I think that given the circumstances of their affiliation and how the sisters who went with went whole hog, that can be overlooked. Much different than a lone wolf like WSVN. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153274 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo 356 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 TVSpy is reporting WCVB has a new 5 p.m. anchor. Does that mean the rumors that Phil Lipof was heading to NBC Boston are true? http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/ben-simmoneau-joins-wcvb/172556 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153283 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 429 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 TVSpy is reporting WCVB has a new 5 p.m. anchor. Does that mean the rumors that Phil Lipof was heading to NBC Boston are true? http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/ben-simmoneau-joins-wcvb/172556 Given how WCVB kind've treated him like crap by giving the 4:30, 7:00, and 10:00 to Ed Harding, I can see why Lipof would want out. Since it seemed like he was heir apparent to Harding when he came back to Boston and was glad to be anchoring alongside a friend since childhood (he and J.C. Monahan grew up in the same neighborhood), being passed up was fuel for the fire. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2449 Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 Phil Lipof is joining NBC Boston/NECN, New England One has learned. Idk what he'll be doing there and I'm on mobile so I don't have the link to post on that. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153330 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Newsroom 1283 Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Idk what he'll be doing there and I'm on mobile so I don't have the link to post on that. I do. http://www.newenglandone.com/news/l...leaving-wcvb-newscenter-5-for-nbc-boston.html Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153360 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Ansin is not giving up. He filed an appeal yesterday. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroupWBZ 73 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 So if this deal goes through: does NBC then take its new O&O to channel 25 (virtual or otherwise)? Does the new station become "NBC25 Boston" or something? Or do they find a way to move down to a lower virtual channel? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153433 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 So if this deal goes through: does NBC then take its new O&O to channel 25 (virtual or otherwise)? Does the new station become "NBC25 Boston" or something? Or do they find a way to move down to a lower virtual channel? Let's say NBC does get WFXT by trade. It would still be "NBC Boston," eschewing the channel number. After all, they have pretty much trotted out "NBC Boston" as THE brand to begin with. As for the above posts, yes, I misread the Boston Herald article. But the writer totally missed the mark. It underlies my overall point... Comcast is probably going to work a station asset swap of some sort, as apparently WBPX is not for sale. They have no choice but to do something, otherwise, "NBC Boston" will be the biggest waste of money and resources in recent memory. Ed Ansin will not give up WHDH, and he sure as hell won't give up WSVN. Good grief. He has little to lose. Comcast has a LOT to lose and doesn't have many options out there. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153445 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSSZNews 1051 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Trading Boston for Miami makes no sense for either company. Boston is a top 10 market for Cox and WTVJ goes great with WCSV. I know Cox isn't happy about how they ended up with WFXT and NBC really wants to get into Boston, but this proposed trade doesn't make any logical sense. I actually think a WFXT/WTVJ swap (with some cash included and maybe a reverse-comp exception for WPXI to sweeten it) would make the most sense out of anything. And I don't even think NBC would have to give up WSCV to do it. Consider that KTVU was Cox's crown jewel. It was *the* top performing FOX affiliate in the country, and one of the country's top TV stations period. I thought their attempt to turn FOX 25 into KTVU East would have a shot in a market like Boston, but they are currently STRUGGLING. The FOX network's current woes aren't helping. A LOT of talent have come in and out the doors at Dedham of late. And given all the jokes here and elsewhere about the weird logo, it gives off the perception they don't care about the brand. Meanwhile, WHDH keeps winning in the demo in every place but 7PM and the mornings. I'm beginning to think Ansin losing NBC wouldn't be that terrible a hit--and he'd get to keep the revenue from a news expansion. It's going to be very, very difficult for NBC Boston to succeed no matter where it ends up, unless Sunday Night Football airs the Patriots every other week. Boston is very competitive. It will remain so when HDH goes independent. Ansin's been down this road before and he knows how to overcome this type of adversity. So I think NBC acquiring 25 gives them the best shot of succeeding. Meanwhile--giving Cox WTVJ gives them almost total control in Florida's major markets, sans Tampa. They're already in Orlando and Jax. I'll add that Cox owns the two dailies in West Palm Beach. And Cox had The Miami News before it folded in the 80s. WTVJ would be perfect for them. Cox loves synergy. I bet they would love to have, effectively, a statewide news network between TV and newspapers. Owning WTVJ gives them that opportunity and that may be enough for Cox--but I also think they would fare better in Miami with NBC than they can in Boston with FOX. FOX would be happy with HDH as an affiliate because A) They see that the formula works and have for years (see WSVN), and B) They'd probably get reverse comp from a major market again. NBC would have a chance in Boston. And Cox could become dominant in Florida. I don't see many downsides to this. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153446 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2449 Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 Meanwhile--giving Cox WTVJ gives them almost total control in Florida's major markets, sans Tampa. They're already in Orlando and Jax. I'll add that Cox owns the two dailies in West Palm Beach. And Cox had The Miami News before it folded in the 80s. WTVJ would be perfect for them. Cox loves synergy. I bet they would love to have, effectively, a statewide news network between TV and newspapers. Owning WTVJ gives them that opportunity and that may be enough for Cox--but I also think they would fare better in Miami with NBC than they can in Boston with FOX. Don't forget, WSVN used to be owned by COX under Biscayne Television (COX and Knight) from 1956-1962. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153447 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 And I don't even think NBC would have to give up WSCV to do it. I don't think they give up WSCV - it's their flagship station that has been #1 or #2 for the past few sweep cycles of all stations. If NBC does give up WTVJ - I could see WSCV moving into the new Telemundo HQ/NBC News Bureau/sound stages that's being built. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153451 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 FOX would be happy with HDH as an affiliate because A) They see that the formula works and have for years (see WSVN), and B) They'd probably get reverse comp from a major market again. NBC would have a chance in Boston. And Cox could become dominant in Florida. You know, this actually does make a lot of sense. I'll throw one more idea on top of it, though: As part of the (eventual) settlement between NBC and Ansin, NBC buys WLVI from him and makes it the new Telemundo affiliate, with the CW affiliation going to either WHDH or WSBK (depending on what CBS decides to do) and WNEU either sold to a minority broadcaster or becoming spectrum bait. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153463 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEOMatrix 1299 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I think that a swap between WFXT (future WNEN) and WTVJ is pretty realistic. It's a win-win IMHO. NBC gets a lower channel number (and excellent coverage if they shoehorn NBC Boston on WNEU 60.3 ALONG with WFXT being the main signal.) Cox can get rid of the headache that's Boston, and Sunbeam gets a network affiliation for WHDH. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153498 Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfuego35 90 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I think that a swap between WFXT (future WNEN) and WTVJ is pretty realistic. It's a win-win IMHO. NBC gets a lower channel number (and excellent coverage if they shoehorn NBC Boston on WNEU 60.3 ALONG with WFXT being the main signal.) Cox can get rid of the headache that's Boston, and Sunbeam gets a network affiliation for WHDH. I am a skeptical that NBC would purchase WFXT. Why would NBC be hiring for a News operation, just to buy a station that already has a news department? As the Maria Stephanos situation showed, Boston is loyal to their personalities, and I feel that if NBC moves some NECN Anchors/Meteorologists to WFXT at the expense of the current Anchors/Meteorologists, it would hurt NBC as much as launching on WNEU will. NBC has botched this since the day it was announced. I think NBC just assumed that Ansin would take the money, and be content with one station, with NBC Boston either WHDH or WLVI, and Ansin keeping the other but it backfired, and now is scrambling to find a station that isn't WNEU. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153504 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickp 337 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Possible Solution 1: Have NBC Offer $400 Million and see if Ansin takes it. Possible Solution 2: NBC buys WFXT from Cox Media, the FOX affiliation moves to WHDH, and everyone's happy Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153514 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobvick 9 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Possible Solution 1: Have NBC Offer $400 Million and see if Ansin takes it. Possible Solution 2: NBC buys WFXT from Cox Media, the FOX affiliation moves to WHDH, and everyone's happy Most likely resolution: Comcast/NBCU places NBC on WNEU-60, the lower half of the market can't get "NBC Boston" OTA, has to attempt to get WJAR, and Comcast just sticks it's middle finger up to the Southern half of the Boston market and says "F**k you, get our cable." FCC, probably gets paid off and does nothing. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/29/#findComment-153553 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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