TheRolyPoly 1847 Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 Couldn't they apply for full power at WTMU-LP, WCEA-LD or WHDT-LD or buyout WWDP? Right now, all signs are pointing towards WNEU 60 as the new home for NBC in Boston, displacing Telemundo to WNEU 60.2, The CW to WHDH 7 and Independent to WLVI 56. You're watching NBC 6 on WNEU 60 (Cable 6) / Boston... Imagine that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC 7 Denver 1552 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Right now, all signs are pointing towards WNEU 60 as the new home for NBC in Boston, displacing Telemundo to WNEU 60.2, The CW to WHDH 7 and Independent to WLVI 56. You're watching NBC 6 on WNEU 60 (Cable 6) / Boston... Imagine that. Sounds like a clusterf*ck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardNewsCLT 20 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEnglandOne 17 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Maria and Pete didn't have no-compete clauses? I find that very hard to believe. Typically it'd be at least 6 months or maybe even a year before they could resurface in the same market. Non-competes cannot be enforced in Massachusetts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
channel2 869 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 WFXT's deal with Fox runs through 2020. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmediaguy 123 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Cox signed a long-term affiliation agreement with Fox when they acquired WFXT. There are a few things that don't quite add up. Why would NBC build out another news department when they own New England Cable News? Are Maria Stephanos and Pete Bouchard joining NECN, who will produce newscasts for the new NBC Boston? That makes a little more sense. Outside of local and network programming, what does NBC Boston have that they could broadcast? Syndicated programming is not in an abundance of supply the past few years. As a completely new outlet, they have nothing. WLVI's agreement with The CW ends this year. If CBS were to move it to WSBK, their owned station, that would leave Sunbeam with two independents. At that point, do they sell WLVI for spectrum which provides (1) cash; (2) programming for Sunbeam to retain on WHDH and possibly re-sell to the new NBC Boston. It's definitely quite interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plnewsfan 9 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I'd rather bet that NBC would buy WLVI 56 when the WHDH contract with NBC runs out. This would mean that WHDH will be The CW affiliate, just like WISH since January. I'd think that NECN newscasts will be simulcasted on that station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 427 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I'd rather bet that NBC would buy WLVI 56 when the WHDH contract with NBC runs out. This would mean that WHDH will be The CW affiliate, just like WISH since January. I'd think that NECN newscasts will be simulcasted on that station. Wasn't that rumor why Sunbeam grossly overpaid for WLVI in the first place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlnews2 557 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I'd rather bet that NBC would buy WLVI 56 when the WHDH contract with NBC runs out. This would mean that WHDH will be The CW affiliate, just like WISH since January. I'd think that NECN newscasts will be simulcasted on that station. Why would Sunbeam sell WLVI to NBC? That makes no sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlnews2 557 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Is there any way that WFXT can get out of their contract early and sign up with NBC ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3464 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I have two words for WLVI should they lose the CW to WHDH.....should they have their NBC affiliation yanked. Spectrum auction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
effseesee 101 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 If NBC is hiring well known talent, then I'm pretty sure that NBC on WNEU is a done deal. NBC has wanted their own toy in Boston, and they're going to get it, one way or another. You're likely going to see WNEU make the transition, starting next September. I doubt Ansin will give up NBC early, especially with this being a presidential year, and the opportunity to get a last season of Sunday Night Football. As for syndicated programming, NBC O&Os don't show much, and most of what they show is owned by them. As an example, the only non-NBC distributed syndicated show on WRC, in Washington, is Ellen. Look for the Steve Harvey Show and Access Hollywood to start on WNEU in September. I have two words for WLVI should they lose the CW to WHDH.....should they have their NBC affiliation yanked. Spectrum auction. Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4167 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 23 years?!? Wow! How did Ansin negotiate that? Ansin had all the leverage in the world. Because Group W made a groupwide affiliation pact with CBS (prior to merging with CBS itself) NBC had nowhere else to go after being bounced off of WBZ. WCVB was committed to ABC, WLVI was committed to The WB, WSBK was committed to UPN and Fox owned WFXT. Going to WHDH, in spite of the bad blood between Ed Ansin and NBC, was the path of least resistance for NBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1509 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Really, WHDH and NBC are both stuck: * CBS is a non-starter since WBZ is an O&O as part of a duopoly. * Although WFXT might be able to play for the NBC affiliation now, Fox would look stupid watching its former O&O change affiliations so fast (no matter how long the agreement is for?) and does Ansin want two Fox affiliations? * WCVB is one of Hearst's crown jewels, and one of the strongest stations for ABC. No way either party is going to change that, especially with Disney likely in a selling - and not buying - mood right now. Unless Hearst wants to bulk up and put NBC on 5.2 and show off their market and regional dominance, but really in a top-10 market have NBC on a subchannel? The result is WHDH likely being an independent after this is all said and done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4167 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I'll play devil's advocate and suggest that NECN hiring both Maria and Pete only means that Comcast wants to further elevate the profile of NECN, and nothing more. Plus the mere mention of Comcast putting NBC on cable-only status would be a non-starter with the DOJ. And even with the placement of the affiliation on WNEU - a rimshot signal with poor coverage in the metro (regardless of cable penetration in the Boston market) and as a startup in a market with a significant amount of viewer loyalties... is that a risk Comcast-NBC really wants to take? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfuego35 89 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 If NBC is hiring well known talent, then I'm pretty sure that NBC on WNEU is a done deal. NBC has wanted their own toy in Boston, and they're going to get it, one way or another. You're likely going to see WNEU make the transition, starting next September. I doubt Ansin will give up NBC early, especially with this being a presidential year, and the opportunity to get a last season of Sunday Night Football. As for syndicated programming, NBC O&Os don't show much, and most of what they show is owned by them. As an example, the only non-NBC distributed syndicated show on WRC, in Washington, is Ellen. Look for the Steve Harvey Show and Access Hollywood to start on WNEU in September. I agree that if NBC flips WNEU to English, it will occur in September, and NBC will run it as an Independent until next January. Doesn't WNEU have a LP station they use as a way to improve coverage? If so, a Birmingham like arrangement is likely where Telemundo is on the LP Station, and on 60.2 Plus, NBC distributes Meredith Viera's show. NBC is also launching a talk show with Harry Connick Jr. That leaves WNEU with enough programming owned by NBC to fill the slots. In regards to news, I can see an WTTV-WXIN type arrangement where WNEU has their own anchor staff, but share reporters with NECN. Really, WHDH and NBC are both stuck: * CBS is a non-starter since WBZ is an O&O as part of a duopoly. * Although WFXT might be able to play for the NBC affiliation now, Fox would look stupid watching its former O&O change affiliations so fast (no matter how long the agreement is for?) and does Ansin want two Fox affiliations? * WCVB is one of Hearst's crown jewels, and one of the strongest stations for ABC. No way either party is going to change that, especially with Disney likely in a selling - and not buying - mood right now. Unless Hearst wants to bulk up and put NBC on 5.2 and show off their market and regional dominance, but really in a top-10 market have NBC on a subchannel? The result is WHDH likely being an independent after this is all said and done. Another thing to think of, if WCVB was interested in becoming an NBC Station, they would have done it in 2010, when NBC was playing the Breach of Contract card when Ansin was threatening to drop Leno. At the same time, the ABC affiliation was up for renewal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 427 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I have two words for WLVI should they lose the CW to WHDH.....should they have their NBC affiliation yanked. Spectrum auction. It would be the one way to break even on overpaying for WLVI in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eat News 4738 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I'm going to insert the obligatory song reference/forced meme. [ATTACH=full]2474[/ATTACH] That's pretty funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eat News 4738 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 My wild conspiracy theory... WGBH channel swap with a sizable donation of cash, cash and cash from NBC in a deal too good to refuse. My bookie says 60-1 odds Bigbird has to sleep a Peacock while Ed the old man goes crazy on the sidelines. Is it legal to do this??? The "bird on bird" thing??? I like to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvcg66b3r 97 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 WGBH channel swap with a sizable donation of cash, cash and cash from NBC in a deal too good to refuse. My bookie says 60-1 odds Bigbird has to sleep a Peacock while Ed the old man goes crazy on the sidelines. Is it legal to do this??? The "bird on bird" thing??? Not gonna happen. WGBH's channel is reserved for educational TV. And WGBH would lose coverage south of Boston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eat News 4738 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Not gonna happen. WGBH's channel is reserved for educational TV. And WGBH would lose coverage south of Boston. If they fake a pledge crisis and file for BK they could pull it off and get Congress to make an exemption... Think BIG and CRAZY!! All the actors are in place....hell get Summer Redstone in on this shit. Also.... Mention the spectrum auction..... And be sure to involve KRON in this scenario, because crazy ass KRON shit still drives people nuts on these boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 1847 Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 No way will WGBH swap channel positions. WGBH is considered one of the biggest and most-watched PBS stations in the country. And because WGBH is already so recognizable on Channel 2, forget WGBH moving. That will never happen in a million years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eat News 4738 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 No way will WGBH swap channel positions. WGBH is considered one of the biggest and most-watched PBS stations in the country. And because WGBH is already so recognizable on Channel 2, forget WGBH moving. That will never happen in a million years. WGBH is on ch19 UHF....just Virtual 2. It can happen pretty easy. What would be the resistance if NBC heaped gobs of money on PBS and WGBH and the radio station...etc. If you can show that WGBH will be vastly improved then a swap can be authorized. It's happened in the past inNashville on a Ch2 assignment. Ya see NBC and Comcast could sure use a "Win"...and south Boston can be fixed with a few HD brand new HD translators. It's just a channel assignment that is non-exclusive. WGBH gets a bad ass new home,equipment,hookers,cash, booze....in one big payoff. WGBH can live on a subchannel covered in leather. You just need Congress...and totally suck up to the Boston people and deliver a very well funded WGBH. I'm pulling this scenario completely out of my ass, but I would be willing to bet $1000 that this Idea has or will be floated. Think big and crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plnewsfan 9 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Of course, WGBH also owns WGBX-TV, so maybe PBS programming including NOVA will move from Ch.2 to Ch.44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eat News 4738 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Of course, WGBH also owns WGBX-TV, so maybe those PBS programming from Ch.2 will move to Ch.44 Awsome! NBC can remodel WGBX also....get it all ADA compliant...."green building" that runs on unicorn farts...more cash.... This could be the path of least resistance. There is no anti trust issues.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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