mardek1995 200 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I completely and vehemently disagree. #1 or #2? When viewer loyalties to WCVB, WBZ and WHDH are decades in the making, and where Cox is in the midst of a rebuild of WFXT? That's absolutely insane and representative of the groupthink that is apparently pervasive at 30 Rock. NBC will become totally irrelevant in Boston proper with a craptacular signal for WNEU that can't be upgraded, and the newscasts will be lucky to draw hash marks for ratings. How do you know that the signal can't be upgraded? If it can't then can't it build another station for an NBC/Telemundo O&O duopoly? And is CBS any more relevant than NBC in Boston at this point? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141555 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 429 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 This all assumes that CBS doesn't throw a wrench into this by taking the CW affiliation for WSBK. IIRC CBS wasn't happy about Tribune selling WLVI to Sunbeam to begin with and I would think they would want the network they own part of on their station. Remember, Sunbeam hasn't reupped their affiliation yet and I don't think that the C end of CW doesn't let them take it without a fight. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141556 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvcg66b3r 100 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 How do you know that the signal can't be upgraded? The FCC has put a freeze on transmitter moves and upgrades until after the auction. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141567 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 How do you know that the signal can't be upgraded? If it can't then can't it build another station for an NBC/Telemundo O&O duopoly? The FCC has put a freeze on transmitter moves and upgrades until after the auction. Yup. WNEU is hemmed in as a Manchester, NH signal. And that FCC freeze could go on for years (it's the federal government we're talking about, after all). Plus, if I owned WMPF, I would deliberately hold out beyond 2017 so that a desperate NBC would overpay dearly for it as a WNEU relay. And even then... I still wouldn't sell, but make a move to cash out the spectrum. And is CBS any more relevant than NBC in Boston at this point? Oh come on now. WBZ is still very much relevant in Boston, with plenty of heritage behind it. And it's a full-market signal like WHDH. WBZ is a known commodity. WNEU isn't, and will never be. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141569 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardek1995 200 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Yup. WNEU is hemmed in as a Manchester, NH signal. And that FCC freeze could go on for years (it's the federal government we're talking about, after all). Plus, if I owned WMPF, I would deliberately hold out beyond 2017 so that a desperate NBC would overpay dearly as a WNEU relay. And even then... I still wouldn't sell, but make a move to cash out the spectrum. Oh come on now. WBZ is still very much relevant in Boston, with plenty of heritage behind it. And it's a full-market signal like WHDH. WBZ is a known commodity. WNEU isn't, and will never be. I'm thinking one of the reasons is because WBZ airs Patriots games as the official station of the New England Patriots Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141570 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I'm thinking one of the reasons is because WBZ airs Patriots games as the official station of the New England Patriots Then why is WFOR in eighth place despite being the Dolphins' "home station?" WJZ was dominant in news well before they picked up CBS, and CBS picked up the AFC rights (and, by extension, Ravens games). WBZ has heritage that dates back to the 1950s. NFL game carriage is irrelevant here. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141572 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardek1995 200 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 The FCC has put a freeze on transmitter moves and upgrades until after the auction.Then after the auction, NBC might as well upgrade WNEU's signal's power so that it reaches Boston itself. Then why is WFOR in eighth place despite being the Dolphins' "home station?" WJZ was dominant in news well before they picked up CBS, and CBS picked up the AFC rights (and, by extension, Ravens games). WBZ has heritage that dates back to the 1950s. NFL game carriage is irrelevant here. Being the home (or official) station of a football team can be a part of a station's heritage, especially if their team is often on the playoffs. And by the way, WBZ aired Patriots games as an NBC affiliate until 1995 when Westinghouse switched it to CBS (along with most others except KDKA and KPIX who were already CBS affiliates) then it got coverage Patriots games once again in 1998 through Westinghouse/CBS picking up the AFC rights Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141575 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5585 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Good Lord, this thread. What does the AFC team's home station have to do with NBC? Abso-frickin-nothing. No matter what happens, IT ALL depends on how annoyed/displeased/pissed NBC is at Ansin and company. Plain and simple. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141576 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardek1995 200 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Still, WNEU will still become a decent NBC O&O, though, they'll more than likely have to deal with WHDH being watched more despite no longer being an NBC affiliate, much like it did with WSVN. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141577 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I'm just going to cheerfully continue to believe that WNEU will actually become NBC New Hampshire. At the very least, it'll put WHDH in the same position WCVB was in prior to Hearst's purchase of WMUR. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141578 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Good Lord, this thread. What does the AFC team's home station have to do with NBC? Abso-frickin-nothing. No matter what happens, IT ALL depends on how annoyed/displeased/pissed NBC is at Ansin and company. Plain and simple. THIS. Still, WNEU will still become a decent NBC O&O, though, they'll more than likely have to deal with WHDH being watched more despite no longer being an NBC affiliate, much like it did with WSVN. I'll say it again: NBC will fail badly with WNEU, so much so that WWJ-TV will be a success story by comparison. WHDH, WBZ, WCVB, WFXT, WGBH, WSBK, WMUR, WLVI, WNHT, WBIN, WJAR and the area community access channels will all have higher ratings that WNEU. You can take that to the bank. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141584 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardek1995 200 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 THIS. I'll say it again: NBC will fail badly with WNEU, so much so that WWJ-TV will be a success story by comparison. WHDH, WBZ, WCVB, WFXT, WGBH, WSBK, WMUR, WLVI, WNHT, WBIN, WJAR and the area community access channels will all have higher ratings that WNEU. You can take that to the bank. Are you sure? Because even if WNEU sucks as an NBC O&O, WWJ will still suck more as a CBS O&O. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141585 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2447 Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Then why is WFOR in eighth place despite being the Dolphins' "home station?" Because... the newscasts suck! Even the Spanish language stations beat WFOR. However, I do like Rudabeh Shahbazi. She's so fucking hot. Also, the Miami Dolphins suck this season! 5-9, out of the playoffs again and again, another losing season. When the Dolphins don't do well time and time again, viewers here will tune out and watch something else. WHDH, WBZ, WCVB, WFXT, WGBH, WGBX, WSBK, WMUR, WLVI, WNHT?, WBIN, WLNE, WJAR, WPRI, WNAC and the area community access channels will all have higher ratings that WNEU. Edited this statement to include WGBX, WLNE, WPRI and WNAC. And what do you mean by WNHT? That station died 20+ years ago! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141587 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I need some popcorn because this thread is so entertaining. I believe I mentioned the fact that they can't improve the signal until after the replacing a few pages back. But if NBC cared about WNEU's signal coverage they would have installed some translators (I forget the specifics but they used the same call signs as the parent) that the FCC allowed to serve their market area that lost coverage after the DTV switch. But this all happened in the GE era where they were undergoing cost cuts. To even make this halfway feasible would be to buy WTMU-LP. Edit: The program I was thinking of was the Replacement Digital Television Translator Service. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141589 Share on other sites More sharing options...
channel2 979 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 WMFP is owned by NRJ TV, a spectrum speculator. And based on anecdotal evidence, Miami is full of transplants from the Northeast whose loyalties do not lie with the Dolphins at all. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141590 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Are you sure? Because even if WNEU sucks as an NBC O&O, WWJ will still suck more as a CBS O&O. WWJ-TV has a signal that covers all of Detroit, and actually pulls decent ratings in spite of no local newscasts. We've debated that to death elsewhere. Contrary to what you think, WWJ-TV doesn't suck. WNEU will suck with a poor signal and zero ratings. And what do you mean by WNHT? That station died 20+ years ago! Exactly. That wasn't a typo. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141592 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardek1995 200 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 WWJ-TV has a signal that covers all of Detroit, and actually pulls decent ratings in spite of no local newscasts. We've debated that to death elsewhere. Contrary to what you think, WWJ-TV doesn't suck. WNEU will suck with a poor signal and zero ratings. By that logic, WWJ should have newscasts while WNEU shouldn't, unless NBC buys WTMU-LP Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141593 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomadcowatbk 149 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Because... the newscasts suck! Even the Spanish language stations beat WFOR. However, I do like Rudabeh Shahbazi. She's so fucking hot. Also, the Miami Dolphins suck this season! 5-9, out of the playoffs again and again, another losing season. When the Dolphins don't do well time and time again, viewers here will tune out and watch something else. there's also the large number of Giants, Patriots, and Jets fans in the 6th borough of NYC Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141594 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomadcowatbk 149 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 And based on anecdotal evidence, Miami is full of transplants from the Northeast whose loyalties do not lie with the Dolphins at all. how often does WFOR air Patriots or Jets games? How often does WSVN air Giants games? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141595 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 429 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 how often does WFOR air Patriots or Jets games? How often does WSVN air Giants games? Whenever circumstances allow. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141601 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3955 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 If this goes through....it is an epic shell game of vertical integration. Doing such a thing and actually going through with it could spell the future of broadcasting as we know it. Comcast has ALL of the cards....a network, a station AND a dominant pay tv platform. Now if they make it impossible for rival systems to carry NBC, then that's a huge problem. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141607 Share on other sites More sharing options...
plnewsfan 9 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 It's a very huge problem even for IPTV providers. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141608 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 By that logic, WWJ should have newscasts while WNEU shouldn't, unless NBC buys WTMU-LP You read too much into this. WWJ-TV doesn't have newscasts due to reasons that have been talked about to oblivion here and elsewhere. If this goes through....it is an epic shell game of vertical integration. Doing such a thing and actually going through with it could spell the future of broadcasting as we know it. Comcast has ALL of the cards....a network, a station AND a dominant pay tv platform. Now if they make it impossible for rival systems to carry NBC, then that's a huge problem. That's why I am personally and moralistically opposed to this. Comcast has a monopoly on cable and internet delivery, with substandard service, poor customer support and an atrocious satisfaction rate. And now they want to try and invoke an unfair advantage over the competition. Standard Oil ring a bell, anyone? People gripe on here about S!nclair, Nexstar and Gray, while they all overlook the obvious problem with Comcast and their attempts at outright dominance of every single portion of information access to each and every one of us, i.e., the attempted Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger last year. If the FTC and FCC doesn't put Comcast's balls in a vice over this plan (literally and figuratively) it will affirm that the feds want monopolies where it is politically convenient for them. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
channel2 979 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 If this goes through....it is an epic shell game of vertical integration. Doing such a thing and actually going through with it could spell the future of broadcasting as we know it. Comcast has ALL of the cards....a network, a station AND a dominant pay tv platform. Now if they make it impossible for rival systems to carry NBC, then that's a huge problem. Comcast isn't allowed to do that, as a condition of their purchase of NBCU. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141614 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardek1995 200 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 You read too much into this. WWJ-TV doesn't have newscasts due to reasons that have been talked about to oblivion here and elsewhere. That's why I am personally and moralistically opposed to this. Comcast has a monopoly on cable and internet delivery, with substandard service, poor customer support and an atrocious satisfaction rate. And now they want to try and invoke an unfair advantage over the competition. Standard Oil ring a bell, anyone? People gripe on here about S!nclair, Nexstar and Gray, while they all overlook the obvious problem with Comcast and their attempts at outright dominance of every single portion of information access to each and every one of us, i.e., the attempted Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger last year. If the FTC and FCC doesn't put Comcast's balls in a vice over this plan (literally and figuratively) it will affirm that the feds want monopolies where it is politically convenient for them. They already owned NBC prior to 2013 though only a minority stake. I get the idea that Comcast knew people, although they complain about them, don't really care about how great their service is due to how dumbed down many of them are, and wanted to purchase GE's stake as soon as possible because 2017 would be too late for them (in their view or at least what they would say). Comcast isn't allowed to do that, as a condition of their purchase of NBCU.Thank God or else there would've been a monopoly that they owned. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/14838-boston-tv-crisis-whdh-and-wneu/page/8/#findComment-141620 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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