Sinclair, Tribune Close to Merger Deal

[NEOMatrix 1308]

Before we welcome our new Sinclair overlords, they made a pit stop to buy Bonten Media.

 

$240 million

Believe it or not, Bonten should get approved relatively quick. However, this does hamper Sinclair in staying under the cap in order to get Tribune.

[nobody 20]

Unless there are people that are still using rabbit ears

[TheMassMediaGeek 98]

Before we welcome our new Sinclair overlords, they made a pit stop to buy Bonten Media.

 

$240 million

I think that Sinclair is just jealous of not being the largest station owner anymore after Deathstar bought Media General.

[GoldenShine9 1515]

Believe it or not, Bonten should get approved relatively quick. However, this does hamper Sinclair in staying under the cap in order to get Tribune.

 

Agreed since there were no conflicts. I don't think the damage to those stations will be too great, since they are in red areas and fairly small (three of them compete against Nexstar, with the rest of the competition being Gray, Heartland, Cordillera and small companies). Regarding the cap issue in a Tribune acquisition, it means that Sinclair will need to probably divest one more station (maybe two) after that purchase, probably 4 or 5 now (instead of 3 or 4) beyond conflicts.

[GoldenShine9 1515]

I think that Sinclair is just jealous of not being the largest station owner anymore after Deathstar bought Media General.

 

The only others that could reasonably come close with a quick purchase is either Raycom or Gray, by purchasing (or merging with) the other of those.

 

As for Sinclair buying the entire TV spectrum in America, they have called for a total elimination of the cap and allowing 100% coverage.

[TheRolyPoly 2655]

Well I'm hoping that with Sinclair buying Bonten, it would stop them from finally buying Tribune.

[CLETVFan 369]

Could an existing company that already owns one station in Cleveland buy WJW? (Tegna, Scripps, Raycom - especially with WUAB giving up its frequency and moving to WOIO's)

[GoldenShine9 1515]

Could an existing company that already owns one station in Cleveland buy WJW? (Tegna, Scripps, Raycom - especially with WUAB giving up its frequency and moving to WOIO's)

 

No, since they would own two stations in the top-4.

[The Frog 435]

Oh for god sakes! Sinclair is going crazy man. They need to be stopped.

 

You're starting to sound like mardek.

[ThatSowislander 52]

iHeart and Cumulus' coming collapse won't be nothing compared to what is going to happen to Sinclair/Nexstar/TEGNA. All competing to be the new Enron.

[Eat News 4745]

Big mergers does not end well for anybody or anyone for that matter.

 

Yeah!

Just look what happened to the Hillbillys....bad mergers....bad...mergers.

 

[CluelessTVguy 0]

Does Sinclair taking ownership of these tribune stations have any impact on the tribune employees already working there? Possible layoffs?

[GoldenShine9 1515]

Does Sinclair taking ownership of these tribune stations have any impact on the tribune employees already working there? Possible layoffs?

 

Not so much layoffs as there would be many fleeing for the exit gates because of their heavy-handed style.

[Rusty Muck 4428]

Does Sinclair taking ownership of these tribune stations have any impact on the tribune employees already working there? Possible layoffs?

It's impossible to gauge an honest answer because a S!nclair-Tribune merger hasn't happened yet. And it may not for quite awhile due to a myriad of reasons.

 

But look at how S!nclair has begun to drive the former Allbritton and Fisher stations into the ground.

[Chicago's Very Own 104]

Not so much layoffs as there would be many fleeing for the exit gates because of their heavy-handed style.

Overall, I really hate to think of what this could end up doing to WGN (TV and Radio) in the long run. Even affiliates KTLA and WPIX, among others.

[A3N 1002]

Let's not kid ourselves, there will be layoffs at the Tribune stations if Sinclair were to take them over. Some of the Tribune stations are quite bloated. Under different circumstances such as a different ownership group and not being in the top 3 in the market, most of these stations would be operating on the lean side.

 

Take KTLA as an example: Large staff, quite a few resources, very competitive with the major network affiliates. Don't you think that an owner such as Sinclair would be salivating at the prospect of cutting the excess fat off the station? I mean they'll justify it by saying the station is doing well in the ratings, why shell out more than you need to?

[Eat News 4745]

Let's not kid ourselves, there will be layoffs at the Tribune stations if Sinclair were to take them the over. Some of the Tribune stations are quite bloated. Under different circumstances such as a different ownership group and not being in the top 3 in the market, most of these stations would be operating on the lean side.

 

Take KTLA as an example: Large staff, quite a few resources, very competitive with the major network affiliates. Don't you think that an owner such as Sinclair would be salivating at the prospect of cutting the excess fat off the station? I mean they'll justify it by saying the station is doing well in the ratings, why shell out more than you need to?

 

 

I would hope KTLA would be saved by some local entertainment guru in SoCal...but we all know how this ends.

[Rusty Muck 4428]

I would hope KTLA would be saved by some local entertainment guru in SoCal...but we all know how this ends.

They already had Gene Autry as an owner. And he's been dead for ... what ... 15 years now?

[C Block 1574]

Fox is looking to bid after Tribune now:

 

https://www.ft.com/content/d7ef52f0-2dfc-11e7-9555-23ef563ecf9a

 

Why have KTLA when you can have Fox 11 News on Fox 11 Plus Plus?

 

(Edit because of paywall: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-30/fox-blackstone-said-teaming-to-make-competing-bid-for-tribune )

[mre29 1588]

Fox is looking to bid after Tribune now:

 

https://www.ft.com/content/d7ef52f0-2dfc-11e7-9555-23ef563ecf9a

 

Paywalled.

[ABC 7 Denver 1741]

Fox is looking to bid after Tribune now:

 

https://www.ft.com/content/d7ef52f0-2dfc-11e7-9555-23ef563ecf9a

 

Why have KTLA when you can have Fox 11 News on Fox 11 Plus Plus?

 

Wouldn't that be Ironic after FOX sold stations to Local TV.

[C Block 1574]

Paywalled.

 

Huh, it was there five minutes ago. Anyway, here's Bloomberg's article:

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-30/fox-blackstone-said-teaming-to-make-competing-bid-for-tribune

[Chicago's Very Own 104]

Rupert Murdoch already tried buying Tribune once, and blamed cross-ownership laws from preventing him from doing this (because he already owns Fox O&Os in markets where Tribune has major stations). I guess he hasn't given up that dream! Especially with the FCC under the new administration, which is probably not going to be as hard on this sort of thing as they were previously.

[C Block 1574]

Rupert Murdoch already tried buying Tribune once, and blamed cross-ownership laws from preventing him from doing this (because he already owns Fox O&Os in markets where Tribune has major stations). I guess he hasn't given up that dream!

 

I wonder whether it's a serious offer or just a way to fend off Sinclair owning more Fox affiliates than anyone by a wide margin. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fox at least try to snag up KCPQ or one of the other Seattle stations though. They want KCPQ baaad.

[Chicago's Very Own 104]

I wonder whether it's a serious offer or just a way to fend off Sinclair owning more Fox affiliates than anyone by a wide margin. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fox at least try to snag up KCPQ or one of the other Seattle stations though. They want KCPQ baaad.

Could be, especially with all of the Fox affiliates that Tribune owns in some fairly big markets (Seattle, as you mentioned, plus San Diego, Denver, St. Louis, etc.), this is probably their chance to get some of these stations and make them Fox O&O.