Chicago's Very Own 104 Posted July 16, 2018 Posted July 16, 2018 So given today's news of what Pai thinks of this deal, what are the chances of the deal still going through at this point? Can everything still go off without a hitch, or is it looking like this is basically done between Tribune and Sinclair?
Rusty Muck 4405 Posted July 16, 2018 Posted July 16, 2018 So given today's news of what Pai thinks of this deal, what are the chances of the deal still going through at this point? Can everything still go off without a hitch, or is it looking like this is basically done between Tribune and Sinclair? Chances went from "slim to none" to "slim got up and high-tailed it outta town with his hair on fire."
Chicago's Very Own 104 Posted July 16, 2018 Posted July 16, 2018 Considering it's this FCC that actually helped them even get this far with this deal, the shock and disappointment is probably genuine.
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted July 16, 2018 Posted July 16, 2018 Considering it's this FCC that actually helped them even get this far with this deal, the shock and disappointment is probably genuine. All the shady practices that Sinclair has done for years have been brought to light because of this tranaction. A lot more people notice when you try to use these practices to buy a tv station in Chicago, then they do when you try to buy a tv station in Columbus. I believed that a purchase this big in some of the nations largest tv markets would draw more scrutiny than Sinclair ever faced and that's exactly what happened. It's clear that Sinclair never prepared themselves for it because they feel entitled to whatever they want.
tyrannical bastard 4033 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 The only way to save this deal is for ALL of the conflicted stations that were tied to Sinclair through agreements to be sold to an unrelated party like Standard Media. Tribune may get themselves a new buyer out of this if the merger is terminated wih Sinclair....if they want ALL of Tribune.
Rusty Muck 4405 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 [quote name='Ramona']Worth noting the FCC is currently operating with four commissioners in the wake of Mignon Clyburn's retirement. Rosenworcel and Pai are enough to force the FCC into a tie. [/QUOTE] According to the Politico article @Georgie56 linked to, Brendan Carr and Rosenworcel have gone on public record supporting Pai's motion this afternoon. Methinks it was Carr who forced the 2-2 tie.
Rusty Muck 4405 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 The only way to save this deal is for ALL of the conflicted stations that were tied to Sinclair through agreements to be sold to an unrelated party like Standard Media. Tribune may get themselves a new buyer out of this if the merger is terminated wih Sinclair....if they want ALL of Tribune. Starboard Value is the wild card. They may see the company is more valuable broken up and want a return - any return - ASAP in the investment after this very public spectacle with Sinclair. If that's the case, it doesn't matter what Tribune as a company wants.
GoldenShine9 1514 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 Remember: for many months, Sinclair begged the FCC and DOJ that they could keep every single station involved, with no divestments at all, and they still believe that there is a "legitimate case" for that.
GoldenShine9 1514 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 From the Politico article that says it all: Another misstep by Sinclair: It allowed the government's review process to drag on, giving the broadcaster's many critics time to savage the transaction. The result was more time for controversies such as a in April that showed a series of Sinclair anchors reading from the same script on the threat of “fake news" — widely seen as a Trump-style broadside aimed at mainstream press outlets. The company also didn’t bother building support for its deal with outside organizations, like nonprofits and trade groups, that are typically deployed to make the case for mergers. Sinclair’s in-house lobbyist, Rebecca Hanson, left the company earlier this month. And in December, when the FCC announced a $13 million fine against Sinclair over an unrelated issue — an allegation that the company violated sponsorship identification rules — Sinclair took the aggressive step of saying it would fight the penalty rather than attempt to settle. That decision certainly didn’t build goodwill with the agency, but officials said it was Sinclair’s refusal to listen to FCC staff raising concerns about station spin-offs that inflicted what appears to be the mortal wound.
Georgie56 3326 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 No quit in Sinclair. https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-fires-back
GoldenShine9 1514 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 No quit in Sinclair. https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-fires-back They are getting pretty desperate in Hunt Valley. This will forever go in Media Business 101 as how NOT to execute a major acquisition. They need to take notes from the Gray/Raycom deal, which is huge in size yet doesn't bend any rules, or even the Nexstar/Media General deal.
Rusty Muck 4405 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 No quit in Sinclair. https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-fires-back Please, please Sinclair. This strategy is working out so well for you. (I'm being sarcastic, ya know)
Rusty Muck 4405 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 I have a feeling that it wasn't just the charade that was WGN-TV's "buyer," but the stunt of selling KPLR to Meredith, where it was known St. Louis is only able to support one duopoly (and not long after the failed attempt by Belo-Gannett to sell KMOV to a shell) that proved to be the tipping point. This will forever go in Media Business 101 as how NOT to execute a major acquisition. Forget Media Business 101, how about General Business 101? Hell, the robber barons of the 1880s showed infinitely much better business acumen than the Smith family ever could.
ColtFromGulfcoast 731 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 No quit in Sinclair. https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-fires-back It's becoming less of a soap opera and more of a sitcom with characters that always act stupid each episode. It's almost laughable.
tyrannical bastard 4033 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 I have a feeling that it wasn't just the charade that was WGN-TV's "buyer," but the stunt of selling KPLR to Meredith, where it was known St. Louis is only able to support one duopoly (and not long after the failed attempt by Belo-Gannett to sell KMOV to a shell) that proved to be the tipping point. Forget Media Business 101, how about General Business 101? Hell, the robber barons of the 1880s showed infinitely much better business acumen than the Smith family ever could. Maybe they "forgot" about Indianapolis, and how they now have 2 of the top 4 stations.... They could have possibly cooked the nielsen books to show something as below the top 4 when it was actually above it. The jig is up Sinclair. That is, unless we all get sold out to the Russians....and as they say (according to Family Guy's idea of Yakov Smirnov)....in Soviet Russia, YOU own Sinclair!
JCB4TV 351 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 It's becoming less of a soap opera and more of a sitcom with characters that always act stupid each episode. It's almost laughable. There are 2 things that need to happen in DC immediately: 1. Call off this farce of a merger between Sinclair & Tribune 2. Impeach Trump
GoldenShine9 1514 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 In Speculatron, I wrote up about the only setup that could save the deal. Any reasonable combination must create no new shells and must get under the cap. I see no pathway that they can do it without at least selling the five obvious duopoly bait stations (and then they still have to get rid of a bit more...but it is doable).
Georgie56 3326 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 There are 2 things that need to happen in DC immediately: 1. Call off this farce of a merger between Sinclair & Tribune 2. Impeach Trump What does that have to do with the matter at hand here?
Samantha 2902 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 “If the company had really paid attention to FCC precedent and listened to the FCC, they could’ve got this deal done easily,” another media industry official said. “But they refused." This is Sinclair, who can't be told they can't always get what they want.
Rusty Muck 4405 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 This is Sinclair, who can't be told they can't always get what they want. But if you try sometimes, you might just find, you get what you need.
Rusty Muck 4405 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 It's becoming less of a soap opera and more of a sitcom with characters that always act stupid each episode. It's almost laughable. Sinclair is Steve Urkel.
dman748 1256 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 Sinclair this is what you get after the FCC pleaded with you SIX TIMES! Yet you refused to attempt a divestiture with WGN/KDAF/KIAH/KPLR
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted July 17, 2018 Posted July 17, 2018 Remember: for many months, Sinclair begged the FCC and DOJ that they could keep every single station involved, with no divestments at all, and they still believe that there is a "legitimate case" for that. Yep. This was the equivalent of how Sinclair handled the whole negotiation process. Although I doubt anyone at SBGI is as musically inclined as her.
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