Gray buying KDLT

[Travis W 0]

Lets see if Ajit's visit to South Dakota helps complete this deal.

[CubsFan79 58]

On 9/19/2019 at 10:57 AM, Travis W said:

Lets see if Ajit's visit to South Dakota helps complete this deal.

I agree with you.

[CubsFan79 58]

20 minutes ago, CubsFan79 said:

I agree with you.

The FCC needs to rule on this. If the FCC can approve the NEXTSTAR/ TRIBUNE deal. They can do this. The DOJ okayed the sale for NEXTSTAR/TRIBUNE and KDLT TV/GRAY TV.  The DOJ is fine with both deals.     . 

[justin2kx 237]

Ask and ye shall receive...

https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/239374/fcc-approves-kdlt-purchase-by-gray/

[GoldenShine9 1513]

35 minutes ago, justin2kx said:

Ask and ye shall receive...

https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/239374/fcc-approves-kdlt-purchase-by-gray/

 

And the plot thickens...I wonder how many more cases will be made? And some frivolous ones?

[CircleSeven 1955]

Yesterday, the Third Circuit vacated Pai's dereg rules. But that didn't stop him from approving this deal, sixteen months after filing.

 

Here's the full order. Here's what it said regarding the Third Circuit ruling:

Quote

We note that since Applicants and informal objectors have developed the record in this proceeding, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has issued an opinion vacating the 2010/2014 Quadrennial Review Order on Reconsideration. However, the mandate in that case has not yet issued, so the 2010/2014 Quadrennial Review Order on Reconsideration remains in effect. Furthermore, the Commission intends to seek review of that decision. Nevertheless, we conclude that even if the rules in effect prior to the 2010/2014 Quadrennial Review Order on Reconsideration applied here, the unique circumstances in this case would justify a waiver of such rules.

 

So even if Pai's dereg rules wasn't in effect, he still would've granted a "waiver" in this case. Wow, wow, wow!

 

Could the KQTV deal get next to get the greenlight? That would combine St. Joe's full power station & the News-Press paper (along with their LPs).

 

And then you have the KTTU deal in Tucson that would reunite a duopoly with KMSB. That takes advantage of the elimination of the 8-voice test (UPDATE: The KTTU deal was greenlighted before the ruling on 9/20).

 

And then finally, you have the Cox/Apollo deal that includes a request of the top-4 combo in Yuma (KYMA/KSWT). Even if the top-4 "case-by-case" rule wasn't in effect, it could still be greenlighted under 'failed station waiver' (I haven't said that in almost three years). (UPDATE 9/27: There's also an NBCO between the Dayton papers, the radio stations and WHIO-TV).

 

I wouldn't be surprise if the FCC go greenlight crazy until the Third Circuit opinion gets posted in the Federal Register.

 

[plzstandby 31]

Now to find out if the KCPM deal is gonna happen

[CubsFan79 58]

There are TV markets smaller and larger that have TOP 4 duopolies. Why should Sioux Falls be any different.  

[NewsMaster 226]

4 minutes ago, CubsFan79 said:

There are TV markets smaller and larger that have TOP 4 duopolies. Why should Sioux Falls be any different.  

 

Because this is really a top 3 duopoly. If Gray had tried to buy KTTW instead of KDLT this would have gone a lot smoother. We have seen top 4 duopolies before, but not really top 3 duops.

 

Going back on @CircleSeven's earlier comment, I really don't understand why KQTV hasn't gone through yet. This is a full-power station merging with LP's, which has always been legal. Plus, that market can't support two news departments IMHO. Heck, it shouldn't even be a market!

[CubsFan79 58]

2 minutes ago, NewsMaster said:

 

Because this is really a top 3 duopoly. If Gray had tried to buy KTTW instead of KDLT this would have gone a lot smoother. We have seen top 4 duopolies before, but not really top 3 duops.

I agree with your comment. How about if RED RIVER bought KTTW TV while still owning KDLT. 

[CubsFan79 58]

3 hours ago, NewsMaster said:

 

Because this is really a top 3 duopoly. If Gray had tried to buy KTTW instead of KDLT this would have gone a lot smoother. We have seen top 4 duopolies before, but not really top 3 duops.

 

Going back on @CircleSeven's earlier comment, I really don't understand why KQTV hasn't gone through yet. This is a full-power station merging with LP's, which has always been legal. Plus, that market can't support two news departments IMHO. Heck, it shouldn't even be a market!

Will see what happens with KQTY tv in ST. Joe market. ..

[CircleSeven 1955]

BREAKING: After yesterday's greenlight, Gray announced the completion of the KDLT deal.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

1 hour ago, CubsFan79 said:

Will see what happens with KQTY tv in ST. Joe market. ..

 

I don't know the issue there either. It's completely legal, but maybe Justice is concerned about the TV monopoly AND newspaper combination, even though St. Joseph really can't support more than one news operation these days and there is no way that any of those separately would succeed (certainly not the News-Press as a standalone).

[CubsFan79 58]

KSFY TV and KDLT TV reunited after 50 years when both were KSOO TV and KORN TV and operated as a NBC regional network until 1969. Likely to see more TOP 4 duopolies with the wave of the internet, cable news. Welcome to the 21ST Century. 

[TheRolyPoly 2415]

NorthPine has details that could reveal the extra newscasts that'll appear on KSFY and KDLT, including...

• A 7 to 9 a.m. weekday newscast on KSFY’s CW subchannel (KSFY 13.2 - CW Sioux Falls; would be the area's first-ever after 7AM morning news).
• An hourlong news and talk show on KSFY at 9 a.m. weekdays.
• A half-hour newscast on KDLT at 11 a.m. weekdays.
• An hourlong newscast on KDLT at 4 p.m. weekdays.
• KDLT’s current 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. weeknight newscasts would move to 5:30 and 6:30, removing them from competition with KSFY.
• A half-hour newscast on KSFY’s CW subchannel at 9 p.m. seven days a week (would be the area's first-ever primetime newscast).
• Weekend morning newscasts on KSFY (joining KELOLand in that frame).

This article also mentions that KELOLand has never been destroyed in history, in terms of ratings. KELOLand’s market share had never fallen below 56.6% in the previous five years, while the COMBINED share of KDLT and KSFY never exceeded 35.7% over that period. Yeah... its been a blowout and KDLT's numbers have been seriously bad where, if Gray didn't go and buy it, the article mentions that KDLT's news department would've been forced to shut down and it would've been just KELOLand vs. KSFY.

 

http://www.northpine.com/blog/2019/09/24/fcc-approves-gray-tv-duopoly-in-sioux-falls-first-case-nationally/

[CubsFan79 58]

16 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

NorthPine has details that could reveal the extra newscasts that'll appear on KSFY and KDLT, including...

• A 7 to 9 a.m. weekday newscast on KSFY’s CW subchannel (KSFY 13.2 - CW Sioux Falls; would be the area's first-ever after 7AM morning news).
• An hourlong news and talk show on KSFY at 9 a.m. weekdays.
• A half-hour newscast on KDLT at 11 a.m. weekdays.
• An hourlong newscast on KDLT at 4 p.m. weekdays.
• KDLT’s current 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. weeknight newscasts would move to 5:30 and 6:30, removing them from competition with KSFY.
• A half-hour newscast on KSFY’s CW subchannel at 9 p.m. seven days a week (would be the area's first-ever primetime newscast).
• Weekend morning newscasts on KSFY (joining KELOLand in that frame).

This article also mentions that KELOLand has never been destroyed in history, in terms of ratings. KELOLand’s market share had never fallen below 56.6% in the previous five years, while the COMBINED share of KDLT and KSFY never exceeded 35.7% over that period. Yeah... its been a blowout and KDLT's numbers have been seriously bad where, if Gray didn't go and buy it, the article mentions that KDLT's news department would've been forced to shut down and it would've been just KELOLand vs. KSFY.

 

http://www.northpine.com/blog/2019/09/24/fcc-approves-gray-tv-duopoly-in-sioux-falls-first-case-nationally/

If the FCC had denied the duopoly. KDLT TV would be better having a duopoly with KTTW TV. Since KTTW TV has no news. It would have NBC and FOX programming without local news. KSFY/ KDLT TV will have a long time catching KELO TV and NEXTSTAR . I Wish KSFY/KDLT TV  the best.

[effseesee 101]

19 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

 

This article also mentions that KELOLand has never been destroyed in history, in terms of ratings. KELOLand’s market share had never fallen below 56.6% in the previous five years, while the COMBINED share of KDLT and KSFY never exceeded 35.7% over that period. Yeah... its been a blowout and KDLT's numbers have been seriously bad where, if Gray didn't go and buy it, the article mentions that KDLT's news department would've been forced to shut down and it would've been just KELOLand vs. KSFY.

 

 

That's just market share of viewers. The bigger factor was market share of revenue.  KELO has consistently taken at least 2/3 of the revenue pie.  Good luck trying to take on the 800 gorilla when you have to compete with everyone else for the last third.  It's only a matter of time before the FOX affiliation ends up on a subchannel of either KSFY or KDLT.  

[CubsFan79 58]

1 hour ago, effseesee said:

 

That's just market share of viewers. The bigger factor was market share of revenue.  KELO has consistently taken at least 2/3 of the revenue pie.  Good luck trying to take on the 800 gorilla when you have to compete with everyone else for the last third.  It's only a matter of time before the FOX affiliation ends up on a subchannel of either KSFY or KDLT.  

It could be like Topeka KS. KSNT is a NBC station and controls KTMJ ( FOX] and the ABC station. KTKA.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

Another thing they should look into is a Pierre-based newscast for Central South Dakota. It probably wouldn't cost a lot to promote some reporters based there to an anchor desk.

[CubsFan79 58]

1 hour ago, effseesee said:

 

That's just market share of viewers. The bigger factor was market share of revenue.  KELO has consistently taken at least 2/3 of the revenue pie.  Good luck trying to take on the 800 gorilla when you have to compete with everyone else for the last third.  It's only a matter of time before the FOX affiliation ends up on a subchannel of either KSFY or KDLT.  

 

7 minutes ago, GoldenShine9 said:

Another thing they should look into is a Pierre-based newscast for Central South Dakota. It probably wouldn't cost a lot to promote some reporters based there to an anchor desk.

 

7 minutes ago, GoldenShine9 said:

Another thing they should look into is a Pierre-based newscast for Central South Dakota. It probably wouldn't cost a lot to promote some reporters based there to an anchor desk.

Gray having 3 networks ABC,NBC, and FOX. could see that happen

[GoldenShine9 1513]

Just now, CubsFan79 said:

 

 

Gray having 3 networks ABC,NBC, and FOX. could see that happen

 

Nexstar could also decide they need to go on even terms and could try to acquire, or work with, KTTW.

[CubsFan79 58]

Just now, GoldenShine9 said:

 

Nexstar could also decide they need to go on even terms and could try to acquire, or work with, KTTW.

Could see that scenario. Small TV Markets are becoming a dying breed.Sad

[CircleSeven 1955]

23 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

NorthPine has details that could reveal the extra newscasts that'll appear on KSFY and KDLT, including...

• A 7 to 9 a.m. weekday newscast on KSFY’s CW subchannel (KSFY 13.2 - CW Sioux Falls; would be the area's first-ever after 7AM morning news).
• An hourlong news and talk show on KSFY at 9 a.m. weekdays.
• A half-hour newscast on KDLT at 11 a.m. weekdays.
• An hourlong newscast on KDLT at 4 p.m. weekdays.
• KDLT’s current 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. weeknight newscasts would move to 5:30 and 6:30, removing them from competition with KSFY.
• A half-hour newscast on KSFY’s CW subchannel at 9 p.m. seven days a week (would be the area's first-ever primetime newscast).
• Weekend morning newscasts on KSFY (joining KELOLand in that frame).

http://www.northpine.com/blog/2019/09/24/fcc-approves-gray-tv-duopoly-in-sioux-falls-first-case-nationally/

 

I just hope they implement these changes piecemeal, and not all at once. Even some of these "proposed" new newscasts is too ambitious for a market this size. You know, sister-station KFYR in Bismarck don't have a 7-9am broadcast on their Fox subchannel. And where you're going to place Kelly & Ryan? 11am? And KELOland don't even have a 4pm hour. Again, that too ambitious. That only broadcast that make the most sense is the shifting of the early evening shows, and the 9pm. All those other shows is just too much. And even if they do add all of these broadcasts, it won't change the status quo. KELOland will continue to be the two-ton "King Kong" of the market. Habits are extremely hard to break.

 

Of course the real surprise was the approval of this deal, one day after the Third Circuit vacated the 2017 dereg order. One of the Democratic commissioners was livid.

Pai said in that KDLT order that even if the 2017 order wasn't in effect, he would've still approved the deai with a simple "waiver" of the pre-2017 ownership rules. Just remember that karma will come hard, should a future Democratic-run FCC use "waivers" to get some of their agendas done.

 

On 9/25/2019 at 11:26 AM, NewsMaster said:

Going back on @CircleSeven's earlier comment, I really don't understand why KQTV hasn't gone through yet. This is a full-power station merging with LP's, which has always been legal. Plus, that market can't support two news departments IMHO. Heck, it shouldn't even be a market!

 

For what I said earlier, If Pai is going to approve the KDLT deal on these grounds (as he said the 2017 order "remains in effect"), then (unless DOJ is actively looking into this) they might as well greenlight this KQTV NPG deal on those same grounds as well.

 

Also looking that the APA (p.17-18), the outside date for the KQTV deal is September 30. That usually mean the parties (NPG & Heartland) could walk away from the deal freely, without paying a breakup fee. And that is relatively short (six months) given most deals have outside dates usually be one year after the agreement is reached. But Gray didn't walk away from the KDLT deal, four months past their outside date.

 

Also, the same folks that wrote objections to the Gray deal (ATVA & NCTA), also wrote the same objections to the NPG deal as well. But look at Lima, OH, Yuma, AZ and the Mississippi Delta where one outlet controls the four major network affiliates (the latter two are owned by Brady, which is a part of the Cox-Apollo deal). St. Joe is smaller than those three markets mentioned (and let's not forget they own that News-Press paper, too). So I can't say whether either NPG or Heartland is going to bail out after Monday. But if the KDLT approval is any indication, there should be a "sign of hope" for this KQTV deal to get the greenlight.

 

[TheRolyPoly 2415]

10 minutes ago, CircleSeven said:

 

I just hope they implement these changes piecemeal, and not all at once. Even some of these "proposed" new newscasts is too ambitious for a market that size. You know, sister-station KFYR in Bismarck don't have a 7-9am broadcast on their Fox subchannel. And where you're going to place Kelly & Ryan? 11am? And KELOland don't even have a 4pm hour. Again, that too ambitious. That only broadcast that make the most sense is the shifting of the early evening shows, and the 9pm. All those other shows is just too much. And even if they do add all of these broadcasts, it won't change the status quo. KELOland will continue to be the two-ton "King Kong" of the market. Habits are extremely hard to break.

 

For a while, KELOLand used to have a 15-minute online-only newscast at 4:00 p.m. I'm not sure if they still do it to this day but its possible if KELOLand's already tried it.

[TheRob 937]

I was going to mention it too, that's way too much news for a market like Sioux Falls. These are stations with perhaps two reporters on a shift if they're lucky, anchors who produce their own newscasts and run the assignment desk, no extra photogs. You're basically going to see the same newscast five or six times.

 

Don't even ask about Pierre. The town is isolated, and doesn't contain much more than the capitol. It's one of the smallest capital cities in the nation.