newsteam13 395 Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Something intriguing has caught my attention. A major league sports franchise owning a TV station, that is. Rupert Murdoch sold WFXT FOX25 to the Boston Celtics in 1989. The New York Times article talks about the transaction (CLICK HERE). However in 1995, FOX regained control of WFXT. That would change in 2014, when Murdoch traded WFXT and WHBQ Memphis for COX stations in San Francisco KTVU and KICU. I didn't know an NBA team owned a FOX affiliate. I didn't know another FOX affiliate was owned by an NFL and another NBA team, either. Tom Benson, who both owns the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and the New Orleans Pelicans (NBA), owned WVUE FOX8 from 2008 until 2017. CLICK HERE for the ESPN article. Sports teams owning television stations...That's Really Somethin' Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northerner 32 Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 I've been told that the Jays and Sportsnet are in the same division of Rogers Communications (which must've meant their media division had amazing years in the 2015 and 2016 fiscal years, haha). The owners of the Angels also own their flagship radio station, KLAA - licensed to Orange, California with an ESPN Radio affiliation. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214928 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northerner 32 Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Plus KJZZ, an independent station in Salt Lake City (owned by Sinclair) was held by the owner of the Utah Jazz. At one point it was a UPN affiliation but that's the only network they've had any agreement with. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214929 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NowBergen 681 Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Wnen the Saint Louis Cardinals switched radio broadcasters in the late aughts, the Cardinals invested into the station with 50% ownership. They soon reduced that and a few years later Cardinal broadcasts returned to their heritage radio station. The most successful example of a station owning a station, albeit cable, is when the Yankees started YES. Rumors are that when Fox/Disney divests it, Yankees may buy back the controlling interest. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214961 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEOMatrix 1299 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Indians and SportsTime Ohio until a few years ago when 21CF bought STO. Why Fox doesn't consolidate STO with Fox Sports Ohio is beyond me unless they're getting better retrans deals as seperate channels. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214976 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3951 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Not to change the subject, but has there ever been a Native American Tribe that has owned a broadcast facility in the US? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214977 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColtFromGulfcoast 708 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Not to change the subject, but has there ever been a Native American Tribe that has owned a broadcast facility in the US? A Native group almost owned KREZ, which is a satellite of KRQE. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214982 Share on other sites More sharing options...
channel2 979 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 A tribe? Don't know, but Cook Inlet Television used to own WSMV and WTNH before Meredith and LIN bought them. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214986 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius22 122 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 I remember when KXTV was a Sacramento Kings Station due to Tegna Owning the broadcasting rights from maloof. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214989 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Rollo Smokes 260 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Atlanta Braves/WTBS, the Chicago Cubs/WGN-AM-TV, and the California Angels/KTLA and KMPC and later KCAL-TV. But those situations were different as they were under larger corporate umbrellas (Turner, Tribune Co., Golden West and Disney, respectively). As far as a team directly owning a broadcast station, I can only think of the aforementioned Angels/KLAA and Cardinals/part of KTRS combos. There was also the Polhad family which owns the Minnesota Twins and an FM in the Twin Cities that was the Twins' flagship for a while, though that is no longer the case as the team has moved back (wisely) to WCCO. FWIW, the Boston Celtics also owned WEEI (AM) for a time, alongside WFXT. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214993 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius22 122 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Atlanta Braves/WTBS, the Chicago Cubs/WGN-AM-TV, and the California Angels/KTLA and KMPC, but those situations were different as they were under larger corporate umbrellas (Turner, Tribune Co. and Golden West, respectively). As far as a team directly owning a broadcast station, I can only think of the aforementioned Angels/KLAA and Cardinals/part of KTRS combos. There was also the Polhad family which owns the Minnesota Twins and an FM in the Twin Cities that was the Twins' flagship for a while, though that is no longer the case as the team has moved back (wisely) to WCCO. FWIW, the Boston Celtics also owned WEEI (AM) for a time, alongside WFXT. yea i remember those as well. in fact theres also KMAX/KNTV/KNBR (AM) for SF Giants, KQCA/KTVU for Oakland Raiders and KOVR/KPIX for 49ers although CBS stopped airing 49ers as a simulcast from KPIX but instead from CBS themselves. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-214997 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother 83 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Not to change the subject, but has there ever been a Native American Tribe that has owned a broadcast facility in the US? The Navajo Nation owns KTNN-AM 660, a 50,000-watt station in Window Rock, Arizona. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215001 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeters 1916 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 I remember when KXTV was a Sacramento Kings Station due to Tegna Owning the broadcasting rights from maloof. That's a completely different thing. Owning the broadcasting rights is not the same as owning the team itself. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215002 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius22 122 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 That's a completely different thing. Owning the broadcasting rights is not the same as owning the team itself. ok it might have been the other way around. its been a long time since it happened. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215004 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Rollo Smokes 260 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 yea i remember those as well. in fact theres also KMAX/KNTV/KNBR (AM) for SF Giants, KQCA/KTVU for Oakland Raiders and KOVR/KPIX for 49ers although CBS stopped airing 49ers as a simulcast from KPIX but instead from CBS themselves. That's not what we're talking about. Please read the title of the thread carefully before you post. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215008 Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCAUTVNBC10 413 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 How bout a team owner owning an entire network? Comcast owns the Philadelphia Flyers and NBC. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215027 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitTVNews 66 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 John Fetzer owned an entire broadcasting company which at the time owned WKZO (now WWMT) Kalamazoo back in the 50's and 60's while owning the Detroit Tigers at the same time. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215030 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2415 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 How bout a team owner owning an entire network? Comcast owns the Philadelphia Flyers and NBC. NESN is 80% Red Sox and 20% Bruins. NBC Sports Boston is 20% Celtics. I know its not 100% on each, but still... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215034 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3951 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 John Fetzer owned an entire broadcasting company which at the time owned WKZO (now WWMT) Kalamazoo back in the 50's and 60's while owning the Detroit Tigers at the same time. Didn't he also own WWTV & WWUP at one time as well? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215035 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitTVNews 66 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 How bout a team owner owning an entire network? Comcast owns the Philadelphia Flyers and NBC. The now-defunct PASS network was owned by another former Tigers owner, Tom Mohagan, until 1992, when he sold PASS to Post-Newsweek (which already owned WDIV) and the Tigers to the Illitch family (who already owned the Detroit Red Wings and Little Caesar's) to focus on his then-ownership of Domino's Pizza. Didn't he also own WWTV & WWUP at one time as well? Yes. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215039 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrabbleship 429 Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Wouldn't WRAL/WRAZ with the MiLB Durham Bulls, and on a partial basis the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, count too? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215042 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northerner 32 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 NESN is 80% Red Sox and 20% Bruins. NBC Sports Boston is 20% Celtics. I know its not 100% on each, but still... Don't forget the Mariners owning the majority of Root Sports with AT&T the balance. I'd call it Root Sports NW but I think we can retire that suffix now. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16729-a-sports-team-owning-a-tv-station/#findComment-215045 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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