TSSZNews 1051 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 It’s behind his Patreon but I think we all get the gist of what’s going on (I’m thinking WFTV and WSB at least)— https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/12/14/is-disney-looking-to-buy-cox-stations Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie56 3304 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218594 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3951 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Well, since Disney is buying much of the 20th century Fox entertainment assets... Why not add a few well run ABC affiliates on the market? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218596 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOneManHerd 553 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 I think the most likely scenario here is...someone is pulling Scott’s leg. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218600 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 27 minutes ago, TheOneManHerd said: I think the most likely scenario here is...someone is pulling Scott’s leg. Yeah, especially considering the number of stations (14) and the number of affiliation swaps that would be needed (in Jacksonville, Boston, Dayton, Tulsa, Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Seattle). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218601 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5577 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Here's the full text... "Sources tell FTVLive that the suits from Disney were spotted kicking the tires at WSB (Atlanta), WSOC (Charlotte) and WFTV (Orlando). As long as station groups are for sale, there will be rumors and stories floating around as to who is buying them? Cox put their stations on the market and there have been a number of companies that are interested in picking them up. Cox stations are always well run and most are at the tp of the ratings. Word is that ABC is interested on the Cox ABC affiliates and that’s why the Disney folks are having a look around at those stations. As FTVLive told you, Cox is expected to announce very soon as to who their buyer(s) are? Many of those working at Cox stations would jump for joy if that buyer was ABC. It sure is a hell of a lot better than Sinclair. But, if that is the case, ABC will only be interested in the ABC affiliates, that means that stations like WPXI (Pittsburgh) and WFXT (Boston) along with others would be going to someone else. Stay tuned…" Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218604 Share on other sites More sharing options...
swillh2k2 203 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Yes, "ABC never buys stations", but this makes too much sense. You don't think ABC would want a station in a still-growing Top 10 market - and one of its largest and most powerful affiliates - now that it has a chance? Even Charlotte and Orlando, which is a smaller market by comparison, have seen significant population growth over the past few years (moreso Charlotte than Central Florida). This is an easy call to make. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218608 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 If Cox is selling their stations to different buyers, then why not? I remember hearing over the years that Disney really wanted WJLA, but Allbritton wanted a single buyer. And like hell Disney would have bought the group just for one station. One thing is for sure, Sinclair is taking themselves out of consideration due to their unbelievable tone-deaf attitude after killing their own bid for Tribune. As it is, I’ll believe this when I see it, but who knows? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218612 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 28 minutes ago, Myron Falwell said: If Cox is selling their stations to different buyers, then why not? It would be a great way to troll Tribune and Overboard Value. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218614 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dman748 1256 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Here's my take on this: I don't think Disney (ABC) will buy WSB or WFTV because as we all know they don't buy stations, they never have and they never will. But with this broadcasting industry, anything is possible so therefore I can't really discount Disney buying anything. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amra 171 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I'm ready for 9ABC Eyewitness News. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218623 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEOMatrix 1299 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 2 hours ago, Amra said: I'm ready for 9ABC Eyewitness News. "Live. Local. Late breaking. This is ABC2 Action News at 6PM. Coverage you can count on." Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218639 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webovision 202 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 disney execs have kicked the tires of many stations with the for sale sign out front in these last 15-20 years.... in the end they passed on them all.... just like every other company has explored buying the same stations.... does everyone who walks onto a car lot leave with a car??? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218642 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TresGriffin 139 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 This is why I've always said don't sleep on the possibility of Disney being the buyer of certain stations. I've always felt that the reason they "don't buy stations" as people are so quick to throw around is that stations they'd truly want were never available for them to buy. And before anyone says "but what about WJLA and WFAA?", those were cases where their owners were looking for a single buyer for their entire group of stations. Disney wasn't going to buy all of Albritton and Belo just to get WJLA and WFAA, respectively. Now, if this is also the case with Cox and they're looking for a single buyer, then Disney is out. But if Cox has been open to a split sale, I don't see why Disney wouldn't be seriously considering purchasing their 3 ABC stations, seeing as these are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities up for grabs, especially in the case of WSB which has always been Cox's "baby". All three of them come with some benefit to Disney: - WSB is pretty much synonymous with local TV in Atlanta. It's the dominant station in a top 10 market. - WSOC could provide some synergy with would-be sister WTVD in Raleigh, sharing resources in North Carolina. - WFTV exists in a market where Disney is the area's biggest employer. I'm sure there's opportunities for some degree of synergy there. When it comes to this whole Cox sale, many creatures seem to stirring, even a "Mouse"... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218649 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeters 1916 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 1 hour ago, TresGriffin said: I've always felt that the reason they "don't buy stations" as people are so quick to throw around is that stations they'd truly want were never available for them to buy. They've been available. Disney just hasn't wanted to spend too much money on them. They could have bought WJLA if they wanted to. They could have paid well over what anyone else wanted to pay. They could have gone to Sinclair and offered to buy it for more than Sinclair paid. In the end, they backed out because they didn't want to spend the money. Every opportunity Disney/ABC has passed over has almost always come down to having better things to spend money on. While I question the validity of this report, if it's true, all it means is Cox is desperate to get out of TV and is basically selling the stations at or below market value. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218653 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Also worth noting is that some affiliation contracts have a clause where if a station goes up for sale the network can look into it and buy it. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218654 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 8 hours ago, rkolsen said: Also worth noting is that some affiliation contracts have a clause where if a station goes up for sale the network can look into it and buy it. I've never heard of this, but I bet Disney/ABC wishes their contract with Albritton had it. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218668 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkolsen 1684 Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 29 minutes ago, mre29 said: I've never heard of this, but I bet Disney/ABC wishes their contract with Albritton had it. Maybe I’m thinking of approval of ownership change. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218670 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFloTVClassics 972 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Wait, why didn't i know about THIS?! Is hell finally freezing over for ABC to buy these stations? (*whispers in prayer* please ABC if you're listening, make the smart move and start buying. BTW please buy WPLG) If this actually happens then the mouse has grown a new pair. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218739 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 On 12/15/2018 at 2:15 AM, Weeters said: They've been available. Disney just hasn't wanted to spend too much money on them. They could have bought WJLA if they wanted to. They could have paid well over what anyone else wanted to pay. They could have gone to Sinclair and offered to buy it for more than Sinclair paid. In the end, they backed out because they didn't want to spend the money. Every opportunity Disney/ABC has passed over has almost always come down to having better things to spend money on. While I question the validity of this report, if it's true, all it means is Cox is desperate to get out of TV and is basically selling the stations at or below market value. Did Allbritton even have the intentions to sell WJLA separately? If not, then it wouldn't have mattered, as there was no way Disney was going to buy ABC 33/40, KATV, KTUL, WSET, WCIV and WHTM in addition to WJLA. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218779 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 10 minutes ago, Myron Falwell said: Did Allbritton even have the intentions to sell WJLA separately? If not, then it wouldn't have mattered, as there was no way Disney was going to buy ABC 33/40, KATV, KTUL, WSET, WCIV and WHTM in addition to WJLA. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Disney should've found a broadcaster (or even a private equity firm) to team up with to buy Allbritton's stations. Then they could've had WJLA while the other company gets the other six stations. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218781 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5577 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 That's the thing. I've always been in the 'never say never' camp on the idea of ABC as a buyer, but it's on the one condition that it's low effort, low risk, and basically falls into their lap. WJLA was not available to be purchased separately, so they were a quick out, unwilling to do some wheeling and dealing to get the job done. Same thing goes with Cox. If Atlanta, Orlando, and Charlotte were able to be bought, divorced from their Cox sisters, then the Mouse is in, but if there's even a little hesitation by the seller, the prospect will be DOA. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218782 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4374 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 22 minutes ago, mre29 said: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Disney should've found a broadcaster (or even a private equity firm) to team up with to buy Allbritton's stations. Then they could've had WJLA while the other company gets the other six stations. It sounds simple on paper, but something like that is no sure thing. Remember that Fox tried to pull together a bid with Blackstone for Tribune last year and it wasn't enough. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218783 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TresGriffin 139 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 39 minutes ago, 24994J said: That's the thing. I have always been in the 'never say never' camp on the idea of ABC as a buyer, but it's on the one condition that it's low effort, low risk, and basically falls into their lap. WJLA was not available to be purchase separately, so they were a quick out, unwilling to do some wheeling and dealing. Same thing goes with Cox. If Atlanta, Orlando, and Charlotte were able to be bought, divorced from their Cox sisters, then the Mouse is in, but if there's even a little hesitation by the seller, the prospect will be DOA. My point exactly. As I see it, it’s not that Disney wasn’t interested in buying WJLA (and WFAA, for that matter). It was that that Albritton and Belo weren’t interested in selling those stations separately. But for reasons I mentioned before, I feel Disney would be remiss to not have at least considered buying these three: WSB is one of their strongest affiliates nationwide, WSOC’s resources could be combined to a degree with WTVD, and WFTV is in WDW’s turf. Incidentally, if The Mouse buys Cox’s ABC’s affiliates, it sets up Meredith to make a clean buy for the remainder of Cox’s stations, since that would eliminate the Atlanta conflict. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218784 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yankees4life 559 Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 I can't imagine an O&O WSB or WFTV Don't see anything coming from this either Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16838-disney-execs-reported-to-be-visiting-cox-stations/#findComment-218796 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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