The Frog 429 Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 (edited) There's no official Gray thread, so I'll start one with the flurry of deals that happened today: Quote Gray Television Inc. on Wednesday announced four new station deals and the closing of all three of its previously announced acquisitions. The new transactions are: Wausau-Rhinelander, Wis. (DMA 134): Gray entered into an agreement with Davis Television LLC, to acquire certain non-license assets of WFXS, which had served as the market’s Fox affiliate. Earlier today, WFXS ceased operating. At that time, the parties closed the transaction, and Gray began broadcasting the program streams formerly transmitted by WFXS on Gray's digital low-power WZAW in Wausau. Gray also owns and operates full-power WSAW in Wausau, which serves as the market's CBS affiliate. Kalil & Co. was the exclusive broker for this transaction. Laredo, Texas (DMA 184). Gray entered into an agreement with Eagle Creek Television to purchase certain non-license assets of KVTV, which had served as the market’s CBS affiliate. Earlier today, KVTV ceased operating. At that time, the parties closed the transaction, and Gray began broadcasting the program streams formerly transmitted by KVTV on Gray's digital low-power KYLX. Gray also owns and operates full-power KGNS in Laredo, which serves as the market's NBC affiliate. Great Falls and Helena, Mont. (DMAs 191 and 206). Gray entered into an agreement with Cordillera Communications, to sell Gray's KBGF, the NBC affiliate in Great Falls, and KTVH, the NBC and CW affiliate in Helena. Gray said it “believes that Cordillera, as the owner of top-rated stations across the state of Montana, will leverage its strong presence throughout ‘Big Sky Country’ to further improve the service and operations of KBGF and KTVH for the benefit of those stations' local communities.” Helena, Mont. (DMA 206). Gray owns KMTF in Helena, which simulcasts the CW channel broadcast by KTVH-D2. At the suggestion of Cordillera, Gray has agreed to donate KMTF to Montana State University. This donation will allow MSU to operate a full-power PBS station in the state's capital for the first time in the history of the statewide PBS network that MSU operates. Earlier today, Gray closed all three of its previously announced station transactions: Odessa-Midland, Texas (DMA 146). Gray acquired KOSA, whose digital channels are affiliated with CBS and MNT. Twin Falls, Idaho (DMA 192). Gray acquired KMVT, whose digital channels are affiliated with CBS and CW, as well as KSVT, whose digital channel is affiliated jointly with Fox and MNT. Presque Isle, Maine (DMA 205). Gray acquired WAGM, whose digital channels are affiliated with CBS and Fox. http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/86603/gray-in-4-new-deals-closes-3-earlier-ones Edited December 31, 2024 by 24994J 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike91 67 Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Umm.... http://forums.tvnewstalk.net/index.php?/forum-10/announcement-17-a-moratorium-on-general-threads/ 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130549 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samantha 2895 Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Well there's no other thread about this massive series of items. The sale of KTVH/KBGF to Cordillera is going to have some major consequences for that station. Cordillera owns the MTN state CBS network, which has a full-power transmitter in Great Falls (KRTV) and a low-power transmitter in Helena (KXLH) with little news output. Because KMTF is now gravy (it was bought by Gray on a failing station waiver), it's going to Montana State which is probably very excited about the opportunity to begin full-power PBS service in the capital of Montana. News consolidation is extremely likely; expect KXLH to move to KTVH's facilities and Cordillera to upgrade them considerably. The Wausau and Laredo moves are interesting. For one, WFXS has largely operated under the orbit of WAOW, with news share and technical agreements. That's going to end very quickly and WSAW is likely to take over the newscasts. In the case of KVTV, this was a Brian Brady station that has always been kind of neglected under various owners. I cannot find ANY technical information on this new KYLX, not even a new LPTV licensed to "Gray Television Licensee", though they have reserved that callsign. (Actually, giving things a closer look, Brady did something absolutely wild. He owned KNEX-LP, which had a CP to move to digital channel 14. He instead opted to apply for digital channel 13 - the same as KVTV - at 3 kW ERP - the same as KVTV - from the same facilities as KVTV. He also applied to run the LPTV on those facilities on STA. He essentially replaced KVTV with an LPTV, KNEX/KYLX. And yes, a sale of that was approved to Gray. So KVTV disappeared today and KYLX, on the SAME TRANSMITTER AND FACILITIES, replaced it. Absolutely genius.) But it makes me wonder about something Gray did in Rapid City, South Dakota. They have an LPTV there ready to duplicate KEVN's coverage in Rapid City. It would make a lot of sense if they were about to buy someone — most likely locally-owned KNBN — and move its programming to the LPTV. 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130550 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvcg66b3r 100 Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 With the WFXS deal, do you think they should have waited until after Sunday's Women's World Cup final? 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130552 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samantha 2895 Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 I threw this together to explain the affair: 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130553 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewsMaster 226 Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Well these deals are interesting. I guess that puts a kibosh on Gray buying Bonten's NBC Montana cluster. Expect the white '12' on a red square to come to KTVH. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130560 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2393 Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 So what does this mean for the Montana Television Network, since Cordillera already owns KRTV 3 Great Falls/KXLH-LD 9 Helena? I think they are gonna have to sell KTVH 12 and KBGF 50 eventually, since Cordillera can't own it. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130566 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTSC1980 112 Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 So finally someone want to put CBS in Laredo out of misery! So now Gray owns all of Big 3 in Laredo... Now only if CW return to Laredo OTA.... 1 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130577 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2393 Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 So finally someone want to put CBS in Laredo out of misery! So now Gray owns all of Big 3 in Laredo... Now only if CW return to Laredo OTA.... They can put the CW back on KYLX-LP 13.2, if they wanted to. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130588 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 So the KTVH paperwork is up. Cordillera is paying Gray $3M for the station. And since they moved the CW stream to KTVH's subchannel, Gray has turned off KMTF's main signal, as of last Thursday. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130787 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2393 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 So the KTVH paperwork is up. Cordillera is paying Gray $3M for the station. And since they moved the CW stream to KTVH's subchannel, Gray has turned off KMTF's main signal, as of last Thursday. So what's gonna happen to KXLH-LD in Helena and KRTV in Great Falls ? Eventually, there's gonna be conflict with the Montana Television Network, in which Cordillera already owns there. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-130796 Share on other sites More sharing options...
effseesee 101 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Gray purchased 3 LPs in Casper, WY back in February. One of them now has a new call sign. K41MD-D is now KSBF-LD. I wonder if Gray is going to bring CBS back into the fold in Casper. The affiliation agreement between Mark III Media and CBS for KGWC expired in June. I don't know if they have signed a new deal. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-131415 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTSC1980 112 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Now "KVTV/KYLX"'s website and it's Facebook is down. What will Gray do next for "KVTV/KYLX"? (Yeah, now I don't know how should I call for this station.) Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-131643 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTSC1980 112 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Gray now add WFXS WZAW (Yeah I still can't decide) to 7.3, replaced H&I. And this cause another controversy, just like how NBC Nebraska dropped Cozi TV. Yeah, does Gray really have good sense for handling stations? Now I'm confused. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-131719 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvcg66b3r 100 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Gray now add WFXS WZAW (Yeah I still can't decide) to 7.3' date=' replaced H&I. And this cause another controversy, just like how NBC Nebraska dropped Cozi TV. Yeah, does Gray really have good sense for handling stations? Now I'm confused. For one, 7.3 is not in HD, but rather in widescreen SD. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-131726 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 As of this week, the Montana deals (KTVH to Cordillera & KMTF to Montana State) have been greenlighted. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133433 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Okay here's a new M&A regarding Gray. They purchase a class-A station in Augusta, Ga, WBEK-CD, for $550K. No telling on what they'll use it for. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133626 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samantha 2895 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Okay here's a new M&A regarding Gray. They purchase a class-A station in Augusta, Ga, WBEK-CD, for $550K. No telling on what they'll use it for. So they own LPTVs in... Rapid City SD (KIVN) Augusta GA (WBEK - the asset purchase agreement stipulates a callsign change upon closing)* Casper WY (KSBF) which are unaccounted for and do not appear to be broadcasting. It would be speculative territory to ask what the plans are for each station, though the most likely station asset buyouts in each market would be KNBN/NBC (Rapid City) and KGWC/CBS (in Casper). The Augusta station could be used to offload the My station they operate there. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133636 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2393 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 ... The Augusta station could be used to offload the My station they operate there. And then hopefully, WRDW can put up their 24-hour local weather channel again on 12.2 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133637 Share on other sites More sharing options...
broadcastfan9751 140 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 So they own LPTVs in... Rapid City SD (KIVN) Augusta GA (WBEK - the asset purchase agreement stipulates a callsign change upon closing)* Casper WY (KSBF) which are unaccounted for and do not appear to be broadcasting. It would be speculative territory to ask what the plans are for each station, though the most likely station asset buyouts in each market would be KNBN/NBC (Rapid City) and KGWC/CBS (in Casper). The Augusta station could be used to offload the My station they operate there. Gray also owns two other LPTVs in Casper, K16JI-D and K18JQ-D. I wonder if a deal for KGWC would involve KTWO and KFNB as well, since KGWC's owner has close ties to the owners of KTWO and KFNB and KGWC operates out of KTWO's studios. In Rapid City, KNBN seems like the most likely to be bought by Gray and moved to KIVN. A deal for KNBN would also get them KWBH-LP (CW), and MyNetworkTV on KNBN's third subchannel. KNBN's owner also has KKRA-LP, which had aired MyNetworkTV until it began simulcasting KNBN in 2009, and K40GS-D, which simulcasts KNBN to the Lead area. As for Augusta, they might move MyNetworkTV to WBEK, although another possibility is Raycom unloading WFXG. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133642 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRob 937 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Gray is acquiring KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids. http://gray.tv/index.php?page=press-releases&releaseid=2084226 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133645 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundershock MN 169 Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 So they own LPTVs in... Rapid City SD (KIVN) Augusta GA (WBEK - the asset purchase agreement stipulates a callsign change upon closing)* Casper WY (KSBF) which are unaccounted for and do not appear to be broadcasting. It would be speculative territory to ask what the plans are for each station, though the most likely station asset buyouts in each market would be KNBN/NBC (Rapid City) and KGWC/CBS (in Casper). The Augusta station could be used to offload the My station they operate there. Gray recently completed their acquisition of K20MB-D in Sioux Falls, SD for $100,000 at the end of July as well. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133663 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 So what "independent" Big Three stations are still out there? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133833 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEOMatrix 1299 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 So what "independent" Big Three stations are still out there? WFMJ, for one. I wouldn't be surprised if Gray or Nexstar buys them next year. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133855 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samantha 2895 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 KTBS, KFMB and WDAY+Z are also on the list. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/16928-gray-media-general-thread/#findComment-133860 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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