Gray Media - General Thread

[CircleSeven 1955]

We have a NEW M&A tonight. Gray is bulking up in Wyoming.

 

Gray will acquire Mark III's KGWL/KGWR for $15.7M ($15,716,667). KGWC will be spun-off to an indie buyer.

 

Legacy Broadcasting will acquire Silverton's KTWO (and its sats) for $1.5M. Plus they'll be getting the Wyomedia stations (including KFNB) for $3.28M ($3,283,333). Legacy is claiming KFNB as the fifth-largest rated station in Casper, and its MeTV LP station KYWF-LD as the fourth largest.

[ColtFromGulfcoast 708]

Legacy is claiming KFNB as the fifth-largest rated station in Casper, and its MeTV LP station KYWF-LD as the fourth largest.

 

So, Me-TV beats Fox? Am I reading that right?

[Samantha 2895]

We have a NEW M&A tonight. Gray is bulking up in Wyoming.

 

Gray will acquire Mark III's KGWL/KGWR for $15.7M ($15,716,667). KGWC will be spun-off to an indie buyer.

 

Legacy Broadcasting will acquire Silverton's KTWO (and its sats) for $1.5M. Plus they'll be getting the Wyomedia stations (including KFNB) for $3.28M ($3,283,333). Legacy is claiming KFNB as the fifth-largest rated station in Casper, and its MeTV LP station KYWF-LD as the fourth largest.

 

Interesting that KGWC is being spun off. I imagine there is going to be some network shuffling of some sort. And who will want KGWC, arguably one of the CBS network's worst affiliates?

[ColtFromGulfcoast 708]

Interesting that KGWC is being spun off. I imagine there is going to be some network shuffling of some sort. And who will want KGWC, arguably one of the CBS network's worst affiliates?

 

Someone who will make it into a subchannel machine.

[Samantha 2895]

Someone who will make it into a subchannel machine.

 

I have literally no idea what's going to happen with the affiliations. Gotta admit, television in Wyoming is kind of a mess as is, and some of that's simply because of the DMA lines.

[ColtFromGulfcoast 708]

I have literally no idea what's going to happen with the affiliations. Gotta admit, television in Wyoming is kind of a mess as is, and some of that's simply because of the DMA lines.

 

Is Gray really going to try and jam CBS, ABC and Fox onto KCWY subs in Casper?

 

As for Cheyenne (and Scottsbluff), that, as you said, is a mess because they'll probably try to put Fox on KGWN/KSTF and ABC as well on the former.

 

They really need a 2nd stick in each market for this, you would think.

[CircleSeven 1955]

So, Me-TV beats Fox? Am I reading that right?

 

Look under transaction description to either KFNB or KTWO.

 

Interesting that KGWC is being spun off. I imagine there is going to be some network shuffling of some sort. And who will want KGWC, arguably one of the CBS network's worst affiliates?

 

All Gray is going to do is move CBS stream to a sub of KCWY. Or didn't they already bought some LPs in that market?

[Samantha 2895]

So KGWC is being dumped on a non profit.

 

It appears likely that one of the satellites will become the new KGWC. Read this article:

 

http://k2radio.com/caspers-channel-13-to-purchase-cbs-affiliate-kgwc/

[GoldenShine9 1513]

Interesting that KGWC is being spun off. I imagine there is going to be some network shuffling of some sort. And who will want KGWC, arguably one of the CBS network's worst affiliates?

 

For all that Gray has in that region, they don't have a single station in Montana.

[Eat News 4745]

I have literally no idea what's going to happen with the affiliations. Gotta admit, television in Wyoming is kind of a mess as is, and some of that's simply because of the DMA lines.

 

Ok cool...

But I see that as a growth market with all the people getting the hell out of CA.

Now can your growth in population translate into growth for your OTA signals and other "platforms'. Will viewer erosion take a bigger toll?

 

 

Are those stations all dogs???

Or is there some hidden gems there?

[scrabbleship 429]

For all that Gray has in that region, they don't have a single station in Montana.

 

Didn't they own KTVH for a hot minute between Sunbelt/Intermountain West and Cordillera?

 

I think they're frozen out of Montana unless they can get their hands on Cordillera or Cowles. Both groups fit Gray's profile well and the latter has zero conflicts.

[ColtFromGulfcoast 708]

For all that Gray has in that region, they don't have a single station in Montana.

 

They did until they sold off the KTVH/KMTF duo.

[JCB4TV 347]

So KGWC is being dumped on a non profit.

 

It appears likely that one of the satellites will become the new KGWC. Read this article:

 

http://k2radio.com/caspers-channel-13-to-purchase-cbs-affiliate-kgwc/

As per RabbitEars, Gray has an application to build a LD station on RF 36 in Casper, KSBF-LD. They are seeking permission to build the station at 1,792’ 15kW.

 

EDIT: Click here to see the signal contours of the current KGWC & KSBF-LD

[Samantha 2895]

As per RabbitEars, Gray has an application to build a LD station on RF 36 in Casper, KSBF-LD. They are seeking permission to build the station at 1,792’ 15KW.

 

That sounds like Gray.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

I would expect KCWY/NBC to be placed on 5.2 in Lander and 13.2 in Rock Springs as well. They might have room to place CW on 5.3 and 13.3?

[effseesee 101]

I posted in the Speculatron last week that KGWC was going to lose CBS, not knowing this was going to happen. Their affiliation agreement is up in June. When Gray signed a new deal for its CBS affiliates last year, and when they started buying LPs around Casper, I had a feeling it was curtains for KGWC. Mark Nalbone is making out like a bandit.

[JCB4TV 347]

I posted in the Speculatron last week that KGWC was going to lose CBS, not knowing this was going to happen. Their affiliation agreement is up in June. When Gray signed a new deal for its CBS affiliates last year, and when they started buying LPs around Casper, I had a feeling it was curtains for KGWC. Mark Nalbone is making out like a bandit.

Using RabbitEars as my reference, Gray purchased:

• K16JI-D RF 16 -326' 12.6kW
  
• K18JQ-D RF 18 -326' 2.3kW
  

These appear to be fill-in translators serving the immediate Casper area.

 

The one I mentioned earlier today, KSBF-LD RF 36 1,792' 15kW, is apparently being constructed to be the "new" KGWC. When the dust settles in Casper, I can see the following:

 

• The current, soon to be donated, RF 14, starts their new programming with a new call sign mapping to PSIP 36
  
• The under construction RF 36 signs on as KGWC, PSIP 14, CBS programming
  
• OTA viewers in the Casper area get the proverbial rescan advisory and number to call and complain
  

[JCB4TV 347]

That sounds like Gray.

Yep! It appears that KGWC will meet the fate of KFXF, KJCT, WAGT, WIFR, KSPR, KXJB, KVTV > KYLX, & WFXS > WZAW, down on their luck full power stations rescued by Gray and converted to low power status in order to avoid possible closure and satisfy FCC regulations.

[JCB4TV 347]

We have a NEW M&A tonight. Gray is bulking up in Wyoming.

 

Gray will acquire Mark III's KGWL/KGWR for $15.7M ($15,716,667). KGWC will be spun-off to an indie buyer.

 

Legacy Broadcasting will acquire Silverton's KTWO (and its sats) for $1.5M. Plus they'll be getting the Wyomedia stations (including KFNB) for $3.28M ($3,283,333). Legacy is claiming KFNB as the fifth-largest rated station in Casper, and its MeTV LP station KYWF-LD as the fourth largest.

Will Legacy Broadcasting continue to run these Wyoming stations as is? The reason why I'm asking is that if you review their profile, all their stations were picked up from a Gray garage sale and are now running that H&I, or some other, junk.

[Samantha 2895]

Will Legacy Broadcasting continue to run these Wyoming stations as is? The reason why I'm asking is that if you review their profile, all their stations were picked up from a Gray garage sale and are now running that H&I, or some other, junk.

 

There was an operating relationship between KTWO and KGWC and KLWY/KFNB. All these stations are being acquired.

 

The same sort of DMA mess that characterizes this region is spreading. I have no idea what the end product is. What is clear is that there will be only one company producing TV newscasts in Wyoming. Gray and Legacy will be the only companies owning commercial TV stations licensed to Wyoming.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

There was an operating relationship between KTWO and KGWC and KLWY/KFNB. All these stations are being acquired.

 

The same sort of DMA mess that characterizes this region is spreading. I have no idea what the end product is. What is clear is that there will be only one company producing TV newscasts in Wyoming. Gray and Legacy will be the only companies owning commercial TV stations licensed to Wyoming.

 

Legacy is just a speculator as well?

[GoldenShine9 1513]

Yep! It appears that KGWC will meet the fate of KFXF, KJCT, WAGT, WIFR, KSPR, KXJB, KVTV > KYLX, & WFXS > WZAW, down on their luck full power station rescued by Gray and converted to low power status in order to avoid possible closure and satisfy FCC regulations.

 

WIFR was not shut down for FCC reasons, it was because they sold the spectrum and there was little loss in downsizing to a LD signal due to the small footprint of the Rockford market.

[Samantha 2895]

Legacy is just a speculator as well?

 

Legacy has bought Gray stations as a minority group before. They typically run them with a few subchannels.

 

Their four existing stations (and two satellites) are

 

KHME/KQME Rapid City (KOTA)

KMLU Monroe, LA (KAQY)

KNHL Hastings, NE (KHAS)

KNDB/KNDM Bismarck (KNDX/KXND)

 

They will almost certainly be run with subs. The structure of network services, especially ABC and Fox, is in doubt. More to the point, KTWO's news operation may be at risk of being axed.

[JCB4TV 347]

Since we're talking about television on Wyoming, I made this color coded map showing which TV market each county is currently assigned.

 

Key:

Red = Cheyenne DMA 197

Green = Casper DMA 198

Orange = Denver DMA 17

Blue = Rapid City DMA 170

Purple = Billings DMA 167

Gold = Idaho Falls DMA 162

Pink = Salt Lake City DMA 30

The reason I made this is to see whether the Cheyenne and Casper should merge to create one Wyoming centric market. I just wonder if it's feasible for the Denver market counties to be annexed to create such a market.

 

Don't get me started on Sheridan County being an exclave of the Rapid City DMA, or that the Cheyenne is an emclave of the Denver DMA.

[GoldenShine9 1513]

Since we're talking about television on Wyoming, I made this color coded map showing which TV market each county is currently assigned.

 

Key:

Red = Cheyenne DMA 197

Green = Casper DMA 198

Orange = Denver DMA 17

Blue = Rapid City DMA 170

Purple = Billings DMA 167

Gold = Idaho Falls DMA 162

Pink = Salt Lake City DMA 30

[ATTACH=full]5468[/ATTACH]

The reason I made this is to see whether the Cheyenne and Casper should merge to create one Wyoming centric market. I just wonder if it's feasible for the Denver market counties to be annexed to create such a market.

 

Don't get me started on Sheridan County being an exclave of the Rapid City DMA, or that the Cheyenne is an emclave of the Denver DMA.

 

My opinion is that the DMAs should be:

 

* Denver counties in SE Wyoming --> Cheyenne

 

* Salt Lake counties in SW Wyoming --> Casper (Gray has set precedence there with KGWR)

 

* Denver counties in NE Wyoming --> Casper

 

* Teton County is OK in Idaho Falls, while the northern counties in Billings are okay there (Sheridan should join them)

 

* Crook and Weston are OK in Rapid City