Gray Media - General Thread

[TheRolyPoly 2358]

On 7/27/2020 at 1:30 AM, CircleSeven said:

Adding to that, I do see on the Raycom sites, Gray has gotten rid of the "livestream" for a different streaming software, similar to the legacy Gray sites use.

 

For example: WVUE & KCBD.

__________

 

Also, we have another M&A. I guess Gray is going after MeTV in Midland.

 

It wants to acquire MeTV station KWWT from Winstar Odessa, Inc., and Cozi TV LP, KMDF-LD from Martin Weiss for $1.84M collectively. 

 

They're seeking a "failed station waiver" to acquire KWWT because Gray already owns the full power CBS station KOSA and "satellite station" KCWO.

 

KWWT was the former CW affiliate before it was moved to a subchannel of KWES in 2013.

 

 

 

KCWO is actually a separate station carrying The CW. It's not a satellite station of KOSA.

[CircleSeven 1955]

40 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

 

KCWO is actually a separate station carrying The CW. It's not a satellite station of KOSA.

 

KCWO is still classified by the FCC as a satellite station of KOSA. As it says on their failed waiver request.

 

 

Edited July 28, 2020 by CircleSeven

[Morphtato 43]

WJRT is replacing WeatherNation with Bounce on their 12.6 subchannel beginning Aug 1st. 

 

[CircleSeven 1955]

On 7/10/2020 at 2:12 AM, CircleSeven said:

New M&A from Gray. And we're going back to Hawaii.

 

Gray is acquiring the Telemundo affiliate KSIX-TV from Mauna Kea Broadcasting for $1M.

 

It's been greenlighted. Gray will soon add Telemundo to the suite of networks in the nation's 50th state.

_________________________________________

 

Okay so unrelated to this. I know Northpine first reported this earlier this month. 

 

Gray have filed a petition for rulemaking (PRM) to make the following changes to Superior, Nebraska NBC affiliate KSNB:

• To change the city of license from Superior to York.
• To change the RF channel from VHF 4 to UHF 24.
• To move its transmitting site from near York to Beaver Crossing (the same spot as sister station KOLN).

They've also have requested for a waiver of the current freeze of filing channel substitution petitions. The FCC put a freeze because they were in the process of starting the spectrum auction. The auction & repacking is over, but the freeze is still in effect.  

 

The reason behind this change is the Gray cites that KSNB's current VHF facility is "failing and not expected to last another 6 months". Meanwhile, KOLN is in a process of installing a new tower, because their original tower collapsed back in January due of an ice storm. I guess they figured what's more of an opportune time to install KOLN's new tower and install KSNB's at the same time?

 

I know PRMs tend to be a pretty lengthy process. But it wasn't all that lengthy when several TV stations filed PRMs to get off that problematic VHF signals and move back to UHF after the digital transition ended in 2009. But as KOLN is rebuilding, this shouldn't really be a lenghty process for KSNB. The process is they file a petition (which Gray has already done), then the FCC will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to go through the comment phase. And if they're aren't any major objections, then the FCC will issue an Report and Order (R&O) approving the channel subsitiution change. And at that time, Gray would file an application with the new UHF 24 facility. And once they get the greenlight, they can construct the new facility.

 

So it's PRM > NPRM > R&O > App > Greenlight > Construct > Complete.

 

Once they get all the proper approvals, this would be great news for folks in Lincoln who really want to have a robust NBC signal, without relying on cable or an outdoor antenna. And KOLN wouldn't have use their bandwidth to pipe in KSNB's main signal on a subchannel as they now do. 

 

Now I hope Gray can resurrect Memphis' WMC's petition to get off that VHF-low 5 signal.

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by CircleSeven

[Working4You 40]

Seems like Gray is at it again. A reporter for WLTZ in Columbus, Georgia has reported that Gray has agreed to purchase the NBC and CW affiliate from SagamoreHill Broadcasting. To merge it with already owned ABC WVTM 9 and operated WXTX Fox 54. Will be interesting to see how this plays out in a tiny market with only 4 stations. No word if any other SagamoreHill stations are sold. 

[MidwestTV 1229]

13 minutes ago, Working4You said:

Seems like Gray is at it again. A reporter for WLTZ in Columbus, Georgia has reported that Gray has agreed to purchase the NBC and CW affiliate from SagamoreHill Broadcasting. To merge it with already owned ABC WVTM 9 and operated WXTX Fox 54. Will be interesting to see how this plays out in a tiny market with only 4 stations. No word if any other SagamoreHill stations are sold. 

 

It means that market is likely about to die and probably not a fun palce to work. Another triopoly + 1 market. See: Topeka with Nexstar's KSNT/KTKA/KTMJ and Gray's WIBW.

[lugnuts6 91]

and for WLTZ, it probably means the end of their news department....again!  

[GoldenShine9 1512]

WLTZ has always been a total ratings dog. 3rd in a 2-station market. WTVM has always dominated and WRBL has always been a distant second.

[Samantha 2895]

56 minutes ago, GoldenShine9 said:

WLTZ has always been a total ratings dog. 3rd in a 2-station market. WTVM has always dominated and WRBL has always been a distant second.

 

All you have to do is ask AFLAC, hometown insurance company and former owner: "We learned we could never become the city's news leader on a UHF station."

 

They ended up buying and owning WTVM (AFLAC's broadcast holdings were one of the original Raycom Media components).

[tyrannical bastard 3931]

It will be interesting to see if the CBS station in Lake Charles will be a part of this transaction.   During the strike of Hurricane Laura in the Lake Charles area, they were doing very primitive coverage using webpages of traffic cams and weather radar.  It also looked like they get their forecasts from WLTZ in Columbus (same lower thirds) prior to the storm knocking them and the other stations off the air.

 

Not to dive too deep into speculation territory, WLTZ could be a repeater for WSFA in Montgomery, giving the Alabama side of the market an NBC station that airs things at the right time for them (since Columbus and Georgia are in Eastern and the Alabama side is Central time)

[GoldenShine9 1512]

17 minutes ago, tyrannical bastard said:

It will be interesting to see if the CBS station in Lake Charles will be a part of this transaction.   During the strike of Hurricane Laura in the Lake Charles area, they were doing very primitive coverage using webpages of traffic cams and weather radar.  It also looked like they get their forecasts from WLTZ in Columbus (same lower thirds) prior to the storm knocking them and the other stations off the air.

 

Not to dive too deep into speculation territory, WLTZ could be a repeater for WSFA in Montgomery, giving the Alabama side of the market an NBC station that airs things at the right time for them (since Columbus and Georgia are in Eastern and the Alabama side is Central time)

 

That would create a monopoly in Lake Charles, even though as a low-powered station it would be completely legal.

[lugnuts6 91]

Should this purchase be blessed by the FCC, could we POSSIBLY see...

[GoldenShine9 1512]

 

5 minutes ago, lugnuts6 said:

Should this purchase be blessed by the FCC, could we POSSIBLY see...

 

Or Columbus News Now? That would be a more suitable branding. 

 

I think the DOJ would be more likely to raise a stink here. They already have the most powerful station and a second station (via SSA). They would completely dwarf their only real competition (Nexstar). One possibility I could see is that they may have to give up one of the networks over (to 3.2), similar to what happened in Hawaii.

Edited September 1, 2020 by GoldenShine9

[lugnuts6 91]

You know, you are right goldenshine9

Edited September 1, 2020 by lugnuts6

[JCB4TV 347]

Would it just be more practical for Gray to purchase the non-license assets, NBC & CW, and move them to subchannels accordingly?

Edited September 1, 2020 by JCB4TV

[tyrannical bastard 3931]

It will be interesting to see if/when the paperwork is up.  SagamoreHill may simply be wanting out of the operations side of WLTZ and the "non-license assets" may be up for sale, and the result could be like with most of SagamoreHill's other stations, where they are the licensee, and someone else runs it.

 

Market share could be an issue though.  Mission seems to be on a buying spree as of late, could they take WXTX off of American Spirit's hands?  That gives WRBL a sister station.

[CLETVFan 367]

(Cross posted from another thread)

 

According to TV Passport, WOIO 19 in Cleveland is launching a new 3pm newscast on September 14.  They are also launching a new 11am newscast on WUAB 43.  

 

[nathannah 2401]

Surprise from WBAY in Green Bay; as of the 14th, they will be launching a half-hour 9am newscast and filling in the space between 4:30-5:00pm to create a 90-minute news block, as I assume Family Feud wasn't content with the "mere" two timeslots it had on that station (both timeslots contain Feud episodes now).

[ABC 7 Denver 1712]

1 hour ago, CLETVFan said:

(Cross posted from another thread)

 

According to TV Passport, WOIO 19 in Cleveland is launching a new 3pm newscast on September 14.  They are also launching a new 11am newscast on WUAB 43.  

 

 

Temporary until after the election.

[GoldenShine9 1512]

2 hours ago, ABC 7 Denver said:

 

Temporary until after the election.

 

Then probably back in the spring of 2022.

[Chief-O 31]

On 9/2/2020 at 2:15 PM, mrschimpf said:

Surprise from WBAY in Green Bay; as of the 14th, they will be launching a half-hour 9am newscast and filling in the space between 4:30-5:00pm to create a 90-minute news block, as I assume Family Feud wasn't content with the "mere" two timeslots it had on that station (both timeslots contain Feud episodes now).

 

"Feud" is going to WGBA.

 

Expanding the 4PM show isn't too surprising to me; WFRV's 4PM is also 1 hour. The 9A is interesting, though.....

Edited September 4, 2020 by Chief-O

[GodfreyGR 650]

Gray is launching 4:00 news on KVLY 11.2 (CBS/KX4) Fargo today. Displaces Judge Judy (Which already gets an hour earlier in the day on 11.1/NBC)

 

Not the first 4:00 for the market- WDAY/ABC has had news in the timeslot for a couple of years now.

[CircleSeven 1955]

Gray's Hawaii News Now is joining the news expansion train.

 

KHNL has added an hourly 4pm broadcast entitled "First at 4". That would be two straight hours of local news on Channel 13, followed by Nightly at 6pm.

 

And this comes after Gray has completed its acquisition of KSIX-TV in the Big Island on Wednesday (9/9). It'll be interesting to see what they'll do with Telemundo.

[CubsFan79 58]

On 9/1/2020 at 4:36 PM, JCB4TV said:

Would it just be more practical for Gray to purchase the non-license assets, NBC & CW, and move them to subchannels accordingly?

a triopoly in Columbus? Who knows FCC/DOJ?  

[Kirkland1009 2]

The tweet about Gray buying WLTZ  was taking down the same day that  it was posted  by Robbie Watson (WLTZ Reporter) and there is has been no official word from Gray and Sagamorehill.