CircleSeven 1955 Posted November 10, 2021 Share Posted November 10, 2021 A quick update. On October 8, the DOJ gave this deal an early termination of the 30-day waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) act. This means that it has cleared them of any antitrust issues (since they have already remedied the issue by divesting WJRT to Allen). So all they need now is the FCC greenlight, plus shareholder approval. Meredith announced yesterday (11/9) that the shareholders will vote in a special meeting on 11/30; and the spin-off date would be the next day (12/1). Hopefully, Gray & IAC can complete their respective deals once the spin-off is completed. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266846 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 And the FCC just greenlighted the deal today. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266921 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTVNews 1377 Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 And with Gray headquarters in Atlanta, GA, this makes WGCL the parent company of Gray. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266931 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 56 minutes ago, TexasTVNews said: And with Gray headquarters in Atlanta, GA, this makes WGCL the parent company of Gray. In 18 days, Gray will be the new parent company of WGCL. As its flagship station. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266934 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatron81 263 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Was it a 2-2 split at The FCC? Since I know Dems on The FCC don't like mergers of media companies. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266962 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC 7 Denver 1717 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 On 11/12/2021 at 7:32 PM, CircleSeven said: In 18 days, Gray will be the new parent company of WGCL. As its flagship station. Hysterical! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266966 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 26 minutes ago, ABC 7 Denver said: Hysterical! Care to elaborate?..... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266967 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lugnuts6 91 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Grey broadcasting is based out of atlanta, hence its flagship stations would become WGCL/ WPCH TV Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266971 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennTV1983 804 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Here we go again with the flagship talk. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266973 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3955 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 New General Managers have been named at several of the soon-to-be Gray stations: In Atlanta, Georgia, Erik Schrader will become the General Manager of WGCL and WPCH, replacing Deborah Collura. In Phoenix, Arizona, Debbie Bush will become the General Manager of KPHO and KTVK, replacing Kevin James. In Nashville, Tennessee, Jasmine Hatcher Hardin will become the General Manager of WSMV replacing Rene LaSpina. In Kansas City, Missouri, Andrew Stewart will become the General Manager of KCTV and KSMO, replacing Charles Henrich. In Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, Bryce Caldwell will become the General Manager of WHNS, replacing Kevin Holub In Mobile, Alabama, Eric Duncan will become the General Manager of WALA. FOX10 News. Corey Hanson had been the GM but she took over the role at KPTV in Portland when that opened up. GSM Michael Strickler has been serving in an interim role since then. https://graytv.gcs-web.com/node/18811/pdf Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266979 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 That's probably just the first round of new hires. I'd expect most, if not all, the (soon to be ex-)Meredith stations to have new GM's. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266980 Share on other sites More sharing options...
newsman123 114 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Wonder how long until all the news directors are blown out. Especially in Atlanta. MK ruined all the strong things SD built. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266984 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sendir 194 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Any word on the Meredith graphics hub? 6 hours ago, lugnuts6 said: Grey broadcasting is based out of atlanta, hence its flagship stations would become WGCL/ WPCH TV This is not their flagship. I promise you that. Opportunity, yes. But not flagship. Those labels are truly only meant for the most profitable assets. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266987 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3955 Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 5 hours ago, GoldenShine9 said: That's probably just the first round of new hires. I'd expect most, if not all, the (soon to be ex-)Meredith stations to have new GM's. Many of these are relatively new, only being appointed in their now-current roles for a little over a year. Of course, a change of command in Atlanta was a given. Gray must feel good about Erik Schrader's contributions to WOIO/WUAB since coming there. These stations have been through a lot of turmoil (and upheaval) at Meredith's behest, and hopefully Gray can solidify them and hopefully restore some stability and in some cases, former glory. Atlanta especially, since it will be their largest market, their home base, and a large base of operations already there and in the works.... Given these choices, it's clear that Gray is looking to un-do all the damage Meredith did to their stations last year in order to keep the lights on. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-266998 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRob 938 Posted November 16, 2021 Author Share Posted November 16, 2021 Meredith has been too quick to fire people over the last several years. I would expect any changes Gray makes, are to be for the long term. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267005 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLETVFan 367 Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 I had a feeling someone from WOIO was going to end up at WGCL (not counting past staff moves where there was a stop or two between the two stations). I wonder what Schrader is going to do in Atlanta and who will replace him in Cleveland. Not to mention how the next GM is going to run 19/43. I will give Schrader credit for cleaning up the mess that was "Cleveland 19" and getting the station back on track with better news branding and programming. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267013 Share on other sites More sharing options...
newsman123 114 Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Can anyone post what ftvlive’s paywall article said today about more changes to come in Atlanta? and yeah.. the gm and nd have only been there a year and a half. They have made some good tweaks, but the ND has made some horrible hires and let go of some really good people. They had an incredible investigative reporter.. who has been replaced with a piece of limp toast. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267015 Share on other sites More sharing options...
24994J 5585 Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 11 minutes ago, newsman123 said: Can anyone post what ftvlive’s paywall article said today about more changes to come in Atlanta? and yeah.. the gm and nd have only been there a year and a half. They have made some good tweaks, but the ND has made some horrible hires and let go of some really good people. They had an incredible investigative reporter.. who has been replaced with a piece of limp toast. Removing some of Scott's editorializing... "Yesterday, Gray announced that GM Deborah Collura was going to be replaced. Gray named WOIO (Cleveland) GM Erick Schrader as Collura's replacement. [...] One current WOIO staffer said this about Schrader, "Our staffing here at WOIO is down almost half of what it was when he got here. He (Schrader) went through with buyouts for employees hoping to weed out those making a decent wage. Most of the reporters now are MMJ's so no need for as many photographers. And he got rid of editors. In order to get the shows on the air, we now have to take a photographer (1 per shift) out of the loop so they can cut the shows," the WOIO employee said to FTVLive. Atlanta might have been hoping for a turnaround specialist, but they may be getting someone that will look to make deep cuts, according to some WOIO insiders. Some newsroom staffers are wondering how long News Director Matt King will be lasting. King has been at the station less than two years and the bets are he doesn't make it 6 months more at the station. [...] Does Gray really want to try and turn it around and spend the money needed to do that? Or, are they looking to gut the place, run it on the cheap and let it continue to be the Atlanta market bottom-feeder? Some believe that the hiring of Erick Schrader might have tipped Gray's hand as to which way they are going to go." An article from yesterday hinted that WPCH/PeachtreeTV will become the home of and testing ground for a lot Gray-produced programming. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267016 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3955 Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 1 hour ago, 24994J said: An article from yesterday hinted that WPCH/PeachtreeTV will become the home of and testing ground for a lot Gray-produced programming. That's my hope. Considering that it was once WTBS, and all of the things Ted Turner did with that station, Gray could use it as a launching pad for more original content. The days of it becoming a SuperStation again via pay TV are long gone, but it could become a virtual one through OTT and VUit and spawn regional variants. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267018 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamTheJ 90 Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 I hope the Meredith graphics don’t get replaced by graphics used by the former Raycom stations, and if they do, I absolutely hope None of you say Good Riddance to the Meredith graphics. IMO, replacing the Meredith graphics with the Post-Raycom graphics would be a horrible downgrade. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267020 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRob 938 Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 Meredith stripped their stations pretty hard before the sale. I'm not sure Gray can do much more. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267024 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3955 Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 A few more General Manager shuffles, some as a result of yesterday's moves: https://tvnewscheck.com/top-news/business/article/gray-names-6-more-new-general-managers/ -Matt Moran moves from WSAZ/WQCW to WOIO/WUAB to replace Erik Schrader, who will now be heading up WGCL/WPCH. -David Hughes takes over WSAZ/WQCW to replace Matt Moran (see above). -Laura Serbon gets promoted from GSM to GM at WVIR, replacing David Hughes (see above) -Jim Mckernan gets moved from WEEK Peoria to WOWT Omaha, and Peter Russell is moved up from GSM/Station Manager to General Manager of WEEK. -Pete Veto takes over WVLT/WBXX replacing Jasmine Hatcher Hardin, who got bumped over to Nashville and WSMV. He was a GM at WJRT (under Gray before it's sale) and also served as a GM at WTVG in Toledo Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267026 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathannah 2446 Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 2 hours ago, TheRob said: Meredith stripped their stations pretty hard before the sale. I'm not sure Gray can do much more. WFSB and WGGB are likely very happy to have sister stations nearby they can drive to rather than fly to. For all the guff we give the graphics (which I have no issue with outside the "swoosh!"), their universal ticker is a whole lot more rich and informative than what Meredith has ever had and isn't obnoxiously screen-squashing on snow days. I'd still also like to know if on day one Gray tosses "People (The TV Show!)" to the curb like they did "Hollywood Today Live" when they got WBAY and KWQC. I've heard absolutely no buzz about it, they don't like to pay for scratch-rated filler (on their ABC stations they took ABC News Live's CMA pre-show over ET, which had to use its late-night repeat instead to air), and though Meredith plugged in a two-year renewal days after the merger was announced, it was only on the Meredith stations and can easily be revoked. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267028 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1513 Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 52 minutes ago, mrschimpf said: WFSB and WGGB are likely very happy to have sister stations nearby they can drive to rather than fly to. For all the guff we give the graphics (which I have no issue with outside the "swoosh!"), their universal ticker is a whole lot more rich and informative than what Meredith has ever had and isn't obnoxiously screen-squashing on snow days. I'd still also like to know if on day one Gray tosses "People (The TV Show!)" to the curb like they did "Hollywood Today Live" when they got WBAY and KWQC. I've heard absolutely no buzz about it, they don't like to pay for scratch-rated filler (on their ABC stations they took ABC News Live's CMA pre-show over ET, which had to use its late-night repeat instead to air), and though Meredith plugged in a two-year renewal days after the merger was announced, it was only on the Meredith stations and can easily be revoked. I'm guessing that will be the case. Gray will have no right to those properties. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267029 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1955 Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 I should point out that Meredith announced that the DOJ has cleared the Dotdash transaction. The waiting period (under the HSR act) expired on 11/12. So that gives it the greenlight for that deal. So expect both Gray & IAC to close their deals after the spin-off of the assets is completed two weeks from tonight. On 11/16/2021 at 10:29 PM, mrschimpf said: I'd still also like to know if on day one Gray tosses "People (The TV Show!)" to the curb like they did "Hollywood Today Live" when they got WBAY and KWQC. I've heard absolutely no buzz about it, they don't like to pay for scratch-rated filler (on their ABC stations they took ABC News Live's CMA pre-show over ET, which had to use its late-night repeat instead to air), and though Meredith plugged in a two-year renewal days after the merger was announced, it was only on the Meredith stations and can easily be revoked. I would like to know whether Dotdash (Meredith's NMG successor) is even going to keep the program going past this TV season. What's the point in keeping the show when you only have about less than 15% of the country is carrying it. Sell the show to the masses or get rid of it. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/18278-gray-television-to-buy-meredith/page/6/#findComment-267051 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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