All About Allen...

[KnoxvilleTVFanDerrick 9]

On 4/8/2026 at 11:58 AM, evv_mlis said:

WTHI and WLFI have new information up about joining Gray:

https://www.wthitv.com/news/terre-hautes-wthi-lafayettes-wlfi-join-gray-media/article_f7796406-c324-4a0f-8ba8-bc3f59d01ab9.html

 

With Gray's Local News Live being available, I wonder if they will transition from Weather Channel meteorologists to other Gray stations providing the weather (ala LNL) or if they will hire back former folks. I believe Everett Lau was still working at WTHI, albeit behind the scenes, rather than doing weather.

It's good that you mentioned this, because Kevin Orpurt is rejoining WTHI as its Chief Meteorologist. Although he looks different, it is so good to know that he is coming back.
 

 

[evv_mlis 34]

WEVV closings now show (c) 2026 Gray Media. Website still shows AMB.

[new_plastic_ideas 0]

WFFT closing graphic and website are both Gray. News operation is just business as usual for now, which is rather surprising but some of us in Fort Wayne still remember what WPTA ownership did to WISE on day one way back when. Neither station seems to have ever actually reported on the sale, FWIW.

[GodfreyGR 812]

11 hours ago, new_plastic_ideas said:

WFFT closing graphic and website are both Gray.

Gray is usually quick to flip websites, but WFFT.com still looks pretty Allen-ized as of right now.

 

11 hours ago, new_plastic_ideas said:

some of us in Fort Wayne still remember what WPTA ownership did to WISE on day one way back when.

What Granite did in Ft. Wayne and Duluth in 2005 was awful all the way around... Would like to think Gray is smarter than Granite was. At least "NewsCenter" is unlikely to return!

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

49 minutes ago, Action Newsroom said:

Allen Media Group is in talks to buy a majority stake in BuzzFeed. $120 million.

And Byron will be chairman and CEO.

You couldn't make this up if you tried.

https://deadline.com/2026/05/byron-allen-buying-majority-stake-buzzfeed-becoming-ceo-1236898665/

Now the companies he's buying are as old as the jokes flying around on Comics Unleashed .

 

What's AOL going for these days?

[Recovering Producer 410]

1 hour ago, Action Newsroom said:

Allen Media Group is in talks to buy a majority stake in BuzzFeed. $120 million.

And Byron will be chairman and CEO.

You couldn't make this up if you tried.

https://deadline.com/2026/05/byron-allen-buying-majority-stake-buzzfeed-becoming-ceo-1236898665/

 

We compiled a list of the 37 media companies Byron Allen has enshittified. Number 24 will inspire you. 

[mre29 1967]

According to the article, it's "Allen Family Digital, an affiliate of Byron Allen’s family office" that is acquiring the majority stake, not Allen Media Group.

 

Alas, the article really could've used some proofreading. Buzzfeed co-founder Jonah Peretti isn't properly identified, and then there's this:

 

Quote

Allen is the founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group which owns 13 TV stations, affiliates of ABC, CBS and NBC in 11 markets, as well 10 HD television networks including The Weather Channel, The Grio, Pets.TV and Comedy.TV. Allen owns a two-hour nightly comedy block on CBS Network and also produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 74 television programs, making him one of the largest independent producers/distributors of first-run syndicated television programming.

 

I'm fighting the urge to post a "Well, actually..." comment, but I'll be good. 

 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Former WTVA chief meteorologist Matt Laubhan lets loose on Byron Allen's latest comments to the Hollywood Reporter...

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/byron-allen-buzzfeed-starz-streaming-1236595447/?fbclid=IwdGRjcARzfBZjbGNrBHN8DmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgUymuuucb_wNCbAXuvMdnGR8AGLc07PHSZxmRvqfaRfPO0pV0JaZnO-ot0Z_aem_dgIArXgwjD_RZikpAdQwjg

Edited May 15 by tyrannical bastard

[Megatron81 343]

Byron Allen is a wannabe media mogul why do the banks keep loaning him the money to buy stuff that he'll just run into the ground. I hope the board of Starz deny Byron to buy them. Just say no to Byron I'm A Cheapskate Allen.