Howard Beale 57 Posted November 26, 2024 Share Posted November 26, 2024 I can't find a thread for general discussion about Cox Media Group, so let's start one with some actual news! WSB-TV anchor Justin Farmer is leaving the station after 16 years for an undisclosed finance job. Here's what's odd about this. WSB management announced the news to employees today (November 25) at the morning editorial meeting, and Farmer's last day is tomorrow (November 26th). A 24-hour turnaround from announcement to goodbye? This reeks of either a budget cut or a failed contract negotiation. 2 1 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2447 Posted November 26, 2024 Share Posted November 26, 2024 7 minutes ago, Howard Beale said: I can't find a thread for general discussion about Cox Media Group, so let's start one with some actual news! WSB-TV anchor Justin Farmer is leaving the station after 16 years for an undisclosed finance job. Here's what's odd about this. WSB management announced the news to employees today (November 25) at the morning editorial meeting, and Farmer's last day is tomorrow (November 26th). A 24-hour turnaround from announcement to goodbye? This reeks of either a budget cut or a failed contract negotiation. Or... getting out before the holidays. 3 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-301829 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glimmer 282 Posted November 26, 2024 Share Posted November 26, 2024 It sounds like it was for the most part his decision, though he’ll still pop up on WSB as a contributor 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-301831 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recovering Producer 219 Posted November 26, 2024 Share Posted November 26, 2024 2 hours ago, Howard Beale said: I can't find a thread for general discussion about Cox Media Group, so let's start one with some actual news! WSB-TV anchor Justin Farmer is leaving the station after 16 years for an undisclosed finance job. Here's what's odd about this. WSB management announced the news to employees today (November 25) at the morning editorial meeting, and Farmer's last day is tomorrow (November 26th). A 24-hour turnaround from announcement to goodbye? This reeks of either a budget cut or a failed contract negotiation. I don't have any insight or information, but having a new job and an ongoing relationship with the station makes me think this was a planned exit by him. A quiet and short notice without the pomp and circumstance is the ideal departure for many people. News anchors come and go, and maybe he didn't want to make himself the news or at least minimize the time when he is the center of attention. The tribute and retrospective PKGs are awkward and have no viewer benefit. Newsroom cakes and speeches are just painfully awkward. 5 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-301836 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Lampstein 109 Posted November 27, 2024 Share Posted November 27, 2024 Good timing on the launch of the CMG thread... more news: they're shutting down the DC bureau. 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-301860 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYAZSporty 129 Posted November 27, 2024 Share Posted November 27, 2024 I'm guessing with the close of the DC bureau, the Cox stations will likely have to lean on their respective networks and/or CNN for news in the nation's capital. 2 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-301861 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediaZone4K 2186 Posted November 28, 2024 Share Posted November 28, 2024 (edited) As sad as I am to see reporters lose their job, are national bureaus for station groups necessary? Don't network affiliations already fill that void? The only beneficiary I can see is an independent station. It's duplicative for WSB to need Cox Washington packages when ABC News can already cover that. Despite the vast array of media services available to a local station they all cover the same thing. How many sources do we need providing a package on AAA Thanksgiving travel predictions? On 11/25/2024 at 8:12 PM, Howard Beale said: I can't find a thread for general discussion about Cox Media Group, so let's start one with some actual news! WSB-TV anchor Justin Farmer is leaving the station after 16 years for an undisclosed finance job. Here's what's odd about this. WSB management announced the news to employees today (November 25) at the morning editorial meeting, and Farmer's last day is tomorrow (November 26th). A 24-hour turnaround from announcement to goodbye? This reeks of either a budget cut or a failed contract negotiation. Wow! Sucks. He had a legacy tie to the station as his dad was big time local anchor Don Farmer. Justin always did this weird singing thing in his anchoring cadence. Has anyone ever noticed this? Edited March 23 by MediaZone4K 4 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-301873 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathannah 2438 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Imagicomm has put all the stations they got from Cox back on the market. 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-302784 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine_10 96 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 2 hours ago, mrschimpf said: Imagicomm has put all the stations they got from Cox back on the market. Posted my thoughts in Speculatron. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-302792 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Beale 57 Posted January 15 Author Share Posted January 15 Here's a new thread specifically for the Imagicomm pending sale. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-302795 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDNProd 5 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 4 hours ago, mrschimpf said: Imagicomm has put all the stations they got from Cox back on the market. That didn't take long Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-302801 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frog 429 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Apollo is looking to sell Cox Media Group. Gray and Nexstar are among the potential buyers. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304545 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidwestTV 1232 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 How does Gray have any money to buy Cox? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304546 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine_10 96 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 1 hour ago, The Frog said: Apollo is looking to sell Cox Media Group. Gray and Nexstar are among the potential buyers. Gray would have to sell in Atlanta and I believe that's it. Nexstar would have to sell in Dayton, and again that's it. 3 minutes ago, MidwestTV said: How does Gray have any money to buy Cox? I don't think they have enough at this time. Nexstar would be better positioned, although Gray could be the divested Dayton station. That said, there would be about $1 billion saved in that the station that Gray would have to let go of would be WSB, and that's worth a lot of money. 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304547 Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlnews2 591 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 (edited) Gray has conflicts in Atlanta and charlotte. Nexstar conflict in Dayton Any chance Hearst jumps on this? Good chance to get some pretty good assets…conflicts in Boston, Pittsburgh, and Orlando would need to be divested, but that should be easy. Edited March 22 by atlnews2 3 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304548 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine_10 96 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 1 minute ago, atlnews2 said: Gray has conflicts in Atlanta and charlotte. Nexstar conflict in Dayton I forgot about Charlotte, and actually Nexstar conflicts there too. That said, Nexstar has an easier deal overall, as the conflicts are smaller and they have largely paid off their debt from other recent deals, while Gray still has a lot on the board. But who else would be bidding? Tegna is in flux. Scripps has major financial issues. Sinclair is still poison in the industry. Allen has lost a lot of his support. This may be too much for Hearst and especially Graham (both are private as well). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304549 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2447 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 I'm surprised Hearst isn't interested in this. They may be taking a careful approach and just avoid it altogether. 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304554 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickp 337 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Gray: WPCH joins up to WSB WANF goes to CBS to justify WUPA's existence Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304557 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennTV1983 804 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 2 hours ago, nickp said: Gray: WPCH joins up to WSB WANF goes to CBS to justify WUPA's existence Wrong thread for that. 1 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304560 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3955 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Warren Buffett, perhaps? Especially in Atlanta and Dayton to keep their newspaper/TV combos intact. These stations are strong enough (aside from Jacksonville) to lose their network affiliations given what just happened to WPLG. The station market can't handle any more at the moment given current cap space and their finances. Outside financing or financiers like BH is a must. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304561 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie56 3307 Posted March 22 Share Posted March 22 Hearst doesn’t buy up whole groups. They buy on an individual basis. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304567 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediaZone4K 2186 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 (edited) 8 hours ago, atlnews2 said: Gray has conflicts in Atlanta and charlotte. Nexstar conflict in Dayton Any chance Hearst jumps on this? Good chance to get some pretty good assets…conflicts in Boston, Pittsburgh, and Orlando would need to be divested, but that should be easy. Cox has some good stations, WSB among them. I would hate to see Nexstar ( which according to those who work in the industry pays the lowest) come in and cheapen those stations. I wouldn't mind Hearst taking over. 1 hour ago, Georgie56 said: Hearst doesn’t buy up whole groups. They buy on an individual basis. I've heard part of the reason why Hearst has such a good reputation is that it doesn't endlessly acquire stations like the other groups, so it isn't spread too thin. Moreover, they have assets outside of television, so they aren't solely dependent on tv revenue. Edited March 23 by MediaZone4K 2 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304569 Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlnews2 591 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 (edited) Keep in mind Apollo wants someone to buy the entire thing, not a piecemeal sale…that means the buyer will need to be willing to take the radio stations as well Edited March 23 by atlnews2 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304571 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine_10 96 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 16 minutes ago, atlnews2 said: Keep in mind Apollo wants someone to buy the entire thing, not a piecemeal sale…that means the buyer will need to be willing to take the radio stations as well As I posted in Speculatron, that will be nearly impossible. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304574 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 2 hours ago, atlnews2 said: Keep in mind Apollo wants someone to buy the entire thing, not a piecemeal sale…that means the buyer will need to be willing to take the radio stations as well But they don't have to keep the radio stations, right? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/21583-cox-media-group-general-discussion/#findComment-304579 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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