first on fox 18 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 NBC is putting two of its stations, WTVJ in Miami (market 16) and WVIT in Hartford (market 28), up for sale. The NBCU local media division sent a note to staffers about the sale and insiders tell us meetings are being held at the stations today. More: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/nbc/nbcu_puts_two_stations_up_for_sale_80298.asp
Amra 172 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 Holy Shit, now will NBC try to get rid of WSCV too? They should get rid of NBC San Diego too if they want to concentrate on the Top 10 markets.
rtmclaug 70 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 I just hope that whoever does purchase the stations keeps things the way they are. I like WTVJ and WVIT, especially since WTVJ just went HD a few weeks ago.
IdiotsOutWanderingAround 0 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 Holy jesus, NBC is selling WTVJ?! Somewhere, Ed Ansin is having a good laugh. But wow! I'm shocked that NBC is giving up a major foothold in the South. Especially in a market like Miami.
jdcnow 14 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 Somewhere, Ed Ansin is having a good laugh. ...and yelling, "It took 20 years, but I won, I won, I shot the BB gun!" Ol' Eddie will sleep good tonight.
Alain 17 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 I'm quite surprised too, they let go of one of their biggest stations. What i don't get though, is ho w are they selling WTVJ, but keeping WSCV.. They are in the same building...
CircleSeven 1963 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 I have a giant hunch that either Media General or Gannett will snatch WTVJ so quick. On the other hand, I knew that NBC wouldn't keep the Hartford station for long. If they are trying to worry about the top 10 markets, they need to let go also to KNSD 39 and let LIN's 24% Involvement of KXAS cease. I hope that these new private equity firm companies don't get their hands on these stations.
A3N 1002 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 I have a giant hunch that either Media General or Gannett will snatch WTVJ so quick. On the other hand, I knew that NBC wouldn't keep the Hartford station for long. If they are trying to worry about the top 10 markets, they need to let go also to KNSD 39 and let LIN's 24% Involvement of KXAS cease. I hope that these new private equity firm companies don't get their hands on these stations. I suspect that the reason for keeping KNSD was because most of the stuff is run out of NBC in Burbank. Not to mention that KNSD is a pretty strong NBC affiliate, but who knows if down the road NBC might decide to sell its share of KNSD. I find it funny that NBC would invest in WTVJ to upgrade to HD and then turn around and sell it.
mediadorkx07 0 Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 Great for WVIT... they had a strong book... a new building coming in January... NBC is holding them back.
Ntropolis 600 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Great for WVIT... they had a strong book... a new building coming in January... NBC is holding them back. Yeah, since selling WNCN to Media General they look much better... I still think they're still being clobbered by WRAL and WTVD in the book though. Depending on who picks up WVIT, they could go to from one of the most neglected NBC O&Os to a prominent flagship in a station group. Very surprising that they'd sell WTVJ...
Sam Horn 78 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Let the record show that both myself and Mr. Butler "called it" in this exact procession. KXAS or KNSD are next.
ProButtonPusher 230 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 I have a giant hunch that either Media General or Gannett will snatch WTVJ so quick. Rule MG out--They're in quite a bit of debt, and are selling stations.
CircleSeven 1963 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Rule MG out--They're in quite a bit of debt, and are selling stations. That doesn't mean that they can't sell more if they are interested in Channel 6. I wouldn't rule them out.
Sam Horn 78 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 A little birdie tells me Sunbeam is a good bet for WTVJ, and NBC doesn't mind them much. How about Local TV LLC or Newport Television (the group that took television off Clear Channel's hands) for WVIT? Both are in good shape financially, and I'm sure both would love a solid station in market 29.
first on fox 18 Posted March 20, 2008 Author Posted March 20, 2008 A little birdie tells me Sunbeam is a good bet for WTVJ, and NBC doesn't mind them much. WTVJ/WSVN duploy? Interesting...
Sam Horn 78 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 WTVJ/WSVN duploy? Interesting... Yes; executed in much the same way as WHDH/WLVI.
Jess 1115 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Who would be the senior partner in that, though? (not only that, but can they even do it? Since I'd gather that both TVJ and SVN are in the top 4...) A WTVJ/WSVN combo sounds incredibly interesting.
Jess 1115 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 Oh crap, I totally forgot about the Spanish-language stations there. With those in the mix, then it IS a possibility, as the Spanish-language stations do outperform the English-language ones.
Jess 1115 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 And another thing that just popped in my head. Perhaps this sale is so they can free up cash to go after two things they set their sights on, that begin with the letters "The Weather Channel" and "KRON"?
Sam Horn 78 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 HulkieD is right -- I'm pretty sure WLTV is number 1.
Sam Horn 78 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 I still can't see the FCC approving this.... Por que?
effseesee 101 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 I think Media General will be a serious player for both stations. It would give them NBC affiliates in the two biggest Florida markets and NBC affiliates in neighboring New England markets. The fact that MG is selling stations is irrelevant. They are selling properties that don't make them any money. As long as you can generate cash to make your debt payments, the size of one's debt isn't that big a deal. It's when you don't make any money that it becomes a problem. If they have the money to do the deal, it's a no-brainer.
Sam Horn 78 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 If they have the money to do the deal, it's a no-brainer. They don't.
Ntropolis 600 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 They don't. Yeah... Media General? Money? Ha! I think they're a little more focused on investing in local HD equipment anyways...
ED2 144 Posted March 20, 2008 Posted March 20, 2008 So what's also going to happen to the master controls that are housed at WTVJ?
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