TVNewsRI 4 Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 As reported by competitor WPRI-TV. http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/abc-6-in-receivership-after-ad-drop Station management says that it is very unlikely that they will go off the air. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevieboy247 42 Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Well I think in all likelyhood the station will be put up for sale. I think Providence has had a network O&O station before (when WJAR was once owned by NBC), and it would'nt surprise me if Disney/ABC attempts to purchase WLNE depending on their interests. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60267 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmediaguy 123 Posted July 29, 2010 Share Posted July 29, 2010 Well I think in all likelyhood the station will be put up for sale. I think Providence has had a network O&O station before (when WJAR was once owned by NBC), and it would'nt surprise me if Disney/ABC attempts to purchase WLNE depending on their interests. WPRI was owned by CBS... for all of ten months. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60268 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVNewsRI 4 Posted July 29, 2010 Author Share Posted July 29, 2010 http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/455382-Struggling_WLNE_In_Receivership.php B&C has someone quoted as saying that the station may be sold. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60269 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 So, which companies are likely potential buyers? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60277 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVNewsRI 4 Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share Posted July 30, 2010 Here's a few that I might speculate on: 1. Hearst -Has a huge presence in New England already with WCVB, WMUR, WMTW, and WPTZ/WNNE. 2. Belo -Owns the Providence Journal 3. Nexstar -Operates WLWC, which is owned by Four Points 4. ABC -Only if WLNE was about to go dark might ABC step in to keep their programming on the air. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60278 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmediaguy 123 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Here's a few that I might speculate on: 1. Hearst -Has a huge presence in New England already with WCVB, WMUR, WMTW, and WPTZ/WNNE. Can't be Hearst. WCVB has a high-grade signal in Providence and already has a duopoly in Boston (with WMUR). They could do an LMA, operating the station for different owners, as LIN has with WNAC, the Fox station. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60289 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted July 30, 2010 Share Posted July 30, 2010 Can't be Hearst. WCVB has a high-grade signal in Providence and already has a duopoly in Boston (with WMUR). They could do an LMA, operating the station for different owners, as LIN has with WNAC, the Fox station. That's what I figured. Besides, I don't think Hearst would want to sell either their flagship or New Hampshire's only major network affiliate just so they could buy a struggling station in a smaller market. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60299 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmediaguy 123 Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 ...I don't think Hearst would want to sell ... their flagship ... Why would they have to sell WBAL? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60300 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted July 31, 2010 Share Posted July 31, 2010 Why would they have to sell WBAL? My bad. I thought WCVB was their flagship. Heck, the word "flagship" is rather useless here, anyway. I really should have just said, "the top-rated WCVB". Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60301 Share on other sites More sharing options...
effseesee 101 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Can't be Hearst. WCVB has a high-grade signal in Providence and already has a duopoly in Boston (with WMUR). They could do an LMA, operating the station for different owners, as LIN has with WNAC, the Fox station. Hearst isn't buying it, but your logic is flawed. The fact that WCVB puts a decent signal into Providence isn't relevant. All that matters is whether Hearst currently owns a station in the Providence market. Since they don't, they could buy WLNE regardless of whether the signal for WCVB is viewable. The most likely big name company to buy this station is Nexstar. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60348 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmediaguy 123 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hearst isn't buying it, but your logic is flawed. The fact that WCVB puts a decent signal into Providence isn't relevant. All that matters is whether Hearst currently owns a station in the Providence market. Since they don't, they could buy WLNE regardless of whether the signal for WCVB is viewable. The most likely big name company to buy this station is Nexstar. While, admittedly, I have not kept up on ownership regulations lately; WCVB has a city-grade signal in Providence... same situation with CBS ownership of WPRI and WBZ. WPRI had to be sold. In addition, because the Providence marketplace is so small, there cannot be any duopolies. Nexstar would have to own the station; Four Points owns WLWC and cannot own another station in the marketplace. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60352 Share on other sites More sharing options...
effseesee 101 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 While, admittedly, I have not kept up on ownership regulations lately; WCVB has a city-grade signal in Providence... same situation with CBS ownership of WPRI and WBZ. WPRI had to be sold. In addition, because the Providence marketplace is so small, there cannot be any duopolies. Nexstar would have to own the station; Four Points owns WLWC and cannot own another station in the marketplace. The sale of WPRI by CBS happened in 1995-1996. The rules changed in 2000. The issue could be true in Baltimore/Washington, DC. If WRC goes on the market due to the Comcast deal, Hearst could buy the station without any trouble even though it owns WBAL just up the road. Nexstar buying WLNE and operating WLWC would be an identical virtual duopoly as the one between WPRI and WNAC. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60359 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEnglandNewsInsider 0 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 I feel really bad for WLNE. They've tried so hard and are doing slightly better but people still watch 12 (which is the worst station in RI), and 10 which is still good (especially on weekends). I would love if they got better music (I nominate Impact V4), and graphics (though there actually decent). I would be ecstatic if Belo picked them up, they would be best. But here's who could pick it up: Belo Meridith Nexstar (hope not) Mission (please no) Gannett Sinclair (they could be ok actually) Local TV Not happening: Hearst (I think there close to cap), Lin, MG, ABC, Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60454 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVNewsRI 4 Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share Posted August 8, 2010 http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/abc-6-faces-tough-market-if-owner-sells Closing newsroom unlikely It is “very rare” for a major network affiliate in a large TV market to become insolvent, Atorino said. “Before the credit-market-economic collapse, this never happened. The world has changed,” he said. Large media companies including Tribune and Citadel Broadcasting have filed for bankruptcy protection. WLNE was hit by a triple-whammy – high debt, a recession-driven drop in advertising, and major changes in the media landscape, Levin said. “The broadcasting model is changing dramatically,” he said. If WLNE is sold, the most likely buyer would be either a wealthy individual or a company that already owns a station in the Providence-New Bedford market, which could then merge the two channels’ news operations to save money, Atorino said. Even if an independent buyer wanted to cut costs, it is unlikely he or she would close ABC 6’s news operations, Levin said. “The local news is the thing that distinguishes them,” he said. Well at least we probably won't lose news on the station. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60493 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1519 Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 Nexstar (hope not) Mission (please no) Aren't those effectively the same? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60496 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tw-804 192 Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Not happening: Hearst (I think there close to cap), Lin, MG, ABC, ...Raycom Media (not happening because their stations in the South, the Midwest, Tucson & Hawaii) and Gray (I don't think the Providence market is mid-size). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60503 Share on other sites More sharing options...
effseesee 101 Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Not happening: Hearst (I think there close to cap) Hearst is at about 18% and the cap is 39%, so that's not an issue. Hearst isn't buying this station because they're going to waste any money on the Providence market. To me, Nexstar would be the logical buyer since they already have a management agreement in place for WLWC. These days,most station owners are not going to enter a market unless they can control more than 1 signal. Sinclair only would be interested if they could get control of a second station. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60526 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEnglandNewsInsider 0 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 ...Raycom Media (not happening because their stations in the South' date=' the Midwest, Tucson & Hawaii) and Gray (I don't think the Providence market is mid-size).[/quote'] Are you sure about that? Raycom has a couple of stations up North. Plus Grey is going to pick up WTEN eventually so it would make sense to expand. Anything would be better then Nexstar. Though I'm really not sure if Nexstar could buy it outright or would it be owned by Mission? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60541 Share on other sites More sharing options...
effseesee 101 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Though I'm really not sure if Nexstar could buy it outright or would it be owned by Mission? They can buy it outright. Nexstar only has an agreement to manage WLWC for Four Seasons. The agreement doesn't count towards ownership. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60554 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEnglandNewsInsider 0 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 They can buy it outright. Nexstar only has an agreement to manage WLWC for Four Seasons. The agreement doesn't count towards ownership. I still just hope they won't do it. I rather see an actual good owner buy it. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-60571 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVNewsRI 4 Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 Now officially for sale... http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/08/television-station-channel-6-i.html According to the article it could be sold to: A. Local investors -Lin is Local B. A media company based in NYC -Hearst -ABC -McGraw-Hill or C. A media company based in the Midwest -Barrington Broadcasting -Scripps -Local TV -Meredith Corporation -Post Newsweek -Tribune Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-61039 Share on other sites More sharing options...
effseesee 101 Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Now officially for sale... http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/08/television-station-channel-6-i.html According to the article it could be sold to: A. Local investors -Lin is Local B. A media company based in NYC -Hearst -ABC -McGraw-Hill or C. A media company based in the Midwest -Barrington Broadcasting -Scripps -Local TV -Meredith Corporation -Post Newsweek -Tribune It's highly unlikely it's any of those 3. It's more likely to be the new version of Granite. Granite's new chief operating officer is Duane Lammers, who was previously an exec at Nexstar. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-61240 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTVNews 1377 Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 In my opinion WLNE would be sold to: -Hearst -Belo -ABC -McGraw-Hill Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-61241 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrtraveler01 738 Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Now officially for sale... http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/08/television-station-channel-6-i.html According to the article it could be sold to: A. Local investors -Lin is Local B. A media company based in NYC -Hearst -ABC -McGraw-Hill or C. A media company based in the Midwest -Barrington Broadcasting -Scripps -Local TV -Meredith Corporation -Post Newsweek -Tribune I doubt it would be LIN, they already own WPRI and the Fox Station there. No way they would let LIN own 3 stations in Providence. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/6622-wlne-bankrupt-in-receivership/#findComment-61249 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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