tyrannical bastard 3444 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/68440/bob-prather-resigns-as-gray-presidentcoo Could Gray be the next takeover target? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hathawaynson2 38 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I don't know if Gray Television is the Next takeover target at all. Then again it could be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVIntheDesert 183 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Not trying to speculate, but I notice there is very little to maybe even no market overlap between Gray and Nexstar. Hmmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 I don't know if Gray Television is the Next takeover target at all. Then again it could be. Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3444 Posted June 22, 2013 Author Share Posted June 22, 2013 Not trying to speculate, but I notice there is very little to maybe even no market overlap between Gray and Nexstar. Hmmm.... Dothan, AL would be a conflict. Gray owns WTVY and WRGX-LD (CBS, NBC, CW & MNTV) and Nexstar owns WDHN (ABC). However, WDHN pales in comparison to WTVY in terms of coverage and market share. If there was a station Nexstar would want to divest, this is likely the one....it's also very far away from other Nexstar stations as well. Now IF Nexstar was the winning bidder SHOULD Gray be sold....they could pull the "Mission" card, or try to pass off WDHN as "failing" (can a company do that to one of their own stations if they trade up to another station?) EDIT: Rockford, IL would be a conflict as well, leaving only Quincy Newspapers WREX 13 as competion should Nexstar acquire WIFR... along with owned WQRF and Mission-controlled WTVO. Raycom would be a conflict too, since they own WDFX....but they could flip it to American Spirit and trade up to WTVY, giving them a foothold in Southeast Alabama and a stronger link to the rest of their stations. Raycom would be an issue in Panama City as well, because of WPGX. It's probably the weakest single Raycom station in their entire company and seems very out of place with the rest of the company. While WDFX has strong ties to Montgomery and WSFA, WPGX has a very mininal presence in Panama City, as most of the stations' functions are run out of WBRC in Birmingham. If WJHG went to Raycom, this would likely put WPGX under local control, but it would give Raycom control of NBC, CBS, FOX, CW and MNTV for Panama City, leaving Hoak's WMBB the only remaining competitor. This is all pure specualtion, but it does seem odd that Bob Prather would up and leave Gray....was it fallout for not getting New Young? Who knows....with the M&A arena the way it is, anything is possible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1944 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Gray & Nexstar would be challenging, especially in Rockford where they're only have 4 full power stations (none of them are non-commercial). That's unless they throw WIFR into some rocky creeks, but then Quincy would have a baby. But Raycom acquiring Gray would be easier shockingly. Because of the four market both companies overlap, Raycom owns Fox stations there. Not just WDFX & WPGX. They have WTNZ (Knoxville) & WFXG (Augusta). Raycom can throw some American Spirit on those four stations. But yes the scrutiny will no doubt be the Dothan & Panama City network clusters, where if the acquisition was consummated, they would affiliate 5 networks, controlling 3 stations (2 full-powers and an LP) in both markets and WDHN & WMBB (both ABC affils) would be greatly crying foul. But the question is, Is Raycom is even on a buying mood? Should they acquire Gray TV, Raycom would be at around 18-19%. I can picture a Raycom/Gray acquisition being a true winner though. Either way, I think its lights out, goodnight for Gray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1509 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Gray & Nexstar would be challenging, especially in Rockford where they're only have 4 full power stations (none of them are non-commercial). That's unless they throw WIFR into some rocky creeks, but then Quincy would have a baby. But Raycom acquiring Gray would be easier shockingly. Because of the four market both companies overlap, Raycom owns Fox stations there. Not just WDFX & WPGX. They have WTNZ (Knoxville) & WFXG (Augusta). Raycom can throw some American Spirit on those four stations. But yes the scrutiny will no doubt be the Dothan & Panama City network clusters, where if the acquisition was consummated, they would affiliate 5 networks, controlling 3 stations (2 full-powers and an LP) in both markets and WDHN & WMBB (both ABC affils) would be greatly crying foul. But the question is, Is Raycom is even on a buying mood? Should they acquire Gray TV, Raycom would be at around 18-19%. I can picture a Raycom/Gray acquisition being a true winner though. It is likely one of the easiest acquisitions (more likely a complete merger) considering Gray is in 30 markets and Raycom is in 35 markets, mostly in each other's home turf, and all but five (out of 60 markets) of them have no overlap, so there are 55 markets covered right there. Knoxville and Augusta they could easily shell to American Spirit with little complaints. Indeed, Dothan and Panama City is the biggest trouble spot. I agree Hoak (WMBB) could have a legitimate complaint, but can Nexstar (WDHN) legitimately complain since they have an even bigger issue in Evansville? Albany would also be a bit of an issue with WALB (Raycom) and WSWG (Gray, semi-satellite of WCTV). Again, shelling is possible, but in that case Sinclair (WFXL) would be the one complaining (again a bit rich given their triopolies and quadropoly in other markets). Still if Gray and Raycom want to stave off Sinclair and Nexstar, they might want to start having discussions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1944 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 It is likely one of the easiest acquisitions (more likely a complete merger) considering Gray is in 30 markets and Raycom is in 35 markets, mostly in each other's home turf, and all but five (out of 60 markets) of them have no overlap, so there are 55 markets covered right there. Knoxville and Augusta they could easily shell to American Spirit with little complaints. Indeed, Dothan and Panama City is the biggest trouble spot. I agree Hoak (WMBB) could have a legitimate complaint, but can Nexstar (WDHN) legitimately complain since they have an even bigger issue in Evansville? Albany would also be a bit of an issue with WALB (Raycom) and WSWG (Gray, semi-satellite of WCTV). Again, shelling is possible, but in that case Sinclair (WFXL) would be the one complaining (again a bit rich given their triopolies and quadropoly in other markets). Still if Gray and Raycom want to stave off Sinclair and Nexstar, they might want to start having discussions. That's right. I didn't even think about the Albany, GA situation with WCTV's satellite WSWG. They could ditch the satellite status an throw that 'Spirit' on WSWG, masters would still be ran by WCTV, while Raycom proper would tend to WALB. Yeah Sinclair & Nexstar can't really complain, since they have triopolies & quadopolies in a few markets. Little Rock & Mobile-Pensacola a prime examples where quadopolies are at. Columbus, Nashville & even Sinclair's homebase is another prime example for triopolies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1509 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 http://mobile.broadcastingcable.com/article/494194-Record_Consolidation_Another_5_Billion_to_Go_.php B&C agrees with us, Gray could be next on the market. They also think over $5 billion in deals await. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.