channel2 869 Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 WUTB didn't have much of an identity by then aside from simulcating WTTG's 10pm news. There was no way Fox was going to be able to poach the affiliation off of WBFF. And, it wasn't necessarily a sale, but a trade. Sinclair offered to Fox a few MyTV and CW stations comparable to WUTB's value (most notably WSTR in Cincinnati) but Fox declined the offer. Wasn't WJZY basically a WUTB before Fox took over? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3443 Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 WUTB didn't have much of an identity by then aside from simulcating WTTG's 10pm news. There was no way Fox was going to be able to poach the affiliation off of WBFF. And, it wasn't necessarily a sale, but a trade. Sinclair offered to Fox a few MyTV and CW stations comparable to WUTB's value (most notably WSTR in Cincinnati) but Fox declined the offer. Las Vegas was one of the markets offered...and this was before they purchased KSNV and the rest of the Sunbelt stations. It seems the idea inspired FOX to buy WJZY/WMYT from Capitol Broadcasting and let them keep WRAZ. We all know how the "experiment" has gone in Charlotte. It could get interesting in the markets where ION has to pick up the slack should there be a mass de-affiliation of Sinclair/Tribune FOX affiliates.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4164 Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Wasn't WJZY basically a WUTB before Fox took over? WJZY had a MyTV duopoly partner (WMYT), and Fox was ready to cancel their affiliation deal with WCCB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1509 Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 Las Vegas was one of the markets offered...and this was before they purchased KSNV and the rest of the Sunbelt stations. It seems the idea inspired FOX to buy WJZY/WMYT from Capitol Broadcasting and let them keep WRAZ. We all know how the "experiment" has gone in Charlotte. It could get interesting in the markets where ION has to pick up the slack should there be a mass de-affiliation of Sinclair/Tribune FOX affiliates.... Fox already has a strong affiliate in Las Vegas though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasTVNews 1366 Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2017/8/9/eating-their-own http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/heat-turned-up-on-sinclair-over-tribune-deal/192890 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidwestTV 1173 Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 With all of these sudden objections, it'll be curious to see if any other media owners (e.g. Hearst, Scripps, etc) also file objections. It's kind of surprising that one of them hasn't spoken up against it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1509 Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 With all of these sudden objections, it'll be curious to see if any other media owners (e.g. Hearst, Scripps, etc) also file objections. It's kind of surprising that one of them hasn't spoken up against it yet. None have at this time. Most likely if any do it would be smaller ones (examples being Morgan Murphy, Block, Heartland, Cowles, etc.) who have no aspirations at all of even approaching the levels of Sinclair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4164 Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 So Tribune's CEO Peter Kern claims the merger is still "on track" for a 4Q close. What... was he going to say otherwise? Kern's not going to risk losing his cushy payday at the expense of hundreds of employees and the loss of journalistic integrity. Nor is he going to say, "OH HOLY SHIT FOX IS GOING TO SCREW US ALL AND TORPEDO THE MERGER AHHHHHHHHH" Peter Kern's motives are as insidious as the worst of the Smith Klan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1944 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Here's a nice, lengthy write-up from the Tribune about Sinclair-Tribune deal. Could WGN no longer be Chicago's Very Own after the deal is through? EDIT: Also new pieces from the Times-Picayune and Mlive.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatron81 179 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Did Fox file a comment with the FCC to kill the merger since they have made public comments that their not for the deal from day 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oklahomanewsman 210 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 With all of these sudden objections, it'll be curious to see if any other media owners (e.g. Hearst, Scripps, etc) also file objections. It's kind of surprising that one of them hasn't spoken up against it yet. The only real significant media group to make an objection to the merger would be 21st Century Fox. Fox wouldn't even be talking to Ion Media about a deal at this point if they weren't so opposed to the Sinclair-Tribune deal but at the same time they tried to acquire Tribune too (in a partnership with Blackstone) but also I can't blame them being so opposed to the merger if a group has that much power over retransmission consent fee negotiations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4164 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Here's a nice, lengthy write-up from the Tribune about Sinclair-Tribune deal. Could WGN no longer be Chicago's Very Own after the deal is through? Would have been nice if the Tribune wrote this the day the merger was announced instead of a silly Pollyanna-ish editorial. Not that this piece will change a single mind in the corrupt FCC swamp. We all know it won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3443 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 In the case of New Orleans, a takeover by Sinclair would mean very little since WGNO and WNOL are irrelevant to begin with. WGNO is destined to be another KDNL since their news product is obliterated by the other stations in the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oklahomanewsman 210 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/sources-pai-teeing-media-ownership-order/167846 The item also could remove the prohibition on owning two of the top four-rated stations in a market IF the prohibition on owning 2 of the top 4-rated stations in the same market is lifted, expect Sinclair to keep Tribune's stations in markets like Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, Seattle-Tacoma and West Michigan that otherwise if not lifted would have to sell off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLETVFan 363 Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 This put WBNX on the map and opened the gates to them picking up real syndicated shows. Before that, the station was riddled with classic sitcoms (probably barter), cheap local ads and direct response ads out the yin-yang. Getting the WB made them even more of a force in the market, and they were able to land the shows that WUAB was too cheap to keep around, and took over them in the ratings as a result. By the time most Northeast Ohioans had heard of WBNX...(or Cleveland's WB...or WBNX CW), the stigma of Ernest Angley was long gone, as they aired shows "as-is" and buried Ernest in a 9am daily slot and gave his 10pm slot to "Friends" repeats. WBNX was more of a "Family" station when it was launched back in December of 1985, hence the "We Are Family" TOH ID jingles they used to play every hour. That continued long until 1995 or '96. It was the FOURTH independent station in Cleveland, and the second one to launch in '85 after WOIO. They continued that "family" approach even after the networks came to 55. The station was doing what WOIO was doing after Fox Kids first went on the air until the affiliation change. Build on the kids lineup with stronger syndicated (sitcom) fare. That resulted in 19 over taking WUAB in the ratings to where 43 moved away from sitcoms airing between 5 and 8pm with Cops and Star Trek: The Next Generation programmed with 60 or 90 minutes of sitcoms before. They were going to move back to a full comedy block when the affiliation switch took, and when 19 and 43 merged together under the JSA deal. WUAB might have been a logical choice to pick up Fox Kids, except its contract with Disney prevented it from doing so. The scheduling for Fox Kids did get weird after the WB moved to WBNX (after WUAB chose to stay with UPN only). FK eventually got pushed aside to sandwiching between Kids WB! and moved to Sunday mornings with KWB on Saturdays. Of course, Fox phased out children's programming altogether. It should also be noted that WBNX was awarded the CW affiliation based on its ratings and success, while WUAB ended up with MyNetworkTV. The CW is still going strong, while MyNet is more of a shorter version of Ion nowadays. Oh, in the link below, is a story concerning WBNX's launch back in 1985. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=924097061063628 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3443 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Fascinating article. I don't think Rhema ever operated the station....it's always been the Winston Broadcast group running the show. Soon after WBNX signed on, WCLQ was the first independent to cave in by becoming a full-blown HSN affiliate. I believe a lot of their former programming was picked up by WBNX. WBNX was really the only viable choice to land the WB full term since they were comparable in coverage and programming to WUAB. Juggling 2 netlets and top rated Indians telecasts became too much for WUAB and all of the other viable stations were tied to entities like Paxson and TBN that had no interest in general programming at the time. Now if Sinclair succeeds in getting Tribune they could make a play for WBNX. This would prevent Tegna and Scripps from getting a second voice and a chance to go head to head with WJW in the mornings and 10pm. Obviously Tribune wasn't interested in wrestling away WBNX from Angley, and given recent events, maybe Sinclair would have the power to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexTVandRadio 412 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Wasn't Barrington sort of a revival of Benedek Broadcasting? And Morris won't be here much longer. Something in me says that. One could hope that Morris won't be around here much longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColtFromGulfcoast 695 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 One could hope that Morris won't be around here much longer. How does Meredith buying them sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexTVandRadio 412 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 How does Meredith buying them sound? Anything has to be a step up... but don't know enough about Meredith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oklahomanewsman 210 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 I believe the conventional wisdom would be that Meredith picks most of the conflicts up while TEGNA may pick up a few stations only IF they don't do away with having one owner owning 2 of the top 4 stations in the same market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennTV1983 742 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Anything has to be a step up... but don't know enough about Meredith. Meredith is a decent company as they invest in their stations well, but not always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexTVandRadio 412 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Going to take some $$$$ for some of the Morris stations. Sorry this got off topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenShine9 1509 Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Back on the topic...I am starting to think there is a better chance than any deal in recent memory that it could be outright denied, not just require strong conditions. The Charlottesville attack and Sinclair's alt-right ties will likely be a big sticking point to many in the departments responsible, so it may get denied as a result (in addition to the fact it blows right past caps, but they may go further and deny it immediately rather than force divestitures). Although if this blows up in SBG's face, they will likely fight tooth and nail... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleSeven 1944 Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 A new lenghty piece this morning from the New York Times about Sinclair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4164 Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Back on the topic...I am starting to think there is a better chance than any deal in recent memory that it could be outright denied, not just require strong conditions. The Charlottesville attack and Sinclair's alt-right ties will likely be a big sticking point to many in the departments responsible, so it may get denied as a result (in addition to the fact it blows right past caps, but they may go further and deny it immediately rather than force divestitures). Although if this blows up in SBG's face, they will likely fight tooth and nail... I'll believe it when I see it. Crooked Altji I. M. Paid Off will fight tooth and nail alongside the Smith Klan to see that they get what they want... A new lenghty piece this morning from the New York Times about Sinclair. ...this being the latest example of why Paid Off is a wealthy scumbag of the lowest order. Like this NYT article will change anything. Paid Off views it as a badge of honor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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