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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Desert Man on November 18, 2017, 10:37:53 PM

Title: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on November 18, 2017, 10:37:53 PM
A thread about regional television markets, their stations and how far they can reach or serve.

The L.A. TV market extends 60 miles east to Riverside and San Bernardino, where the only major TV station is a PBS public one: KVCR 24. The FCC designated Riverside county a separate market - for Palm Springs (KESQ-ABC, KPSP-CBS, KCWQ-CW, KDFX-FOX, KPSE-My Net and KMIR-NBC), but Temecula can get San Diego (KGTV-ABC, KFMB-CBS, KSWB-FOX, KNSD-NBC and others) and Blythe can get Yuma AZ (KECY-FOX/My Net, KSWT-CBS and KYMA-NBC) with some Phoenix stations (KNXV-ABC). The L.A. TV market permits some Bakersfield TV (KBAK-CBS) in Lancaster and Victorville, Santa Barbara TV (KEYT-ABC) in Ventura and most Las Vegas TV in Needles (i.e. KSNV-NBC). And 2 superstations-cable: WPCH (was WTBS) Atlanta and WOR 9 (My) New York.

My wife grew up with a pair of same major TV networks in her cable in her childhood in San Mateo in the San Francisco bay area. KNTV 11 (ABC) from San Jose, now NBC for the whole SF bay area took up KGO 7 (ABC)'s market. KPIX 5 (CBS) and KOFY (secondary CBS or now ABC) due to major league baseball coverage, same with KTVU 2 (FOX) from Oakland and KTXL 40 from Stockton. And KRON 4 (NBC, now My Net) vs. KCRA 3 (NBC) from Sacramento. There were 2 UPN stations: KICU 36 San Jose and KBHK 44 Contra Costa between Oakland and Stockton, also had major league sports coverage. And 2 WB stations: briefly KNTV 11 and WGN 9 Chicago or KTLA 5 LA. There's a local CW station in SF Bay area (Wikipedia says it's KBWB 44 Concord). PBS from KCSM 60 San Mateo with KQED 9, and an independent station: KFTY 50 Santa Rosa.

In many TV markets with 2 of the same network, the local ones don't cover their primetime with local access or informercials (on cable), FCC regulations requires the secondary "regional" ones to not show the same programming the local affiliate has. However, in Indio/Coachella, Banning/Beaumont and Hemet/San Jacinto in Riverside county, you receive other areas' TV stations over-air, esp. in perfect atmospheric conditions 60-80 miles away. KESQ (ABC) had a transmitter in Hemet in the 1980s-90s, but I think it's on cable and satellite now - they co-own KPSP (CBS) and KCWQ (CW) - carries KTLA 5 news from L.A., and KECY (FOX/My-former CBS/ABC) put a transmitter in Indio in the 1990s-2000s - now KDFX (Fox).   
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 19, 2017, 12:59:52 AM
KVIE Sacramento and KQED9/KQED+ serves Solano County. It's where the San Francisco DMA and Sacramento DMA have a dividing line somewhere in Fairfield and Suisun City where the line is drawn.

Vallejo and Benicia gets the San Francisco TV stations but Vacaville and Dixon get the Sacramento TV stations.

At one point there was confusion over the NBC3 brand in Solano county mainly because back in 2001-2002 NBC was taking over KNTV and in most Bay Area counties KNTV was placed in channel 3 in Cable systems. However Solano county residents had KCRA3 the Hearst owned NBC affiliate in Sacramento via OTA was picked up on channel 3 though for NBC programming.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on November 19, 2017, 08:13:10 AM
Quote from: bing101 on November 19, 2017, 12:59:52 AM
KVIE Sacramento and KQED9/KQED+ serves Solano County. It's where the San Francisco DMA and Sacramento DMA have a dividing line somewhere in Fairfield and Suisun City where the line is drawn.

Vallejo and Benicia gets the San Francisco TV stations but Vacaville and Dixon get the Sacramento TV stations.

At one point there was confusion over the NBC3 brand in Solano county mainly because back in 2001-2002 NBC was taking over KNTV and in most Bay Area counties KNTV was placed in channel 3 in Cable systems. However Solano county residents had KCRA3 the Hearst owned NBC affiliate in Sacramento via OTA was picked up on channel 3 though for NBC programming.

Locally, we receive 2 PBS stations - KVCR and KOCE 50 from Orange county, and former PBS KCET L.A. In Palm Springs, the cable service has KPBS 15 San Diego and KQED san Francisco, but Palm Desert has different channels. There are 2 independent stations in Riverside (Temecula): KZSW 27 and KUSI 51 based in San Diego, and 2 in San Bernardino (Victorville): KPXN 30 (has KNBC 4 news) and KVVB 33 for the Mojave desert. And Victorville (KABC) and Yucca Valley (KESQ) have ABC TV transmitters.

Spanish-Language TV works like this: KVER 12 (Univision) Indio will have news from KMEX 34 L.A. and sister station KEVC 5 (UniMas) also from Indio has news from San Diego-Tijuana, but KVER has a news studio here and KEVC's in Mexicali. KUNA 15 (Telemundo) again Indio, has local news and KVEA 52 from L.A.-Corona (by Riverside). And Televisa from Mexicali (over-air XHBC 4 and XHBM 32), and (TV) Azteca from L.A (channel 47-cable only) owned by a Mexican TV network with affiliates in the USA.

And for the rest of Southern CA: the Santa Barbara market - KEYT (ABC), KCOY (CBS) Santa Maria and its FOX sister station with transmitter in Ventura, and KSBY (NBC) San Luis Obispo with a transmitter in Santa Barbara. And Bakersfield market - KERO (ABC), KBAK (CBS), KGET (NBC) and KMPH (FOX) from Tulare county-Fresno area. Univision owns English-language KUVI (My Net) formerly KUZZ which owned a country music radio station. KTLA (CW) news on transmitters in Santa Barbara and Bakersfield. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 19, 2017, 09:19:07 AM
Lake Tahoe get the Reno TV stations but some areas get Sacramento TV stations on cable systems.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on November 19, 2017, 12:02:04 PM
KTVU 2 and KTXL 40 are Fox affiliates, but parts of Nevada have their transmitters or on cable. KTLA 5 (CW) does the "superstation" thing in parts of the western US. The Christian television network KTBN 40 based in Orange county CA has transmitters all over the place. In Loma Linda CA, the majority seventh-Day Adventist church HQ town has the 3 Angels Broadcast Network, also has transmitters. And I receive the Latter-day saints church owned BYU-TV (Brigham Young University) from Provo, UT on my cable service, some parts of the west US has over-air transmitters of Mormon programming.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on November 19, 2017, 06:22:25 PM
IIRC there is a Nevada county which is part of the market... of Denver!
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 7/8 on November 19, 2017, 08:18:42 PM
Maybe a bit off topic, but my brother and I went to the Tim Horton's in Port Huron, MI right across the border from Canada and the TV they had was on CTV Kitchener! Pretty odd to see our local news station in a different country :). The quality looked terrible though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: LM117 on November 19, 2017, 10:33:09 PM
Mecklenburg County in VA is part of the Raleigh/Durham market in NC, which makes absolutely no damn sense, especially when the TV stations give the county zero coverage, except as part of a weather forecast. Mecklenburg should be part of the Richmond market, IMO.

Another one that doesn't make sense is Edgecombe County in NC. It borders Pitt County, home of the Greenville market, and yet Edgecombe County is part of the Raleigh/Durham market. WTF?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 19, 2017, 10:42:51 PM
I say Tracy and Manteca should get gerrymandered over to the San Francisco TV Market because currently Sacramento TV stations hold territory to these two cities. But Tracy and Manteca are closer to the Bay Area by characteristics though. Also in the past two decades they've been counted as part of the Bay Area.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Stephane Dumas on November 20, 2017, 09:08:39 AM
I remember when I was younger, the SRC and TVA affiliated stations of Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Québec got different shows compared to Montreal. 2 SRC affiliates CKTM (Trois-Rivières) and CKSH(Sherbrooke) used to show "Le Cinéma de 5 heures" on 5PM weekdays instead of CBFT-2 schedule.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COp1j9uRjXw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVXWAYCf79s
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on November 20, 2017, 01:27:16 PM
Grand Rapids, MI still has two ABC affiliates. The primary one, WZZM, has its stick near Fremont in Newaygo County while WOTV has its stick in Barry County. Most cable systems carry both affiliates, but some (Charter in Coldwater and Sturgis) carry only WOTV.

WZZM's stick is as far north as it is because it was short-spaced to co-channel stations in Rockford IL and Toledo OH. Its location also allowed it to serve as the default ABC affiliate for the southern and southwestern portion of the Traverse City market (Traverse City didn't get a full-time ABC affiliate (WGTU) until 1971 and even then it was very weak compared to the longer-established WPBN (NBC) and WWTV (CBS); for years, WGTU wasn't on cable in parts of its market). In particular, Manistee and Ludington used to be served by Green Bay and Milwaukee stations but were never in those markets AFAIK (maybe before Michigan adopted DST; for years, MI was EST year round, which made MI the same time as WI (and Chicago) in the summer)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: doorknob60 on November 20, 2017, 02:25:48 PM
I find it odd that the Bend, OR TV market technically only covers Deschutes County, and not at least Crook and Jefferson counties (whose economies are closely tied to Bend and Redmond). I'm pretty sure cable operators in those counties offer Bend stations though (in addition to some Portland stations), from what I can tell. And I'd throw Harney county in there too, it's just so far from Portland.

And then Union and Baker County, it's squished in between the Tri-Cities/Yakima market (which includes Pendleton) and the Boise market (which includes Ontario) which are geographically closer, but it's in the Portland market. I guess I understand why, they're pretty far away from Tri-Cities/Yakima, not economically tied to the area much since it's a small market in a different state, and it's also not exactly close to Boise, and in a different time zone. Unsure of cable/OTA channels available in this area.

Also odd that Benton County, OR (Corvallis) and Linn County, OR (Albany) are in different markets (Eugene and Portland, respectively). I'd throw them both into Portland because the boundary looks better on the map, and Corvallis is more closely tied to Salem and Albany than Eugene. Unsure of cable/OTA channels available in this area.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: gonealookin on November 20, 2017, 02:54:26 PM
Quote from: bing101 on November 19, 2017, 09:19:07 AM
Lake Tahoe get the Reno TV stations but some areas get Sacramento TV stations on cable systems.

The California side of the Tahoe Basin has an inconsistency.  On the north side, all of Placer County is in the Sacramento DMA, so satellite customers along the CA 28 corridor all the way to the state line and the developed part of the CA 89 corridor down past the Homewood ski area receive the Sacramento stations, despite being much closer to Reno.  On the south side, El Dorado County is divided, with the portion west of the Sierra crest being in the Sacramento DMA while the Tahoe Basin portion is in the Reno DMA.

All of the I-80 corridor in Nevada County, California is also in the Sacramento DMA, so residents of Truckee and the rural area to the east receive the Sacramento stations, even though by the time you get to the state line you're just about to enter the western suburbs of Reno.

There are a few cases where cable systems carry a station from the "wrong" DMA; for example Charter in South Lake Tahoe carries KCRA, the NBC station in Sacramento, presumably with network programming blacked out in favor of KRNV in Reno which is the primary NBC station carried on the system.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Pink Jazz on November 20, 2017, 06:43:28 PM
Nielsen designated all of Pinal County, Arizona to be part of the Phoenix DMA.  I personally think some parts of southern Pinal County (with the line drawn somewhere between Casa Grande and Eloy) should be assigned to the Tucson DMA instead, since those parts of Pinal County are geographically and economically closer to Tucson than they are to Phoenix.  This would closely align to NWS forecast office boundaries, since Casa Grande is assigned to the Phoenix office while Eloy is assigned to the Tucson office.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 22, 2017, 10:02:42 AM
http://www.thevab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2015-2016-TV-DMA-map.pdf

Nielsen has released the latest maps for 2015-2016 edition.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 23skidoo on November 22, 2017, 01:50:59 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on November 19, 2017, 08:18:42 PM
Maybe a bit off topic, but my brother and I went to the Tim Horton's in Port Huron, MI right across the border from Canada and the TV they had was on CTV Kitchener! Pretty odd to see our local news station in a different country :). The quality looked terrible though.

This is probably because Port Huron is just out of range of the Detroit affiliates (at least it is now after the digital transition). If you don't have cable or satellite, there aren't any over-the-air signals from the US. They were probably watching one of the CTV repeaters located near Sarnia.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 23skidoo on November 22, 2017, 01:56:51 PM
This is an interesting thread. I have some ideas about how the current US television market areas could be reformed, but I don't know if this would be the appropriate place for it. If people are interested, I might start a new thread on it.

Some ideas:
Merging small markets (<100,000 households) with larger ones
Carving new markets out of larger ones (especially where the over-the-air signals don't reach)
Relocating transmitters to better serve the whole market
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jwolfer on November 22, 2017, 03:09:59 PM
Quote from: 23skidoo on November 22, 2017, 01:56:51 PM
This is an interesting thread. I have some ideas about how the current US television market areas could be reformed, but I don't know if this would be the appropriate place for it. If people are interested, I might start a new thread on it.

Some ideas:
Merging small markets (<100,000 households) with larger ones
Carving new markets out of larger ones (especially where the over-the-air signals don't reach)
Relocating transmitters to better serve the whole market
I don't see much relocating transmitters happening.. people are streaming more and more.

Z981

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 03:37:44 PM
When assigning a county to a market, they should have used only over-the-air viewership - not cable. That's actually more realistic, especially for the many people who didn't have cable.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: DandyDan on November 22, 2017, 05:06:08 PM
One of the surprising things about living here in Mason City is that for TV, Mason City gets lumped together with Albert Lea, Austin and Rochester, MN. I thought, before I lived here, it would go with Waterloo and Cedar Falls. OTOH, this is the part of Iowa that has more attachment to Minnesota than the whole rest of the state.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 05:34:05 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 19, 2017, 06:22:25 PM
IIRC there is a Nevada county which is part of the market... of Denver!
What? Which one? I thought that all would be in Las Vegas or SLC markets if out of state.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 06:26:35 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 05:34:05 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 19, 2017, 06:22:25 PM
IIRC there is a Nevada county which is part of the market... of Denver!
What? Which one? I thought that all would be in Las Vegas or SLC markets if out of state.

I'm pretty sure either Eureka or Lander county (maybe both) have been in the Denver market before.

I know the Denver market extended into South Dakota at some point.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 10:02:13 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 06:26:35 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 05:34:05 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 19, 2017, 06:22:25 PM
IIRC there is a Nevada county which is part of the market... of Denver!
What? Which one? I thought that all would be in Las Vegas or SLC markets if out of state.

I'm pretty sure either Eureka or Lander county (maybe both) have been in the Denver market before.

I know the Denver market extended into South Dakota at some point.
Why wouldn't they be in Salt Lake Cities market?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 11:51:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 10:02:13 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 06:26:35 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 05:34:05 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 19, 2017, 06:22:25 PM
IIRC there is a Nevada county which is part of the market... of Denver!
What? Which one? I thought that all would be in Las Vegas or SLC markets if out of state.

I'm pretty sure either Eureka or Lander county (maybe both) have been in the Denver market before.

I know the Denver market extended into South Dakota at some point.
Why wouldn't they be in Salt Lake Cities market?

The only thing I can think of is that Denver would be a much larger market to begin with, so the Denver stations probably had more influence in getting on cable. But if that was the case, San Francisco would probably make just as much sense. Denver might have had a "superstation" or something, like WTBS in Atlanta or WGN in Chicago.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on November 23, 2017, 08:07:35 AM
It goes back to even before the days of sat TV.  Denver stations existed first and were microwaved into many other places.  Later in the BUD (big ugly dish) era, among the options to get network stations was a package called "Netlink Denver 5" which was the Denver local stations. 

As to reforming TV markets, WV's micro markets are fast approaching the critical level where they should die.  First, for complex historical-political reasons none of transmitters are in the same towns, and this combined with the terrain, mean that essentially everyone has to have cable or a dish.  The edges of the state are covered by other states (Washington and Pittsburgh mostly).  The only real and legitimate market is, of course, Huntington-Charleston, with enough people to allow for serious news coverage and such.  That leaves:

- Parkersburg.  Historically just one station (NBC), everyone get provider TV and the H-C or Columbus stations anyway.  Shut it down and make H-C (the 2 WV counties) and Columbus (the one OH one) a little bigger.

- Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill.  Historically just two stations (NBC and ABC) which were so far apart no place could get both OTA.  CBS, and later Fox, was brought in by cable from H-C, Roanoke, or even Bristol.   (Now has a CBS with .2 Fox at a yet third independent location).  Population bleed has reduced what was always a small market to near nothing.  News coverage is pure amateur hour.  Kids just out of school and sales guy with no talent, using 30 year old SD equipment.  Shut it down and make H-C larger.

- Wheeling.  Historically just 2 stations (NBC and CBS) with ABC from Pittsburgh.  Just a few miles from Pittsburgh, the area got its own TV stations when the Rust Belt was not yet rusting.  Population bleed means no money for anything.  News operations are worse than Bluefield's.   Serves no purpose.  Shut it down and get Pittsburgh stations, which everybody does anyway.

- Clarksburg.  Also always missing ABC, which comes from Pittsburgh, along with all the other Pittsburgh stations.  Worse market in the state.  No money for anything.  In fact so amateurish that several counties have been "captured" by Nielsen's methods by Pittsburgh.  Shut it down and let Pittsburgh and H-C get larger.

In doing so the result is the two panhandles and the northern edge of the state served by the cities that are part of (DC or Pittsburgh) and the rest of the state being one market (similar to New Mexico or Utah) which would be 12 places larger in the list of markets, with the economy to support a serious effort at news and other local programming.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: cjk374 on November 23, 2017, 11:28:38 AM
We were blessed to get TV stations from 2 cities...Monroe & Shreveport. If the weather was bad & messing with the reception in one direction, we just went outside & turned the antenna in the other direction. The only exception was ABC. Monroe had no ABC affiliate until the mid 90s (I think). And of course if the president addressed the nation, your only escape was PBS.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on November 23, 2017, 12:20:35 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 06:26:35 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 05:34:05 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 19, 2017, 06:22:25 PM
IIRC there is a Nevada county which is part of the market... of Denver!
What? Which one? I thought that all would be in Las Vegas or SLC markets if out of state.

I'm pretty sure either Eureka or Lander county (maybe both) have been in the Denver market before.

I know the Denver market extended into South Dakota at some point.

Now I check, Wikipedia now lists Eureka county as part of Reno media market, it used to list it as part of Denver's!

Back when I proposed redrawing US State lines to match something else, I considered using media markets to do so, but I dismissed it because it would result in several states with less than 100,000 inhabitantes, the smallest one with just 14,000! (Which would be the Glendive MT "state") In the end I used NWS Weather Forecast Offices to do that.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on November 23, 2017, 01:55:18 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on November 23, 2017, 08:07:35 AM
It goes back to even before the days of sat TV.  Denver stations existed first and were microwaved into many other places.  Later in the BUD (big ugly dish) era, among the options to get network stations was a package called "Netlink Denver 5" which was the Denver local stations. 

As to reforming TV markets, WV's micro markets are fast approaching the critical level where they should die.  First, for complex historical-political reasons none of transmitters are in the same towns, and this combined with the terrain, mean that essentially everyone has to have cable or a dish.  The edges of the state are covered by other states (Washington and Pittsburgh mostly).  The only real and legitimate market is, of course, Huntington-Charleston, with enough people to allow for serious news coverage and such.  That leaves:

- Parkersburg.  Historically just one station (NBC), everyone get provider TV and the H-C or Columbus stations anyway.  Shut it down and make H-C (the 2 WV counties) and Columbus (the one OH one) a little bigger.

- Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill.  Historically just two stations (NBC and ABC) which were so far apart no place could get both OTA.  CBS, and later Fox, was brought in by cable from H-C, Roanoke, or even Bristol.   (Now has a CBS with .2 Fox at a yet third independent location).  Population bleed has reduced what was always a small market to near nothing.  News coverage is pure amateur hour.  Kids just out of school and sales guy with no talent, using 30 year old SD equipment.  Shut it down and make H-C larger.

- Wheeling.  Historically just 2 stations (NBC and CBS) with ABC from Pittsburgh.  Just a few miles from Pittsburgh, the area got its own TV stations when the Rust Belt was not yet rusting.  Population bleed means no money for anything.  News operations are worse than Bluefield's.   Serves no purpose.  Shut it down and get Pittsburgh stations, which everybody does anyway.

- Clarksburg.  Also always missing ABC, which comes from Pittsburgh, along with all the other Pittsburgh stations.  Worse market in the state.  No money for anything.  In fact so amateurish that several counties have been "captured" by Nielsen's methods by Pittsburgh.  Shut it down and let Pittsburgh and H-C get larger.

In doing so the result is the two panhandles and the northern edge of the state served by the cities that are part of (DC or Pittsburgh) and the rest of the state being one market (similar to New Mexico or Utah) which would be 12 places larger in the list of markets, with the economy to support a serious effort at news and other local programming.


The Coachella Valley CA has channel 50 - subchannels .2 is WPMY (My Net) Pittsburgh (serves West Virginia), .3 WPMI (NBC) Mobile, AL (Gulf coast including Miss. & Fla.), .4 KDMD (CBS) Alaska (not sure it's from Anchorage or Juneau) and .5 KEZI (ABC) Eugene OR (Pacific time schedule). The seasonal resident population forms a large portion of the TV market demographic, as well these areas are known for large low-income migrant worker populations come to the resort economy in the winter season. Appalachia, the "Delta" or "cotton belt", Alaska and "Pooregon" - that makes sense. However, the majority of resort work is from Mexico and Central America like Guatemala and El Salvador, as well Puerto Rico (an US territory) and even the Philippines - they immigrate to Guam, Saipan and esp Hawaii. KVMD channels 23 and 31 (based in 29 Palms and Victorville) have 2 Tagalog or Filipino languages subchannels - the Philippines also have Cebuano, Ilocano, Mindanao and Visayano. Channel 50 itself (29 in 29 Palms) is our local My Net. station, KPSE owned by KMIR (NBC), and KMIR is now on cable in 29 Palms, because they used to not be over-air there. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 23skidoo on November 24, 2017, 12:02:15 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on November 23, 2017, 08:07:35 AM
It goes back to even before the days of sat TV.  Denver stations existed first and were microwaved into many other places.  Later in the BUD (big ugly dish) era, among the options to get network stations was a package called "Netlink Denver 5" which was the Denver local stations. 

As to reforming TV markets, WV's micro markets are fast approaching the critical level where they should die.  First, for complex historical-political reasons none of transmitters are in the same towns, and this combined with the terrain, mean that essentially everyone has to have cable or a dish.  The edges of the state are covered by other states (Washington and Pittsburgh mostly).  The only real and legitimate market is, of course, Huntington-Charleston, with enough people to allow for serious news coverage and such.  That leaves:

- Parkersburg.  Historically just one station (NBC), everyone get provider TV and the H-C or Columbus stations anyway.  Shut it down and make H-C (the 2 WV counties) and Columbus (the one OH one) a little bigger.

- Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill.  Historically just two stations (NBC and ABC) which were so far apart no place could get both OTA.  CBS, and later Fox, was brought in by cable from H-C, Roanoke, or even Bristol.   (Now has a CBS with .2 Fox at a yet third independent location).  Population bleed has reduced what was always a small market to near nothing.  News coverage is pure amateur hour.  Kids just out of school and sales guy with no talent, using 30 year old SD equipment.  Shut it down and make H-C larger.

- Wheeling.  Historically just 2 stations (NBC and CBS) with ABC from Pittsburgh.  Just a few miles from Pittsburgh, the area got its own TV stations when the Rust Belt was not yet rusting.  Population bleed means no money for anything.  News operations are worse than Bluefield's.   Serves no purpose.  Shut it down and get Pittsburgh stations, which everybody does anyway.

- Clarksburg.  Also always missing ABC, which comes from Pittsburgh, along with all the other Pittsburgh stations.  Worse market in the state.  No money for anything.  In fact so amateurish that several counties have been "captured" by Nielsen's methods by Pittsburgh.  Shut it down and let Pittsburgh and H-C get larger.

In doing so the result is the two panhandles and the northern edge of the state served by the cities that are part of (DC or Pittsburgh) and the rest of the state being one market (similar to New Mexico or Utah) which would be 12 places larger in the list of markets, with the economy to support a serious effort at news and other local programming.

I like this idea. I have similar ideas for the designated market areas in Michigan (my home state) and Ohio:

Move Detroit's transmitters in Southfield further east to cover Port Huron (as mentioned by 7/8 above, it does not currently have coverage). There are some areas around Warren that might work.  This means that signals are weaker in western Livingston and Washtenaw counties, but they are close enough to Lansing to receive over-the-air signals, even if they are still part of Detroit's DMA. I'd move Monroe County to the Toledo DMA.

For the Grand Rapids DMA, I'd move Calhoun and Branch Counties to the Lansing DMA. Battle Creek is currently part of the Grand Rapids DMA, but it's closer to Lansing so I think it belongs there. While we're at it, give St. Joseph county to South Bend's DMA, which is much closer to that city than to Grand Rapids. I'd move all of the Grand Rapids DMA transmitters to Jamestown, MI (midway between Muskegon and Kalamazoo, and within 15 mi of Grand Rapids). This basically trades coverage of Battle Creek for coverage of Muskegon, which currently only receives WZZM 13 over the air. By making the Grand Rapids DMA smaller, you only need one ABC affiliate (as mentioned by ftballfan above, there are two).

I don't have any major changes to the Lansing and Flint/Tri-Cities DMAs or their transmitters.

Lastly, I'd combine the Traverse City/Cadillac, Marquette, and Alpena markets. The Alpena market is the third smallest in the nation, and I don't know why it has its own market. The UP and all of northern lower can share one medium-sized market. Put a set of full-power transmitters near Cadillac, with translators in Alpena, Marquette and the Soo.

Here's a map of the new media markets (for reference, a map of current media markets nationwide can be found here):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_television_markets

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FlZpurnR.png&hash=d456c431773c9069a704ab7886c951c4d6eb9542)

For Ohio, I'd make even more radical changes:

Eliminate the Lima, Youngstown, Wheeling (see SP Cook's post) and Zanesville markets. They're too small to stand on their own. Merge Lima into Fort Wayne DMA (to ensure Lima has over-the-air coverage, move the transmitters for Fort Wayne to the state line near the town of Monroeville). Merge Youngstown into Cleveland (by moving Cleveland's transmitters to Solon). Youngstown's population has basically declined to the point where it's just another suburb of Cleveland anyways. Lastly, merge Zanesville with the Parkersburg and Athens DMA.

I'd move Toledo's transmitters south of where they are now. At the moment, they're located too close to the Michigan border, which is already covered by Detroit's stations. I'd say move the transmitters down to Bowling Green to cover the area south of Findlay.

For Dayton, move the transmitters to the northwest of the city, away from Cincinnati. For Cincinnati, move the transmitters to Kentucky, away from Dayton. For Columbus, move the transmitters to Westerville (a northeastern suburb) so that the signals can reach Mansfield.

Here's a map:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbVDGgEG.png&hash=bf651deeba796224471f4bca7d5e76dcb8def99c)

I have ideas for other states, too...



Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 26, 2017, 09:42:36 AM
Interestingly the major Ota tv stations owners as of 2017 are Sinclair, Nexstar, Grey, Raycom, Scripps, Hearst and Tegna.

I don't think a new gerrymandering of the DMA maps are going to happen.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on November 26, 2017, 11:58:45 AM
Quote from: bing101 on November 26, 2017, 09:42:36 AM
I don't think a new gerrymandering of the DMA maps are going to happen.

I don't see any possible benefit that could be gained by gerrymandering TV media markets.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on November 26, 2017, 12:15:16 PM
There are 2 oddities that I find in the Northeast.  The first is Windham County, VT being in the Boston DMA.  It would seem more logical for it to be in the Springfield, MA market, seeing that Brattleboro is only 60 miles from Springfield and over 100 miles from Boston, plus it borders Franklin County, MA, which is part of that market.  The other is Berkshire County, MA and Bennington County, VT being part of the Albany, NY market.  They belong in the Springfield and Burlington, VT markets, respectively.  Both are counties that are in a market that all but these 2 counties get NYC regional sports networks, while the rest of the Albany market cannot get Boston regional sports networks.  Plus, most Berkshire County cable systems get Springfield stations anyway.  Here, redrawing the lines may make sense.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SectorZ on November 26, 2017, 07:30:22 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 26, 2017, 12:15:16 PM
There are 2 oddities that I find in the Northeast.  The first is Windham County, VT being in the Boston DMA.  It would seem more logical for it to be in the Springfield, MA market, seeing that Brattleboro is only 60 miles from Springfield and over 100 miles from Boston, plus it borders Franklin County, MA, which is part of that market.  The other is Berkshire County, MA and Bennington County, VT being part of the Albany, NY market.  They belong in the Springfield and Burlington, VT markets, respectively.  Both are counties that are in a market that all but these 2 counties get NYC regional sports networks, while the rest of the Albany market cannot get Boston regional sports networks.  Plus, most Berkshire County cable systems get Springfield stations anyway.  Here, redrawing the lines may make sense.

It's why counties should be split if possible (like the National Weather Service does for forecast areas). People in Berkshire Cty can live, on a line, 20 miles from downtown Springfield living near Hampden Cty or 25 miles from downtown Albany living near the NY border. The county should be split in half, diagonally, from southwest to northeast, with the obvious halves going where they belong. Windham Cty VT should clearly be somewhere different than Boston. I've always appreciated that Boston 25 has embraced it in weather reports and points out weather for Keene and Brattleboro. The others ignore everything that far out.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 27, 2017, 09:27:02 AM
I'm surprised that New Jersey don't have counties that are split by two TV and Radio markets in the central part of NJ though. Its given how Philadelphia and New York are essentially covering those areas though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on November 27, 2017, 10:31:13 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on November 26, 2017, 07:30:22 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 26, 2017, 12:15:16 PM
There are 2 oddities that I find in the Northeast.  The first is Windham County, VT being in the Boston DMA.  It would seem more logical for it to be in the Springfield, MA market, seeing that Brattleboro is only 60 miles from Springfield and over 100 miles from Boston, plus it borders Franklin County, MA, which is part of that market.  The other is Berkshire County, MA and Bennington County, VT being part of the Albany, NY market.  They belong in the Springfield and Burlington, VT markets, respectively.  Both are counties that are in a market that all but these 2 counties get NYC regional sports networks, while the rest of the Albany market cannot get Boston regional sports networks.  Plus, most Berkshire County cable systems get Springfield stations anyway.  Here, redrawing the lines may make sense.

It's why counties should be split if possible (like the National Weather Service does for forecast areas). People in Berkshire Cty can live, on a line, 20 miles from downtown Springfield living near Hampden Cty or 25 miles from downtown Albany living near the NY border. The county should be split in half, diagonally, from southwest to northeast, with the obvious halves going where they belong. Windham Cty VT should clearly be somewhere different than Boston. I've always appreciated that Boston 25 has embraced it in weather reports and points out weather for Keene and Brattleboro. The others ignore everything that far out.

You've got a point with Berkshire County.  Blandford is 20 minutes from Springfield, and over an hour from Albany.  OTOH, Williamstown is a straight shot on route 2 to the Capital District, but 80 miles from Springfield.  It's like another couple of anomalies.  You can get from Enfield, CT to Downtown Springfield in 7 minutes, but Enfield is part of the Hartford/New Haven DMA; WGGB's studios are about 15 miles from Enfield, but default ABC affiliate WTNH's are an hour away in New Haven.  Suffield is 7 miles from WWLP's transmitter across the MA border in neighboring Feeding Hills, but WVIT is the default NBC affiliate, and their transmitter is 40 minutes away in West Hartford.  And Hartford County needs to be divided by the NWS.  I can never understand why they have to issue a Winter Storm Warning for the entire county when towns on the MA border like Granby or Hartland are forecast to get a foot of snow, while towns like New Britain and Southington 40 miles away in the same county get all rain.  It's even crazier when Hartford County gets one and New Haven County doesn't; it could be all rain in Southington, but go up 600 feet to Wolcott in New Haven County, and it's snowing to beat the band. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: The Nature Boy on November 27, 2017, 08:29:13 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 26, 2017, 12:15:16 PM
There are 2 oddities that I find in the Northeast.  The first is Windham County, VT being in the Boston DMA.  It would seem more logical for it to be in the Springfield, MA market, seeing that Brattleboro is only 60 miles from Springfield and over 100 miles from Boston, plus it borders Franklin County, MA, which is part of that market.  The other is Berkshire County, MA and Bennington County, VT being part of the Albany, NY market.  They belong in the Springfield and Burlington, VT markets, respectively.  Both are counties that are in a market that all but these 2 counties get NYC regional sports networks, while the rest of the Albany market cannot get Boston regional sports networks.  Plus, most Berkshire County cable systems get Springfield stations anyway.  Here, redrawing the lines may make sense.

I always found it weird that Coos County, NH was in the Portland, ME media market. This is a county that definitely should be split since the western half of Coos would fit better in the Burlington, VT market.

Windham County, VT and Cheshire County, NH are tricky since they're both actually closer to Boston than either Albany or Burlington. I don't know how to resolve that. Create a media market anchored in Concord, NH?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on November 29, 2017, 01:32:39 PM
Just thought of one more: Fishers Island, NY.  It's considered part of the NYC DMA and gets the full set of NYC affiliates and NYC sports networks, but it sits 2 miles off shore of Groton, CT (Hartford/New Haven DMA), and as the crow flies, it's closest affiliates would be Providence; it's only 6 miles from Westerly, RI.  It's closer to Gillette Stadium than MetLife, and about equidistant from Fenway, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, but has no Boston sports viewing options.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: The Nature Boy on November 30, 2017, 08:28:13 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 29, 2017, 01:32:39 PM
Just thought of one more: Fishers Island, NY.  It's considered part of the NYC DMA and gets the full set of NYC affiliates and NYC sports networks, but it sits 2 miles off shore of Groton, CT (Hartford/New Haven DMA), and as the crow flies, it's closest affiliates would be Providence; it's only 6 miles from Westerly, RI.  It's closer to Gillette Stadium than MetLife, and about equidistant from Fenway, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, but has no Boston sports viewing options.

NY and CT should really just transfer ownership of Fishers Island to Connecticut. It's apart of CT in everyday but legally.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 7/8 on December 01, 2017, 07:15:38 AM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on November 30, 2017, 08:28:13 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 29, 2017, 01:32:39 PM
Just thought of one more: Fishers Island, NY.  It's considered part of the NYC DMA and gets the full set of NYC affiliates and NYC sports networks, but it sits 2 miles off shore of Groton, CT (Hartford/New Haven DMA), and as the crow flies, it's closest affiliates would be Providence; it's only 6 miles from Westerly, RI.  It's closer to Gillette Stadium than MetLife, and about equidistant from Fenway, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, but has no Boston sports viewing options.

NY and CT should really just transfer ownership of Fishers Island to Connecticut. It's apart of CT in everyday but legally.

I decided to read the Wikipedia article on Fishers Island and I found this:

QuoteThe island was the subject of a border dispute between New York and Connecticut. The states of New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island meet in the waters east of Fishers Island. Before the British took possession of New York City from the Dutch in 1664, all of Suffolk County was claimed by Connecticut, with British settlers there accepting its jurisdiction. A 1664 land patent given to the Duke of York included all islands in Long Island Sound, apparently thus granting Fishers Island also to the Province of New York. The Duke of York held a grudge against Connecticut, as the New Haven settlers had hidden three of the judges who sentenced his father King Charles I to death in 1649. Settlers throughout Suffolk County pressed to stay part of Connecticut, but Governor Sir Edmund Andros threatened to eliminate their rights to land if they did not yield, which they did by 1676.[6] A joint commission from Connecticut and New York in 1879 reiterated that New York has legal title to Fishers Island.

It's interesting because I always thought Suffolk County looked like New England with historical houses on the waterfront. Culturally though, I can't say since I unfortunately haven't been there.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on December 01, 2017, 02:05:27 PM
If you get out on the forks of Long Island, you'll think you're more in coastal New England.  The architecture and atmosphere of Greenport is not much unlike that of Watch Hill, RI. or Old Saybrook, CT (it's only about 15 miles across the sound from Old Saybrook).  But get into Riverhead or especially a place like Patchouge, and the NYC cultural influence kicks back in.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on December 02, 2017, 04:05:52 PM
Splitting counties should have been done more often (by zip code or township boundaries) in MI.

Southern Monroe County (roughly south of the Raisin River) should be Toledo market
Northern Oceana County (Pentwater/Hart/Walkerville) and northern Newaygo County (Bitely/Brohman/possibly White Cloud) should be Traverse City-Cadillac market (and probably would have been if not for ABC 29&8 (formerly) being a joke of a TV station; CBS and NBC for most of Oceana and Newaygo County has historically come from TC and Cadillac)
Eastern Ionia County (Portland/Pewamo), SW Shiawassee County (Perry/Morrice), and far western Livingston County (Fowlerville) should all be Lansing market; their high schools all play in Lansing-based leagues and all areas are in the Lansing sphere of influence for commuting
Far northeast Montcalm County (Vestaburg) should be Flint-Saginaw market
The Alpena market would have taken in a couple more counties (likely Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle) if there was more than one station
Northern Menominee County (basically everything from Stephenson on north) should be Marquette market, especially now that MQT has a full set of network affiliates
A side note about the Marquette market: The stations cover some news from the easternmost three counties of the UP despite none of the stations having cable or OTA penetration there
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on December 02, 2017, 05:13:07 PM
There's already a movement to create Peconic County, NY from the forks of Long Island

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peconic_County%2C_New_York

There was also a proposed Adirondack County in NY, which would include portions of Essex and Franklin Counties:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peconic_County%2C_New_York



Only that it would be for cosmetic purposes, Worcester County, MA could also stand to be split up.  It is for NWS purposes, and like Berkshire County, it stretches from border to border north to south.  Perhaps a Quabbin County that could include the towns around Quabbin Reservoir, as well as the Fitchburg/Leominster area.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on December 03, 2017, 10:29:28 AM
KCRA 3 (NBC) Sacramento - the state capital has over-air transmitters across the northern half of CA, with one in Chico (the Redding market, yet Chico is almost the same size as Redding) and Ukiah in Mendocino county (closer to the San Francisco Bay area). KCRA 3's transmissions can reach Merced, 90 miles to the south (part of the Fresno market). Both Fresno and Chico-Redding have their own local NBC affiliates, so does KNTV 11 San Francisco-San Jose, which replaced KRON 4 in the 2000s. Nearby Salinas-Monterey market has KSBW 8 which co-owns KSBY 6 in San Luis Obispo-Santa Barbara market. And Tulare county near Delano can receive some Bakersfield market stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Sctvhound on December 04, 2017, 03:42:33 PM
SC is a smaller state, but we have multiple TV markets. Charleston and Columbia are the only two markets with only SC counties included. Florence/Myrtle Beach, Greenville/Spartanburg, and Charlotte all have NC counties included, while Savannah and Augusta have GA counties included.

Florence/MB is a weird market. CBS (WBTW) has been there since the 50s, and is the heritage station in the market. Until the 80s, Myrtle Beach was treated as just another town. ABC (WPDE) was added in 1980. Prior to that, most people got ABC from Charleston, Wilmington or Raleigh. The entire market got a Fox affiliate in 1997 (WFXB). Prior to that, Myrtle Beach and Lumberton shared Wilmington's Fox affiliate (WSFX).

Florence had their own Fox low power station. NBC was not added until 2008. Prior to that, WIS Columbia, WECT Wilmington, and Charleston (either WCBD or WCIV) were available, depending on where you lived.

Georgetown County, a big part of the Grand Strand, that goes within 15 miles of Myrtle Beach, is in the Charleston market. The CBS, WBTW, was dropped from local cable a few months ago, and only CBS from Charleston remains. ABC and NBC from Myrtle Beach are still available.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: nyratk1 on December 04, 2017, 03:49:05 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 01, 2017, 02:05:27 PM
If you get out on the forks of Long Island, you'll think you're more in coastal New England.  The architecture and atmosphere of Greenport is not much unlike that of Watch Hill, RI. or Old Saybrook, CT (it's only about 15 miles across the sound from Old Saybrook).  But get into Riverhead or especially a place like Patchouge, and the NYC cultural influence kicks back in.

That reminds me that we used to get WSBK-38 here as a part of our cable system up until the mid 90s. Do remember watching a few Red Sox games.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on December 04, 2017, 04:57:33 PM
Southern UT (St. George) has translators of Salt Lake City and Las Vegas NV market stations, as well some Phoenix AZ TV.  They get CBS, FOX and My Network from north (Salt Lake), CW and NBC from west (Vegas), and over-air ABC from south (Phoenix). Since they are in UT, 3 PBS from Provo (Brigham Young University's KBYU), Ogden and Salt Lake city. I suppose they get ABC from Salt Lake and Las Vegas each, and CBS KPHO 5, co-owner of independent KTVK 3 (former ABC affiliate) from Phoenix.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on December 04, 2017, 05:25:05 PM
Quote from: nyratk1 on December 04, 2017, 03:49:05 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 01, 2017, 02:05:27 PM
If you get out on the forks of Long Island, you'll think you're more in coastal New England.  The architecture and atmosphere of Greenport is not much unlike that of Watch Hill, RI. or Old Saybrook, CT (it's only about 15 miles across the sound from Old Saybrook).  But get into Riverhead or especially a place like Patchouge, and the NYC cultural influence kicks back in.

That reminds me that we used to get WSBK-38 here as a part of our cable system up until the mid 90s. Do remember watching a few Red Sox games.

We got WSBK on my cable system in CT until 1995, right around the time that TV-38 went UPN and lost Red Sox rites and gave up the Bruins road games package to NESN.  When my family first got cable, I got all Hartford affiliates, all Springfield affiliates (still get PBS from Springfield), all NYC affiliates, and WSBK (before cable was available on my street, WLVI was also available from Boston).  When our system first expanded beyond 36 channels, we lost Springfield NBC and WABC, then little by little, lost other affiliates after the old company merged with Cox. We got NYC channels because my system is based in New Haven County, but Cox wanted to streamline it with its other 2 systems in Hartford County, so they were phased out.  First Springfield ABC went away, followed by WSBK, then WCBS, WNYW, and WWOR (I had the local feed; it went away when the EMI feed, which the other 2 systems had, ended).  We still had WNBC on 9/11, but lost it soon thereafter.  WPIX was the last holdover, which we lost about 7 years ago.  Having the NYC affiliates was nice because you'd often get an extra NFL game on Sunday when the NYC affiliate showed a different game than the Hartford affiliate.     
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on December 04, 2017, 08:27:40 PM
KSL 5 (NBC) was a former CBS affiliate for Utah, based in Salt Lake City, and it's owned by Bonneville Media, which is a subsidiary of Bonneville Int'l Corp - owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mormon majority UT. It can be viewed throughout UT and 4 neighboring states on cable, satellite and over-air transmissions. It owns radio stations KSL 1160 AM and 102.7 FM.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 09, 2017, 08:46:33 PM
https://www.fybush.com/sites/2005/site-051111.html

Here is one interesting fact though KOVR was originally going to be a Bay Area TV station. But due to affiliation deals but ABC wanted the station away from Bay Area territory though. After Channel 13 left Mount Diablo to Walnut Grove to get the ABC affiliation deal for Sacramento and Stockton.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on December 12, 2017, 01:16:08 PM
The Tulsa TV market's stations which extends beyond the KS state line (Coffeyville) and Tahlequah between Muskogee OK and Fort Smith AR. NBC on 2 (and 8 - subchannel?) but on channels 4 in Coffeyville KS, Independence KS and Tahlequah; CBS on 6 and 10 (transmitter?); ABC on 8 (it had univision programming before it had its own affiliate on 25); the CW on 19 based in Muskogee (in 1999, Tulsa was the only metro area without a WB affiliate - WGN America 9 was its source for WB, now the CW), FOX on 23 (KOKI - substation of KOKH Oklahoma City); and My Net on 41 (KMYT, formerly KTFO - it means forty one or FO(X), had a radio station KCFO). PBS on 3 (Eufaula), 11 (Tulsa) and 13 (Oklahoma City), plus Rogers State College TV on 35 from Claremore. The TBN station on channel 17 from Bartlesville is on cable 7 or 10, and ION channels 33 and 44 from Muskogee on cable 3 or 4. KOCO 5 (ABC) OKC on cable 12 to some in Tulsa; by Kansas state line, they get NBC 3 from Wichita; by Missouri state line, FOX on 7 from Joplin; and by Arkansas state line, CBS/My Net 5 from Fort Smith-Fayetteville.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 17, 2017, 01:20:23 PM
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/14/how-the-disney-fox-deal-affects-local-sports-coverage/ (http://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/14/how-the-disney-fox-deal-affects-local-sports-coverage/)

Note this article talks about how  Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket is affected by the Fox/Disney deal.


http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/disney-deal-to-aquire-fox-does-not-include-station-group/197823 (http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/disney-deal-to-aquire-fox-does-not-include-station-group/197823)

http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/after-disney-sale-a-new-fox-will-include-fox-news-sports-business-and-tv-network/352012 (http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/after-disney-sale-a-new-fox-will-include-fox-news-sports-business-and-tv-network/352012)

Also this deal prevents Disney from taking over the Fox O&O division. This deal only affects some Fox Regional sports division going to Disney and the film division of Fox going to Disney.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on December 31, 2017, 01:32:07 PM
KSBI (My Net) from Oklahoma City has an over-air transmitter on channel 15 in Tulsa. In much of Oklahoma, 5 out-of-state TV stations can be found: WFAA (ABC) Houston, KTEN (NBC) and KXII (CBS) Sherman TX, KCWE (CW) Kansas city, and KNWA (Fox) Fort Smith AR. And Anadarko, Claremore and Tahlequah OK have Native American programming stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on December 31, 2017, 03:00:33 PM
Quote from: Desert Man on December 31, 2017, 01:32:07 PM
KSBI (My Net) from Oklahoma City has an over-air transmitter on channel 15 in Tulsa. In much of Oklahoma, 5 out-of-state TV stations can be found: WFAA (ABC) Houston, KTEN (NBC) and KXII (CBS) Sherman TX, KCWE (CW) Kansas city, and KNWA (Fox) Fort Smith AR. And Anadarko, Claremore and Tahlequah OK have Native American programming stations.
KTEN is actually based in Ada, OK and KXII used to be based in Ardmore, OK
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on January 01, 2018, 11:20:20 PM
WFAA-TV (ABC) channel 8 is from Dallas. KTRK-TV (ABC) channel 13 is from Houston. As far as I know, KTEN-TV and KXII-TV are still licensed to the areas mentioned. I believe Ada/Ardmore used to rely on Lawton, OK for ABC, via KSWO-TV channel 7.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: JMoses24 on January 07, 2018, 09:44:16 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on November 23, 2017, 08:07:35 AM
It goes back to even before the days of sat TV.  Denver stations existed first and were microwaved into many other places.  Later in the BUD (big ugly dish) era, among the options to get network stations was a package called "Netlink Denver 5" which was the Denver local stations. 

As to reforming TV markets, WV's micro markets are fast approaching the critical level where they should die.  First, for complex historical-political reasons none of transmitters are in the same towns, and this combined with the terrain, mean that essentially everyone has to have cable or a dish.  The edges of the state are covered by other states (Washington and Pittsburgh mostly).  The only real and legitimate market is, of course, Huntington-Charleston, with enough people to allow for serious news coverage and such.  That leaves:

- Parkersburg.  Historically just one station (NBC), everyone get provider TV and the H-C or Columbus stations anyway.  Shut it down and make H-C (the 2 WV counties) and Columbus (the one OH one) a little bigger.

- Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill.  Historically just two stations (NBC and ABC) which were so far apart no place could get both OTA.  CBS, and later Fox, was brought in by cable from H-C, Roanoke, or even Bristol.   (Now has a CBS with .2 Fox at a yet third independent location).  Population bleed has reduced what was always a small market to near nothing.  News coverage is pure amateur hour.  Kids just out of school and sales guy with no talent, using 30 year old SD equipment.  Shut it down and make H-C larger.

- Wheeling.  Historically just 2 stations (NBC and CBS) with ABC from Pittsburgh.  Just a few miles from Pittsburgh, the area got its own TV stations when the Rust Belt was not yet rusting.  Population bleed means no money for anything.  News operations are worse than Bluefield's.   Serves no purpose.  Shut it down and get Pittsburgh stations, which everybody does anyway.

- Clarksburg.  Also always missing ABC, which comes from Pittsburgh, along with all the other Pittsburgh stations.  Worse market in the state.  No money for anything.  In fact so amateurish that several counties have been "captured" by Nielsen's methods by Pittsburgh.  Shut it down and let Pittsburgh and H-C get larger.

In doing so the result is the two panhandles and the northern edge of the state served by the cities that are part of (DC or Pittsburgh) and the rest of the state being one market (similar to New Mexico or Utah) which would be 12 places larger in the list of markets, with the economy to support a serious effort at news and other local programming.


Huntington's WOWK, Lewisburg's WVNS, Wheeling's WTRF and Clarksburg's WBOY are ALL owned by the same company anyway, Nexstar, and even simulcast one 5:30 newscast. If not for WBOY, that whole thing could be CBS West Virginia. WTAP and low powered stations WIYE and WOVA in Parkersburg, WDTV in the Clarksburg market and WSAZ Charleston are owned by Gray Television (as is WDBJ out of Roanoke, which can be received in Pocahontas County). WVAH and WCHS in Charleston's DMA and WTOV in Wheeling's DMA are lock, stock and barrel Sinclair stations although WVAH is technically owned by a shell of Sinclair. In each of these cases, a case can be made for simply making the stations in the smaller cities into satellites for the Charleston/Huntington stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Buck87 on January 07, 2018, 10:22:43 AM
My hometown is half in the Toledo market and half in the Cleveland market. I live on the Cleveland market side and on Spectrum we have all 4 Toledo channels in HD plus 3 of the 4 Cleveland channels (all but CBS) in SD....while when we had DirecTV it was all 4 Cleveland channels plus Mansfield's channel 68 and none of the Toledo channels.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on January 08, 2018, 07:35:42 AM
That's ridiculous! Nearby Providence, RI already has WJAR-TV (NBC) channel 10! Boston isn't that far from Providence. I wonder if the people at WHDH-TV (IND) channel 7 of Boston, the previous NBC affiliate, care!  :-D
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on January 08, 2018, 10:34:35 AM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on January 08, 2018, 07:35:42 AM
That's ridiculous! Nearby Providence, RI already has WJAR-TV (NBC) channel 10! Boston isn't that far from Providence. I wonder if the people at WHDH-TV (IND) channel 7 of Boston, the previous NBC affiliate, care!  :-D

The same thing happened when NBC was taking over KNTV San Jose but for some reason NBC didn't consider that Solano County residents already had NBC from KCRA Sacramento when they were advertising NBC3 for Bay area residents.

Are there places within New England that just happened to be commuter counties of both Providence and Boston?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on January 08, 2018, 01:14:41 PM
Quote from: JMoses24 on January 07, 2018, 09:44:16 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on November 23, 2017, 08:07:35 AM
It goes back to even before the days of sat TV.  Denver stations existed first and were microwaved into many other places.  Later in the BUD (big ugly dish) era, among the options to get network stations was a package called "Netlink Denver 5" which was the Denver local stations. 

As to reforming TV markets, WV's micro markets are fast approaching the critical level where they should die.  First, for complex historical-political reasons none of transmitters are in the same towns, and this combined with the terrain, mean that essentially everyone has to have cable or a dish.  The edges of the state are covered by other states (Washington and Pittsburgh mostly).  The only real and legitimate market is, of course, Huntington-Charleston, with enough people to allow for serious news coverage and such.  That leaves:

- Parkersburg.  Historically just one station (NBC), everyone get provider TV and the H-C or Columbus stations anyway.  Shut it down and make H-C (the 2 WV counties) and Columbus (the one OH one) a little bigger.

- Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill.  Historically just two stations (NBC and ABC) which were so far apart no place could get both OTA.  CBS, and later Fox, was brought in by cable from H-C, Roanoke, or even Bristol.   (Now has a CBS with .2 Fox at a yet third independent location).  Population bleed has reduced what was always a small market to near nothing.  News coverage is pure amateur hour.  Kids just out of school and sales guy with no talent, using 30 year old SD equipment.  Shut it down and make H-C larger.

- Wheeling.  Historically just 2 stations (NBC and CBS) with ABC from Pittsburgh.  Just a few miles from Pittsburgh, the area got its own TV stations when the Rust Belt was not yet rusting.  Population bleed means no money for anything.  News operations are worse than Bluefield's.   Serves no purpose.  Shut it down and get Pittsburgh stations, which everybody does anyway.

- Clarksburg.  Also always missing ABC, which comes from Pittsburgh, along with all the other Pittsburgh stations.  Worse market in the state.  No money for anything.  In fact so amateurish that several counties have been "captured" by Nielsen's methods by Pittsburgh.  Shut it down and let Pittsburgh and H-C get larger.

In doing so the result is the two panhandles and the northern edge of the state served by the cities that are part of (DC or Pittsburgh) and the rest of the state being one market (similar to New Mexico or Utah) which would be 12 places larger in the list of markets, with the economy to support a serious effort at news and other local programming.


Huntington's WOWK, Lewisburg's WVNS, Wheeling's WTRF and Clarksburg's WBOY are ALL owned by the same company anyway, Nexstar, and even simulcast one 5:30 newscast. If not for WBOY, that whole thing could be CBS West Virginia. WTAP and low powered stations WIYE and WOVA in Parkersburg, WDTV in the Clarksburg market and WSAZ Charleston are owned by Gray Television (as is WDBJ out of Roanoke, which can be received in Pocahontas County). WVAH and WCHS in Charleston's DMA and WTOV in Wheeling's DMA are lock, stock and barrel Sinclair stations although WVAH is technically owned by a shell of Sinclair. In each of these cases, a case can be made for simply making the stations in the smaller cities into satellites for the Charleston/Huntington stations.
The 5:30 newscast also gets into the DC area via Nexstar-owned independent WDVM, based in Hagerstown, MD and covering the western DC suburbs. Formerly NBC for Hagerstown, Winchester, and Cumberland, the station doesn't appear to have suffered much from losing NBC and in fact has added cable carriage in metro DC (it is carried on Verizon Fios and Comcast Montgomery County) that it never had as an NBC affiliate.

Fun fact: Hagerstown-Winchester-Martinsburg was close to becoming a separate market at one time. WWPX (now Ion) was originally a FOX affiliate and attempted to affiliate with CBS as well. ABC would have come from WHSV (which no longer serves the area) and WJLA.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on January 10, 2018, 08:33:00 PM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fox-may-buy-10-sinclair-stations/198878

Update Fox could get 10 Sinclair owned stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on January 11, 2018, 02:26:42 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on January 08, 2018, 07:35:42 AM
That's ridiculous! Nearby Providence, RI already has WJAR-TV (NBC) channel 10! Boston isn't that far from Providence. I wonder if the people at WHDH-TV (IND) channel 7 of Boston, the previous NBC affiliate, care!  :-D

It's similar to how WCTX channel 59 in New Haven rebranded itself to My TV 9 (based on common location on many cable systems) when WWOR My 9 is available on cable in many of the areas WCTX is.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SectorZ on January 11, 2018, 02:36:27 PM
Quote from: bing101 on January 08, 2018, 10:34:35 AM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on January 08, 2018, 07:35:42 AM
That's ridiculous! Nearby Providence, RI already has WJAR-TV (NBC) channel 10! Boston isn't that far from Providence. I wonder if the people at WHDH-TV (IND) channel 7 of Boston, the previous NBC affiliate, care!  :-D

The same thing happened when NBC was taking over KNTV San Jose but for some reason NBC didn't consider that Solano County residents already had NBC from KCRA Sacramento when they were advertising NBC3 for Bay area residents.

Are there places within New England that just happened to be commuter counties of both Providence and Boston?

Plenty. I actually know someone who's insane enough to commute from Bristol RI (southeast of Providence) to Andover MA (20 miles NW of Boston). Foxboro, despite being "Boston" to the sports world, is closer to Providence. A line from Worcester MA to Brockton MA would be a good line for where you can have potential of commuting to either city.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: spooky on January 12, 2018, 07:47:25 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

Considering NBC owns the station, I'm guessing they are OK with it.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on January 12, 2018, 10:10:05 AM
Quote from: spooky on January 12, 2018, 07:47:25 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

Considering NBC owns the station, I'm guessing they are OK with it.

I'm sure NBC can afford a bigger station. I think the networks just don't care about their own product much anymore.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on January 12, 2018, 09:05:36 PM
Quote from: spooky on January 12, 2018, 07:47:25 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

Considering NBC owns the station, I'm guessing they are OK with it.
In a related note, Comcast (the dominant cable company in the Boston area and in most large cities nationwide) owns NBC
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on January 12, 2018, 11:16:42 PM
While next door in Rhode Island, Cox dominates, serving 36 of their 39 municipalities. I think the missing 3 are in southeast RI. Greater Hartford is a split between Comcast and Cox. For years, the only true Comcast franchises in Connecticut were Middletown and New Haven.

Comcast owns WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain/Hartford.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 11:28:02 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 11:51:11 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 10:02:13 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on November 22, 2017, 06:26:35 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on November 22, 2017, 05:34:05 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 19, 2017, 06:22:25 PM
IIRC there is a Nevada county which is part of the market... of Denver!
What? Which one? I thought that all would be in Las Vegas or SLC markets if out of state.

I'm pretty sure either Eureka or Lander county (maybe both) have been in the Denver market before.

I know the Denver market extended into South Dakota at some point.
Why wouldn't they be in Salt Lake Cities market?

The only thing I can think of is that Denver would be a much larger market to begin with, so the Denver stations probably had more influence in getting on cable. But if that was the case, San Francisco would probably make just as much sense. Denver might have had a "superstation" or something, like WTBS in Atlanta or WGN in Chicago.
KWGN was a regional superstation out of Denver. It remains available on most cable systems in Colorado and Wyoming, as well as on several systems in western Nebraska and Kansas.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: renegade on January 13, 2018, 01:19:45 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 11:28:02 PMKWGN was a regional superstation out of Denver. It remains available on most cable systems in Colorado and Wyoming, as well as on several systems in western Nebraska and Kansas.
Still available to Dish Network subscribers who are grandfathered into the Superstations package, along with WPIX and WWOR, New York, WSBK, Boston and KTLA, Los Angeles.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SidS1045 on January 13, 2018, 09:32:42 PM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been re-branded NBC 10 Boston.

FTFY.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SidS1045 on January 13, 2018, 09:42:29 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AMI was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

Over-the-air NBC is on two full-power signals (60.2 and 60.5) in the Boston metro, in addition to the LPTV signal (8.1)...and with 82.5% of Boston area homes on cable, the LPTV signal makes little or no difference.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KeithE4Phx on January 13, 2018, 10:31:44 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

NBC/Comcast owns it.  That's why they allow it.  And with most people having cable/satellite (I believe Comcast owns the cable system there), they don't really have to care about their OTA signal. 

After all, they shut down their WNBC transmitter in NYC, and are merging with their Telemundo station WNJU, although they still have separate licenses.  WNBC had been in operation in one form or another since 1928.  Now they're just piggybacked.  Expect lots more of this in the coming years, due to repacking and the upcoming ATSC 3.0.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on January 13, 2018, 10:42:40 PM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fox-may-buy-10-sinclair-stations/198878 (http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fox-may-buy-10-sinclair-stations/198878)

Here is an update in the Sinclair/Tribune deal now Fox is getting 10 divested Sinclair stations.

QuoteAccording to the Financial Times (https://www.ft.com/content/c7f564d8-f56c-11e7-88f7-5465a6ce1a00?conceptId=a54c70f3-f07f-3eca-ad96-c56ff964cce0), the company is "finalising the purchase of about 10 US television stations from Sinclair Broadcast Group." Sinclair, FT reports, is selling the stations as part of a divestment to win FCC approval of its $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media.The markets include Seattle, where Tribune owns Fox affiliate KCPQ and Sinclair owns ABC affiliate KOMO and Denver where Tribune currently owns the KDVR-KWGN duopoly. The Fox-Sinclair deal is contingent on the Sinclair-Tribune deal closing.Other markets that will see overlap, and may be included in the deal, include St. Louis (Tribune owns Fox affiliate KTVI, while Sinclair owns ABC affiliate KDNL); Salt Lake City (Tribune owns Fox affiliate KSTU, Sinclair owns CBS affiliate KUTV); Oklahoma City (Tribune owns Fox affiliate KOKH, and Sinclair owns NBC affiliate KFOR); also stations in Greensboro, Grand Rapids, Harrisburg, Richmond, and Des Moines may be in play.       
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on January 14, 2018, 08:53:38 PM
http://www.kyoutv.com/home/2018/01/08/kyou-nbc-release/

Here is an announcement KYOU-TV will get an NBC affiliate

QuoteKYOU TO BRING LOCAL NBC AFFILIATE TO OTTUMWA-KIRKSVILLE AREA KYOU, Ottumwa-Kirksville's long time FOX affiliate, will also launch an NBC affiliate in the market later this month. KYOU NBC will be seen over the air on 15.2 and on most local cable providers."With major events like Super Bowl LII and The Winter Olympics right around the corner, we're proud and excited to bring our viewers a local NBC affiliate,"  stated KYOU Vice President and General Manager Michael Elrod.The new channel will broadcast in High Definition. In addition to top NBC prime and sports programming, the lineup will include new syndicated options for area viewers."This new affiliation is another way we can serve and invest in the Ottumwa-Kirksville community,"  said American Spirit Media owner Tom Henson.KYOU NBC will begin broadcasting the week of January 24th2018. KYOU's FOX programming and local 9PM newscast will continue to air on 15.1.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 03, 2018, 03:07:30 PM
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/04/sinclair-chairman-entire-print-media-has-no-credibility.html


http://www.newsweek.com/congress-candidate-joins-sinclair-boycott-pulling-campaign-ads-869060


Speaking about regional TV markets. Now Sinclair's leaders are now on the hot seat over what they were pressuring their talent across the country to say.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBxDxlt_w3c

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 03, 2018, 03:43:35 PM
https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/04/02/25985148/its-time-to-boycott-sinclairs-propaganda-machine-but-were-going-to-need-your-help




https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/02/sinclair-broadcasting-video-cincinnati-city-councilman-p-s-sittenfeld-says-hes-boycotting-local-stat/477736002/


https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/04/02/clooney-sinclair-broadcasting-have-no-idea-what-these-folks-doing-living-but-isnt-news/479239002/




Update now Ohio and Washington State has been named in areas where a Sinclair Boycott will take place.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on April 04, 2018, 09:57:22 AM
Aww, the mean mean company has an opinion different from the vast majority of the media.   So the big bad city councilman (who I am certain, like 99% city councilmen could walk down main street of his town and not be recognized) is going to not talk to them. 

Nothing to see here, move on.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on April 04, 2018, 10:31:17 AM
My brother just spent the night in Portland, Maine. Sinclair owns their CBS affiliate, WGME-TV channel 13 of Portland. We were usually watching local news on WCSH-TV (NBC) channel 6 of Portland anyways. They're owned by Tegna, which I believe was/is connected to the company with USA Today. WGME-TV also produces the 10 PM news for WPFO-TV (FOX) channel 23 of Waterville, ME.

Here in Hartford/New Haven, Sinclair could soon own WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 of Hartford and operate WCCT-TV (CW) channel 20 of Waterbury. The current ownership is with Tribune. Merideth owns our CBS station, WFSB-TV channel 3 of Hartford. NBC owns and operates WVIT-TV channel 30 of New Britiain. Media General owns WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 and operates WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59, both of New Haven.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Henry on April 04, 2018, 10:44:12 AM
Exactly how many markets have all of the Big Four TV stations as O&O's of their respective networks? I know New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay Area have them, but are there any others beyond those five? I'm not too sure about Dallas/Fort Worth, because they have O&O's from NBC, CBS and FOX, and I think the ABC station is too, but that's probably not the case.

Conversely, what is the largest market that does NOT have any O&O's of any network?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 04, 2018, 11:43:33 AM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on April 04, 2018, 10:31:17 AMSinclair owns their CBS affiliate, WGME-TV channel 13 of Portland.

So I guess that station is affiliated with the right network. CBS has become just as right-wing as Sinclair lately.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 04, 2018, 01:33:55 PM
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/381566-maryland-governor-candidate-boycotts-sinclair-stations-over-media-bias (http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/381566-maryland-governor-candidate-boycotts-sinclair-stations-over-media-bias)

https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/04/maryland-gubernatorial-candidate-announces-sinclair-boycott/ (https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/04/maryland-gubernatorial-candidate-announces-sinclair-boycott/)

Update Maryland's Sinclair stations are named as a target for boycott.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 05, 2018, 10:26:04 AM
https://www.thewrap.com/sinclair-journalismjobs-strike-walkout-boycott/




https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sinclair-as-told-to-anchor_us_5ac3f42ae4b0ac473edb0108




https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/tv/2018/04/04/sinclair-is-actively-undermining-journalists-including-those-at-kutv/


https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/WOAI-anchor-Delaine-Mathieu-on-Sinclair-promos-12806330.php




https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/business/media/sinclairs-boss-responds-to-criticism-you-cant-be-serious.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftelevision&action=click&contentCollection=television&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&cont




Update the Sinclair fallout is now national. Note if you live in San Francisco, Boston, Honolulu or Atlanta you are not affected by the Sinclair fallout. KTXL In the Sacramento area is being targeted by the Sinclair fallout because its owned by Tribune  and Sinclair is taking over the Tribune owned stations like KTLA, KTXL, WPIX and WGN their largest stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 11:05:32 AM
Quote from: bing101 on April 05, 2018, 10:26:04 AM
Update the Sinclair fallout is now national. Note if you live in San Francisco, Boston, Honolulu or Atlanta you are not affected by the Sinclair fallout. KTXL In the Sacramento area is being targeted by the Sinclair fallout because its owned by Tribune  and Sinclair is taking over the Tribune owned stations like KTLA, KTXL, WPIX and WGN their largest stations.

If the FCC refuses to step in, the states' attorneys general need to - not because of political bias, but because it's creating a monopoly. Fighting monopolies is supposed to be one of government's basic charges - regardless of the monopolists' politics.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on April 05, 2018, 11:34:51 AM
Detroit is also Sinclair-free. However, in my home market (Traverse City-Cadillac), the ABC and NBC affiliates are owned by Sinclair. Since Sinclair entered the market, the ABC affiliate has improved drastically and is now a full market affiliate (for years, it wasn't a full market affiliate)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Hurricane Rex on April 05, 2018, 12:33:14 PM


Quote from: bandit957 on April 04, 2018, 11:43:33 AM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on April 04, 2018, 10:31:17 AMSinclair owns their CBS affiliate, WGME-TV channel 13 of Portland.

So I guess that station is affiliated with the right network. CBS has become just as right-wing as Sinclair lately.

Late night and world news attention time would like to disagree with you. This is IMO though.

LG-TP260

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Hurricane Rex on April 05, 2018, 12:55:58 PM


Quote from: SP Cook on April 04, 2018, 09:57:22 AM
Aww, the mean mean company has an opinion different from the vast majority of the media.   So the big bad city councilman (who I am certain, like 99% city councilmen could walk down main street of his town and not be recognized) is going to not talk to them. 

Nothing to see here, move on.

And yet, the liberal media/cities are going bonkers over this and crying wolf. They are acting like someone is declaring war over this. The 1st amendment protects Sinclair in this case. If the 9th circuit takes it up though, it won't be.

Although this is a biased site (and they admit it), I do think it is well said about this issue: https://www.conservativereview.com/articles/bozell-graham-knee-jerk-liberals-spit-sinclair/

LG-TP260

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on April 05, 2018, 02:50:35 PM
Sinclair is absolutely far-right.  The script was basically just repeating Trump's lies.  John Oliver showed a must-run where the CEO was attacking "snowflakes".  NOBODY uses that term except far-right extremists.  NOBODY!  Another must-run, the "Terror Alert Desk" is basically anything a Muslim does, since there isn't enough real terrorism to produce a segment every day.  And yes, the script does make local news anchors look like a brainwashed cult.  Remember, this is supposed to be LOCAL news.  Nowhere else in TV news can one find a script being used by so many people.  Local stations should produce their own content.  That is, by definition, local.  Anything else is not.  If Sinclair wants to create a conservative national news outlet, they should start a cable channel.  If one wants national news, that's what the national news is for.  Local news should stay local.  Also, local news should stay nonpartisan.  Since local stations are not expected to be politically biased the way Fox and MSNBC are, someone could easily watch a local program and be brainwashed without even realizing it if they didn't realize their station was a Sinclair station.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/02/trump-biased-liberal-media-television
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on April 05, 2018, 03:14:08 PM
@ HENRY: WFAA-TV (ABC) channel 8 of Dallas is owned by Tegna, the company spun off from the USA Today people (Gannett?). They also own WCSH-TV (NBC) channel 6 of Portland and WLBZ-TV (NBC) channel 2 of Bangor in Maine. They also own WGRZ-TV (NBC) channel 2 of Buffalo and a few other stations elsewhere.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 05, 2018, 03:30:50 PM
The Reason the Sinclair issue has become a national outrage is mainly because Sinclair is about to go get Tribunes New York and Los Angeles stations and now Sinclair is after the Network O&O's in these cities.  Traditionally Sinclair tended to compete against Nexstar, Raycom, Cox, Tribune, Scripps, Morgan Murphy, Hearst, Meredith, Gray, News Press Gazette and Tegna in the markets they serve.
Well Sinclair should be seen as the Cumulus or Iheart of Local Television. But at the same time Sinclair is going after Fox News, the Blaze, Infowars over RNC viewers. It will be interesting how Sinclair will go after two sets of audiences though once they get stations like KTLA and WPIX.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sinclair-broadcast-group-chairman-david-smith-responds-to-criticism/
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 05, 2018, 03:39:30 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 04, 2018, 11:43:33 AM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on April 04, 2018, 10:31:17 AMSinclair owns their CBS affiliate, WGME-TV channel 13 of Portland.

So I guess that station is affiliated with the right network. CBS has become just as right-wing as Sinclair lately.

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/ben-swann-fired-from-cbs46/199782

What did you confuse CBS News with WGCL 46 Atlanta. Well Ben Swann got fired from the Meredith owned CBS affiliate in Atlanta over his ploy to make Meredith air his must run segments last year.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Hurricane Rex on April 05, 2018, 04:55:36 PM


Quote from: vdeane on April 05, 2018, 02:50:35 PM
Sinclair is absolutely far-right. 
I'm not saying it is, and although my political view lean right (80% conservative), and as much as I may or may not disagree with this (still undecided), they are protected under the 1st amendment.

On the use of snowflakes, yes it is most commonly used by extreme right wing people but not always. My definition is anyone that doesn't follow common sense (both sides of the isle).

On Trump: absolutely he needs to shut his mouth more often (although he was fine on the state of the union) but I do think the overarching problem is both parties not budging on issues. Also I despise Mitch McConnel, and his super Pac that makes lies about certain candidates being RINO's (Ted Cruz) and makes the RINO's seem more conservative than they are.

LG-TP260

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 06:29:43 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?

MSNBC is very conservative, with the exception of a few journalists.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Brandon on April 05, 2018, 07:03:24 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 06:29:43 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?

MSNBC is very conservative, with the exception of a few journalists.

:rofl:
What planet are you on?  'Cause it ain't here.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ce929wax on April 05, 2018, 07:26:06 PM
Cable News just sucks in general.  I used to be hooked on it and would surf all three networks and it fed my baser instincts.  Now, I watch the PBS Newshour and the Nightly Business Report before bed each day.

Other than that, I try to avoid politics and religion, because I don't need that kind of negativity in my life.  I'll make my feelings known at the ballot box.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on April 05, 2018, 08:23:46 PM
CBS conservative? Hardly. Just about every lead story on the CBS Evening News every night is some sort of Trump-bashing piece.

As for Sinclair, there is absolutely nothing in the statement the anchors were told to read that is not true or has any sort of political bias. There are outlets out there that report untruths, have a bias in the stories they choose to run and how they are presented, etc. Viewers were also invited to let them know if they spotted bias or falsehoods in their reporting.

Having Sinclair TV stations do that is no different than if, say, Gannett told all the newspapers it owns to run an editorial or an opinion column. It's doubtful there would be an outcry if that happened.

Sinclair's biggest sin is that its ownership does not share the same political views as the Rachel Madcows and Joe Scarboroughs of the world.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 05, 2018, 08:46:22 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 05, 2018, 08:23:46 PM
CBS conservative? Hardly. Just about every lead story on the CBS Evening News every night is some sort of Trump-bashing piece.

As for Sinclair, there is absolutely nothing in the statement the anchors were told to read that is not true or has any sort of political bias. There are outlets out there that report untruths, have a bias in the stories they choose to run and how they are presented, etc. Viewers were also invited to let them know if they spotted bias or falsehoods in their reporting.

Having Sinclair TV stations do that is no different than if, say, Gannett told all the newspapers it owns to run an editorial or an opinion column. It's doubtful there would be an outcry if that happened.

Sinclair's biggest sin is that its ownership does not share the same political views as the Rachel Madcows and Joe Scarboroughs of the world.


The Allegation that CBS is right wing probably came from Atlanta Area Viewers viewing the Ben Swann Must Run Segment on WGCL-TV CBS46 in Atlanta a Meredith Owned station over Pizzagate in 2017 and thats partially how CBS got Labelled Right Wing.



https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/atlanta-news-anchor-fired-after-secretly-trying-revive-alt-right-based-reports/069ihocOfqVw6iayr96cjK/ (https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/atlanta-news-anchor-fired-after-secretly-trying-revive-alt-right-based-reports/069ihocOfqVw6iayr96cjK/)





Quote

ATLANTA
The CBS television station in Atlanta has fired its evening anchor, Ben Swann, three days after the station discovered he had tried to revive a controversial news segment without their knowledge.


"Ben Swann is no longer an employee of WGCL-TV, effective immediately. We thank Ben for his contributions and wish him well,"  the statement said.

Swann's Reality Check reports over the years have often veered into alt-right conspiracy theories. His last one focused on PizzaGate a year ago and led to his first suspension and the removal of his Truth in Media website and most of his social media platforms.

Swann recently began raising funds to bring back his Reality Check stories using the cyber currency Dash. He posted a video Thursday night teasing a big announcement on Tuesday, January 30.


His Reality Check operation preceded his hiring at the station in 2015. Echoing right-wing conspiracy sites, Swann has questioned everything from the origins of ISIS to the veracity of the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings (https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/13/super-pac-backing-jeb-bush-uses-conspiracy-minded-journalist-in-ad/) to whether Russia was actually involved in the DNC email hacks.
His Truth in Media site was connected with the Republican Liberty Caucus at one point (https://www.thedailybeast.com/meet-ben-swann-the-republican-pizzagate-truther-hosting-atlantas-cbs-nightly-news). Before joining the station, he worked for Russia Today (https://www.rt.com/), an international television network funded by the Russian government.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 05, 2018, 11:56:53 PM
It's ironic how Republican "patriots" bend over and take it from Russian propaganda like Sputnik, Russia Today and Breitbart.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 06, 2018, 01:03:47 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 05, 2018, 07:03:24 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 06:29:43 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?

MSNBC is very conservative, with the exception of a few journalists.

:rofl:
What planet are you on?  'Cause it ain't here.
The only thing MSLSD is to the right of is CNN.  CNN was a trusted news source during the Gulf War.  Now it's so far to the left it might as well be  Pravda USA. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Nanis on April 06, 2018, 01:20:44 AM
My market is large. It engulphs half of NJ, 2/3 of DE, the Philly area, and half of the Lehigh valley
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 06, 2018, 01:03:47 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 05, 2018, 07:03:24 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 06:29:43 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?

MSNBC is very conservative, with the exception of a few journalists.

:rofl:
What planet are you on?  'Cause it ain't here.
The only thing MSLSD is to the right of is CNN.  CNN was a trusted news source during the Gulf War.  Now it's so far to the left it might as well be  Pravda USA. 

Are you serious? If so, why did they so blatantly and transparently push the right-wing Hillary Clinton over the more left-leaning Bernie Sanders during the election? They didn't even hide the fact that they were pushing her to win. They told flat out lies and falsehoods in order to make her look like she was winning by a large margin when in reality it was very close.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 06, 2018, 02:50:57 AM
Quote from: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:11 AM
Are you serious? If so, why did they so blatantly and transparently push the right-wing Hillary Clinton over the more left-leaning Bernie Sanders during the election? They didn't even hide the fact that they were pushing her to win. They told flat out lies and falsehoods in order to make her look like she was winning by a large margin when in reality it was very close.

The right-wing media will do anything to destroy Bernie.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Hurricane Rex on April 06, 2018, 02:59:42 AM
Quote from: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 06, 2018, 01:03:47 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 05, 2018, 07:03:24 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 06:29:43 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?

MSNBC is very conservative, with the exception of a few journalists.

:rofl:
What planet are you on?  'Cause it ain't here.
The only thing MSLSD is to the right of is CNN.  CNN was a trusted news source during the Gulf War.  Now it's so far to the left it might as well be  Pravda USA. 

Are you serious? If so, why did they so blatantly and transparently push the right-wing Hillary Clinton over the more left-leaning Bernie Sanders during the election? They didn't even hide the fact that they were pushing her to win. They told flat out lies and falsehoods in order to make her look like she was winning by a large margin when in reality it was very close.
Hillary was still an icon of the democrats and their politicians and MSNBC were defending her. MSNBC is pro establishment (normal democrat and republican leaders). Also, Hillary had views that were far more left than right.
Quote from: bandit957 on April 06, 2018, 02:50:57 AM
The right-wing media will do anything to destroy Bernie.
Goes to my point of the establishment media in addition.


Lets also try to keep this from turning into a snowball fight so it doesn't come across as disrespectful to the moderators. I'm partially to blame here.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 06, 2018, 09:52:58 AM
Well back to regional tv markets and its owners at some point one is going to ask how is Sinclair  or other TV station owners not going to risk running into chapter 11. We seen this with radio station owners like Iheart and Cumulus though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on April 06, 2018, 11:32:00 AM
Quote from: bing101 on April 06, 2018, 09:52:58 AM
Well back to regional tv markets and its owners at some point one is going to ask how is Sinclair  or other TV station owners not going to risk running into chapter 11. We seen this with radio station owners like Iheart and Cumulus though.

TV viewership isn't declining the way radio listenership is. Also, TV advertising is expensive. Stations make a killing on it. Even small-market stations charge war prices for a 30-second spot.

As for other points addressed upthread:

1.) Hillary Clinton right-wing? I got a good chuckle out of that.
2.) Bernie Sanders had no business running in a Democrat primary. He's not a Democrat. He's an Independent. I get upset when I hear anyone from any side -- Bernie supporters on the left and Hillary haters on the right -- say that he was cheated out of the nomination. He wasn't cheated out of anything. I would fully expect Democrat leadership to want their party to nominate a fellow Democrat, not an Independent.
3.) CNN was trusted? By whom? They were called the Clinton News Network back when Bill was president.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on April 06, 2018, 11:38:45 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 06, 2018, 11:32:00 AM
1.) Hillary Clinton right-wing? I got a good chuckle out of that.

Compared to the rest of the developed world, our two parties are center-right and far-right. Hillary Clinton is on the left from a US perspective and the center-right from a world perspective.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Hurricane Rex on April 06, 2018, 12:00:37 PM
How this thread is developing: actual TV market talk > the Sinclair issue > political debate IMO.

As much as I want to comment further, I don't want to more political than I've already have.

LG-TP260

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on April 06, 2018, 01:20:28 PM
I prefer to use "conservative", "liberal", and "leftist" for that reason, to differentiate between US mainstream liberal and someone who would be considered on the left in the rest of the developed world.  While liberals and leftists share similar beliefs on social issues, the gap between them on economic and foreign policy issues can often be as wide if not wider than the gap between liberals and conservatives.

I did a search on the MSNBC thing last night after reading that comment, and it seems that newer management wants to move the network in a more conservative direction.  Of course, until the on-air talent changes, that probably won't be reflected much in the actual broadcasts of their main shows.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on April 06, 2018, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 06, 2018, 01:20:28 PM

I did a search on the MSNBC thing last night after reading that comment, and it seems that newer management wants to move the network in a more conservative direction.  Of course, until the on-air talent changes, that probably won't be reflected much in the actual broadcasts of their main shows.

I rarely watch cable news -- which will shock some who think I'm some sort of drooling Fox News sycophant -- but I haven't noticed much political slant in the regular news coverage of any of the cable channels.

Where you get that is in the commentary/opinion shows that run in prime time. I'm not even sure who is on Fox for all three hours; I know Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, who are both conservative, but not sure who occupies the third of those three hours. But years ago, accusing Fox of being right-wing was off base. Bill O'Reilly was hardly a conservative, despite what many said. He always struck me as a bit right-of-center moderate on most issues. "Hannity & Colmes" featured one conservative and one liberal. And Greta Van Susteren leaned left of center. As for MSNBC, Scarborough may be a former Republican officeholder, but he's no conservative. Matthews and Madcow are definitely liberals, and I couldn't tell you who the third prime-timer on MSNBC is.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:08:02 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on April 06, 2018, 02:59:42 AM
Quote from: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 06, 2018, 01:03:47 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 05, 2018, 07:03:24 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 06:29:43 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?

MSNBC is very conservative, with the exception of a few journalists.

:rofl:
What planet are you on?  'Cause it ain't here.
The only thing MSLSD is to the right of is CNN.  CNN was a trusted news source during the Gulf War.  Now it's so far to the left it might as well be  Pravda USA. 

Are you serious? If so, why did they so blatantly and transparently push the right-wing Hillary Clinton over the more left-leaning Bernie Sanders during the election? They didn't even hide the fact that they were pushing her to win. They told flat out lies and falsehoods in order to make her look like she was winning by a large margin when in reality it was very close.
Hillary was still an icon of the democrats and their politicians and MSNBC were defending her. MSNBC is pro establishment (normal democrat and republican leaders). Also, Hillary had views that were far more left than right.
Quote from: bandit957 on April 06, 2018, 02:50:57 AM
The right-wing media will do anything to destroy Bernie.
Goes to my point of the establishment media in addition.
Lets also try to keep this from turning into a snowball fight so it doesn't come across as disrespectful to the moderators. I'm partially to blame here.

You said "left" not "Democrat". The establishment Clintonian Democrats are not very far to the left. They're center-right at best. Bernie Sanders was the only true leftist running for president in 2016.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:09:17 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 06, 2018, 11:38:45 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 06, 2018, 11:32:00 AM
1.) Hillary Clinton right-wing? I got a good chuckle out of that.

Compared to the rest of the developed world, our two parties are center-right and far-right. Hillary Clinton is on the left from a US perspective and the center-right from a world perspective.

+1. I've said that the Clintons were center-right all along.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:18 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 06, 2018, 02:03:48 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 06, 2018, 01:20:28 PM

I did a search on the MSNBC thing last night after reading that comment, and it seems that newer management wants to move the network in a more conservative direction.  Of course, until the on-air talent changes, that probably won't be reflected much in the actual broadcasts of their main shows.

I rarely watch cable news -- which will shock some who think I'm some sort of drooling Fox News sycophant -- but I haven't noticed much political slant in the regular news coverage of any of the cable channels.

Where you get that is in the commentary/opinion shows that run in prime time. I'm not even sure who is on Fox for all three hours; I know Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, who are both conservative, but not sure who occupies the third of those three hours. But years ago, accusing Fox of being right-wing was off base. Bill O'Reilly was hardly a conservative, despite what many said. He always struck me as a bit right-of-center moderate on most issues. "Hannity & Colmes" featured one conservative and one liberal. And Greta Van Susteren leaned left of center. As for MSNBC, Scarborough may be a former Republican officeholder, but he's no conservative. Matthews and Madcow are definitely liberals, and I couldn't tell you who the third prime-timer on MSNBC is.

Colmes was set up to look weak against Hannity. He was a foil, a wimp, a cuck designed to make liberals look flaccid against the strong conservatives. I wouldn't be surprised if he were really a conservative pretending to be a "liberal".
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on April 06, 2018, 03:48:38 PM
Quote from: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:18 PM
Colmes was set up to look weak against Hannity. He was a foil, a wimp, a cuck designed to make liberals look flaccid against the strong conservatives. I wouldn't be surprised if he were really a conservative pretending to be a "liberal".

No. He was the real deal liberal. I heard his radio show on occasion and there was nothing right-wing about his viewpoints. Your perception probably had more to do with his physical appearance than anything else.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Hurricane Rex on April 06, 2018, 03:57:54 PM


Quote from: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:08:02 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on April 06, 2018, 02:59:42 AM
Quote from: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 06, 2018, 01:03:47 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 05, 2018, 07:03:24 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 05, 2018, 06:29:43 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 05, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
I'm confused. If Sinclair owns everything, does that mean that MSNBC is now conservative instead of liberal?

MSNBC is very conservative, with the exception of a few journalists.

:rofl:
What planet are you on?  'Cause it ain't here.
The only thing MSLSD is to the right of is CNN.  CNN was a trusted news source during the Gulf War.  Now it's so far to the left it might as well be  Pravda USA. 

Are you serious? If so, why did they so blatantly and transparently push the right-wing Hillary Clinton over the more left-leaning Bernie Sanders during the election? They didn't even hide the fact that they were pushing her to win. They told flat out lies and falsehoods in order to make her look like she was winning by a large margin when in reality it was very close.
Hillary was still an icon of the democrats and their politicians and MSNBC were defending her. MSNBC is pro establishment (normal democrat and republican leaders). Also, Hillary had views that were far more left than right.
Quote from: bandit957 on April 06, 2018, 02:50:57 AM
The right-wing media will do anything to destroy Bernie.
Goes to my point of the establishment media in addition.
Lets also try to keep this from turning into a snowball fight so it doesn't come across as disrespectful to the moderators. I'm partially to blame here.

You said "left" not "Democrat". The establishment Clintonian Democrats are not very far to the left. They're center-right at best. Bernie Sanders was the only true leftist running for president in 2016.

1. I'll give you Bill for being Center right, but for Hillary, everything speaks left left left... Maybe not in world standards but even world standards she's center at best. ALL major ratings site have Clinton rated at mostly liberal or fully liberal. Adjust for world standards and you get center to center left.

2. I chose my words wisely there. Yes her views are more left than right. Democrats are far more left now than even in 2008. Hillary was against illegal immigration but now she is all for protecting them as an example.

3. I do agree that Bernie was the only true leftist in 2016.

4. My political scale from left to right (world scale): Marxist (USSR), left, center (John McCain is my guide for center, currently an F grade on most Conservative ratings sites), right, traditionalist.

LG-TP260

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 06, 2018, 04:30:53 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 06, 2018, 03:48:38 PM
Quote from: bugo on April 06, 2018, 02:11:18 PM
Colmes was set up to look weak against Hannity. He was a foil, a wimp, a cuck designed to make liberals look flaccid against the strong conservatives. I wouldn't be surprised if he were really a conservative pretending to be a "liberal".

No. He was the real deal liberal. I heard his radio show on occasion and there was nothing right-wing about his viewpoints. Your perception probably had more to do with his physical appearance than anything else.

How do you know? Unless you can read his mind, you will never know if he was a conservative masquerading as a liberal.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Life in Paradise on April 06, 2018, 04:57:08 PM
I used to listed as well to Alan Colmes at times on the radio.  If he was ever, ever right wing, he hid it very well.  He espoused the progressive viewpoint continually.  Although I might not agree with him, when he discussed a matter with others, it was a true respectful conversation. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 07, 2018, 02:29:15 AM
Quote from: Life in Paradise on April 06, 2018, 04:57:08 PM
I used to listed as well to Alan Colmes at times on the radio.  If he was ever, ever right wing, he hid it very well.  He espoused the progressive viewpoint continually.  Although I might not agree with him, when he discussed a matter with others, it was a true respectful conversation. 

The point is that he could have very easily been a fake liberal. There is no question that he was used to look weak compared to Hannity's strong image and to make Hannity look better.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 07, 2018, 04:11:54 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on April 06, 2018, 12:00:37 PM
How this thread is developing: actual TV market talk > the Sinclair issue > political debate IMO.

As much as I want to comment further, I don't want to more political than I've already have.

LG-TP260

I mentioned Sinclair because they are the most influential in providing local news content in the nation and lots of markets air Sinclair news with exceptions to (San Francisco, Honolulu, Detroit, Atlanta and Boston) But back to local TV markets. But my updates spiraled out of control when there was talk about a boycott of the largest owners of TV stations. I will attempt to bring it back to what the OP's
objective.



Well back to local TV Markets remember back in the 1980's and 1990's when PBS affiliates aired (instructional programming from AIT and Telecourse programming from Annenberg project)

I remember KQED aired them back then but that was way before various schools and Khan Academy took the void in the past decade and started doing instructional broadcasts on YouTube.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Nanis on April 07, 2018, 04:51:01 PM
Quote from: bing101 on April 07, 2018, 04:11:54 PM
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on April 06, 2018, 12:00:37 PM
How this thread is developing: actual TV market talk > the Sinclair issue > political debate IMO.

As much as I want to comment further, I don't want to more political than I've already have.

LG-TP260

I mentioned Sinclair because they are the most influential in providing local news content in the nation and lots of markets air Sinclair news with exceptions to (San Francisco, Honolulu, Detroit, Atlanta and Boston) But back to local TV markets. But my updates spiraled out of control when there was talk about a boycott of the largest owners of TV stations. I will attempt to bring it back to what the OP's
objective.

Well back to local TV Markets remember back in the 1980's and 1990's when PBS affiliates aired (instructional programming from AIT and Telecourse programming from Annenberg project)

I remember KQED aired them back then but that was way before various schools and Khan Academy took the void in the past decade and started doing instructional broadcasts on YouTube.
The Philly and probably the NYC areas do not air Sinclair news.

As for the Annenberg instructional content, I do not remember it. However, WHYY and NJN both listed instructional content as part of their schedules. Dunno about WLVT nor do I care about it as I never got it normally. Same with MPT and WITF.
Note: I have antenna TV. I refuse to get cable. My parents also refuse.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on April 07, 2018, 10:11:10 PM
Both the Philly and NYC markets are dominated by stations directly owned by the networks, so no Sinclair right now.  That will likely change, though - the CW station in NYC is owned by Tribune as in the MyNetwork TV station in Philly.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ThatRandomOshawott on April 07, 2018, 11:03:53 PM
Calloway County, KY has an interesting situation with its stations. It is officially in the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg market, but its cable stations get the Big Three Nashville stations. In addition, until recently, they got WBBJ from Jackson.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on April 07, 2018, 11:21:03 PM
Quote from: ThatRandomOshawott on April 07, 2018, 11:03:53 PM
Calloway County, KY has an interesting situation with its stations. It is officially in the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg market, but its cable stations get the Big Three Nashville stations. In addition, until recently, they got WBBJ from Jackson.

Is that instead of, or in addition to, the local market stations?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ThatRandomOshawott on April 08, 2018, 02:44:00 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 07, 2018, 11:21:03 PM
Quote from: ThatRandomOshawott on April 07, 2018, 11:03:53 PM
Calloway County, KY has an interesting situation with its stations. It is officially in the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg market, but its cable stations get the Big Three Nashville stations. In addition, until recently, they got WBBJ from Jackson.

Is that instead of, or in addition to, the local market stations?
The cable networks get Nashville's stations (and formerly WBBJ) in addition to the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on April 08, 2018, 03:05:31 PM
Quote from: ThatRandomOshawott on April 08, 2018, 02:44:00 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 07, 2018, 11:21:03 PM
Quote from: ThatRandomOshawott on April 07, 2018, 11:03:53 PM
Calloway County, KY has an interesting situation with its stations. It is officially in the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg market, but its cable stations get the Big Three Nashville stations. In addition, until recently, they got WBBJ from Jackson.

Is that instead of, or in addition to, the local market stations?
The cable networks get Nashville's stations (and formerly WBBJ) in addition to the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg stations.

What about satellite? Do you know?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ThatRandomOshawott on April 08, 2018, 04:42:57 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 08, 2018, 03:05:31 PM
Quote from: ThatRandomOshawott on April 08, 2018, 02:44:00 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 07, 2018, 11:21:03 PM
Quote from: ThatRandomOshawott on April 07, 2018, 11:03:53 PM
Calloway County, KY has an interesting situation with its stations. It is officially in the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg market, but its cable stations get the Big Three Nashville stations. In addition, until recently, they got WBBJ from Jackson.

Is that instead of, or in addition to, the local market stations?
The cable networks get Nashville's stations (and formerly WBBJ) in addition to the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg stations.

What about satellite? Do you know?
They only get the Paducah/Cape Girardeau/Harrisburg stations.
As a side note, back in the days of analog, in the eastern area of the county, you could only get WSIL, WSMV, WTVF, and WPSD. You could not get KFVS.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 12, 2018, 12:20:36 PM
Interesting that Palm Springs DMA on the Nielsen Map does not include east Riverside County. It's interesting that Central Riverside county gets a different DMA designation while West and East Riverside County get the Los Angeles TV Stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on April 12, 2018, 11:51:47 PM
Quote from: bing101 on April 12, 2018, 12:20:36 PM
Interesting that Palm Springs DMA on the Nielsen Map does not include east Riverside County. It's interesting that Central Riverside county gets a different DMA designation while West and East Riverside County get the Los Angeles TV Stations.

The Palm Springs stations are extremely weak and can't reach Blythe (which is basically all that eastern Riverside County contains). Speaking of Blythe, the local cable system carries a mix of Los Angeles and Phoenix stations, with one or two coming from Yuma (which is much closer to Blythe than either LA or Phoenix).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Life in Paradise on April 14, 2018, 01:02:35 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on April 12, 2018, 11:51:47 PM
Quote from: bing101 on April 12, 2018, 12:20:36 PM
Interesting that Palm Springs DMA on the Nielsen Map does not include east Riverside County. It's interesting that Central Riverside county gets a different DMA designation while West and East Riverside County get the Los Angeles TV Stations.

The Palm Springs stations are extremely weak and can't reach Blythe (which is basically all that eastern Riverside County contains). Speaking of Blythe, the local cable system carries a mix of Los Angeles and Phoenix stations, with one or two coming from Yuma (which is much closer to Blythe than either LA or Phoenix).
It is kind of understandable why Palm Springs TV can't make it to Blythe.  It is almost 100 miles between the two by air and there are a couple of mountain ranges between the two (Chuckwalla and Palen).  I'd guess when getting signals for the cable system, it was voted to go with the big time LA stations rather than the little time localls in Palm Springs.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Nanis on April 14, 2018, 07:17:29 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on April 12, 2018, 11:51:47 PM
Quote from: bing101 on April 12, 2018, 12:20:36 PM
Interesting that Palm Springs DMA on the Nielsen Map does not include east Riverside County. It's interesting that Central Riverside county gets a different DMA designation while West and East Riverside County get the Los Angeles TV Stations.

The Palm Springs stations are extremely weak and can't reach Blythe (which is basically all that eastern Riverside County contains). Speaking of Blythe, the local cable system carries a mix of Los Angeles and Phoenix stations, with one or two coming from Yuma (which is much closer to Blythe than either LA or Phoenix).
Who even cares about Blythe? It only has 20,000 or so people. Also I always thought that eastern Riverside county was served by Phoenix only

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on April 15, 2018, 04:36:07 PM
Mena, Arkansas is surrounded by rugged terrain and it is hard to get a good signal from any of the TV stations. When I was a kid, many households could only get KFSM-TV, channel 5, out of Fort Smith. Before cable TV, there was an antenna up on Rich Mountain and you could purchase "cable" TV which was basically just a cable that connected to the antenna. I think the antenna is still there but I don't know if it is still used to bring in TV signals or not. I also don't know if digital signals from any stations are able to be picked up using an over the air antenna. I live in the middle of Tulsa and I can't get some of the local stations, and the terrain is fairly flat and most of the antennas are in Oneta, which is maybe 20 miles from me.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 15, 2018, 05:18:46 PM
http://eyesofageneration.com/april-19-1948-the-start-of-the-abc-television-network68-years-ago-today-on/

Here is an interesting one WFIL-TV/WPVI Philadelphia and WMAL/WJLA-TV Washington D.C. have been ABC Affiliates months before ABC started their O&O's from August 1948-1949.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 15, 2018, 06:14:19 PM
Quote from: bugo on April 15, 2018, 04:36:07 PM
Mena, Arkansas is surrounded by rugged terrain and it is hard to get a good signal from any of the TV stations. When I was a kid, many households could only get KFSM-TV, channel 5, out of Fort Smith. Before cable TV, there was an antenna up on Rich Mountain and you could purchase "cable" TV which was basically just a cable that connected to the antenna. I think the antenna is still there but I don't know if it is still used to bring in TV signals or not. I also don't know if digital signals from any stations are able to be picked up using an over the air antenna. I live in the middle of Tulsa and I can't get some of the local stations, and the terrain is fairly flat and most of the antennas are in Oneta, which is maybe 20 miles from me.

I remember seeing maps that had the whole country divided into TV markets, and I did notice Polk County was in the Little Rock market. I thought that was strange, since it's much closer to Fort Smith.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Nanis on April 15, 2018, 06:25:30 PM
I don't know how but I can't get my ABC station. What is even odder is that people in my neighborhood get it with antennas.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Nanis on April 15, 2018, 06:31:45 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 15, 2018, 06:14:19 PM
Quote from: bugo on April 15, 2018, 04:36:07 PM
Mena, Arkansas is surrounded by rugged terrain and it is hard to get a good signal from any of the TV stations. When I was a kid, many households could only get KFSM-TV, channel 5, out of Fort Smith. Before cable TV, there was an antenna up on Rich Mountain and you could purchase "cable" TV which was basically just a cable that connected to the antenna. I think the antenna is still there but I don't know if it is still used to bring in TV signals or not. I also don't know if digital signals from any stations are able to be picked up using an over the air antenna. I live in the middle of Tulsa and I can't get some of the local stations, and the terrain is fairly flat and most of the antennas are in Oneta, which is maybe 20 miles from me.

I remember seeing maps that had the whole country divided into TV markets, and I did notice Polk County was in the Little Rock market. I thought that was strange, since it's much closer to Fort Smith.
Those maps are quite inaccurate due to age. The younger it is, the more accurate it is This is due to the fact that the counties "flip flop" from market to market.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on April 16, 2018, 09:43:51 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 15, 2018, 06:14:19 PM
I remember seeing maps that had the whole country divided into TV markets, and I did notice Polk County was in the Little Rock market. I thought that was strange, since it's much closer to Fort Smith.

Those maps are copyright by the Nielsen company and they are VERY defensive of it.  Posts of the maps get taken down quickly. 

With trivial exceptions, the maps are based strictly on county lines and are based on which town's stations are watched the most in that county.  They can change every year, and lots of factors can change them.  Small markets, which do not have "all" four networks tend to get squeezed.  Often a change can come down to the preferences of the handful of Nielsen "families" in a rural county from one year's survey to the next. 

Market size is important to broadcast companies, because ad buyers pay based on it, ignoring the survey errors.  Stations do lots of things to keep rural counties on their borders.  In my area, the Huntington - Charleston stations grossly over-cover goings on in Athens county, Ohio and of Ohio University, in order to keep it in their market.  The Columbus stations, also receivable there, do not care because their market is large enough already.  They are also careful to cover the geographically huge (largest in Kentucky, I think) Pike county, because the terrain makes OTA TV pretty difficult and depending on what part you are in the closest set of TV stations can be one of four posibilities. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 16, 2018, 10:19:45 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 16, 2018, 09:43:51 AM
Market size is important to broadcast companies, because ad buyers pay based on it, ignoring the survey errors.  Stations do lots of things to keep rural counties on their borders.  In my area, the Huntington - Charleston stations grossly over-cover goings on in Athens county, Ohio and of Ohio University, in order to keep it in their market.  The Columbus stations, also receivable there, do not care because their market is large enough already.  They are also careful to cover the geographically huge (largest in Kentucky, I think) Pike county, because the terrain makes OTA TV pretty difficult and depending on what part you are in the closest set of TV stations can be one of four posibilities.

I don't know how over-the-air reception in Pike County or Athens County is even possible, since I can't even get all the Cincinnati stations anymore, even though I'm only a couple miles from Cincinnati.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Nanis on April 20, 2018, 07:45:51 PM
I still don't get how Mercer county is part of my market.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on April 20, 2018, 07:56:43 PM
Quote from: Nanis on April 20, 2018, 07:45:51 PM
I still don't get how Mercer county is part of my market.

Assuming you mean Mercer County, NJ and not Mercer County, PA, it's reasonable; Trenton doesn't have its own market.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Nanis on April 20, 2018, 08:28:30 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 20, 2018, 07:56:43 PM
Quote from: Nanis on April 20, 2018, 07:45:51 PM
I still don't get how Mercer county is part of my market.

Assuming you mean Mercer County, NJ and not Mercer County, PA, it's reasonable; Trenton doesn't have its own market.
I know that much, but why is it not part of the NYC market?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on April 20, 2018, 08:45:52 PM
Probably because it's physically closer to Philadelphia and that Pennsylvania is on the other side of the river? I've seen ads for WPVI-TV (ABC) channel 6 at Arm & Hammer Field more than once.

(https://i.imgur.com/UNibGcU.jpg)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on April 29, 2018, 11:55:33 PM
Quote from: bing101 on April 12, 2018, 12:20:36 PM
Interesting that Palm Springs DMA on the Nielsen Map does not include east Riverside County. It's interesting that Central Riverside county gets a different DMA designation while West and East Riverside County get the Los Angeles TV Stations.

I recalled when channel 13 (KBLU/KYEL/KSWT) and channel 9 (KECY) was somewhat on air in Indio-Coachella CA, but on a non-Daylight "Mountain Time" schedule. You need a good antennae to receive a second ABC, CBS or NBC affiliate, along with Palm Springs' KPLM/KESQ (always ABC) and KMIR (always NBC). In the 1970s, 3 LA TV and 1 San Diego TV station had low-watt transmitters in Palm Springs, but didn't quite reach Indio. If you're in between the two cities, you had 3 "big 3" and a PBS station (KVCR 24 from Riverside-San Bernardino) and Spanish either from KMEX Los Angeles or XHBC Mexicali. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on April 30, 2018, 10:21:53 PM
3 things about the Palm Springs DMA is 1. it's among the smallest in size (35 mile radius from Palm Springs to reach Hemet, Morongo Basin and the Salton Sea), 2. smallest in population (the bottom 50) and 3. existed for only 50 years (1968) when KMIR and KPLM, later KESQ went on the air. In the 1950s, Palm Springs was the test site of the world's first pay-premium TV known as Telemeter which had 7 big LA TV stations and a movie channel, but the local theater managed to get that shut down within one year.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on May 03, 2018, 01:17:39 PM
https://www.fiercecable.com/broadcasting/gray-buying-sioux-falls-nbc-affiliate-tv-station-for-32-5m

Update Gray Television gets KDLT in South Dakota.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on May 03, 2018, 01:44:13 PM
Gray is, IMHO, a good TV station owner.  They usually are the ratings leader in local news, because they try harder.  They tend to keep politics out of their news.  They try to be involved in the community, have outreach programs and give tours to school kids. 

Sinclair, BTW, has doubled down on the stupid trying to get its merger with Tribune approved.  For those of you who don't know, federal law prevents any one company from owning stations in more than 39% of the country or more than one of the "big 4" stations in any one market.  Sinclair has a group of dummy companies owned by shills (two of which are currently dead) to bypass these limits.  With the FCC and FTC looking to turn down its purchase of Tribune, it released a list of stations it will "sell".  The its own shills.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on May 03, 2018, 02:44:48 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 03, 2018, 01:44:13 PM
Gray is, IMHO, a good TV station owner.  They usually are the ratings leader in local news, because they try harder.  They tend to keep politics out of their news.  They try to be involved in the community, have outreach programs and give tours to school kids. 

WYMT-TV in Hazard is a Gray station, and they really do an excellent job with community outreach and being involved. Their sister station WKYT in Lexington is also a Gray station, and Gray owns a station in Knoxville and the Huntington/Charleston market as well, but I can't think of their affiliations (WKYT and WYMT are CBS affiliates.)

There are a number of commenters on WKYT and WYMT's websites and Facebook pages who would disagree with that "no politics" observation. I've seen both stations frequently described as being too liberal.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on May 03, 2018, 03:23:24 PM
Their Huntington station is WSAZ, which is NBC.  Since ratings started in 1968, it has never had a local news rating lower than double all other stations combined.  They also own the local CW channel, which has a WSAZ produced 10:00 news show. 

Yes, in national politics, most all TV stations, including Gray's and Sinclair's, are at the conspiracy theorist left edge, when they do national coverage.  This goes without saying.  However in local politics around here, WSAZ tends to look at both sides of things.  This is a huge contrast to Charleston and Huntington 's extremist left newspapers; and to the other local stations which are Sinclair's illegally owned Fox/ABC combination which is in the pocket of the Charleston courthouse gang and are more or less a PR agency for their goofy development plans and the previous owners of the CBS, which was a shill for the pure evil Goodwin/Rockefeller political crime family.  Nextstar just bought the place out of quasi-bankruptcy, but really has not yet made any significant staff changes.  Nobody takes either of the other two TV stations' reporting seriously. 

                                                                                     
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on May 03, 2018, 07:55:12 PM
If FOX/ABC combos are illegal, then there are a LOT of places in violation.  Nextar owns both the ABC and FOX stations here in Albany.  This does allow for there to be a LOT of local news in the evening; the ABC station carries 4-6:30, and 11-11:35, with FOX carrying 7-7:30 and 10-11.

On another note, I find it hard to consider a company that forces its stations to air segments where the CEO complains about snowflakes and social justice warriors (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu6uKOS3S2E) to be "conspiracy theorist left".  Unless you meant the "world" news, which comes from the main network rather than Sinclair.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on May 03, 2018, 10:30:39 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 03, 2018, 02:44:48 PM
There are a number of commenters on WKYT and WYMT's websites and Facebook pages who would disagree with that "no politics" observation. I've seen both stations frequently described as being too liberal.

To you, HB, anything to the left of Sputnik News, Russia Times or Breitbart is "too liberal". I wouldn't be surprised if you called Fox News a part of the "liberal media". It's all about perspectives.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on May 03, 2018, 10:31:51 PM
Sinclair is a propaganda arm of the Republican Party. It is the American version of the Soviet era Pravda newspaper.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on May 03, 2018, 10:38:27 PM
Quote from: bugo on May 03, 2018, 10:31:51 PM
Sinclair is a propaganda arm of the Republican Party. It is the American version of the Soviet era Pravda newspaper.
No, that would be CNN or Media Matters.  They're more in line with the propaganda that Pravda presents.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Rothman on May 03, 2018, 10:43:44 PM
Psst:  Pravda supported the Soviet administrations in power rather than critiqued them.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on May 03, 2018, 11:28:46 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 03, 2018, 01:44:13 PM
Sinclair, BTW, has doubled down on the stupid trying to get its merger with Tribune approved.  For those of you who don't know, federal law prevents any one company from owning stations in more than 39% of the country or more than one of the "big 4" stations in any one market.  Sinclair has a group of dummy companies owned by shills (two of which are currently dead) to bypass these limits.  With the FCC and FTC looking to turn down its purchase of Tribune, it released a list of stations it will "sell".  The its own shills.

Not political, but in my home market (Traverse City, MI), Sinclair owns the ABC and NBC affiliates. The ABC station has actually improved under Sinclair. For years, it wasn't a full market affiliate and may have even cost the Nielsen-defined market a county or two. CBS and FOX are locally owned and share some services (including news and simulcasting on DT2 in order to serve the full market; without that, FOX would have no OTA coverage in the Sault Ste. Marie area)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on May 04, 2018, 11:50:53 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 03, 2018, 03:23:24 PM
Their Huntington station is WSAZ, which is NBC.  Since ratings started in 1968, it has never had a local news rating lower than double all other stations combined.  They also own the local CW channel, which has a WSAZ produced 10:00 news show. 

WKYT in Lexington (Gray) produces a 10 p.m. newscast for the Fox affiliate, WDKY (Sinclair). The same anchors that do the 10 p.m. hour-long newscast on WDKY do the 11 p.m. news on WKYT. I suspect that when Fox has a sporting event that goes late, they tape the 10 p.m. newscast to they can do the show live on WKYT at 11. It's odd to see a ballgame or NASCAR race last until, say, 10:45, then see the same anchors on at the same time when WDKY is showing their 10 p.m. newscast and WKYT is showing its 11 p.m. news.

WKYT also produces a morning newscast for WDKY during weekdays. And when WKYT is showing the CBS evening news at 6:30 p.m on weeknights, the local CW station in Lexington is showing an extra half-hour of WKYT news, in a much less formal format.

Also recently, the ABC affiliate in Lexington (WTVQ) has started producing a 9 p.m. newscast for the Christian TV station located in my hometown, WLJC.

Since WYMT's market overlaps with both WSAZ's and the Gray station out of Knoxville, they share stories occasionally. It's not uncommon at all, though, to see WKYT stories on WYMT and vice-versa.

A number of folks currently working at WKYT moved up from WYMT. I've gotten to know many of them through work and consider them personal friends. They're truly interested in serving the public and never have I encountered one who was out to "burn" my agency. I know at least two reporters (one is now on the Fox affiliate in Cincinnati, which apparently produces its own newscasts, and the other is now a producer at WKYT) who were assigned a story involving me to be their very first assignment because I'd developed a reputation in the WYMT newsroom as being very easy to deal with. It's flattering when the mother of one of those reporters hunts you down on Facebook, sends you a friend request, and thanks you for being so patient and understanding with her daughter when she got sent out to report her first-ever news story as a professional.

I hate being on TV, but it's part of my job, and I could tell a few stories about my dealings with reporters.

Quote from: bugo on May 03, 2018, 10:30:39 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 03, 2018, 02:44:48 PM
There are a number of commenters on WKYT and WYMT's websites and Facebook pages who would disagree with that "no politics" observation. I've seen both stations frequently described as being too liberal.

To you, HB, anything to the left of Sputnik News, Russia Times or Breitbart is "too liberal". I wouldn't be surprised if you called Fox News a part of the "liberal media". It's all about perspectives.

Did you not notice that I was referring to other people who comment on their stories, and not myself? This may come as a complete surprise, but I rarely if ever watch Fox News Channel. Maybe if I'm traveling away from home, I'll watch Carlson or Hannity if nothing else is on, and I'll leave the TV on FNC for background noise overnight while I'm asleep.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: abefroman329 on May 04, 2018, 11:56:30 AM
8 hours a night, every night, is an interesting definition of "rarely."
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on May 04, 2018, 12:27:00 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 04, 2018, 11:50:53 AM
I suspect that when Fox has a sporting event that goes late, they tape the 10 p.m. newscast to they can do the show live on WKYT at 11.

I think that is standard practice everwhere.  Here we have 2 10 news.  The illegal Sinclair dual ownership has just one news department, and thus the 10:00 Fox news is a slightly longer version of the 11:00 ABC news.  And Gray has a 10 news on CW and 11 on NBC.  Same deal.  If a ball game or something runs long, the news is taped to run whenever, be it the 10 version or the 11 version.  You can tell because the sports guys never give the score of the game you just finished watching.  As soon as it is 11:35, the news department clears out for the day, even if the actual 11 news is going to be on tape later.

The late night sports guys also tape a short sports segment for the morning news, where the anchors "throw it" to him, even though he is home in bed.

Quote
Also recently, the ABC affiliate in Lexington (WTVQ) has started producing a 9 p.m. newscast for the Christian TV station located in my hometown, WLJC.

The funny one around here is all of WV's Nextstar station share the same weatherman.  He is actually at WOWK which just moved its studio to Charleston (from Huntington) but the guy does local weather, with different maps and saying stuff like "here" and "our area" and banter about the rain not affecting the big game or whatever, for places hundreds of miles away.  It is funny to see the guy on billboards all over the state.  The main weather guy for Nextstar lives in my area and I'm pretty sure he have never even been to Wheeling.

QuoteSince WYMT's market overlaps with both WSAZ's and the Gray station out of Knoxville, they share stories occasionally.

If you look at Gray's website, they have an unbroken chain of bordering stations right across the country, and they share stories one to the next.  We get some Kentucky politics and Big Blue coverage on WSAZ from WKYT staff.

Gray also produces what I will call female oriented filler for its early afternoon news shows.  Stuff about receipes and what soap to buy and the like.  The same material is worked into their similar shows everywhere.  Don't know where it is produced from, but the outdoor shots look like Florida.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Sctvhound on May 06, 2018, 03:02:58 PM
That is what it is like with Raycom in South Carolina. Raycom owns a station in every market in SC, plus Charlotte, Savannah and they have a station they share stories with in Greenville.

They routinely share stories with the "Raycom News Network"  banner. When there was a military plane crash in Savannah last week, the Raycom stations used WTOC (the CBS in Savannah)'s reporters to cover it, and sent it out across the country. They own stations in like 45 TV markets, but I'd say they use at least 3 or 4 stories a day from national sources of those stations here.

Sinclair's "network"  is much bigger. They frequently use their stations in SC to broadcast stuff. The Miss South Carolina pageant, for example, is syndicated throughout the state and airs on a random Saturday in June, on ABC in Charleston, Fox in Columbia, and their other stations in the state.

The last state election cycle they aired a couple of gubernatorial debates and simulcasted them throughout the state. Nexstar (the old Media General) has the rights to the Clemson coaches show.

In Charleston, the Raycom station (CBS) is a heritage station. They usually get at least double the rating the ABC and NBC stations have. Whatever they show (except for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy on NBC and a couple of popular ABC shows) is usually #1 in the market. They have a bunch of experienced reporters, while the NBC and ABC have a lot of young folks that are on their first jobs.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on May 06, 2018, 10:06:54 PM
Nextar own a station in every media market in NY except NYC (so basically just upstate NY).  They have the Albany station produce a show called Empire State Weekly (which is basically a state-level equivalent of programs like ABC's This Week), which is syndicated across their NY stations.  Their Albany stations air it Sundays at 11, but I've noticed on the schedule that's posted online that many of the stations (particularly in Rochester/Buffalo/Syracuse) air it quite early, so viewers would have to get up early, DVR it, or watch it online (assuming they remember to post it in a timely fashion; they sometimes don't).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on May 08, 2018, 04:05:34 PM
Nexstar Television is best known to San Francisco Area viewers for the Merger of Media General and Nexstar. Note KRON4 San Francisco the former NBC Affiliate in San Francisco is now the flagship station for Nexstar Television. And interestingly Nexstar Productions is based in the same building as Disney's KGO-TV ABC7 at 900 Front Street San Francisco.


http://www.kron4.com/contact-us

http://abc7news.com/news/abc7now-contact-abc7-news/22567/

Note this is a rare case where competing TV stations who are not duopolies or have no LMA with each other at least in San Francisco share the same building to rental costs for offices or ownership costs for offices are in the same building.

Yes the West Coast offices for Nexstar's flagship station happens to be located at the Disney Building in San Francisco.  I don't know if that's true in other places. But Disney has broadcast agreements with Nexstar for ABC affiliation deals in New Haven, CT and other places though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on May 09, 2018, 12:35:27 PM
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113455/fox-buying-7-sinclair-spinoffs-for-910m (http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113455/fox-buying-7-sinclair-spinoffs-for-910m)

Now Fox has announced that they are getting 7 Divested Sinclair Stations most notably KTXL Sacramento, KCPQ Seattle, KSWB San Diego, KDVR Denver and WJW are noted in the deal.



http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113461/sinclair-retrans-becoming-the-new-core

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113456/sinclair-1q-media-revenue-climbs-6

and more updates on Sinclair.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: US 89 on May 09, 2018, 04:09:01 PM
Quote from: bing101 on May 09, 2018, 12:35:27 PM
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113455/fox-buying-7-sinclair-spinoffs-for-910m (http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113455/fox-buying-7-sinclair-spinoffs-for-910m)

Now Fox has announced that they are getting 7 Divested Sinclair Stations most notably KTXL Sacramento, KCPQ Seattle, KSWB San Diego, KDVR Denver and WJW are noted in the deal.



http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113461/sinclair-retrans-becoming-the-new-core

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113456/sinclair-1q-media-revenue-climbs-6

and more updates on Sinclair.

There's also KSTU Salt Lake City and WSFL Miami (which is a CW station).

Also, why the size tags?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on May 09, 2018, 04:10:25 PM
Quote from: US 89 on May 09, 2018, 04:09:01 PM
Quote from: bing101 on May 09, 2018, 12:35:27 PM
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113455/fox-buying-7-sinclair-spinoffs-for-910m (http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113455/fox-buying-7-sinclair-spinoffs-for-910m)

Now Fox has announced that they are getting 7 Divested Sinclair Stations most notably KTXL Sacramento, KCPQ Seattle, KSWB San Diego, KDVR Denver and WJW are noted in the deal.



http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113461/sinclair-retrans-becoming-the-new-core

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113456/sinclair-1q-media-revenue-climbs-6

and more updates on Sinclair.

You forgot to mention KSTU Salt Lake City and WSFL Miami (which is a CW station).

Also, why the size tags?

Someone mentioned that they were automatically added for some people when scrolling, or something like that. I forget the details, though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on May 09, 2018, 07:20:08 PM
Makes sense for FOX to pick up channel 13 of Tacoma. Most Seattle Seahawks games air on that station.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on May 14, 2018, 05:08:12 PM
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/fl-reg-wsvn-channel-7-may-lose-fox-affiliation-20180511-story.html




http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113547/ansin-confident-in-wsvns-ongoing-success


Ed Ansin the owner of WHDH Boston and WSVN Miami responds to rumors that WSFL will get Fox programming from WSVN Miami. This is the same issue Ed Ansin had to deal with in Boston when NBC got WBTS-TV and removed NBC programming from WHDH-TV.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on June 25, 2018, 10:51:21 AM
https://www.reuters.com/article/raycom-ma-gray-television/update-1-gray-television-to-buy-raycom-media-in-365-bln-deal-idUSL4N1TR42N

Update Reuters is Reporting that Raycom and Gray television are proposed to merge together.

This deal affects Cleveland WOIO-TV and Hawaii News Now in Honolulu both owned by Raycom and they are affected by the proposed deal.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on June 25, 2018, 01:15:08 PM
Yep. Gray's buying Raycom. It's been big news in my area where the Lexington CBS affiliate (WKYT) and the Hazard station (WYMT) are owned by Gray.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on June 25, 2018, 04:42:11 PM
https://gray.tv/index.php?page=station-list

https://www.raycommedia.com/companies/

Here are the Current list of stations owned by Gray and Raycom as of June 2018

WVLT, WYMT, WKYT and WSAZ are currently Grays Largest Stations pre-merger.


WXIX, WOIO, WUAB and WWSB are Raycom's Current Largest stations as of 2018

Gray's National News office is in Washington DC.
https://www.raycommedia.com/gray-and-raycom-to-combine-in-a-3-6-billion-transaction/
Here is Raycom's Official Statement on the deal with Gray Television.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on June 26, 2018, 09:30:22 AM
The deal will probably sail through, as Gray/Raycom will have stations in only 24% of the country, behind Sinclair/Tribune, Nexstar, and TEGNA (the old Gannett), and just ahead of Hearst and Scripps. 

ASSUMING (they don't) the FCC actually enforced the law, the overlap stations are few.  Knoxville (Raycom Fox, Gray CBS) , Toledo (Raycom CBS, Gray ABC) , Waco (Raycom ABC, Gray CBS) , Tallahassee (Raycom ABC, Gray CBS) , Augusta (Raycom Fox, Gray CBS) , and Odessa/Midland (Raycom NBC, Gray CBS).  There also is overlap in the incomplete markets of Panama City and Dothan, but different rules apply to incomplete markets. 

Raycom is also offering for sale its Community Newspapers division, which publishes hick town "Billy Bob is back from basic, Sandra Sue got engaged, Old Man Johnson's barn burnt down" type newspapers.  Someday the taxpayers will realize how many millions of dollars are wasted in buying legal ads (the tiny print notices no one reads in the back of the paper) which are what really keeps these things going.  The whole system could be moved on line easily with simple legislation at the state level.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on June 26, 2018, 11:55:01 AM
The FCC or the states need to halt this merger on antitrust grounds.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 11, 2018, 12:57:05 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/wuab-clevelands-new-cw-affiliate/ (https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/wuab-clevelands-new-cw-affiliate/)

Here is an Update WUAB a Raycom owned station in Cleveland will get the CW Affiliation.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 11, 2018, 12:58:15 PM
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nexstar-m-a-apolloglobal-exclusive/exclusive-apollo-approaches-tv-stations-owner-nexstar-about-acquisition-sources-idUSKBN1K120L

Also in the talks that Nexstar the owners of KRON in San Francisco is in talks with a deal with Apollo
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jwolfer on July 11, 2018, 04:30:06 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on April 20, 2018, 08:45:52 PM
Probably because it's physically closer to Philadelphia and that Pennsylvania is on the other side of the river? I've seen ads for WPVI-TV (ABC) channel 6 at Arm & Hammer Field more than once.

(https://i.imgur.com/UNibGcU.jpg)
Mercer County NJ was part of Philadelphia metro area until recently. Prinxeron area had a lot of people move in who commute to northern NJ or New York City that's why it flipped metro areas. Closer to Trenton is still in the Philadelphia orbit, Eagles fans etc. It has always been part of Philly Media market.

Pt Pleasant Beach in Ocean County where I grew up always had both NYC and Philadelphia channels on cable, as did pretty much all of Ocean County . The best. News coverage back when I lived there seemed to be from the Philadelphia channels, specifically channel 6. 

But as long as I am aware Ocean County has been a part of the NYC metro and media market. Maybe channel 6 was trying to poach viewers to gain another county in their market

Z981

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Sctvhound on July 11, 2018, 05:16:25 PM
That area is so weird to see. One side of the area (Ocean County) gets all the New York and Philly stations (except for NBC I believe), while Monmouth County only gets NY plus Channel 6.

An inlet separates Ocean and Monmouth Counties and the New York and Philly markets.

I stayed in Manasquan at a beach house a couple years ago and I could get most of the New York and Philly radio stations, except for the ones on the same frequency (101.1 and 100.3 both favored New York).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 17, 2018, 02:06:28 PM
https://www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/07/16/sinclair-merger-trump-tribune-689026?__twitter_impression=true


Update Sinclair has been denied approval to get the Tribune stations.


Note I can see Gray facing a similar issue some time in the future over the Raycom deal.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ce929wax on July 17, 2018, 05:19:32 PM
The OTA signals suck around here.  I can only get WXMI, WOTV, and WGVK sometimes.  I don't even get channel 3 even though it is licensed to Kalamazoo.  These antennas that they say are supposed to pull in channels don't.  I've heard that an old time antenna will pull in channels better than the new ones, but I have no idea where to get one anymore.  I do get WWMT through my CBS All Access streaming service, but it would be nice if I could get all the others in my market too. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on July 17, 2018, 08:04:36 PM
Quote from: bing101 on July 17, 2018, 02:06:28 PM
https://www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/07/16/sinclair-merger-trump-tribune-689026?__twitter_impression=true


Update Sinclair has been denied approval to get the Tribune stations.


Note I can see Gray facing a similar issue some time in the future over the Raycom deal.
Let's not jump the gun.  While this review it's going into has typically led to such deals dying, it isn't over until it's over.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 17, 2018, 09:01:57 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/station-trading-roundup-2-deals-16-8m/

Here is an update Gray has bought 2 stations to Raycom interstingly

Quote
Multistate Deal – PRICE: $4,411,145.78 BUYER: Gray Television Inc (Hilton Howell, Jr, chairman/president/CEO) SELLER: Raycom Media Inc  (Patrick LaPlatney, president/CEO[/font]
  • Iowa: KYOU-TV Ottumwa FACILITIES: DTV Ch. 15, 360.000 kW, ant. 1,181ft. AFFILIATION: FOX
  • Missouri: K30MG-D Kirksville FACILITIES: DTV Ch. 30, 8.200 kW, ant. 413 ft. AFFILIATION: FOX
  • [/font]
    WUPV-TV Ashland, VA – PRICE: $12,359,665.75 BUYER: Gray Television Inc (Hilton Howell, Jr, chairman/president/CEO) SELLER: Raycom Media Inc (Patrick LaPlatney, president/CEO FACILITIES: DTV Ch 8, 30.000 kW, ant. 827 ft. AFFILIATION: CW COMMENT: American Spirit Media's WUPV-TV/Ashland, VA, KYOU-TV/Ottumwa, IA, K30MG-D/Kirksville, MO to Raycom Media Inc.  The Cash Purchase Price for WUPV-TV is $12,359,665.75.  The Cash Purchase Price for KYOU-TV and K30MG-D is $4,411,145.78. Upon consummation of Raycom's acquisitions of WUPV, KYOU and K30MG-D, Raycom intends to file subsequent applications seeking the Commission's consent to assign WUPV's, KYOU's and K30MG-D licenses to Gray Television per the merger agreement between Raycom and Gray.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 18, 2018, 11:34:55 AM
https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/178355/sinclair-amends-divestiture-proposals-in-bid-to-sa

Here is an update on the Sinclair talks.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on July 18, 2018, 12:26:14 PM
In other words, Sinclair now triples down on the stupid.  Continuing to propose to "sell" its stations to its own dummy shill companies.   

The FCC should enforce the law, not only as it relates to this Tribune matter, but force the outlaw Sinclair company to sell to legitimate third parties the "duopolies" it already has. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on July 18, 2018, 04:59:13 PM
^^^

Or the federal government could just get out of the way of the free market.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Rothman on July 18, 2018, 06:57:40 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 18, 2018, 04:59:13 PM
^^^

Or the federal government could just get out of the way of the free market.
Yes.  Let a monopoly rule.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on July 19, 2018, 09:10:31 AM
I am a 100% Free Market conservative.  This has nothing to do with broadcasting. 

The airwaves belong not to Sinclair, but to society.  Broadcasters apply to operate in the public interest as a public trustee.  Because, for both scientific and political reasons, the number of stations in a particular place is limited, the government has applied rules to the industry that are certainly not only crazy, but Unconstitutional, if we were talking about almost any other industry.  Becasue, at the end of the day, while I can go right out and start myself a competitive fast food place, paving company, printer, butcher, baker or candle stick maker, i CANNOT start broadcasting unless I buy one of the LIMITED channels that exist.

A totally different situation, and one Sinclair knew about and signed up for when it chose to be in that business.  Among the rules are that one company cannot own more than one of the "big 4" station in a market.  Then Sinclair went out and ignored that rule and, under FCCs controlled by five different presidents of all wings of both legitimate political parties, has been let by with it. 

This hurts consumers because consumers, if they have dish or cable, PAY the station owners for their signals.  Sinclair can threaten to pull TWO of the big 4 signals and extort more from you. 

This hurts ad buyers, and their customers, because Sinclair controls half of the major TV stations (and, if we support "free markets" why make Sinclair stop at 2, let them start more shill companies owned by more dead relatives and own them all) and can extort unreasonable costs for ads from local businesses.

The rule is simple.  Sinclair knew the rules when it got into that industry.  Simply enforce the rule.  Sinclair can either abide by it, or sell its stations and start a mousetrap factory.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on July 19, 2018, 03:57:27 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 19, 2018, 09:10:31 AM
Among the rules are that one company cannot own more than one of the "big 4" station in a market.  Then Sinclair went out and ignored that rule and, under FCCs controlled by five different presidents of all wings of both legitimate political parties, has been let by with it. 
Might not just be Sinclair.  Nextar owns both ABC and FOX affiliates here.  In Rochester, both of those are owned by Sinclair.  Here, Sinclair owns CBS and CW.  In Utica, CBS and NBC are the same station!
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: RobbieL2415 on July 21, 2018, 09:28:05 PM
I think I've said this here before, but:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is to blame for the current state of media conglomerates.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on July 22, 2018, 12:20:52 AM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on July 21, 2018, 09:28:05 PM
I think I've said this here before, but:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is to blame for the current state of media conglomerates.

I'm baffled as to why none of the states instituted their own ownership caps when this law passed.

Fifty states, and zero with any sense.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on July 22, 2018, 01:14:11 PM
Quote from: bandit957 on July 22, 2018, 12:20:52 AM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on July 21, 2018, 09:28:05 PM
I think I've said this here before, but:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is to blame for the current state of media conglomerates.

I'm baffled as to why none of the states instituted their own ownership caps when this law passed.

Don't give New York, California, Illinois, etc., any bad ideas.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: westerninterloper on July 22, 2018, 01:24:46 PM
Quote from: ce929wax on July 17, 2018, 05:19:32 PM
The OTA signals suck around here.  I can only get WXMI, WOTV, and WGVK sometimes.  I don't even get channel 3 even though it is licensed to Kalamazoo.  These antennas that they say are supposed to pull in channels don't.  I've heard that an old time antenna will pull in channels better than the new ones, but I have no idea where to get one anymore.  I do get WWMT through my CBS All Access streaming service, but it would be nice if I could get all the others in my market too.

I live in very close to downtown Toledo, and have also had problems getting OTA signals. I think found the sweet spot for my antenna, but when I've asked about the best antenna at local electronics stores, the salesfolks tell me none of them work well. Additional note, our local secondary and tertiary channels are either great or awful, no in between.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on July 22, 2018, 02:29:31 PM
Then there's channel sharing. WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 of New Haven, CT is now a subchannel of sister station WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8. Tune channel 8-3 and the TV will show "59-1" instead.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 03:10:35 PM
Quote from: westerninterloper on July 22, 2018, 01:24:46 PM
Quote from: ce929wax on July 17, 2018, 05:19:32 PM
The OTA signals suck around here.  I can only get WXMI, WOTV, and WGVK sometimes.  I don't even get channel 3 even though it is licensed to Kalamazoo.  These antennas that they say are supposed to pull in channels don't.  I've heard that an old time antenna will pull in channels better than the new ones, but I have no idea where to get one anymore.  I do get WWMT through my CBS All Access streaming service, but it would be nice if I could get all the others in my market too.

I live in very close to downtown Toledo, and have also had problems getting OTA signals. I think found the sweet spot for my antenna, but when I've asked about the best antenna at local electronics stores, the salesfolks tell me none of them work well. Additional note, our local secondary and tertiary channels are either great or awful, no in between.

The problem isn't signal strength.  The problem is multipath, which showed up as ghosts on the old analog system, but absolutely kills the current digital system.  Planes overhead, nearby buildings, low rain clouds, anything else between you and the transmitter that can reflect a signal can kill it.  The folks who designed ATSC 1.0 didn't take multipath into account, and at least for the time being, we're stuck with it.

Fortunately, ATSC 3.0 (I have no idea what happened to 2.0) is in the testing phase right now, in some markets.  This is supposed to fix this problem, as well as being able to stuff more channels onto one transmitter, saving spectrum.  That's important, now that the UHF band is Channels 14-36 instead of 14-51 like it's been, or 14-69 like it was in the analog days.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on July 22, 2018, 09:18:16 PM
Quote from: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 03:10:35 PM
Fortunately, ATSC 3.0 (I have no idea what happened to 2.0) is in the testing phase right now, in some markets.  This is supposed to fix this problem, as well as being able to stuff more channels onto one transmitter, saving spectrum.  That's important, now that the UHF band is Channels 14-36 instead of 14-51 like it's been, or 14-69 like it was in the analog days.
The only issue is that I'll possibly need to get a whole new TV when it switches (I refuse to deal with converter boxes for the same reason I refuse to deal with cable boxes: I don't want to have to switch inputs and deal with a third remote just to watch the news).  I hope that it may just be a software update, but who knows.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on July 22, 2018, 10:14:18 PM
Quote from: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 03:10:35 PM
The problem isn't signal strength.  The problem is multipath, which showed up as ghosts on the old analog system, but absolutely kills the current digital system.  Planes overhead, nearby buildings, low rain clouds, anything else between you and the transmitter that can reflect a signal can kill it.  The folks who designed ATSC 1.0 didn't take multipath into account, and at least for the time being, we're stuck with it.

Dammit, I warned the TV industry and the FCC about this exact problem years ago, but did they listen? No!
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 11:00:54 PM
Quote from: vdeane on July 22, 2018, 09:18:16 PM
Quote from: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 03:10:35 PM
Fortunately, ATSC 3.0 (I have no idea what happened to 2.0) is in the testing phase right now, in some markets.  This is supposed to fix this problem, as well as being able to stuff more channels onto one transmitter, saving spectrum.  That's important, now that the UHF band is Channels 14-36 instead of 14-51 like it's been, or 14-69 like it was in the analog days.

The only issue is that I'll possibly need to get a whole new TV when it switches (I refuse to deal with converter boxes for the same reason I refuse to deal with cable boxes: I don't want to have to switch inputs and deal with a third remote just to watch the news).  I hope that it may just be a software update, but who knows.

Newer TVs that have a Wifi connection might be able to upgrade, but older TVs will either need a converter box or be scrapped.  I own a few of each.  :)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on July 23, 2018, 01:42:34 PM
Quote from: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 11:00:54 PM
Newer TVs that have a Wifi connection might be able to upgrade, but older TVs will either need a converter box or be scrapped.  I own a few of each.  :)
That's my hope; my TV is internet-connected, albeit via ethernet since I feel it's faster/more reliable.  It's new enough to be smart but old enough to not be watching/listening to me.

The end of multipath problems would be wonderful.  It's something I currently deal with on practically a daily basis.  I'd love to get a better antenna, though I'm not sure how to find one that will work better than what I've got, and don't want to waste money on something that won't (I was going to ask the folks at TVFool, but that site appears to have been abandoned, as the admin never approved my account and hasn't been online since May).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 24, 2018, 02:07:58 PM
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/cox-enterprises-explores-options-for-cox-media-group-television-stations/Vq1Dko4ZCT3s8ahfxiOSbL/?icmp=np_inform_variation-test


Cox is in talks over the future of its local TV stations. They affect Seattle, Boston and Atlanta notably.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on July 24, 2018, 03:53:07 PM
Cox has an illegal CBS-Fox duopoly in Jacksonville, is ABC in Orlando, Atlanta, and Charlotte; Fox in Boston, Tulsa, and Memphis; NBC in Pittsburgh; and CBS in Dayton and Seattle.  It also owns some newspapers, including Atlanta, and owns a ton of radio stations.   It is also a big cable company and does back room work for car lots.

Because newspapers are dying, combined newspaper - broadcast companies have been trying to split (NY Times, Wa Post, Gannett, Tribune, etc.) so the newspaper side can go under and cheat the employees out of their pensions, leaving the profitable broadcaster's assets alone.  Probably what is going on here.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on July 24, 2018, 07:50:59 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 24, 2018, 03:53:07 PM
Cox has an illegal CBS-Fox duopoly in Jacksonville, is ABC in Orlando, Atlanta, and Charlotte; Fox in Boston, Tulsa, and Memphis; NBC in Pittsburgh; and CBS in Dayton and Seattle.  It also owns some newspapers, including Atlanta, and owns a ton of radio stations.   It is also a big cable company and does back room work for car lots.

When I was in college, I dated a fellow student/Morehead native who had a distant relative who worked for Cox in Atlanta. Met him once and talked shop as a young journalism student. Don't really remember much of the conversation now, or what he did there.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on July 24, 2018, 08:19:25 PM
Quote from: vdeane on July 23, 2018, 01:42:34 PM
Quote from: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 11:00:54 PM
Newer TVs that have a Wifi connection might be able to upgrade, but older TVs will either need a converter box or be scrapped.  I own a few of each.  :)
That's my hope; my TV is internet-connected, albeit via ethernet since I feel it's faster/more reliable.  It's new enough to be smart but old enough to not be watching/listening to me.
Looks like it won't likely be possible.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/will-2016-tvs-be-upgradeable-atsc-30
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on July 24, 2018, 08:53:16 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 24, 2018, 03:53:07 PM
Cox has an illegal CBS-Fox duopoly in Jacksonville, is ABC in Orlando, Atlanta, and Charlotte; Fox in Boston, Tulsa, and Memphis; NBC in Pittsburgh; and CBS in Dayton and Seattle.  It also owns some newspapers, including Atlanta, and owns a ton of radio stations.   It is also a big cable company and does back room work for car lots.

Because newspapers are dying, combined newspaper - broadcast companies have been trying to split (NY Times, Wa Post, Gannett, Tribune, etc.) so the newspaper side can go under and cheat the employees out of their pensions, leaving the profitable broadcaster's assets alone.  Probably what is going on here.



The CBS-FOX duopoly is legal in Jacksonville because when Cox got the CBS affiliation, the new CBS station was outside the top four (and may still be outside the top four to this day; independent WJXT (former CBS) is still quite popular there)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 25, 2018, 11:30:21 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/26/can-we-take-a-moment-to-grieve-for-fairfax


https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/26/fairfax-and-nine-network-agree-to-merge-in-estimated-4bn-deal


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-26/nine-announces-fairfax-takeover/10037712




Even in Australia there are media mergers as in the case of Nine Network taking over Fairfax.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on July 26, 2018, 08:42:48 AM
Canada is an example of what happens when media mergers go almost unchecked. Bell owns the largest commercial TV network, almost all of its affiliates, a second TV network (and most of its affiliates as well), many radio stations, and Canada's largest satellite TV company. Bell also is the primary phone company for eastern Canada and the secondary company for western Canada.

CBC is also in bed with the cable and satellite industry, to the point that they let several large cities (over 100k population) lose OTA CBC service during Canada's digital transition.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: doorknob60 on July 26, 2018, 03:02:55 PM
Quote from: vdeane on July 24, 2018, 08:19:25 PM
Quote from: vdeane on July 23, 2018, 01:42:34 PM
Quote from: KeithE4Phx on July 22, 2018, 11:00:54 PM
Newer TVs that have a Wifi connection might be able to upgrade, but older TVs will either need a converter box or be scrapped.  I own a few of each.  :)
That's my hope; my TV is internet-connected, albeit via ethernet since I feel it's faster/more reliable.  It's new enough to be smart but old enough to not be watching/listening to me.
Looks like it won't likely be possible.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/will-2016-tvs-be-upgradeable-atsc-30

Sounds like it could theoretically be possible with both a software update plus a USB tuner dongle (most TVs have USB ports now) with the needed hardware to receive and decode the ATSC 3.0 signal. This solution would integrate with your normal TV's interface, and not be a separate device like a cable box. In practice, though, for most people the only option will likely be a separate converter box with an HDMI output, as I would not count on manufacturers providing support for all that on their older TV models.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on July 26, 2018, 10:21:49 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on July 26, 2018, 08:42:48 AM
Canada is an example of what happens when media mergers go almost unchecked. Bell owns the largest commercial TV network, almost all of its affiliates, a second TV network (and most of its affiliates as well), many radio stations, and Canada's largest satellite TV company. Bell also is the primary phone company for eastern Canada and the secondary company for western Canada.

CBC is also in bed with the cable and satellite industry, to the point that they let several large cities (over 100k population) lose OTA CBC service during Canada's digital transition.
Definitely true.  If tvtv.ca is right, it appears Canada doesn't do sub-channels like we do here, so someone watching broadcast is only going to get a few networks, not the dozen(s) we get here.  From what I've read, they also don't have separate local/national news broadcasts, and "local" news production is far more centralized than in the US (Global in Montréal gets weather from Toronto, for example, which would be unheard of in a major metro area here).

Quote from: doorknob60 on July 26, 2018, 03:02:55 PM
Sounds like it could theoretically be possible with both a software update plus a USB tuner dongle (most TVs have USB ports now) with the needed hardware to receive and decode the ATSC 3.0 signal. This solution would integrate with your normal TV's interface, and not be a separate device like a cable box. In practice, though, for most people the only option will likely be a separate converter box with an HDMI output, as I would not count on manufacturers providing support for all that on their older TV models.
Could still lead to the "need to change input from 'TV' to 'USB' to watch TV" problem depending on how they'd implement it.  And, of course, entirely dependent on them deciding to avoid obsolescence.  And, since my TV's USB ports are on the side instead of the back, I'd have aesthetic concerns.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on July 26, 2018, 10:45:24 PM
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/australias-nine-tv-network-acquire-publisher-fairfax-31b-1129937

As in the United States the Ownership concentration issue is also at play like less voices in Australia.

See the Nine Network/Fairfax deal does have some resemblance to the Time Inc/Meredith deal here I the USA. Fairfax inc was once the biggest name in print media like Time Inc was in the USA though. In the case of Meredith they own TV Stations in certain part of the USA and Nine Network is a major Network  Down Under.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on July 28, 2018, 09:37:39 PM
Quote from: vdeane on July 26, 2018, 10:21:49 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on July 26, 2018, 08:42:48 AM
Canada is an example of what happens when media mergers go almost unchecked. Bell owns the largest commercial TV network, almost all of its affiliates, a second TV network (and most of its affiliates as well), many radio stations, and Canada's largest satellite TV company. Bell also is the primary phone company for eastern Canada and the secondary company for western Canada.

CBC is also in bed with the cable and satellite industry, to the point that they let several large cities (over 100k population) lose OTA CBC service during Canada's digital transition.
Definitely true.  If tvtv.ca is right, it appears Canada doesn't do sub-channels like we do here, so someone watching broadcast is only going to get a few networks, not the dozen(s) we get here.  From what I've read, they also don't have separate local/national news broadcasts, and "local" news production is far more centralized than in the US (Global in Montréal gets weather from Toronto, for example, which would be unheard of in a major metro area here).
The following cities (all over 100k+) lost over-the-air CBC service (either English or French) during Canada's digital transition (with 2016 population in parentheses):
Lost both English and French
London, Ontario (383,822)
Saskatoon, Sasketchewan (246,376)
Kitchener, Ontario (233,222)
Sudbury, Ontario (161,531)
Kelowna, British Columbia (127,380)
Kingston, Ontario (123,798) [had a privately owned CBC affiliate that switched affiliation to CTV]
Thunder Bay, Ontario (107,909) [had a privately owned CBC affiliate that switched affiliation to CTV]
Red Deer, Alberta (100,408) [Red Deer is the largest non-suburban city in Canada with no local TV of any kind]
Lost French (but still has English)
Calgary, Alberta (1,239,220) [third largest city in all of Canada by population, but French is way down on most spoken languages (behind Chinese, Tagalog, Punjabi, and Spanish)]
Halifax, Nova Scotia (403,131)
Windsor, Ontario (217,188)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (108,860)
Lost English (but still has French)
Note: most of these areas are nearly monolingually French to the point that none of these cities have a commercial English station (CBC Radio does operate English stations in all four of these cities)
Quebec City, Quebec (531,902)
Sherbrooke, Quebec (161,323)
Saguenay, Quebec (145,949)
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec (134,413)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 01, 2018, 02:20:23 PM
https://www.fiercevideo.com/video/cbs-launching-local-news-streaming-services


https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/219870/cbs-intros-cbsn-local-streaming-services/


CBSN to launch a local News edition for its o&o's on apps. This affects stations owned by CBS.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 01, 2018, 05:56:08 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/219866/cordillera-looking-exit-tv-business/

An update Cordillera is considering to exit the TV Station business.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 04, 2018, 02:05:41 PM
https://kcsm.org/tv/index.php



https://krcb.org/connect-to-krcb/krcb-north-bay-public-media-acquires-kcsm-tv


KCSM-TV San Mateo is now known as KPJK San Francisco. Its owner by KRCB Public Media.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on August 09, 2018, 09:12:27 AM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-tribune-sinclair-merger-20180809-story.html

And the Sinclair - Tribune merger is off and Sinclair is getting sued.  Tribune believed this was an above board deal where the two companies would merge and then sell off, in compliance with the law, the stations it could not own (more than one of the Big 4 in the same market).  Sinclair, of course, played its usual game of telling the FCC it was selling the stations to its own dummy corporations and continue to run them.  The FCC finally said no and sent the thing to a hearing.

It appears that the FCC finally balked at Sinclair's criminality because this involves bigger markets.  It has let Sinclair by with this in smaller markets for two decades.  The next step, IMHO, is to enforce the law equally everywhere.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on August 09, 2018, 01:06:06 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on August 09, 2018, 09:12:27 AM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-tribune-sinclair-merger-20180809-story.html

And the Sinclair - Tribune merger is off and Sinclair is getting sued.  Tribune believed this was an above board deal where the two companies would merge and then sell off, in compliance with the law, the stations it could not own (more than one of the Big 4 in the same market).  Sinclair, of course, played its usual game of telling the FCC it was selling the stations to its own dummy corporations and continue to run them.  The FCC finally said no and sent the thing to a hearing.

It appears that the FCC finally balked at Sinclair's criminality because this involves bigger markets.  It has let Sinclair by with this in smaller markets for two decades.  The next step, IMHO, is to enforce the law equally everywhere.

WLEX-TV (Channel 18 in Lexington) is up for sale. In Lexington, WDKY (Channel 56) is the Fox affiliate, owned by Sinclair. They have a partnership with WKYT (Channel 27), which is owned by Gray, to produce a 10 p.m. newscast and also some morning newscasts. Many of the anchors and reporters are shared with Channel 27, and they use stories produced by WKYT and WYMT (Hazard) reporters.

I was at a meeting yesterday with a group of WYMT employees, who were discussing the situation. They were speculating that Sinclair would buy WLEX and then move the newscast production from WKYT to their new corporate partners. And they were also speculating that the WKYT folks would love that, because they have to produce separate graphics for the WDKY and WKYT newscasts.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 09, 2018, 01:31:56 PM
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/disney-ceo-bob-iger-talks-underway-sale-fox-regional-sports-networks-222917027.html


Update Disney is in talks to sell Fox Sports Local editions. This deal affects Fox Sports West in Los Angeles.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on August 09, 2018, 03:15:20 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 09, 2018, 01:06:06 PM


WLEX-TV (Channel 18 in Lexington) is up for sale. In Lexington, WDKY (Channel 56) is the Fox affiliate, owned by Sinclair. They have a partnership with WKYT (Channel 27), which is owned by Gray, to produce a 10 p.m. newscast and also some morning newscasts. Many of the anchors and reporters are shared with Channel 27, and they use stories produced by WKYT and WYMT (Hazard) reporters.

I was at a meeting yesterday with a group of WYMT employees, who were discussing the situation. They were speculating that Sinclair would buy WLEX and then move the newscast production from WKYT to their new corporate partners. And they were also speculating that the WKYT folks would love that, because they have to produce separate graphics for the WDKY and WKYT newscasts.

Oh, that is exactly what will happen.  The only question is which dummy corporation Sinclair will use to violate the law.  I don't know which I prefer.  Cunningham has the advantage of its owner being dead for the last 15 years; then you have Howard Strick Holdings, which "belongs" to conservative commentator Armstrong Williams, who is paid a whole $10,000/year fro the use of his name (and skin color) by Sinclair.  There are plenty of others. 

As to news, this is what will happen.  Sinclair will simply produce the same news program for broadcast in the slots provided by NBC and Fox, with no real differences between the two. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 16, 2018, 06:30:30 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220720/gray-selling-wswg-albany-ga-marquee/
Gray is Selling WSWG in Albany, GA. This is part of the Gray/Raycom Talks.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 16, 2018, 06:31:27 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220734/pai-white-house-called-sinclair-tribune/
Yes the President's cabinet had a role in the Sinclair talks.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on August 19, 2018, 08:09:06 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on May 03, 2018, 10:38:27 PM
Quote from: bugo on May 03, 2018, 10:31:51 PM
Sinclair is a propaganda arm of the Republican Party. It is the American version of the Soviet era Pravda newspaper.
No, that would be CNN or Media Matters.  They're more in line with the propaganda that Pravda presents.

Pravda? Oh, the irony. The current dipshit and his Republican enablers are the ones with ties to the former Soviet Union and the KGB.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on August 19, 2018, 08:15:46 AM
This weather map suggests that Scott County, Arkansas was once in the Tulsa market. Was this the case?

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1818/43223292295_8440a4c85f_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bugo on August 19, 2018, 08:19:36 AM
I never thought I'd see SP Cook criticizing Sinclair.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Sctvhound on August 19, 2018, 04:16:25 PM
Quote from: bugo on August 19, 2018, 08:19:36 AM
I never thought I'd see SP Cook criticizing Sinclair.

Sinclair is easy to criticize even if they didn't have the political opinions they had. All of Sinclair's stations have the same graphics package, down to the American flag in the background. They all carry the same programs and news features every newscast.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on August 19, 2018, 10:58:59 PM
Quote from: bugo on August 19, 2018, 08:15:46 AM
This weather map suggests that Scott County, Arkansas was once in the Tulsa market. Was this the case?

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1818/43223292295_8440a4c85f_b.jpg)
Into the 1970s, the Fort Smith market was just Fort Smith and had only one relevant station [KFSM] (with Fayetteville falling in the Tulsa market and Rogers and Bentonville falling in the Joplin-Pittsburg market [hence why the Joplin-Pittsburg area is still called the Four States]).

Cox still carries KTUL (the ABC affiliate in Tulsa) in both Fort Smith and Fayetteville.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on August 20, 2018, 10:14:26 AM
Quote from: bugo on August 19, 2018, 08:19:36 AM
I never thought I'd see SP Cook criticizing Sinclair.

Well you did.  And while it just came up off-topic here, it has been the case on some other media boards I post on for a long time. 

And their politics (which, BTW, I do not believe are sincerely held) are totally irrelevant to the discussion.  In a free society, the LAW should apply equally to everybody.  Whether I, or you, or anybody else, agrees with their politics or not. 

The LAW says, that the "big 4" stations in each town (with small exceptions that do not apply) should belong to four different and competitive companies.  That is the LAW.  It should be enforced, against Republicans, democrats, or whatever, equally, or it should be changed. 

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 21, 2018, 05:50:11 PM
https://nypost.com/2018/08/20/sooks-nexstar-may-be-next-to-chase-tribune-media-merger/


Update there are rumors that Nexstar Television the Owners of KRON 4 in San Francisco is wanting to have a merger with Tribune.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 21, 2018, 06:15:44 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220885/gray-makes-deals-sell-9-stations/


Gray Sells 9 stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: US71 on August 21, 2018, 06:29:03 PM
Quote from: bing101 on August 21, 2018, 06:15:44 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220885/gray-makes-deals-sell-9-stations/


Gray Sells 9 stations.

They own KY3 and KSPR in Springfield Missouri (since 2015)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: RobbieL2415 on August 21, 2018, 09:21:33 PM
The Disney-Fox merger basically screws over all the regional baseball markets.  A majority of them were FoxSports branded, including the YES Network (basically dba FoxSports New York).  ESPN used to run syndicated sports programming on local OTA stations under the ESPNPlus moniker until they got smart and started signing contracts with collegiate sports conferences to make their own CATV stations.  Also wonder how this will affect current MLB intra-region syndication (network-produced games airing OTA) if ESPN Regional Entertainment will still allow them.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on August 22, 2018, 09:14:43 AM
As a part of the deal, Disney (ESPN) is not allowed to keep the Fox Sports regional sports networks.  It has 90 days (theoretically, it will probably get stretched out a bit) to sell the group to somebody. 

Possible buyers include Comcast (which owns NBC and the NBC branded regional sports networks), AT&T (which owns DirecTV and the AT&T branded regional sports networks),  Liberty Media (which started some of the regional sports networks decades ago under the "Prime Sports" brand name, and which owns Formula One car racing and the Braves), the Charter cable company, and the Discovery Channel group.  The Yankees and the Reds have the right to buy their channels in the event of a sale, the Yankees probably will.

Really has nothing to do with ESPN Plus (now ESPN Regional Television) or what games might end up on local stations at all. 

The bad deal, for consumers, would be for Disney to break up the network and sell the individual outlets piece by piece.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on August 23, 2018, 11:33:56 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on August 22, 2018, 09:14:43 AM
As a part of the deal, Disney (ESPN) is not allowed to keep the Fox Sports regional sports networks.  It has 90 days (theoretically, it will probably get stretched out a bit) to sell the group to somebody. 

Possible buyers include Comcast (which owns NBC and the NBC branded regional sports networks), AT&T (which owns DirecTV and the AT&T branded regional sports networks),  Liberty Media (which started some of the regional sports networks decades ago under the "Prime Sports" brand name, and which owns Formula One car racing and the Braves), the Charter cable company, and the Discovery Channel group.  The Yankees and the Reds have the right to buy their channels in the event of a sale, the Yankees probably will.

Really has nothing to do with ESPN Plus (now ESPN Regional Television) or what games might end up on local stations at all. 

The bad deal, for consumers, would be for Disney to break up the network and sell the individual outlets piece by piece.
I could see the Fox Sports RSN's get split based on dominant cable provider in each area
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on August 23, 2018, 12:01:17 PM
The latest rumored buyer for the Fox Sports Net is....

Fox. 

Fox was apparently comfortable with ESPN taking over that business (Fox was always retaining the FS1 and 2 national channels) but since that cannot happen now, is not comfortable with some other company owning these, because it could encourage them to start yet another national competitor to ESPN (and FS1).  So Fox may just buy the set back itself.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on August 23, 2018, 07:39:13 PM
If they didn't want to lose the network, why did they include it in the sale in the first place?  Seems like this is far more convoluted than it needed to be, if that's really how they want to go.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 23, 2018, 10:07:18 PM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/8/23/buying-tribune


Now FTV Live does an editorial on who will buy the Tribune stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on August 24, 2018, 09:01:26 AM
Quote from: vdeane on August 23, 2018, 07:39:13 PM
If they didn't want to lose the network, why did they include it in the sale in the first place? 

The idea is this.  Fox was going to sell the regional sports channels (Fox Sports Net) to ESPN and keep the national sports channels (FS1, FS2).  Obviously ESPN is already in the national sports channel business.  Fine. 

But the government says ESPN cannot own the regional sports channels.  So some other company get these.  Say Discovery.  Discovery (which owns a bunch of channels) has not been in the sports business before.  So they own the old Fox Sports Net channels, and they learn the sports business and become a player in it.  And then Discovery decides to start a competitor national sports channel to ESPN and FS1, etc.  Now there are more bidders for rights, etc.  Hurts FS1.

So Fox may just say "never mind" and keep the channels .
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on August 24, 2018, 10:48:23 AM
Quote from: bing101 on August 23, 2018, 10:07:18 PM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/8/23/buying-tribune


Now FTV Live does an editorial on who will buy the Tribune stations.
They forgot to mention the Tegna-Tribune conflict in Grand Rapids.
Tegna owns ABC affiliate WZZM (one of two ABC's in the market [the other is Nexstar-owned WOTV]; WZZM's stick had to be way up in Newaygo County in order to be adequately spaced to two other Channel 13's in the analog era, however, this location benefited WZZM in the early days as the market to the north (Traverse City-Cadillac [Newaygo County borders the market on two sides]) had no ABC until 1971 and even after then, WZZM put a better signal into the southern portions of that market [Ludington, Big Rapids, Manistee] than in-market WGTU, whose tower was (and still is) in Kalkaska County)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on August 24, 2018, 02:10:15 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on August 24, 2018, 09:01:26 AM
But the government says ESPN cannot own the regional sports channels.

Doesn't ESPN more or less own the conference networks? (SEC, Big We-Can't-Count, etc.)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Big John on August 24, 2018, 02:16:03 PM
^^ ESPN owns SEC, but Fox owns BTN.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 27, 2018, 05:25:08 PM
https://finance.nine.com.au/2018/08/23/09/15/nine-boosts-profit-27-percent-to-157-million

Here is an update on the Nine Network/Fairfax talks.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on August 28, 2018, 09:25:27 AM
Quote from: Big John on August 24, 2018, 02:16:03 PM
^^ ESPN owns SEC, but Fox owns BTN.

Correct.  To flesh out, ESPN owns the SEC Network, and is obligated to start a similar ACC Network one year from today, on the first day of football season 2019.  ESPN has been having big trouble getting systems to sign for the ACC, because it charges a higher "in market" and a lower "national" rate for these channels.  Which would mean that customers in Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida would be paying in market for both.  Florida and South Carolina are OK, but asking people anywhere else in Kentucky to pay anything for Louisville games is a fool's errand.  Georgia would be similar.

The Big 10 Network is a joint venture between Fox and the league.  The Pac 12 Network is owned by the conference totally, and they are losing their a**es on it. 

Which brings us to the Big 12.  In the Big 12, or better said Big 2, Little 8, the schools retain the rights to "third tier" games, which is one football game, a few basketball games and all the other sports which are generally found on the league channels elsewhere.   ESPN is obligated to pay Texas zillions of dollars for the Longhorn Network, which has ONE football game and the remainder is the most pointless content in the history of TV.  People are just not going to pay for one football game per year.  ESPN has begged to get out of the worst deal in ESPN history, but UT has them by the you know whats.  Meanwhile the other teams live on less money.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 28, 2018, 08:49:05 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/221352/raycom-media-invests-swirl-films/


https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/aca-gray-raycom-combo-would-increase-consolidation-considerably


Here is the latest on the Gray/Raycom talks plus Raycom getting Swirl films.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 29, 2018, 04:51:02 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/221438/sinclair-fires-back-tribune-suit/


Here is an update on the Sinclair/Tribune Lawsuit.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on August 31, 2018, 08:39:00 PM
Meanwhile, there's this...

https://wvva.com/news/west-virginia-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/08/31/meteorologist-accused-of-fracturing-anchors-skull-in-fight/

Probably the biggest media news in West Virginia since Randy Yohe got arrested for DUI and possession. (For some reason I was thinking it was Tony Cavalier, but I was wrong.)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 31, 2018, 11:55:04 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 31, 2018, 08:39:00 PM
Meanwhile, there's this...

https://wvva.com/news/west-virginia-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/08/31/meteorologist-accused-of-fracturing-anchors-skull-in-fight/ (https://wvva.com/news/west-virginia-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/08/31/meteorologist-accused-of-fracturing-anchors-skull-in-fight/)

Probably the biggest media news in West Virginia since Randy Yohe got arrested for DUI and possession. (For some reason I was thinking it was Tony Cavalier, but I was wrong.)


Damn a TV News Talent in West Virginia the one accused of assault is accusing the other Talent for getting her man
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on September 01, 2018, 02:16:55 PM
Quote from: bing101 on August 31, 2018, 11:55:04 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 31, 2018, 08:39:00 PM
Meanwhile, there's this...

https://wvva.com/news/west-virginia-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/08/31/meteorologist-accused-of-fracturing-anchors-skull-in-fight/ (https://wvva.com/news/west-virginia-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/08/31/meteorologist-accused-of-fracturing-anchors-skull-in-fight/)

Probably the biggest media news in West Virginia since Randy Yohe got arrested for DUI and possession. (For some reason I was thinking it was Tony Cavalier, but I was wrong.)

Damn a TV News Talent in West Virginia the one accused of assault is accusing the other Talent for getting her man

I hadn't heard a reason, even speculative, for the altercation. I'm hoping S.P. can shed some light on this.

Or I guess I could ask some of my friends who work for Gray and WSAZ's sister stations WKYT and WYMT what they've heard.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on September 02, 2018, 01:34:44 AM
Posed the question on Facebook, and although none of my TV station friends chimed in (possibly on corporate orders from Gray not to discuss it), others posted links that indicate there had been some problems between the two of them before, but the situation boiled over when the weather girl made a pass at the news girl's husband when they had a chance encounter out on the town.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on September 02, 2018, 03:31:09 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on September 01, 2018, 02:16:55 PM

I hadn't heard a reason, even speculative, for the altercation. I'm hoping S.P. can shed some light on this.



You cannot make this stuff up.  The two were sent by the station to "Girls Night Out", a fundraiser for the YWCA domestic violence program.  They went to an after party at Charleston's largest "GAY bar" where plenty of liquor was consumed.  The weather girl started hitting on the news anchor's husband.  Push came to shove, and news anchor ended up with a cracked skull.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: abefroman329 on September 02, 2018, 03:58:45 PM
The fuck is a "gar bar" ?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on September 02, 2018, 04:05:44 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on September 02, 2018, 03:58:45 PM
The fuck is a "gar bar" ?

You've never been to a bar where they have these huge aquaria with lots of gar swimming around in them? You're missing out.

It was a typo. He meant "gay bar," which I know because I saw someone whom I know post on another forum that the place they went is known for having lots of patrons who dress in drag when they attend.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on September 02, 2018, 05:08:39 PM
Typo corrected.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on September 02, 2018, 08:46:37 PM
Gray tends to promote from within. Lots of people from WYMT move on to WKYT, or the Gray station in Knoxville (typically the UT grads that WYMT seems to like to hire.)  We haven't had a lot of WYMT folks move up to WSAZ, so I typically don't know where SAZ people move up to. (WKYT seems to be a career destination for a lot of people; I guess they like Lexington and don't want to move away.)

But I'm guessing that the weather girl has hit her profession's glass ceiling.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on September 03, 2018, 03:24:37 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on September 02, 2018, 08:46:37 PM
Gray tends to promote from within. Lots of people from WYMT move on to WKYT, or the Gray station in Knoxville (typically the UT grads that WYMT seems to like to hire.)  We haven't had a lot of WYMT folks move up to WSAZ, so I typically don't know where SAZ people move up to. (WKYT seems to be a career destination for a lot of people; I guess they like Lexington and don't want to move away.)


WKYT's #1 weather man, Chris Bailey, used to be the #2 at WSAZ, but he is a UK grad and made no secret that he wanted to get back to Lexington.

WSAZ, which has had a local news rating no less than double all other stations combined since local ratings started in 1968, tends to keep its male anchors until retirement.  The females change every couple of years, generally go to Ohio markets.  Gray's recent growth may change that as it now has larger markets to move to within the company.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on September 03, 2018, 08:54:05 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on September 03, 2018, 03:24:37 PM

WKYT's #1 weather man, Chris Bailey, used to be the #2 at WSAZ, but he is a UK grad and made no secret that he wanted to get back to Lexington.

Chris is from Magoffin County, which is technically in the Huntington market. He had been at WKYT, playing second fiddle to T.G. Shuck. Shuck left TV, which opened the door for Bailey to come back to Lexington. He ended up wanting to go to WSAZ because of scheduling, as he had young kids at the time. When the #1 spot opened up in Lexington, he took it.

The National Weather Service meteorologists are not particularly fans of his.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Sctvhound on September 04, 2018, 12:45:42 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on September 03, 2018, 03:24:37 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on September 02, 2018, 08:46:37 PM
Gray tends to promote from within. Lots of people from WYMT move on to WKYT, or the Gray station in Knoxville (typically the UT grads that WYMT seems to like to hire.)  We haven't had a lot of WYMT folks move up to WSAZ, so I typically don't know where SAZ people move up to. (WKYT seems to be a career destination for a lot of people; I guess they like Lexington and don't want to move away.)


WKYT's #1 weather man, Chris Bailey, used to be the #2 at WSAZ, but he is a UK grad and made no secret that he wanted to get back to Lexington.

WSAZ, which has had a local news rating no less than double all other stations combined since local ratings started in 1968, tends to keep its male anchors until retirement.  The females change every couple of years, generally go to Ohio markets.  Gray's recent growth may change that as it now has larger markets to move to within the company.

Exactly what happens here with our stations in Charleston south. The main anchor talent have been at each station for decades (the CBS's news anchors have been together at 6 since 1991 and the guy has been doing it since the 70s). We've had one main anchor change at the big 3 stations in about a decade. The Sinclair-owned ABC replaced the older co-anchor who had been on in Nashville for years with a younger, cheaper lady.

The reporters/anchors usually go from here to one of the big 4 Florida markets (Jax, Tampa, Orlando or Miami), Raleigh or Charlotte. The NBC (owned by Nexstar) is especially cheap. They've gone through 4-5 sports anchors in 5 years. Their main sports anchor just left to be the 3rd sports anchor at the NBC/ABC in Jacksonville.

This leaves our NBC with 1 sports anchor during most of the football season.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: BamaZeus on September 04, 2018, 11:28:53 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 31, 2018, 08:39:00 PM
Meanwhile, there's this...

https://wvva.com/news/west-virginia-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/08/31/meteorologist-accused-of-fracturing-anchors-skull-in-fight/

Probably the biggest media news in West Virginia since Randy Yohe got arrested for DUI and possession. (For some reason I was thinking it was Tony Cavalier, but I was wrong.)
THAT escalated quickly!
(https://i.imgflip.com/194soe.jpg)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 04, 2018, 12:47:00 PM
Quote from: BamaZeus on September 04, 2018, 11:28:53 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 31, 2018, 08:39:00 PM
Meanwhile, there's this...

https://wvva.com/news/west-virginia-news-from-the-associated-press/2018/08/31/meteorologist-accused-of-fracturing-anchors-skull-in-fight/

Probably the biggest media news in West Virginia since Randy Yohe got arrested for DUI and possession. (For some reason I was thinking it was Tony Cavalier, but I was wrong.)
THAT escalated quickly!
(https://i.imgflip.com/194soe.jpg)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06_Sez2tEOk

Dang All my life I always thought newsroom drama looks like this as in the Paul Moyer Rants in Los Angeles. Note this video is from a person who was working for him back in 1989 when the rant was made.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 04, 2018, 12:47:57 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on September 02, 2018, 03:31:09 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on September 01, 2018, 02:16:55 PM

I hadn't heard a reason, even speculative, for the altercation. I'm hoping S.P. can shed some light on this.



You cannot make this stuff up.  The two were sent by the station to "Girls Night Out", a fundraiser for the YWCA domestic violence program.  They went to an after party at Charleston's largest "GAY bar" where plenty of liquor was consumed.  The weather girl started hitting on the news anchor's husband.  Push came to shove, and news anchor ended up with a cracked skull.

If this story was out a decade ago I would have guessed it's from a reality TV Show.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 04, 2018, 01:08:02 PM
https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/trump-nbc-news-harvey-weinstein-license-1202925849/




https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-threatens-to-look-at-nbc-license/


If you live in a city where NBC owns a TV station (Examples KNBC, WNBC, WMAQ, WRC and KNTV) this might come into question due to a Donald Trump Rant.



Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on September 04, 2018, 06:52:06 PM
Saw a report today that both the news girl and the weather girl had been fired by WSAZ. And Gray still isn't saying anything about it, and neither are its employees.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jon daly on September 04, 2018, 07:58:56 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on September 02, 2018, 03:58:45 PM
The fuck is a "gar bar" ?

They used to be popular in the Nineties when cigars were all the rage.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 04, 2018, 08:57:14 PM
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/wsaz-meteorologist-charged-with-battery-has-sept-court-date/article_b9df9c52-b9b7-56dc-a567-f31ffa3a7479.html


Here is an update on the WSAZ Scandal.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 04, 2018, 08:59:59 PM
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-media/trump-hits-cnn-and-nbc-urges-look-at-their-license-tweet-idUSKCN1LK1Z1 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-media/trump-hits-cnn-and-nbc-urges-look-at-their-license-tweet-idUSKCN1LK1Z1)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Access_Hollywood_tape



Update if you live in areas where NBC Owns an affiliate here is the issue. But I say the Kettle is black on this one
Quote
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump blasted CNN and NBC News yet again in a tweet on Tuesday, criticizing NBC's handling of a story on movie producer Harvey Weinstein and suggesting a "look at their license,"  without specifying what exactly he was calling for.

Trump has frequently criticized the U.S. news media for what he has said is unfair coverage of him.
"I have long criticized NBC and their journalistic standards-worse than even CNN. Look at their license?"  he wrote in the tweet, which cited the outlet's coverage of Weinstein.





Ronan Farrow, a reporter, has said NBC News blocked him from working on a story about Weinstein, who is facing criminal rape and sexual assault charges and a civil lawsuit for sex trafficking. A former NBC producer corroborated Farrow's allegations.
Farrow later published the story in the New Yorker magazine. NBC News has defended its handling of the story. Weinstein has denied ever having nonconsensual sex.
Comcast Corp, which owns NBC News, declined to comment. Following the tweet, a decline in the price of Comcast shares on the Nasdaq extended slightly.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission did not immediately comment on the tweet, but in October the FCC's chairman said the agency does not have authority to revoke broadcast licenses over editorial decisions.
[/quote]
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: abefroman329 on September 05, 2018, 03:04:00 PM
Quote from: jon daly on September 04, 2018, 07:58:56 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on September 02, 2018, 03:58:45 PM
The fuck is a "gar bar" ?

They used to be popular in the Nineties when cigars were all the rage.
Ah yes. I preferred the hookah bars that came about a decade later.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 05, 2018, 06:02:07 PM
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-exclusive/exclusive-tribune-media-in-new-sale-talks-after-sinclair-deal-collapse-sources-idUSKCN1LL2RP

Here is an update on the Tribune talks.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 05, 2018, 08:41:43 PM
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/man-arrested-after-repeatedly-crashing-truck-into-dallas-tv-news-station-building/


http://www.fox4news.com/news/man-arrested-after-crashing-truck-into-fox4-building-in-downtown-dallas


Update Fox 4 Dallas Offices has been rammed on purpose but the motive is under investigation.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 05, 2018, 09:02:50 PM
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/driver-who-rammed-truck-into-fox-4-upset-at-police-wanted-media-to-do-their-job/287-591057740


Note a Possible motive for the Fox 4 Ramming incident is being revealed at this time.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 06, 2018, 08:02:13 PM
http://fortune.com/2018/09/06/switzerland-terrestrial-tv-shutdown/

Update Switzerland to proposed to shut down OTA TV in 2019.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 07, 2018, 11:34:58 AM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/9/7/tribune-slashes-newscasts


Update Tribune will cut newscasts in Washington DC, Dallas and Houston.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 07, 2018, 11:35:51 AM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/9/7/salt-lake-city-reporter-busted-by-police


and Casey Scott of KSL-TV Detained on DUI allegations and a court date for October 22nd.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 25, 2018, 07:25:23 PM
https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/ncta-gray-hasnt-made-case-hawaii-duopoly


Gray's contention over the Hawaii Outlets as the Raycom deal waits for approval.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: txstateends on September 26, 2018, 08:54:58 PM
Well, kids, the new 2018-2019 Nielsen DMA list is out:
https://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/public%20factsheets/tv/2018-19-dma-ranker.pdf

Might be interesting for some of you out there in TV-ville.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on September 27, 2018, 07:12:33 AM
Hartford/New Haven fell to #33 We were like #30 once. :(

Providence/New Bedford, MA is at #53.

Portland/Poland Spring, ME is at #84. They name it "Portland/Auburn". Funny, since Auburn has no TV stations licensed to it. Auburn's sister across the Androscoggin River, Lewiston, does. That would be WILP-TV (ION) channel 35.

Glendive, MT remains at the bottom at #210.

Burlington, VT/Plattsburgh, NY is at #96. Something about that market caught my attention:

The sister station to WPTZ-TV (NBC) channel 5 of Plattsburgh, NY has been WNNE-TV channel 31. Until recently, it was more or less a satellite station, licensed to White River Junction, VT. It extended the reach of NBC into the upper Connecticut River Valley. Thanks to the FCC Incentive Auction, channel 31 went dark. It was re-licensed to Montpelier, VT. It is now a CW affiliate. Technically, it's also now a subchannel of WPTZ. I want to say it's channel 5-2. Your TV would show it as "31-1", however.

Here in Hartford/New Haven, WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 of New Haven became a subchannel to sister station WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 of New Haven. It's now channel 8-2, but your TV will display it as "59-1". The channel WCTX-TV was using, UHF channel 39, went dark. WTNH-TV transmits digital on VHF channel 10.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Desert Man on September 28, 2018, 06:14:34 PM
Televisa from Mexico (since 1973) - the largest television network in Spanish-speaking Latin America (Brazil which speaks Portuguese has more people) and its signals can be reached across the US border in Southern Cal. (San Diego, Calexico and Yuma AZ).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zf1Ji-9ne0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNffUVPm4NA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yROGcseIzs0
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: The Nature Boy on September 29, 2018, 02:52:53 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on September 27, 2018, 07:12:33 AM

Portland/Poland Spring, ME is at #84. They name it "Portland/Auburn". Funny, since Auburn has no TV stations licensed to it. Auburn's sister across the Androscoggin River, Lewiston, does. That would be WILP-TV (ION) channel 35.

I don't know if I would include Poland Spring as the secondary city in the Portland, Maine media market. WMTW is the only station licensed there  and their studios are in Westbrook. The fact that it's licensed in Poland Spring seems to be of little significance.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on September 29, 2018, 03:27:35 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 29, 2018, 02:52:53 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on September 27, 2018, 07:12:33 AM

Portland/Poland Spring, ME is at #84. They name it "Portland/Auburn". Funny, since Auburn has no TV stations licensed to it. Auburn's sister across the Androscoggin River, Lewiston, does. That would be WILP-TV (ION) channel 35.

I don't know if I would include Poland Spring as the secondary city in the Portland, Maine media market. WMTW is the only station licensed there  and their studios are in Westbrook. The fact that it's licensed in Poland Spring seems to be of little significance.

It sounds like product placement for the Poland Spring water bottles.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on September 29, 2018, 05:27:26 PM
I've always called it Portland/Poland Spring since I lived there from 1985-1987. Instead of Portland/Auburn, they could call it Portland/Lewiston. They're the second largest city in Maine. It also has the market's ION station and a couple of radio stations serving Portland's radio market (such as 107.5 Frank-FM).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on September 29, 2018, 10:13:48 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuwdH_KeQe8

KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, IA uses CBS Enforcer but its an ABC Affiliate in the area. Usually CBS Enforcer theme is associated with CW/CBS duopolies owned by CBS inc like KOVR CBS13/KMAX CW31 Sacramento.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3eq-Qot-jM

Here is the CBS edition of enforcer used on the O&O's.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on September 30, 2018, 10:09:18 AM
Back around 1990, I found the Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook at a local library that had maps of each TV market, and I'm pretty sure it called it Portland/Poland Spring.

I was fascinated by those maps, but I realized they don't really work for radio (and it's a stretch to say they even work for TV).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on September 30, 2018, 10:17:02 AM
To me, and I believe most people, Poland Spring is not a location, but this:

(https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10402733_10152645086624825_7811984527020950259_n.png?_nc_cat=104&oh=f6edd15c0dafddd4f9e4d33332934274&oe=5C58AEA3)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: The Nature Boy on September 30, 2018, 09:55:58 PM
Quote from: 1 on September 30, 2018, 10:17:02 AM
To me, and I believe most people, Poland Spring is not a location, but this:

(https://scontent.fbed1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10402733_10152645086624825_7811984527020950259_n.png?_nc_cat=104&oh=f6edd15c0dafddd4f9e4d33332934274&oe=5C58AEA3)

I mean yeah.

But the water is named after its source, the Poland Spring in Maine.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on October 01, 2018, 03:31:03 PM
I wonder why WMTW-TV has that as their city of license to be begin with. Maybe it had to do with their old transmitter being atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire? Their current digital transmitter is in Baldwin, ME, not too far from Lake Sebago.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on October 03, 2018, 06:27:55 PM
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-02/sinclair-mulls-tapping-private-equity-to-buy-fox-sports-networks


Update there are talks that Sinclair wants the regional Fox Sports Net outlets note this affects Fox Sports West Net in Los Angeles.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: The Nature Boy on October 03, 2018, 10:55:00 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on October 01, 2018, 03:31:03 PM
I wonder why WMTW-TV has that as their city of license to be begin with. Maybe it had to do with their old transmitter being atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire? Their current digital transmitter is in Baldwin, ME, not too far from Lake Sebago.

https://www.wmtw.com/article/wmtw-s-first-home-at-poland-spring-resort/2004587

Their first studios were in Poland Spring. I feel like changing the city of license when you're staying in the same market isn't a priority so it just remained Poland Spring.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on October 04, 2018, 09:21:42 AM
And two stories from up-thread may be merging. 

Sinclair, having seen its scofflaw ways collapse its merger with Tribune, is the latest rumored buyer for the Fox Sports Net group of regional sports networks.    Sinclair's only significant current sports venture is the digital sub-channel Stadium TV, which carries mostly college games no one else wants, and the Tennis Channel.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on October 04, 2018, 03:29:02 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHM0vKlWYjM


KMIR-TV Palm Springs has renamed themselves NBC Palm Springs. Yes KMIR-TV uses the same branding motif as NBC O&O KNTV San Jose.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on October 05, 2018, 06:26:04 PM
http://www.wvxu.org/post/commentary-why-exodus-wkrc-tv#stream/0


Here is a commentary on the WKRC Exodus. And yes Sinclair is the issue here.



Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on October 05, 2018, 08:51:30 PM
Surprised that the article never mentioned WLWT-TV (NBC) channel 5.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on October 09, 2018, 03:16:20 PM
https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2018/10/03/sinclair-broadcast-ceo-eyes-deal-for-foxs-regional.html


Update Sinclair is named as a Rumored Party in talks to get Cox Owned stations. But this is happening at the same time that Sinclair is talking about getting Fox Sports Regional networks like Fox Sports West in Los Angeles.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on October 22, 2018, 08:47:49 PM
Quote from: bing101 on September 05, 2018, 08:41:43 PM
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/man-arrested-after-repeatedly-crashing-truck-into-dallas-tv-news-station-building/ (https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/man-arrested-after-repeatedly-crashing-truck-into-dallas-tv-news-station-building/)


http://www.fox4news.com/news/man-arrested-after-crashing-truck-into-fox4-building-in-downtown-dallas (http://www.fox4news.com/news/man-arrested-after-crashing-truck-into-fox4-building-in-downtown-dallas)


Update Fox 4 Dallas Offices has been rammed on purpose but the motive is under investigation.


http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/video-surveillance-footage-shows-man-kicking-down-glass-door-to-get-into-fox-5-building


https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Fox5-WTTG-Security-Guard-Shoots-Man-Trying-to-Get-Into-Building-498232931.html


https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/security-guard-shoots-man-trying-enter-local-news-station-authorities-say/t9gyy9bGuHi3bzW34YxUHM/




Update apparently another Fox Station WTTG the O&O in Washington DC has been the scene of a shooting and thats being investigated at this time.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on October 29, 2018, 08:23:04 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/224512/scripps-buying-15-cordillera-stations-521m/



The stations Scripps is acquiring:


WLEX, the NBC affiliate in Lexington, Ky.
KOAA, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colo.
KATC, the ABC affiliate in Lafayette, La.
KSBY, the NBC affiliate in Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo, Calif.
KRIS, the NBC affiliate, and KAJA, a Telemundo affiliate, in Corpus Christi, Tex.
KPAX and KAJJ, a CBS affiliate in Missoula, Mont.
KTVQ, a CBS affiliate in Billings, Mont.
KXLF-KBZK, the CBS affiliate in Butte-Bozeman, Mont.
KRTV, the CBS affiliate, and KTGF, the NBC affiliate, in Great Falls, Mont.
KTVH, the NBC affiliate, and KXLH, the CBS affiliate, in Helena, Mont.
Scripps emphasized what it called the resulting "stronger Scripps portfolio:


Scripps will have the No. 1 Nielsen-rated TV stations in 11 of its 36 markets.
The Cordillera stations will significantly diversify the Scripps portfolio. The 51 stations will include 18 ABC affiliates, 11 NBC affiliates, seven CBS affiliates and two Fox affiliates.
Scripps will operate seven duopolies, efficiently enhancing the depth and durability of the portfolio
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on October 29, 2018, 09:36:16 PM
Sounds like that's going to be one hell of a Montana monopoly!
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on October 31, 2018, 10:51:14 AM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/224678/quincy-buys-second-station-week/


Update Quincy buys WSIL in Kentucky.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on November 01, 2018, 07:23:13 AM
Technically, WSIL-TV is licensed to Harrisburg, IL. The analog license had to be north of Paducah, KY to end short-spacing issues with WREG-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Memphis.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 08, 2018, 11:55:44 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/225151/nexstar-doubling-honolulu/




Nexstar is named to get KFVE from Raycom.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on November 09, 2018, 09:27:34 AM
And Disney's required sale of the Fox Sports regional sports networks went to first bids yesterday.  Very weird list of potential buyers:

- Sinclair
- Comcast (NBC)
- Fox.  Yes, Fox may buy back the RSNs for substantially less than it sold them to Disney last year. 
- A Hollywood group consisting of "Ice Cube", "LL Cool J", Carolyn Rafaelian, owner of the pre-teen costume jewelry company Alex and Ani, and others.
- Amazon
-CAA, which is the agent for like a third of the players in all sports,which seems to me to be an untangleable conflict of interest.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 09, 2018, 07:35:30 PM
https://deadline.com/2018/11/byron-allen-interested-in-buying-tribune-media-1202499138/


Update Byron Allen is in talks to get Tribune Media yes the owners of KTLA Los Angeles
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on November 10, 2018, 10:10:59 AM
I've had my fill of a local TV station where one of the main news anchors sounds like she's on drugs lately. She's been around for years, but lately she's gotten ridiculous. She's also begun inserting her extremist political opinions after each story (not like this station was that good to begin with about fairly covering both sides).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 12, 2018, 10:28:01 PM
https://awfulannouncing.com/local-networks/las-vegas-sports-director-masturbating-bar-slot-machine.html


https://www.ktnv.com/news/ksnv-sports-anchor-randy-howe-arrested-in-north-las-vegas


Randy Howe of KSNV-TV Las Vegas has been accused of grabbing his personal parts.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: abefroman329 on November 13, 2018, 06:43:24 AM
He must've won a really big jackpot.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on November 20, 2018, 04:16:16 PM
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/20/amazon-bids-for-disneys-22-regional-sports-networks-including-yes-network-sources-say.html


Update Amazon is in the running for the local editions of Fox Sports Net.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 02, 2018, 01:54:45 PM
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/02/nexstar-said-to-reach-deal-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4point1-billion.html   (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/02/nexstar-said-to-reach-deal-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4point1-billion.html)
Here is an announcement Nexstar and Tribune are in talks for a deal
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on December 02, 2018, 05:27:07 PM
Quote from: bing101 on December 02, 2018, 01:54:45 PM
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/02/nexstar-said-to-reach-deal-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4point1-billion.html   (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/02/nexstar-said-to-reach-deal-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4point1-billion.html)
Here is an announcement Nexstar and Tribune are in talks for a deal

I guess that means Cox is going to sell their TV stations to Sinclair. Can't say I am surprised, though.

EDIT: This thankfully isn't the case as I had initially feared it would be.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on December 02, 2018, 07:05:19 PM
I guess this means that Empire State Weekly (a show similar to ABC's This Week, but focusing on NY, produced by WTEN here in Albany and syndicated across other Nextar stations in NY media markets) will finally be broadcast downstate!  Although that doesn't mean what WPIX won't broadcast it at some really early time like the Rochester/Buffalo/Syracuse stations have.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 03, 2018, 09:20:00 PM
I would like to know who gets divested in Indianapolis given that Nexstar and Tribune has a total of 4 in that market like WTTV, WXIN, WISH and WNDY

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/12/03/owner-wish-tv-purchase-parent-company-fox-59-cbs-4/2192113002/ (https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/12/03/owner-wish-tv-purchase-parent-company-fox-59-cbs-4/2192113002/)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNDY-TV (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNDY-TV)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WISH-TV (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WISH-TV)

And who will be in the running to get the Divested TV stations of Nexstar.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on December 04, 2018, 07:23:29 AM
Nexstar and Tribune isn't going to work in Hartford/New Haven:

Tribune...
WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 Hartford
WCCT-TV (CW) channel 20 Waterbury

Nexstar...
WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 New Haven
WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 New Haven

WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford is owned by Merideth. WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain is an NBC owned-and-operated station.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 08, 2018, 06:37:01 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on December 04, 2018, 07:23:29 AM
Nexstar and Tribune isn't going to work in Hartford/New Haven:

Tribune...
WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 Hartford
WCCT-TV (CW) channel 20 Waterbury

Nexstar...
WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 New Haven
WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 New Haven

WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford is owned by Merideth. WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain is an NBC owned-and-operated station.

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-bc-biz-tribune-media-nexstar-20181203-story.html

Apparently in this article there's speculation that Fox or Sinclair will go after WTIC-TV 61 in Hartford CT.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on December 09, 2018, 03:01:25 PM
Read that earlier. It seems as if they'd rather have FOX own them and not Sinclair. The only Sinclair station I know of in New England is CBS of Portland, ME.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 12, 2018, 04:42:56 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226741/station-trading-roundup-4-deals-46-4m/


KCSO-LD Sacramento is going to be a Telemundo affiliate owned by NBC and WHDT Palm Beach is going to Scripps.


https://nypost.com/2018/12/10/disney-plans-to-split-up-foxs-local-sports-networks-to-sell/


And an update on the Disney/Fox Talks over the sale of its RSN's
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on December 12, 2018, 04:53:02 PM
Quote from: bing101 on December 12, 2018, 04:42:56 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226741/station-trading-roundup-4-deals-46-4m/


KCSO-LD Sacramento is going to be a Telemundo affiliate owned by NBC and WHDT Palm Beach is going to Scripps.


https://nypost.com/2018/12/10/disney-plans-to-split-up-foxs-local-sports-networks-to-sell/


And an update on the Disney/Fox Talks over the sale of its RSN's

I'm not surprised that they're now planning to split the sports networks among the potential buyers. Should be interesting to see who does what with them.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 20, 2018, 08:33:25 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/227334/fcc-approves-gray-raycom-merger/



Here is an update on the Gray/ Raycom Talks
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 21, 2018, 02:59:32 PM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/12/21/graycom-is-a-go-says-fcc


https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/12/21/pink-slips-to-fly-at-gray


Update the FCC and DOJ has approved the Gray/Raycom deal.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on December 21, 2018, 03:05:59 PM
Quote from: bing101 on December 21, 2018, 02:59:32 PM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/12/21/graycom-is-a-go-says-fcc


https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/12/21/pink-slips-to-fly-at-gray


Update the FCC and DOJ has approved the Gray/Raycom deal.

Another monopoly rubber-stamped.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on December 24, 2018, 10:43:08 AM
If you read the article, sell offs of stations in markets where both were present, was required.  No monopoly whatsoever was created. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: RobbieL2415 on December 25, 2018, 07:20:50 PM
Is there a full list of stations that aired pay-TV during off hours in the 80s and early 90s? I'm talking OnTV, Spectrum Pay TV, Tele1st and SelecTv.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on December 25, 2018, 09:01:08 PM
I think the old WHCT-TV channel 18 of Hartford did pay TV like that for a time in their history.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KeithE4Phx on December 25, 2018, 10:13:04 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 25, 2018, 07:20:50 PM
Is there a full list of stations that aired pay-TV during off hours in the 80s and early 90s? I'm talking OnTV, Spectrum Pay TV, Tele1st and SelecTv.

Off-hours?  Most of those aired either in prime time (7 PM to midnight or later), or almost 24/7 with unscrambled time for FCC-mandated public service programming.

Wikipedia has a list of affiliates for ON-TV (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ONTV_(pay_TV)#Affiliates).  Spectrum aired only in Chicago (WFBN/66, now WGBO-TV) and the Twin Cities (KTMA/23, now WUCW).  SelecTV was in LA, Philly, and Milwaukee. 

Tele1st aired overnights on WLS-TV/7 Chicago for the first six months of 1984 and failed miserably.  I don't know if other ABC O&Os picked it up.  It required a VCR to use it, and movies were only good for one calendar month.

Chicago also had SportsVision on WPWR-WBBS/60 (the stations shared time until 1986, when WBBS went dark; WPWR moved to Channel 50 in 1987).  It carried the White Sox, Blackhawks, and Bulls.  It was a piece of cake to decode, either with a home-built set-top box or a thumbwheel-tuned VCR, getting the sound off the radio.  ON-TV used the same transmission method (out-of-phase sine wave to scramble the picture, and subcarrier audio).  ON-TV also aired soft-core porn after midnight, which resulted in several lawsuits and an FCC inquiry.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on December 28, 2018, 09:09:54 AM
https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tv-antennas-20181228-story.html


And here is an article on TV antennas and cord cutting.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on December 28, 2018, 10:01:10 AM
TV stations have, since the 80s, had a negative attitude towards their OTA signals.  Cable and sat. companies, which means you and me customer, have to PAY local stations for "retransmission".  So if you watch your local channels via cable or dish, you pay, but if you watch OTA, it is free.  Thus stations have done as nominal an effort as possible.  Most stations provide a fixed landline signal to the major cable and dish companies, the tower could collapse and you would not notice.

Now it is shifting.  As people "cord cut" a big part of that is OTA TV, and, especially in rural areas and mountainous areas, which is where cable TV came from (as CATV, a way for a town unable to get TV to share a communal antenna too expensive for any one person to afford) the stations need big time upgrades and engineers that show actual knowledge and concern about OTA signals.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on December 28, 2018, 01:24:23 PM
Sure, over the air quality may have gotten a lot better if you live in an area with consistently good reception, but what about those of us who don't?  I have a ground-floor (partially underground on the side facing the antenna, such that my antenna is level with the blades of grass outside) apartment in a brick building on a hill, and during summer or any day with humidity and above freezing temperatures, reception is choppy for everything that isn't CBS (which is a low-band VHF station here that ironically most people have trouble receiving, but which comes in loud and clear for me), even with an amplified antenna that was rated for 50 miles when I bought it in WalMart five years ago.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on December 28, 2018, 01:26:16 PM
Reception has gotten much worse with the forced switchover to digital. I completely lost 2 stations that used to have great local reception.

We should go back to analog.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: RobbieL2415 on December 28, 2018, 06:02:40 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on December 25, 2018, 09:01:08 PM
I think the old WHCT-TV channel 18 of Hartford did pay TV like that for a time in their history.

It was called PhoneVision and operated by Zenith.  WHCT (now WUVN) is still around as the Univision affiliate for the area and is the oldest UHF station in the state.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on December 28, 2018, 10:17:00 PM
Yep! They were also the original CBS affiliate for greater Hartford. Channel 3 didn't sign on until 1957. They became a CBS affiliate in 1960 and never looked back. Good move, since my reception of analog channel 18 was always horrible. I lived in the south end of New Britain, CT.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ErmineNotyours on December 29, 2018, 12:19:49 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on December 28, 2018, 10:01:10 AM
TV stations have, since the 80s, had a negative attitude towards their OTA signals.  Cable and sat. companies, which means you and me customer, have to PAY local stations for "retransmission".  So if you watch your local channels via cable or dish, you pay, but if you watch OTA, it is free.  Thus stations have done as nominal an effort as possible.  Most stations provide a fixed landline signal to the major cable and dish companies, the tower could collapse and you would not notice.

Now it is shifting.  As people "cord cut" a big part of that is OTA TV, and, especially in rural areas and mountainous areas, which is where cable TV came from (as CATV, a way for a town unable to get TV to share a communal antenna too expensive for any one person to afford) the stations need big time upgrades and engineers that show actual knowledge and concern about OTA signals.

For a brief period of time, some stations promoted their over-the-air digital availability.  I remember the first promo materials for local digital TV on cable featured only the PBS affiliate (KCTS) and the NBC affiliate (KING).  Shortly after, the ABC affiliate (KOMO-4) ran promos on their air saying, "You don't need cable to get high def TV!"  And then they showed the oddball dial position of their digital channel: 38.  They didn't know virtual channels would catch on.  It must have been a ploy to get in on the Comcast promo of local channels, because soon KOMO was the promotional materials, and they stopped mentioning free high def TV.

Also in Seattle, those stations that abandoned their VHF frequencies in favor of their transitory UHF frequencies had to change out their tower masts. I noticed that the CBS affiliate (KIRO-7) didn't replace it with a mast as tall as the old one.  They simply lopped off their old mast and left the new existing UHF aerial bolted to the side.  Hey, the antenna is just there to put the station on cable, who cares if a few fewer people can watch it.  They also admitted what I had noticed all along.  In a historic retrospective aired about the time the analog signal was to be shut off, they admitted that channel 7 is a lousy frequency to broadcast on.  It's subject to non-television interference on adjacent frequencies, and I noticed how much more sharper and colorful CBS programs became when the network briefly switched affiliations to Channel 11.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
My cousin used to live in Northwest Indiana (about a mile from the Chicago/Illinois border) and when I visited her, the cable system she had carried both NBC and ABC affiliates from South Bend, in addition to the Chicago stations.


Has anyone ever received three or more stations affiliated with the same network? I have family in Forrest City, AR, and their cable carries ABCs from Little Rock, Jonesboro and Memphis.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on January 11, 2019, 10:26:01 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
Forrest City, AR

I just had to make sure that was the correct spelling.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ErmineNotyours on January 12, 2019, 12:40:14 AM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
My cousin used to live in Northwest Indiana (about a mile from the Chicago/Illinois border) and when I visited her, the cable system she had carried both NBC and ABC affiliates from South Bend, in addition to the Chicago stations.


Has anyone ever received three or more stations affiliated with the same network? I have family in Forrest City, AR, and their cable carries ABCs from Little Rock, Jonesboro and Memphis.

In Pullman, Washington they carried the Spokane CBS affiliate; and Lewiston, Idaho's only TV station, also a CBS affiliate.  They also carried independent KSTW 11, Tacoma as a regional super station.  For a time they still carried KSTW after it became a CBS affiliate though neither the affiliation and the super station status lasted long.

While I was going to Washington State University, I noticed that Lewiston's cable system didn't carry Spoake's Fox affiliate, nor any other Fox station.  It is on Channel 28, and Lewiston is far enough away from Spokane that they could carry the VHF stations, but not the UHF stations.  I imagine when Fox got the AFC away from CBS, Lewiston's cable system might have changed this.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on January 12, 2019, 09:46:57 AM
Scripps, TEGNA and Hearst


https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/10/tegna-hearst-and-ew-scripps-plan-january-bids-for-cox-tv-stations.html


Are named as candidates to get the Cox stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on January 12, 2019, 11:00:38 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 12, 2019, 09:46:57 AM
Scripps, TEGNA and Hearst


https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/10/tegna-hearst-and-ew-scripps-plan-january-bids-for-cox-tv-stations.html


Are named as candidates to get the Cox stations.

Well if TEGNA gets them that would require them to divest some of their stations.

I would personally prefer that Cox Media Group merges their TV aka television assets with those of Hearst Television's so that Hearst finally owns a small amount of Fox aka FOX-affiliated television stations.

Although, I think now that Scripps is looking to divest, merge, or spin-off their television assets and/or combine them with those from another media conglomerate such as Cox.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on January 12, 2019, 03:01:13 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
My cousin used to live in Northwest Indiana (about a mile from the Chicago/Illinois border) and when I visited her, the cable system she had carried both NBC and ABC affiliates from South Bend, in addition to the Chicago stations.


Has anyone ever received three or more stations affiliated with the same network? I have family in Forrest City, AR, and their cable carries ABCs from Little Rock, Jonesboro and Memphis.

I don't know about cable companies, but back in the early days of television, my grandparents could receive (albeit faintly) both Channel 3 from Louisville and Channel 3 from Huntington, depending on which way they turned their antenna.

My brother lives in Owen County, Ky., which is the center of the triangle between Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati. His satellite TV provider (Dish) carries the Cincinnati stations. He installed an antenna on his back porch and can now get Lexington over-the-air. I'd say he could get OTA from all three cities if he mounted the antenna on his roof.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: golden eagle on January 12, 2019, 06:29:57 PM
Quote from: 1 on January 11, 2019, 10:26:01 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
Forrest City, AR

I just had to make sure that was the correct spelling.

Just like Forrest County, MS.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on January 13, 2019, 04:41:15 AM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 12, 2019, 06:29:57 PM
Quote from: 1 on January 11, 2019, 10:26:01 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
Forrest City, AR

I just had to make sure that was the correct spelling.

Just like Forrest County, MS.

And Forrest Township, Livingston County, Illinois.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: abefroman329 on January 13, 2019, 08:11:23 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on January 13, 2019, 04:41:15 AM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 12, 2019, 06:29:57 PM
Quote from: 1 on January 11, 2019, 10:26:01 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
Forrest City, AR

I just had to make sure that was the correct spelling.

Just like Forrest County, MS.

And Forrest Township, Livingston County, Illinois.
And Nathan Bedford Forrest, actual historical figure (not to be confused with Forrest Gump, fictional character named for Forrest).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: BamaZeus on January 18, 2019, 06:29:23 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 25, 2018, 07:20:50 PM
Is there a full list of stations that aired pay-TV during off hours in the 80s and early 90s? I'm talking OnTV, Spectrum Pay TV, Tele1st and SelecTv.

Wometco Home Theatre on Long Island (WHT) would show Islanders games and first run movies after 6 or 7 pm.  During the day it was just another UHF shopping channel.  It got big for a couple of years before cable tv reached most of the metropolitan area.

https://youtu.be/YTqwR8rgyC0
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jon daly on January 18, 2019, 08:27:42 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
My cousin used to live in Northwest Indiana (about a mile from the Chicago/Illinois border) and when I visited her, the cable system she had carried both NBC and ABC affiliates from South Bend, in addition to the Chicago stations.


Has anyone ever received three or more stations affiliated with the same network? I have family in Forrest City, AR, and their cable carries ABCs from Little Rock, Jonesboro and Memphis.

I grew up in Ellington, CT on a hill and we could pick up 3 ABC stations: WTNH (8) from New Haven/Hartford, WCDC (19) out of North Adams, MA [this was a repeater of Albany's WTEN (10,)] and WGGB (40) out of Springfield, MA.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KeithE4Phx on January 18, 2019, 11:09:37 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PMHas anyone ever received three or more stations affiliated with the same network? I have family in Forrest City, AR, and their cable carries ABCs from Little Rock, Jonesboro and Memphis.

I'll bet a lot of folks did in the analog era, maybe not so much now.

I grew up in Bloomington IN.  Our local market was Indianapolis, but we also got clear reception from all 3 Terre Haute stations, as well as fringe reception from Champaign (CBS, PBS), Cincinnati (CBS, NBC, ABC), Dayton (CBS, NBC), Louisville (CBS, NBC), and Evansville (ABC, PBS) VHFs.  If the weather was anywhere decent at all, Chicago (ABC and WGN) and St. Louis (ABC, NBC) were viewable as well.

I lived in Wauconda IL, 50 miles NW of downtown Chicago and 20 miles south of the Wisconsin state line, in the mid 1980s.  We got just about everything from not only Chicago, but Rockford and Milwaukee, plus CBS from Madison.

When my family moved to Belchertown MA (near Amherst) in 1979, they got the local Springfield stations (NBC, ABC, PBS), as well as Hartford (CBS, NBC, PBS), New Haven (ABC), Adams (ABC), and Boston (CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS), plus the independent in Worcester.  There was also some deep-fringe reception from NYC, Albany, and Providence stations as well.

All of the above were OTA, not cable.  Large antennas with preamps and rotators were required in each case.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on January 19, 2019, 08:54:44 PM
Before the 1994-96 network realignment, the cable system (Bresnan) in Ludington, MI carried three ABCs (Green Bay, Grand Rapids, Traverse City), three CBSs (Cadillac, Green Bay, Milwaukee), three NBCs (Green Bay, Milwaukee, Traverse City), and three PBSs (Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, Mount Pleasant [rebroadcaster near Free Soil]). OTA viewers, in addition to those stations, could have likely received ABC from Milwaukee, NBC from Grand Rapids, and CBS from Kalamazoo.

After the network switches, that system had three FOX stations when it only had one before (NBC Green Bay and CBS Milwaukee both switched to FOX). Eventually, all the WI stations were dropped, in part due to the digital transition and also due to stations becoming more protective of their turf. Today, ABC and PBS Grand Rapids are still carried.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on January 20, 2019, 02:32:19 AM
Quote from: jon daly on January 18, 2019, 08:27:42 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on January 11, 2019, 07:00:24 PM
My cousin used to live in Northwest Indiana (about a mile from the Chicago/Illinois border) and when I visited her, the cable system she had carried both NBC and ABC affiliates from South Bend, in addition to the Chicago stations.


Has anyone ever received three or more stations affiliated with the same network? I have family in Forrest City, AR, and their cable carries ABCs from Little Rock, Jonesboro and Memphis.

I grew up in Ellington, CT on a hill and we could pick up 3 ABC stations: WTNH (8) from New Haven/Hartford, WCDC (19) out of North Adams, MA [this was a repeater of Albany's WTEN (10,)] and WGGB (40) out of Springfield, MA.

Prior to cable systems implementing specialty networks, my cable system used to have 4 (later 3) NBC affiliates, and 3 ABC affiliates.  The 4 NBC affiliates were Hartford's WVIT (30), WNBC (4) in New York, WWLP (22) in Springfield, and until 1981-82, WATR (20; now WCCT) in Waterbury.  The three ABC affiliates were WTNH, WGGB, and WABC (7) in New York. 
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ErmineNotyours on January 21, 2019, 12:43:26 AM
If you count PBS, then for a short while Seattle-Tacoma had three PBS stations: KCTS, KTPS and KCPQ.  Lightning struck the KTPS tower, knocking it off the air for a few years, and KCPQ went back to being commercial.  Pullman and Moscow have three PBS stations on cable, one from Spokane and the local WSU and UI stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on January 30, 2019, 08:40:38 AM
https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-identifies-where-it-will-divest-to-acquire-tribune

Nexstar is in discussions on which TV stations to divest from in able to merge with Tribune.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 03, 2019, 03:08:38 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/229649/nexstar-wants-keep-tribs-top-4-duop-indy/

Update Nexstar is in talks to divest from WISH-TV Indianapolis for WTTV-TV and WXIN.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on February 03, 2019, 08:57:06 PM
I've heard that they're planning to sell WPIX in NYC.  Too bad.  I was hoping that them buying Tribune would allow them to enter the NYC market and spread their program, Empire State Weekly, to the entire state (it currently broadcasts across upstate but not downstate, where it is needed most).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 03, 2019, 10:53:13 PM
Quote from: vdeane on February 03, 2019, 08:57:06 PM
I've heard that they're planning to sell WPIX in NYC.  Too bad.  I was hoping that them buying Tribune would allow them to enter the NYC market and spread their program, Empire State Weekly, to the entire state (it currently broadcasts across upstate but not downstate, where it is needed most).

I'm not surprised as it would have at least some value to sell.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 05, 2019, 12:27:55 PM
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/05/liberty-media-joins-bidding-for-regional-sports-networks-.html

Liberty Media named as a candidate to get the Fox Sports local Outlets.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 05, 2019, 01:30:51 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 05, 2019, 12:27:55 PM
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/05/liberty-media-joins-bidding-for-regional-sports-networks-.html

Liberty Media named as a candidate to get the Fox Sports local Outlets.

Should be noted that Liberty Media was formed as a spin-off of the defunct TCI, which was incorporated into the also-defunct AT&T Broadband, which was incorporated into Comcast's broadband service (now Xfinity).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 06, 2019, 01:05:41 PM
https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/doj-ok-with-scripps-cordillera-station-buy


The Scripps Cordillera talks and the stations affected are KATC Lafayette, La. (ABC); WLEX (NBC), Lexington, Ky.; KOAA (NBC) Colorado Springs; KSBY (NBC) Santa Barbara; KRIS (NBC) and KAJA (Telemundo), Corpus Christi, Texas; KPAX and KAJJ (CBS) Missoula, Mont.; KTVQ (CBS) Billings, Mont.; KXLF-KBZK (CBS), Butte-Bozeman, Mont.; KRTV (CBS) and KTGF (NBC) Great Falls, Mont.; and KTVH (NBC) and KXLH (CBS), Helena, Mont.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 06, 2019, 04:06:27 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 06, 2019, 01:05:41 PM
https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/doj-ok-with-scripps-cordillera-station-buy


The Scripps Cordillera talks and the stations affected are KATC Lafayette, La. (ABC); WLEX (NBC), Lexington, Ky.; KOAA (NBC) Colorado Springs; KSBY (NBC) Santa Barbara; KRIS (NBC) and KAJA (Telemundo), Corpus Christi, Texas; KPAX and KAJJ (CBS) Missoula, Mont.; KTVQ (CBS) Billings, Mont.; KXLF-KBZK (CBS), Butte-Bozeman, Mont.; KRTV (CBS) and KTGF (NBC) Great Falls, Mont.; and KTVH (NBC) and KXLH (CBS), Helena, Mont.

I wonder about Scripps and Cox agreeing to merge their television assets. That could be next, or it could be Hearst or TEGNA instead of Scripps.

I also wonder if the hostile takeover of Gannett by MediaNews Group aka Digital First Media will come to pass.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 06, 2019, 04:12:40 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 03, 2019, 03:08:38 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/229649/nexstar-wants-keep-tribs-top-4-duop-indy/

Update Nexstar is in talks to divest from WISH-TV Indianapolis for WTTV-TV and WXIN.

WISH-TV should not be confused with WESH.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 06, 2019, 04:15:32 PM
Quote from: bing101 on December 12, 2018, 04:42:56 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226741/station-trading-roundup-4-deals-46-4m/


KCSO-LD Sacramento is going to be a Telemundo affiliate owned by NBC and WHDT Palm Beach is going to Scripps.


https://nypost.com/2018/12/10/disney-plans-to-split-up-foxs-local-sports-networks-to-sell/


And an update on the Disney/Fox Talks over the sale of its RSN's

WHDT would be associated with WFOX and WJAX if the Cox-Scripps television assets are merged.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 06, 2019, 04:18:25 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on October 29, 2018, 09:36:16 PM
Sounds like that's going to be one hell of a Montana monopoly!

You can say that ("˜Montana monopoly') again five times fast.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 06, 2019, 04:33:39 PM
Quote from: Sctvhound on September 04, 2018, 12:45:42 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on September 03, 2018, 03:24:37 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on September 02, 2018, 08:46:37 PM
Gray tends to promote from within. Lots of people from WYMT move on to WKYT, or the Gray station in Knoxville (typically the UT grads that WYMT seems to like to hire.)  We haven't had a lot of WYMT folks move up to WSAZ, so I typically don't know where SAZ people move up to. (WKYT seems to be a career destination for a lot of people; I guess they like Lexington and don't want to move away.)


WKYT's #1 weather man, Chris Bailey, used to be the #2 at WSAZ, but he is a UK grad and made no secret that he wanted to get back to Lexington.

WSAZ, which has had a local news rating no less than double all other stations combined since local ratings started in 1968, tends to keep its male anchors until retirement.  The females change every couple of years, generally go to Ohio markets.  Gray's recent growth may change that as it now has larger markets to move to within the company.

Exactly what happens here with our stations in Charleston south. The main anchor talent have been at each station for decades (the CBS's news anchors have been together at 6 since 1991 and the guy has been doing it since the 70s). We've had one main anchor change at the big 3 stations in about a decade. The Sinclair-owned ABC replaced the older co-anchor who had been on in Nashville for years with a younger, cheaper lady.

The reporters/anchors usually go from here to one of the big 4 Florida markets (Jax, Tampa, Orlando or Miami), Raleigh or Charlotte. The NBC (owned by Nexstar) is especially cheap. They've gone through 4-5 sports anchors in 5 years. Their main sports anchor just left to be the 3rd sports anchor at the NBC/ABC in Jacksonville.

This leaves our NBC with 1 sports anchor during most of the football season.

I did not know that First Coast News had hired a sports anchor from NBC Charleston SC.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 06, 2019, 04:39:37 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on August 24, 2018, 10:48:23 AM
Quote from: bing101 on August 23, 2018, 10:07:18 PM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2018/8/23/buying-tribune


Now FTV Live does an editorial on who will buy the Tribune stations.
They forgot to mention the Tegna-Tribune conflict in Grand Rapids.
Tegna owns ABC affiliate WZZM (one of two ABC's in the market [the other is Nexstar-owned WOTV]; WZZM's stick had to be way up in Newaygo County in order to be adequately spaced to two other Channel 13's in the analog era, however, this location benefited WZZM in the early days as the market to the north (Traverse City-Cadillac [Newaygo County borders the market on two sides]) had no ABC until 1971 and even after then, WZZM put a better signal into the southern portions of that market [Ludington, Big Rapids, Manistee] than in-market WGTU, whose tower was (and still is) in Kalkaska County)

WOTV should not be confused with WOKV.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on February 07, 2019, 03:09:37 PM
Gray must have bought WAVE-TV in Louisville. One of my journalist associates with WYMT-TV posted that he was at a meeting at WYMT's new sister station.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on February 07, 2019, 03:47:16 PM
WAVE was a Raycom station, Raycom and Gray have merged. 

With Gray now owning a station in every market serving a part of Kentucky, I would look for WAVE to take over all of the politics reporting and WKYT to take over all of the Wildcats reporting and the same reports and reporters showing up statewide.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on February 08, 2019, 01:12:05 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on February 07, 2019, 03:47:16 PM
WAVE was a Raycom station, Raycom and Gray have merged. 

With Gray now owning a station in every market serving a part of Kentucky, I would look for WAVE to take over all of the politics reporting and WKYT to take over all of the Wildcats reporting and the same reports and reporters showing up statewide.

I guess ownership takes precedence over network affiliation. I'm sure we see some of the same with WSAZ, which is also Gray but is NBC as well. I think Gray's Knoxville affiliate is NBC as well.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 09, 2019, 02:56:08 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/230061/gray-buys-three-united-stations-two-markets/

Now Gray is named to get three stations in Minnesota and New York State.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 11, 2019, 07:20:48 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/10/reuters-america-exclusive-apollo-nears-3-billion-deal-to-buy-cox-tv-stations-sources.html

Apollo in talks to get the Cox stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 11, 2019, 11:32:03 AM
Quote from: bing101 on February 11, 2019, 07:20:48 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/10/reuters-america-exclusive-apollo-nears-3-billion-deal-to-buy-cox-tv-stations-sources.html

Apollo in talks to get the Cox stations.

Well that's a surprise! Didn't see that one coming!
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: renegade on February 11, 2019, 04:17:47 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on February 11, 2019, 11:32:03 AM
Quote from: bing101 on February 11, 2019, 07:20:48 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/10/reuters-america-exclusive-apollo-nears-3-billion-deal-to-buy-cox-tv-stations-sources.html

Apollo in talks to get the Cox stations.

Well that's a surprise! Didn't see that one coming!
They're only in it for the money.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 11, 2019, 04:29:43 PM
Quote from: renegade on February 11, 2019, 04:17:47 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on February 11, 2019, 11:32:03 AM
Quote from: bing101 on February 11, 2019, 07:20:48 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/10/reuters-america-exclusive-apollo-nears-3-billion-deal-to-buy-cox-tv-stations-sources.html

Apollo in talks to get the Cox stations.

Well that's a surprise! Didn't see that one coming!
They're only in it for the money.

That's what she said.  :bigass:
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: wriddle082 on February 11, 2019, 07:43:32 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 08, 2019, 01:12:05 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on February 07, 2019, 03:47:16 PM
WAVE was a Raycom station, Raycom and Gray have merged. 

With Gray now owning a station in every market serving a part of Kentucky, I would look for WAVE to take over all of the politics reporting and WKYT to take over all of the Wildcats reporting and the same reports and reporters showing up statewide.

I guess ownership takes precedence over network affiliation. I'm sure we see some of the same with WSAZ, which is also Gray but is NBC as well. I think Gray's Knoxville affiliate is NBC as well.

No the Gray station in Knoxville is CBS just like WKYT.  Their ABC is Nextar and their NBC is TEGNA.

And it completely slipped my mind that the Raycom stations are now Gray!  Now every market serving SC except for the Upstate is served by a Gray station, because all of the former Raycom stations are now joined by Augusta's legacy-Gray WRDW (CBS) and WAGT (NBC) (whose studios are actually just across the river in North Augusta, SC).

Also don't forget that the new Gray Kentucky network of WAVE, WKYT, WYMT, and WSAZ should also include WXIX Cincinnati, WBKO Bowling Green, WFIE Evansville, and KFVS Cape Girardeau.  That should cover just about the entire state except for Hopkinsville, which is technically still in the Nashville market.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 15, 2019, 02:45:27 PM
https://www.ajc.com/business/cox-enterprises-sell-majority-stake-stations-apollo/LEmzNJc4wsdHM2L2DVhplO/


Here is an update on the Cox/ Apollo talks.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 15, 2019, 03:19:00 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 15, 2019, 02:45:27 PM
https://www.ajc.com/business/cox-enterprises-sell-majority-stake-stations-apollo/LEmzNJc4wsdHM2L2DVhplO/


Here is an update on the Cox/ Apollo talks.

While I can't say I am surprised about splitting the assets, it remains to be seen if the deals to acquire assets from Nexstar and Northwest go through.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 16, 2019, 12:15:05 AM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2019/2/15/apollo-looking-to-buy-nexstar-spin-offs


Apollo is also named to get the divested Nexstar stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on February 16, 2019, 01:25:31 AM
Quote from: bing101 on February 16, 2019, 12:15:05 AM
https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2019/2/15/apollo-looking-to-buy-nexstar-spin-offs


Apollo is also named to get the divested Nexstar stations.

Yeah that was mentioned in the links you shared on this forum, no need to mention it here.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 21, 2019, 06:53:40 PM
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-21/disney-is-said-to-accept-divesting-fox-sports-in-brazil-mexico?srnd=premium

Disney in talks to divest Fox Sports in Brazil and Mexico.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 28, 2019, 12:40:43 PM
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/greta-van-susteren-gray-television-political-analyst-1203151930/

Greta Van Susteren does Must Runs on Gray owned Stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on February 28, 2019, 08:09:51 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 28, 2019, 12:40:43 PM
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/greta-van-susteren-gray-television-political-analyst-1203151930/

Greta Van Susteren does Must Runs on Gray owned Stations.

Thus adding to the popular train of thought in my part of the world that WKYT and WYMT are liberal media outlets.

(Greta was Fox's token liberal prime-time analyst. Hannity was conservative and O'Reilly was middle-of-the-road.)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on February 28, 2019, 10:24:56 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 28, 2019, 08:09:51 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 28, 2019, 12:40:43 PM
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/greta-van-susteren-gray-television-political-analyst-1203151930/ (https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/greta-van-susteren-gray-television-political-analyst-1203151930/)

Greta Van Susteren does Must Runs on Gray owned Stations.

Thus adding to the popular train of thought in my part of the world that WKYT and WYMT are liberal media outlets.

(Greta was Fox's token liberal prime-time analyst. Hannity was conservative and O'Reilly was middle-of-the-road.)
When I read the Article I saw this as Gray trying to do must runs as ratings ploy to go after Sinclair though. I know in Reno you have Gray's KOLO competing against KRNV a Sinclair station. In the past two years we hear of Sinclair grabbing national attention for Must Runs with Boris Epstein. Now Gray is going to do Must runs that will air on WOIO, Cleveland, KOLO Reno and Hawaii News Now.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on March 01, 2019, 12:52:11 PM
I didn't see anything in the "Variety" piece saying they'd be producing must-runs with her.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on March 01, 2019, 04:43:14 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on March 01, 2019, 12:52:11 PM
I didn't see anything in the "Variety" piece saying they'd be producing must-runs with her.




https://www.postcrescent.com/story/entertainment/2019/03/01/greta-van-susteren-appleton-native-joins-gray-television/3026914002/


In this report the article says two shows for Gray though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on March 04, 2019, 01:09:29 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/231271/gray-selling-2-buying-1-station-charlottesville/ (https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/231271/gray-selling-2-buying-1-station-charlottesville/)


Gray Television trades WCAV (CBS-Fox) and WVAW (ABC) for WVIR in the Charlottesville, VA area.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on March 20, 2019, 02:55:54 PM
https://www.rbr.com/nexstar-cox-apollo-tgna-ssp/

Update Tegna and Scripps get some of the divested Nexstar stations
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on March 20, 2019, 04:51:19 PM
Quote from: bing101 on March 20, 2019, 02:55:54 PM
https://www.rbr.com/nexstar-cox-apollo-tgna-ssp/

Update Tegna and Scripps get some of the divested Nexstar stations

Unfortunately Apollo/Cox did not get any of them, and there is some cause for concern at the FCC over the buy-back option concerning WPIX.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on March 21, 2019, 07:22:35 AM


San Francisco TV news in the 1970's.


Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: abefroman329 on March 21, 2019, 09:24:51 AM
Quote from: bing101 on March 21, 2019, 07:22:35 AM


San Francisco TV news in the 1970's.



I was watching a WBBM promo from the late 70s or early 80s and thought "it's just like Anchorman!" and then I thought "well, yeah; that's probably what they were going for."
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on March 25, 2019, 07:25:22 AM
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2019/03/24/detroit-pistons-tom-gores-fox-sports-detroit-disney/3261246002/

Here is the ongoing debate on who gets the regional Fox Sports Outlets continues.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 08, 2019, 12:57:10 PM
https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-selling-stations-in-indianapolis-for-42-5m

Nexstar to Divest WISH-TV in Indianapolis


Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 09, 2019, 10:07:34 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 21, 2019, 09:24:51 AM
Quote from: bing101 on March 21, 2019, 07:22:35 AM


San Francisco TV news in the 1970's.



I was watching a WBBM promo from the late 70s or early 80s and thought "it's just like Anchorman!" and then I thought "well, yeah; that's probably what they were going for."

My favorite is this one from Sacratomato in 1982, with a, shall we say, very familiar face to those of you in the New York metropolitan area who listen to him schmooze on certain sports talk radio station. And what's with the afro already?

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on April 09, 2019, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 09, 2019, 10:07:34 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 21, 2019, 09:24:51 AM
Quote from: bing101 on March 21, 2019, 07:22:35 AM


San Francisco TV news in the 1970's.



I was watching a WBBM promo from the late 70s or early 80s and thought "it's just like Anchorman!" and then I thought "well, yeah; that's probably what they were going for."

My favorite is this one from Sacramento in 1982, with a, shall we say, very familiar face to those of you in the New York metropolitan area who listen to him schmooze on certain sports talk radio station. And what's with the afro already?



FTFY
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 10, 2019, 10:32:31 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 09, 2019, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 09, 2019, 10:07:34 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 21, 2019, 09:24:51 AM
Quote from: bing101 on March 21, 2019, 07:22:35 AM


San Francisco TV news in the 1970's.



I was watching a WBBM promo from the late 70s or early 80s and thought "it's just like Anchorman!" and then I thought "well, yeah; that's probably what they were going for."

My favorite is this one from Sacramento in 1982, with a, shall we say, very familiar face to those of you in the New York metropolitan area who listen to him schmooze on certain sports talk radio station. And what's with the afro already?



FTFY

(https://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/992/401/e37.png)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on April 10, 2019, 11:28:38 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 10, 2019, 10:32:31 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 09, 2019, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 09, 2019, 10:07:34 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 21, 2019, 09:24:51 AM
Quote from: bing101 on March 21, 2019, 07:22:35 AM


San Francisco TV news in the 1970's.



I was watching a WBBM promo from the late 70s or early 80s and thought "it's just like Anchorman!" and then I thought "well, yeah; that's probably what they were going for."

My favorite is this one from Sacramento in 1982, with a, shall we say, very familiar face to those of you in the New York metropolitan area who listen to him schmooze on certain sports talk radio station. And what's with the afro already?



FTFY

(https://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/992/401/e37.png)

Didn't see that coming.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 10, 2019, 08:29:28 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lara-logan-late-of-cbs-joins-sinclair-broadcasting-to-cover-us-mexico-border/2019/04/10/e19a62de-5b3d-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b0d7e496ee09 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lara-logan-late-of-cbs-joins-sinclair-broadcasting-to-cover-us-mexico-border/2019/04/10/e19a62de-5b3d-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b0d7e496ee09)

Lara Logan will do segments for Sinclair Television.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 10, 2019, 08:33:58 PM
Quote from: bing101 on April 10, 2019, 08:29:28 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lara-logan-late-of-cbs-joins-sinclair-broadcasting-to-cover-us-mexico-border/2019/04/10/e19a62de-5b3d-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b0d7e496ee09 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lara-logan-late-of-cbs-joins-sinclair-broadcasting-to-cover-us-mexico-border/2019/04/10/e19a62de-5b3d-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b0d7e496ee09)

Lara Logan will do segments for Sinclair Television.

Well that's fitting. She is an absolute hack.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 10, 2019, 11:36:20 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 10, 2019, 11:28:38 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 10, 2019, 10:32:31 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 09, 2019, 10:10:11 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 09, 2019, 10:07:34 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 21, 2019, 09:24:51 AM
Quote from: bing101 on March 21, 2019, 07:22:35 AM


San Francisco TV news in the 1970's.



I was watching a WBBM promo from the late 70s or early 80s and thought "it's just like Anchorman!" and then I thought "well, yeah; that's probably what they were going for."

My favorite is this one from Sacramento in 1982, with a, shall we say, very familiar face to those of you in the New York metropolitan area who listen to him schmooze on certain sports talk radio station. And what's with the afro already?



FTFY

(https://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/992/401/e37.png)

Didn't see that coming.

Not a FAN listener, I see.  Sacratomato, every LA team is called The Hollywood ______, the New York Icelanders, the whole thing.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Verlanka on April 11, 2019, 09:21:54 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 10, 2019, 11:36:20 PM
Not a FAN listener, I see.  Sacratomato, every LA team is called The Hollywood ______, the New York Icelanders, the whole thing.

I have no idea they get a lot of things wrong.

Quote from: bandit957 on April 10, 2019, 08:33:58 PM
Well that's fitting. She is an absolute hack.

I agree. :bigass:
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 22, 2019, 01:05:31 PM
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/sinclair-broadcasting-nears-10-billion-deal-for-21st-century-foxs-regional-sports-networks

Sinclair named as Top Candidate for the Divested RSN's that went to Disney.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on April 22, 2019, 01:48:43 PM
Sinclair is a bad company.  And not because is supposedly air "right wing" political commentary.  Because is operates in a customer unfriendly manner, trying to squeeze the last cent it can out of what is an automatically profitable venture, and because it (and it is allowed to, by politicians of all parites) simply cheat the ownership caps. 

It owning the formerly Fox RSNs (probably will use the name Marquee brand name it is using for its new Cubs RSN) is bad news for the consumer, bad news for the ad buyer, and probably bad news for the teams. 

It also probably means the end of Sinclair's over-the-air sideband sports channel Stadium.  No big loss.                                                                                   
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on May 02, 2019, 02:03:59 PM
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-meredith-stations-exclusive/meredith-to-explore-sale-of-its-us-broadcast-stations-sources-idUSKCN1S74KX

https://www.rbr.com/an-apollo-launch-for-meredith-tv-properties/

Meredith in talks to sell their stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KEVIN_224 on May 02, 2019, 08:48:12 PM
Terrific! Ownership is already changing at 2 other stations in Hartford/New Haven. Nexstar owns WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 and controls WCTX-TV (MY) channel 59 of New Haven. Nexstar is buying out Tribune. They (Nexstar) had to divest WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 of Hartford and "sister" station WCCT-TV (CW) channel 20 of Waterbury to TEGNA. Merideth owns WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford.

The odd station out? NBC O&O WVIT-TV channel 30 of New Britain.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on May 03, 2019, 06:43:14 PM
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/03/sinclair-to-buy-21-regional-sports-networks-from-disney-at-10point6-billion-valuation.html

Update on the Sinclair deal with the Fox Sports regional outlets.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jon daly on May 20, 2019, 08:28:39 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 09, 2019, 10:07:34 AM




My favorite is this one from Sacratomato in 1982, with a, shall we say, very familiar face to those of you in the New York metropolitan area who listen to him schmooze on certain sports talk radio station. And what's with the afro already?



I know who Steve Somers is. It was easy to pickup WFAN when I lived in Central CT. A few thoughts:

1. I had no idea what he looked like.
2. His voice has changed over the years.
3. Those are some ugly uniforms that the Giants wore in 1982.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on June 11, 2019, 02:54:07 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/gray-tv-stations-to-end-broadcasts-with-national-anthem/2019/06/11/dc250d6e-8c47-11e9-b6f4-033356502dce_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.89161cb055f9

Gray Owned TV stations to air the national anthem. My guess would be that Gray owned stations will air the Anthem Segments after their newscasts though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on June 11, 2019, 02:56:29 PM


When Local TV stations aired the national anthem to signal the end of the broadcast day.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s1DLL9saTw)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on June 11, 2019, 02:57:41 PM
https://www.tegna.com/tegna-to-acquire-dispatch-broadcast-groups-leading-top-ranked-stations-in-indianapolis-in-and-columbus-oh/

Tegna to get stations in Columbus OH and Indianapolis.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on June 11, 2019, 04:14:43 PM
Quote from: bing101 on June 11, 2019, 02:54:07 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/gray-tv-stations-to-end-broadcasts-with-national-anthem/2019/06/11/dc250d6e-8c47-11e9-b6f4-033356502dce_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.89161cb055f9

Gray Owned TV stations to air the national anthem. My guess would be that Gray owned stations will air the Anthem Segments after their newscasts though.

Odd.  For those of you too young to remember, stations used to go off the air about 1:30 or so until 5 or even 6 AM.  They would end the day with a recitation of some legalese, including where the tower was located, and then play the song.  Most had a similar deal in the morning.  This ended as advancements in technology made automation possible and it thus profitable to broadcast even when 99% of potential viewers were either asleep or working the graveyard shift.  I have seen youtubes of similar practices in Canada, Australia and Mexico, so I guess it was a universal thing.

So Gray is just going to say 3 AM or something the end of one day and the start of the next? 

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on June 11, 2019, 06:09:42 PM
I remember one Saturday morning about 5 AM when I was getting ready to leave for the airport and watching a station come on the air.  There was the whole station info/transmitter tech info, followed by the National Anthem, then a morning prayer, and an editorial, then on to regular broadcasting.  I remember stations going off the air until about 20 years ago, and most often that was on a weekend night.  Then they created the infomercial and that was the end of that.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on June 11, 2019, 06:11:34 PM
I remember a film of a man running a flag up a flagpole while the national anthem played, but this was when I was very young, so it was right in the middle of the day.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Sctvhound on June 11, 2019, 09:57:29 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on June 11, 2019, 04:14:43 PM
Quote from: bing101 on June 11, 2019, 02:54:07 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/gray-tv-stations-to-end-broadcasts-with-national-anthem/2019/06/11/dc250d6e-8c47-11e9-b6f4-033356502dce_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.89161cb055f9

Gray Owned TV stations to air the national anthem. My guess would be that Gray owned stations will air the Anthem Segments after their newscasts though.

Odd.  For those of you too young to remember, stations used to go off the air about 1:30 or so until 5 or even 6 AM.  They would end the day with a recitation of some legalese, including where the tower was located, and then play the song.  Most had a similar deal in the morning.  This ended as advancements in technology made automation possible and it thus profitable to broadcast even when 99% of potential viewers were either asleep or working the graveyard shift.  I have seen youtubes of similar practices in Canada, Australia and Mexico, so I guess it was a universal thing.

So Gray is just going to say 3 AM or something the end of one day and the start of the next?

My station (in Charleston south) will be airing the anthem prior to their 4:30am news every weekday morning, and prior to their 6am news on Saturdays and Sundays.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: golden eagle on June 30, 2019, 01:21:52 AM
Do any TV stations play the national anthem, even if they stay on 24 hours? When I lived in San Diego, the Fox affiliate played the Mexican national anthem (because it was licensed to Mexico), though they were on 24/7. It was played in the early morning (I'm thinking 5 or 6am).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on July 01, 2019, 03:39:33 AM
There is a radio station that usually plays the National Anthem most mornings at 5:30.  WTIC 1080 plays it between the 30 minute Sunrise Special newscast and the morning show.  Oftentimes, it's a recording of former Hartford Whaler anthem singer Tony Harrington.  Not sure if it's part of the station's tradition or the morning show's.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on July 01, 2019, 01:08:42 PM
Quote from: golden eagle on June 30, 2019, 01:21:52 AM
Do any TV stations play the national anthem, even if they stay on 24 hours? When I lived in San Diego, the Fox affiliate played the Mexican national anthem (because it was licensed to Mexico), though they were on 24/7. It was played in the early morning (I'm thinking 5 or 6am).

Gray recently announced that their stations would.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on August 01, 2019, 11:20:31 AM
https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/nexstar-tribune-must-divest-some-tv-stations/article_76e24123-79da-5280-a8db-f817431fb39c.html

Nexstar and Tribune, now that the DOJ has cleared their proposed merger, must now divest some of their TV stations in select markets.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ErmineNotyours on August 01, 2019, 06:31:59 PM
A month late, but I used to be forced to listen to country station KMPS at work, and they would play the anthem at noon every day.

When I was on vacation in San Diego, I woke up at midnight on Sunday night to hear boarder blaster (English language alternative rock) XETRA play the Mexican national anthem.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on August 24, 2019, 10:05:43 AM
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2019-08-23/sinclair-owns-fox-regional-sports-networks (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2019-08-23/sinclair-owns-fox-regional-sports-networks)

An Update Sinclair has taken over the regional Fox Sports outlets and Fox Sports West (Los Angeles) is included in the deal.



https://deadline.com/2019/08/tegna-stock-falls-5-after-local-tv-station-group-reports-apollo-ma-overtures-1202701192/

And Now there are talks that Apollo and Tegna (owners of WUSA, KUSA, KXTV, WXIA and KHOU)  are considering a deal.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on August 24, 2019, 04:35:55 PM
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on August 01, 2019, 06:31:59 PM
A month late, but I used to be forced to listen to country station KMPS at work, and they would play the anthem at noon every day.

When I was on vacation in San Diego, I woke up at midnight on Sunday night to hear boarder blaster (English language alternative rock) XETRA play the Mexican national anthem.

XETRA? Never heard of it.

However, XERA (without the T) and XERF were the Mexican stations that inspired ZZ Top's "Heard It On The X."
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: KeithE4Phx on August 24, 2019, 09:35:14 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 24, 2019, 04:35:55 PM
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on August 01, 2019, 06:31:59 PM
A month late, but I used to be forced to listen to country station KMPS at work, and they would play the anthem at noon every day.

When I was on vacation in San Diego, I woke up at midnight on Sunday night to hear boarder blaster (English language alternative rock) XETRA play the Mexican national anthem.

XETRA? Never heard of it.

XETRA, better known as "XTRA 690" was a Tijuana-based San Diego border-blaster that beamed its signal mostly toward LA.  It was an easy listening station in the '60s and '70s, but became a sports station in the '80s, ending in 2005.  It's now XEWW, and airs Chinese-language programming.

QuoteHowever, XERA (without the T) and XERF were the Mexican stations that inspired ZZ Top's "Heard It On The X."

XERA was based in Acuna, across the Rio Grande from Del Rio TX, in the 1930s.  It was crooked from the word Go, and went off the air in 1939. 

XERF started up in 1947, using XERA's old facilities.  It eventually ran 250 kW (legal in Mexico), and was the home of Wolfman Jack in the early 1960s.  After he left, the station ran all kinds of programming that can best be described as "one huckster after another," both religious and secular.  It was audible in most of the country, and was an "interesting" station to say the least.

It's currently owned by the Mexican government, runs 100 kW, and simulcasts on XHRF-FM 103.9.  Mexico is trying to turn off as many AM stations as possible, but border stations are exempt.

BTW, the call letter block XA-XI is assigned to Mexico.  XE is assigned to AM stations, and XH is used for most FM stations.  TV uses both.  Five letter calls, such as XETRA, are allowed, unlike in the US.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on August 24, 2019, 10:22:31 PM
I was wrong. It was XERB and XERF. I'd heard years ago that it was XERA.

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/zz-top/heard-it-on-the-x

https://billygibbons.com/2016/11/heard-it-on-the-x/
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ErmineNotyours on August 25, 2019, 07:25:15 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on August 24, 2019, 04:35:55 PM
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on August 01, 2019, 06:31:59 PM
A month late, but I used to be forced to listen to country station KMPS at work, and they would play the anthem at noon every day.

When I was on vacation in San Diego, I woke up at midnight on Sunday night to hear boarder blaster (English language alternative rock) XETRA play the Mexican national anthem.

XETRA? Never heard of it.

However, XERA (without the T) and XERF were the Mexican stations that inspired ZZ Top's "Heard It On The X."

I'm just going by the information I found on Radio Locator. (https://radio-locator.com/info/XETRA-FM?loc=32.77954%2C-117.14634&locn=San%20Diego%2C%20California)

Seattle's The End (KNDD) was started by the owners of XETRA at the time.  They brought over Brian Jones as the morning host, and he said that XETRA was the inspiration for Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio."  Brian also said that the studio was right next to the transmitter, "Shooting X-rays into your head," due to relaxed work safety rules.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Scott5114 on April 22, 2021, 11:28:21 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on June 11, 2019, 04:14:43 PM
Odd.  For those of you too young to remember, stations used to go off the air about 1:30 or so until 5 or even 6 AM.  They would end the day with a recitation of some legalese, including where the tower was located, and then play the song.  Most had a similar deal in the morning.  This ended as advancements in technology made automation possible and it thus profitable to broadcast even when 99% of potential viewers were either asleep or working the graveyard shift.  I have seen youtubes of similar practices in Canada, Australia and Mexico, so I guess it was a universal thing.

As late as the mid 2000s, the PBS affiliate in Oklahoma City would sign off at night. In lieu of the national anthem, though, they had a reading of "High Flight" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gillespie_Magee_Jr.#High_Flight) over video of fighter jets. Right after the final line "Put out my hand, and touched the face of God", it faded into the station logo, then cut to black.

Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 01, 2019, 03:39:33 AM
There is a radio station that usually plays the National Anthem most mornings at 5:30.  WTIC 1080 plays it between the 30 minute Sunrise Special newscast and the morning show.  Oftentimes, it's a recording of former Hartford Whaler anthem singer Tony Harrington.  Not sure if it's part of the station's tradition or the morning show's.

KOMA has a station tradition of playing the OU marching band's rendition of "Oklahoma!" at 5:00 pm every day. I think this dates back to when they were an AM clear channel station, so it kind of served as a state pride sort of display for listeners in faraway states.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 23, 2021, 12:21:38 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

As a practical matter, WBTX is a full-power station, in that it shares WGBX-44's full-power spectrum.  It was also rebroadcast on full-power WNEU-60 at one time.  Be that as it may, the Boston situation is a mess.  It was basically a situation of creating a network affiliate pretty much from scratch, as with WWJ-62 in Detroit and WCGL-46 in Atlanta (pre-existing stations in both cities, but minor ones suddenly elevated to major-network-affiliate status).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 23, 2021, 10:07:19 AM
Quote from: Desert Man on November 23, 2017, 01:55:18 PM



The Coachella Valley CA has channel 50 - subchannels .2 is WPMY (My Net) Pittsburgh (serves West Virginia), .3 WPMI (NBC) Mobile, AL (Gulf coast including Miss. & Fla.), .4 KDMD (CBS) Alaska (not sure it's from Anchorage or Juneau) and .5 KEZI (ABC) Eugene OR (Pacific time schedule). The seasonal resident population forms a large portion of the TV market demographic, as well these areas are known for large low-income migrant worker populations come to the resort economy in the winter season. Appalachia, the "Delta" or "cotton belt", Alaska and "Pooregon" - that makes sense. However, the majority of resort work is from Mexico and Central America like Guatemala and El Salvador, as well Puerto Rico (an US territory) and even the Philippines - they immigrate to Guam, Saipan and esp Hawaii. KVMD channels 23 and 31 (based in 29 Palms and Victorville) have 2 Tagalog or Filipino languages subchannels - the Philippines also have Cebuano, Ilocano, Mindanao and Visayano. Channel 50 itself (29 in 29 Palms) is our local My Net. station, KPSE owned by KMIR (NBC), and KMIR is now on cable in 29 Palms, because they used to not be over-air there.

I know this is going back awhile, but where does this information come from?  I have never heard of such an arrangement before.  It would be highly unusual for network affiliates from across the country to be retransmitted OTA on a low-power TV station, in the fashion of a translator.  The closest thing to this I have heard of, is from the earlier days of TV when Denver and Salt Lake City stations were seen either via OTA translators or cable, both fed by microwave, throughout the Intermountain West.  Those areas have TV stations of their own now and do not need Denver or SLC, moreover, the local stations do not particularly want people in their markets watching TV from other markets --- "local eyes on local ads".

Again, if a source for this information is available, I'd like to see it.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on April 24, 2021, 11:43:24 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html)

Here's a CNBC article on the future of broadcast TV
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: ftballfan on April 24, 2021, 06:03:35 PM
Quote from: IM42A on April 23, 2021, 12:21:38 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

As a practical matter, WBTX is a full-power station, in that it shares WGBX-44's full-power spectrum.  It was also rebroadcast on full-power WNEU-60 at one time.  Be that as it may, the Boston situation is a mess.  It was basically a situation of creating a network affiliate pretty much from scratch, as with WWJ-62 in Detroit and WCGL-46 in Atlanta (pre-existing stations in both cities, but minor ones suddenly elevated to major-network-affiliate status).
WBTS and WWJ are both O&Os. CBS ended up buying then-WGPR (a very low budget independent) after being turned down for an affiliation by WDIV, WXYZ, WKBD (the then-current FOX affiliate), WXON, and even WADL (which was and still is another low-budget independent)
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 25, 2021, 05:58:11 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 24, 2021, 11:43:24 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html)

Here's a CNBC article on the future of broadcast TV

I am honestly surprised.  I never thought Americans would go back to broadcast TV.  Cable and satellite seemed to have pretty much of a lock on things, such that some people weren't even really aware they could use an antenna to get TV.  The early "free TV" antenna commercials were very insulting to the intelligence --- "by federal law, TV stations have to provide these signals to you for free" (well, duh!) --- but there is a generation that grew up not knowing anything but pay-TV services.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 25, 2021, 06:05:43 AM
Quote from: ftballfan on April 24, 2021, 06:03:35 PM
Quote from: IM42A on April 23, 2021, 12:21:38 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 10:53:48 AM
Quote from: bing101 on January 07, 2018, 11:44:44 AM
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/nbc-boston-reveals-new-logo-on-anniversary/198466

WBTS-TV in Boston has been renamed NBC 10 Boston.

I was wondering why I never heard of this station before, and it turns out it's a low-power station. This has to be the only major market in America where a major network is on such a weak signal.

I'm surprised NBC allows this, quite frankly.

As a practical matter, WBTX is a full-power station, in that it shares WGBX-44's full-power spectrum.  It was also rebroadcast on full-power WNEU-60 at one time.  Be that as it may, the Boston situation is a mess.  It was basically a situation of creating a network affiliate pretty much from scratch, as with WWJ-62 in Detroit and WCGL-46 in Atlanta (pre-existing stations in both cities, but minor ones suddenly elevated to major-network-affiliate status).
WBTS and WWJ are both O&Os. CBS ended up buying then-WGPR (a very low budget independent) after being turned down for an affiliation by WDIV, WXYZ, WKBD (the then-current FOX affiliate), WXON, and even WADL (which was and still is another low-budget independent)

Right.  I know CBS actually bought WVEU-69 in Atlanta, but sold it and instead affiliated with WGNX-46.

The big drawback here was that CBS was being forced to affiliate with fairly low-power, high-dial-position UHF stations, but with the advent of DTV, probably 75% of all TV stations are UHF anyway, so it really doesn't matter anymore.  Most legacy VHF stations are now on UHF, with the low-number VHF channel being retained for PSIP only.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on April 25, 2021, 08:21:29 AM
this all makes me wonder..

back in the day, tv stations wanted low channel numbers because of the way older tv's tuned uhf channels (turn top knob to 'u', turn bottom knob to channel whatever, become human pretzel to make it come in)

but now, does that really matter? its just as easy to tune channel 62 as it is to tune channel 2, save one extra keypress on the remote..

of course, where i live the only ota channel is the damnable cheyenne station, and since they went digital, its mostly unreceivable in the canyon. back in the day, it came in with varying degrees of fuzziness, but was watchable.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bandit957 on April 25, 2021, 10:08:52 AM
I miss the days when there were 3 commercial networks that fit neatly into the 3 VHF channels we had here. If I discovered some city had 2 or 3 networks on UHF, I'd think, "Man, this must be a tiny city!"
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SectorZ on April 25, 2021, 10:16:14 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 25, 2021, 10:08:52 AM
I miss the days when there were 3 commercial networks that fit neatly into the 3 VHF channels we had here. If I discovered some city had 2 or 3 networks on UHF, I'd think, "Man, this must be a tiny city!"

I think the Weird Al Yankovic movie "UHF" ruined UHF signals for our generation.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on April 25, 2021, 11:07:56 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on April 25, 2021, 10:16:14 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on April 25, 2021, 10:08:52 AM
I miss the days when there were 3 commercial networks that fit neatly into the 3 VHF channels we had here. If I discovered some city had 2 or 3 networks on UHF, I'd think, "Man, this must be a tiny city!"

I think the Weird Al Yankovic movie "UHF" ruined UHF signals for our generation.
Heh, I didn't get to watch that one until I was out of high school. Not bad, just not for everyone.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on April 25, 2021, 11:44:00 AM
Big Media is in something of a quandy, relative to OTA TV.  On the one hand, it wants to continue to screw over people with this ridiculous "retransmission fee" nonsense.  On the other hand, statistics show that most people are really not interested in "local TV".  They are interested in NETWORK TV, but the truly local material, generally just the local news, is really not that popular.  People would be just as happy with a feed of primetime and sports. 

I'm old.  I know a lot of self-proclaimed "cord cutters" (a better term would be cord switchers, since they pay for internet, then pay for all these streaming services, to me a true cord cutter would just live off OTA TV and free things like Pluto, Stirr, VUit, and YouTube.    All of them are a generation younger than me.  And, despite the fact that you can get 34 channels, including all the networks, free with an antenna, they all have the same blank look on their face they have when  presented with a paper map or a manual transmission.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: The Nature Boy on April 25, 2021, 12:05:47 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 25, 2021, 11:44:00 AM
Big Media is in something of a quandy, relative to OTA TV.  On the one hand, it wants to continue to screw over people with this ridiculous "retransmission fee" nonsense.  On the other hand, statistics show that most people are really not interested in "local TV".  They are interested in NETWORK TV, but the truly local material, generally just the local news, is really not that popular.  People would be just as happy with a feed of primetime and sports. 

I'm old.  I know a lot of self-proclaimed "cord cutters" (a better term would be cord switchers, since they pay for internet, then pay for all these streaming services, to me a true cord cutter would just live off OTA TV and free things like Pluto, Stirr, VUit, and YouTube.    All of them are a generation younger than me.  And, despite the fact that you can get 34 channels, including all the networks, free with an antenna, they all have the same blank look on their face they have when  presented with a paper map or a manual transmission.

This reminds me of a post I saw a few years back of someone looking for a stream of the Super Bowl when all they really had to do was buy a cheap antenna, connect it to their TV, and they'd get it for free and in high quality.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: brad2971 on April 25, 2021, 12:17:50 PM
Quote from: IM42A on April 25, 2021, 05:58:11 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 24, 2021, 11:43:24 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html)

Here's a CNBC article on the future of broadcast TV

I am honestly surprised.  I never thought Americans would go back to broadcast TV.  Cable and satellite seemed to have pretty much of a lock on things, such that some people weren't even really aware they could use an antenna to get TV.  The early "free TV" antenna commercials were very insulting to the intelligence --- "by federal law, TV stations have to provide these signals to you for free" (well, duh!) --- but there is a generation that grew up not knowing anything but pay-TV services.

In some major metro/rural TV markets, you don't even need the antenna. There is app called Locast, which was started by a bunch of football fans irate at the networks' NFL blackout rules. It's a free app, though they do ask for donations. Being a nonprofit, Locast thus gets around the Supreme Court's Aereo decision.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on April 25, 2021, 09:07:30 PM
Quote from: brad2971 on April 25, 2021, 12:17:50 PM
Quote from: IM42A on April 25, 2021, 05:58:11 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 24, 2021, 11:43:24 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html)

Here's a CNBC article on the future of broadcast TV


I am honestly surprised.  I never thought Americans would go back to broadcast TV.  Cable and satellite seemed to have pretty much of a lock on things, such that some people weren't even really aware they could use an antenna to get TV.  The early "free TV" antenna commercials were very insulting to the intelligence --- "by federal law, TV stations have to provide these signals to you for free" (well, duh!) --- but there is a generation that grew up not knowing anything but pay-TV services.


In some major metro/rural TV markets, you don't even need the antenna. There is app called Locast, which was started by a bunch of football fans irate at the networks' NFL blackout rules. It's a free app, though they do ask for donations. Being a nonprofit, Locast thus gets around the Supreme Court's Aereo decision.

Newer TV's made in the past 5 years are more dependent on Wi fi signals and go straight to streaming feeds. I know some of the newer Samsung TV's does that.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-55-Class-4-Series-4K-UHD-HDR-Roku-Smart-TV-55S431/276964903?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3708&adid=22222222420449455996&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-293946777986&wl5=9032052&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=276964903&wl13=3708&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwppSEBhCGARIsANIs4p6X_OazYKKD0DWer2RLQJR6IZVDRIlGzOVPb-lzjKetX2YQhuM9ku4aAsSzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds (https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-55-Class-4-Series-4K-UHD-HDR-Roku-Smart-TV-55S431/276964903?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3708&adid=22222222420449455996&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-293946777986&wl5=9032052&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=276964903&wl13=3708&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwppSEBhCGARIsANIs4p6X_OazYKKD0DWer2RLQJR6IZVDRIlGzOVPb-lzjKetX2YQhuM9ku4aAsSzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)



Some of the newer TV's labeled RokuTV does that. Antenna OTA TV's might become a rare feature in this decade.  You can attach an antenna on the TV but its an optional feature on this model though.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 3467 on April 25, 2021, 10:17:45 PM
But OTA isn't completely dead . Gray just bought Quincy TV Midwest stations for 900 million making the Oakleys the second richest downstaters after the Tracys down US 24.
This relates to roads since it was Tom  Oakley that led the crusade to get the Illinois 110.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on April 25, 2021, 10:30:41 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 25, 2021, 10:17:45 PM
But OTA isn't completely dead . Gray just bought Quincy TV Midwest stations for 900 million making the Oakleys the second richest downstaters after the Tracys down US 24.
This relates to roads since it was Tom  Oakley that led the crusade to get the Illinois 110.
That's a surprise, because the COVID made other deals with Gray TV not worth pursuing. I recall that a proposed deal with TEGNA was canceled as a result.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: kevinb1994 on April 25, 2021, 10:32:36 PM
Quote from: bing101 on April 25, 2021, 09:07:30 PM
Quote from: brad2971 on April 25, 2021, 12:17:50 PM
Quote from: IM42A on April 25, 2021, 05:58:11 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 24, 2021, 11:43:24 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html)

Here's a CNBC article on the future of broadcast TV


I am honestly surprised.  I never thought Americans would go back to broadcast TV.  Cable and satellite seemed to have pretty much of a lock on things, such that some people weren't even really aware they could use an antenna to get TV.  The early "free TV" antenna commercials were very insulting to the intelligence --- "by federal law, TV stations have to provide these signals to you for free" (well, duh!) --- but there is a generation that grew up not knowing anything but pay-TV services.


In some major metro/rural TV markets, you don't even need the antenna. There is app called Locast, which was started by a bunch of football fans irate at the networks' NFL blackout rules. It's a free app, though they do ask for donations. Being a nonprofit, Locast thus gets around the Supreme Court's Aereo decision.

Newer TV's made in the past 5 years are more dependent on Wi fi signals and go straight to streaming feeds. I know some of the newer Samsung TV's does that.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-55-Class-4-Series-4K-UHD-HDR-Roku-Smart-TV-55S431/276964903?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3708&adid=22222222420449455996&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-293946777986&wl5=9032052&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=276964903&wl13=3708&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwppSEBhCGARIsANIs4p6X_OazYKKD0DWer2RLQJR6IZVDRIlGzOVPb-lzjKetX2YQhuM9ku4aAsSzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds (https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-55-Class-4-Series-4K-UHD-HDR-Roku-Smart-TV-55S431/276964903?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=3708&adid=22222222420449455996&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-293946777986&wl5=9032052&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=276964903&wl13=3708&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwppSEBhCGARIsANIs4p6X_OazYKKD0DWer2RLQJR6IZVDRIlGzOVPb-lzjKetX2YQhuM9ku4aAsSzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)



Some of the newer TV's labeled RokuTV does that. Antenna OTA TV's might become a rare feature in this decade.  You can attach an antenna on the TV but its an optional feature on this model though.
We have a giant 65-inch Sony Bravia that's pretty much like those other smart TVs, and it even has Android/Google TV built-in.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on April 26, 2021, 11:43:06 AM
Quote from: 3467 on April 25, 2021, 10:17:45 PM
But OTA isn't completely dead . Gray just bought Quincy TV Midwest stations for 900 million making the Oakleys the second richest downstaters after the Tracys down US 24.
This relates to roads since it was Tom  Oakley that led the crusade to get the Illinois 110.

We are in the middle of a major consolidation in that industry.  Both parties ignore or change ownership limits and, after the O&O stations in big cities, there are about a dozen companies that own 90% of the stations. 

The average viewer doesn't notice, but I will give you an example of the "synergy" Gray uses around here.  In my market it owns WSAZ.  It also owns WAVE in Louisville, which will produce Kentucky statewide politics WSAZ uses, and WKYT, which will produce UK and Kentucky state high school stories.  In turn WSAZ will produce reports if the governor or somebody like that shows up in eastern Kentucky, or will do the background story for those stations for teams that go to the state tournaments.  It also owns WXIX in Cincinnati, same deal.  Kind of chains along all over the country.

While it doesn't own any station in DC, it has a studio there and will interview the local politicians for whoever requests it.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:29:28 PM
Nexstar does that here in Illinois and Iowa. It has helped expand state government coverage . Gray owns stations in adjacent markets now combat least Quincy up to Wisconsin. Nexstar  Des Moines to.  Champaign.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:38:44 PM
Let me rant about some Midwestern markets. The quad cities should move Henry Iowa to Ottumwa and Jo Davies to Rockford. Kirksville runs more stories from South Iowa than the Quads. Chicago should cede Porter to South Bend and and DeKalb and Western McHenry to Rockford.
Not that this will happen and of course these are counties where the stations can be seen OTA. This is what got me interested as a kid. I asked what are these channels with all the static....
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on April 26, 2021, 08:48:19 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:38:44 PM
Chicago should cede Porter to South Bend

Since I'm familiar with this area, I'll comment about it but there are dozens of counties like it out there. Porter county residents have much more connection to Chicago than South Bend. Even Michigan City, which is in LaPorte County, is more connected to Chicago than SB.

However, Porter County is such a tiny percentage of the Chicago metro area that they are rarely going to have stories on Chicago local news.

Thus the quandary--should you move to a TV market that you have no real connection to because it's smaller and as such you'll get more coverage?

To complicate things more, if Porter County moves to the SB TV market, then there is a risk that the Colts and Bears will be on the same network at the same time and you might get the Colts game. That would get people upset pretty quick.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 08:52:17 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 26, 2021, 08:48:19 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:38:44 PM
Chicago should cede Porter to South Bend

Since I'm familiar with this area, I'll comment about it but there are dozens of counties like it out there. Porter county residents have much more connection to Chicago than South Bend. Even Michigan City, which is in LaPorte County, is more connected to Chicago than SB.

However, Porter County is such a tiny percentage of the Chicago metro area that they are rarely going to have stories on Chicago local news.

Thus the quandary--should you move to a TV market that you have no real connection to because it's smaller and as such you'll get more coverage?

To complicate things more, if Porter County moves to the SB TV market, then there is a risk that the Colts and Bears will be on the same network at the same time and you might get the Colts game. That would get people upset pretty quick.
Does South Bend get Colts or Bears games?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on April 26, 2021, 08:55:06 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 08:52:17 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 26, 2021, 08:48:19 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:38:44 PM
Chicago should cede Porter to South Bend

Since I'm familiar with this area, I'll comment about it but there are dozens of counties like it out there. Porter county residents have much more connection to Chicago than South Bend. Even Michigan City, which is in LaPorte County, is more connected to Chicago than SB.

However, Porter County is such a tiny percentage of the Chicago metro area that they are rarely going to have stories on Chicago local news.

Thus the quandary--should you move to a TV market that you have no real connection to because it's smaller and as such you'll get more coverage?

To complicate things more, if Porter County moves to the SB TV market, then there is a risk that the Colts and Bears will be on the same network at the same time and you might get the Colts game. That would get people upset pretty quick.
Does South Bend get Colts or Bears games?

More often than not, since they are in different conferences they're on different networks and get both. If they are both on the same network at the same time, they will generally go with the team that has been better recently, which would be the Colts. The bars in the SB market LOVE when they can only show one as they get huge business from people going out to watch the other.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: vdeane on April 26, 2021, 09:21:24 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:29:28 PM
Nexstar does that here in Illinois and Iowa. It has helped expand state government coverage . Gray owns stations in adjacent markets now combat least Quincy up to Wisconsin. Nexstar  Des Moines to.  Champaign.
New York as well, but I don't think they do for Vermont or Massachusetts - or if the do, it's not to a degree that I've noticed.  It's actually kinda surreal when I'm visiting my parents in Rochester and see a story that was clearly (to a regular viewer, at least) produced by WTEN in Albany (one time we got a WROC story here in Albany, which was interesting too).  They even produce a weekly half-hour show covering state politics, but it seems like many of the larger markets (outside the Capital District, where WTEN airs it right after ABC's This Week, and WXXA airs it again after the 10pm news is over) air it really early in the morning for some reason (and in Syracuse it's aired on Saturday for some reason).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 09:36:36 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 26, 2021, 08:55:06 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 08:52:17 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 26, 2021, 08:48:19 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:38:44 PM
Chicago should cede Porter to South Bend

Since I'm familiar with this area, I'll comment about it but there are dozens of counties like it out there. Porter county residents have much more connection to Chicago than South Bend. Even Michigan City, which is in LaPorte County, is more connected to Chicago than SB.

However, Porter County is such a tiny percentage of the Chicago metro area that they are rarely going to have stories on Chicago local news.

Thus the quandary--should you move to a TV market that you have no real connection to because it's smaller and as such you'll get more coverage?

To complicate things more, if Porter County moves to the SB TV market, then there is a risk that the Colts and Bears will be on the same network at the same time and you might get the Colts game. That would get people upset pretty quick.
Does South Bend get Colts or Bears games?

More often than not, since they are in different conferences they're on different networks and get both. If they are both on the same network at the same time, they will generally go with the team that has been better recently, which would be the Colts. The bars in the SB market LOVE when they can only show one as they get huge business from people going out to watch the other.
Is it mostly Colts or Bears fans in South Bend?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: golden eagle on April 26, 2021, 10:04:16 PM
I had a relative that used to live in Lake County and before she moved, she used to get two stations out of Sound Bend (WSBT and I don't remember the other one), in addition to all the Chicago stations.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hotdogPi on April 27, 2021, 06:49:11 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?

There might be some areas of Maine with no signal.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on April 27, 2021, 07:01:03 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 09:36:36 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 26, 2021, 08:55:06 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 08:52:17 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 26, 2021, 08:48:19 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:38:44 PM
Chicago should cede Porter to South Bend

Since I'm familiar with this area, I'll comment about it but there are dozens of counties like it out there. Porter county residents have much more connection to Chicago than South Bend. Even Michigan City, which is in LaPorte County, is more connected to Chicago than SB.

However, Porter County is such a tiny percentage of the Chicago metro area that they are rarely going to have stories on Chicago local news.

Thus the quandary--should you move to a TV market that you have no real connection to because it's smaller and as such you'll get more coverage?

To complicate things more, if Porter County moves to the SB TV market, then there is a risk that the Colts and Bears will be on the same network at the same time and you might get the Colts game. That would get people upset pretty quick.
Does South Bend get Colts or Bears games?

More often than not, since they are in different conferences they're on different networks and get both. If they are both on the same network at the same time, they will generally go with the team that has been better recently, which would be the Colts. The bars in the SB market LOVE when they can only show one as they get huge business from people going out to watch the other.
Is it mostly Colts or Bears fans in South Bend?

Obviously before the Colts moved to Indy in 1984 it was all Bears. Is was still overwhelmingly Bears through the 1990s, but Peyton Manning's run coincided with some very rough years for the Bears, and the Colts pulled even. Since Peyton retired, it might have gone back to a slight Bears edge, but if so, it's not by much.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on April 27, 2021, 07:02:20 AM
Quote from: golden eagle on April 26, 2021, 10:04:16 PM
I had a relative that used to live in Lake County and before she moved, she used to get two stations out of Sound Bend (WSBT and I don't remember the other one), in addition to all the Chicago stations.

I'm wondering when this was and was it perhaps via antenna? Nobody here gets SB stations now. Barely any parts of Porter County get them.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SectorZ on April 27, 2021, 08:41:41 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?

Southwest of Hartford you start bleeding into NYC sports territory. NESN is available in every New England county but Fairfield Cty CT. Unsure about NBC Sports Boston, only that it's everywhere not Connecticut, along with "eastern and central Connecticut".

For NFL games you get screwed in Berkshire Cty MA if the Jets are on CBS at the same time as the Pats, along with a chunk of Connecticut and some of Vermont.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: 3467 on April 27, 2021, 09:28:53 AM
Sorry I meant Laporte. Considering I lived in South Bend area once I shouldn't confused them. There are a lot of people watching in these border counties .
I base it on FCCs significantly viewed station

I just noticed the FCC has comments last year to update the significantly viewed list.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 27, 2021, 10:38:05 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on April 27, 2021, 08:41:41 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?

Southwest of Hartford you start bleeding into NYC sports territory. NESN is available in every New England county but Fairfield Cty CT. Unsure about NBC Sports Boston, only that it's everywhere not Connecticut, along with "eastern and central Connecticut".

For NFL games you get screwed in Berkshire Cty MA if the Jets are on CBS at the same time as the Pats, along with a chunk of Connecticut and some of Vermont.

NBC Sports Boston is weird because the NBA goes by ZIP codes with its blackout territories.  It doesn't affect cable providers, as franchises in every county except Fairfield carry it and are able to clear Celtics games.  However, satellite and streaming services follow the NBA territories; those with 060-062 ZIPs can get it, but those with 063-069 ZIPs cannot.  It creates some dumb borders.  Southington, the only town in Hartford County with an 064 ZIP, is considered out of market, while the rest of the county is in market.  New London County, which is even closer to Boston, is also out of market.  Meanwhile, in Litchfield County, Sharon (06039), which is 2 miles from the NY border and 8 miles from the northern terminus of the Metro North Harlem Line in Wassaic, is considered in market for the Celtics (and NOT for the Knicks).  But Terryville (06786), which is 25 minutes from Hartford, is out of market for the Celtics and in market for the Knicks and Nets.  As for hockey, the Bruins territory is exactly that of the Red Sox (all of New England except Fairfield County), but the NY hockey teams are strange.  The Islanders and Devils are only available in Fairfield County, but the Rangers are available everywhere except Windham County.  However, no cable system north and east of New Haven/Waterbury has carried MSG Network since the Yankees moved to YES.

As for Berkshire County and the Pats: most cable systems carry either WSHM out of Springfield or WBZ from Boston, so Pats fans get their game.  But since Berkshire County and Bennington County, VT are part of the Albany DMA, satellite subscribers need an antenna to get either WCAX in Burlington, WSHM, or even WFSB out of Hartford. Otherwise, they're screwed in conflicts with the Jets or the Bills.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Roadgeekteen on April 27, 2021, 11:08:51 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on April 27, 2021, 08:41:41 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?

Southwest of Hartford you start bleeding into NYC sports territory. NESN is available in every New England county but Fairfield Cty CT. Unsure about NBC Sports Boston, only that it's everywhere not Connecticut, along with "eastern and central Connecticut".

For NFL games you get screwed in Berkshire Cty MA if the Jets are on CBS at the same time as the Pats, along with a chunk of Connecticut and some of Vermont.
Berkshire gets Albany right? Because I think that there are more Pats fans than Jets fans in the Berkshires.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 28, 2021, 12:35:21 AM
Quote from: brad2971 on April 25, 2021, 12:17:50 PM
Quote from: IM42A on April 25, 2021, 05:58:11 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on April 24, 2021, 11:43:24 AM
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/24/local-tv-stations-plot-to-remain-relevant-in-shift-to-streaming.html)

Here's a CNBC article on the future of broadcast TV

I am honestly surprised.  I never thought Americans would go back to broadcast TV.  Cable and satellite seemed to have pretty much of a lock on things, such that some people weren't even really aware they could use an antenna to get TV.  The early "free TV" antenna commercials were very insulting to the intelligence --- "by federal law, TV stations have to provide these signals to you for free" (well, duh!) --- but there is a generation that grew up not knowing anything but pay-TV services.

In some major metro/rural TV markets, you don't even need the antenna. There is app called Locast, which was started by a bunch of football fans irate at the networks' NFL blackout rules. It's a free app, though they do ask for donations. Being a nonprofit, Locast thus gets around the Supreme Court's Aereo decision.

Never heard of this until just now.  I have to think it's just a matter of time, until the FCC finds some way to crack down on this.  They'll think of something.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 28, 2021, 12:44:33 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 26, 2021, 11:43:06 AM
Quote from: 3467 on April 25, 2021, 10:17:45 PM
But OTA isn't completely dead . Gray just bought Quincy TV Midwest stations for 900 million making the Oakleys the second richest downstaters after the Tracys down US 24.
This relates to roads since it was Tom  Oakley that led the crusade to get the Illinois 110.

We are in the middle of a major consolidation in that industry.  Both parties ignore or change ownership limits and, after the O&O stations in big cities, there are about a dozen companies that own 90% of the stations. 

The average viewer doesn't notice, but I will give you an example of the "synergy" Gray uses around here.  In my market it owns WSAZ.  It also owns WAVE in Louisville, which will produce Kentucky statewide politics WSAZ uses, and WKYT, which will produce UK and Kentucky state high school stories.  In turn WSAZ will produce reports if the governor or somebody like that shows up in eastern Kentucky, or will do the background story for those stations for teams that go to the state tournaments.  It also owns WXIX in Cincinnati, same deal.  Kind of chains along all over the country.

While it doesn't own any station in DC, it has a studio there and will interview the local politicians for whoever requests it.

I have wondered if WSAZ might ever considering simulcasting (or possibly time-shifting) WKYT news on one of its subchannels, such as 3.2 MyNetwork/MeTV, to allow viewers in northeastern Kentucky, who don't get WYMT and are too far out of range from WKYT to get that either, access to in-state news.  I'm thinking of Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lewis, and possibly parts of Elliott and Lawrence counties.  This wouldn't require a full simulcast of WKYT (which WOWK would obviously scream bloody murder over!), just perhaps the 6 pm and 11 pm WKYT newscasts, and possibly the morning news or even the noon news.  WILM-LD-10 in Wilmington NC has a similar arrangement with WRAL in Raleigh.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: froggie on April 28, 2021, 01:00:22 AM
Quote from: vdeane on April 26, 2021, 09:21:24 PM
Quote from: 3467 on April 26, 2021, 08:29:28 PM
Nexstar does that here in Illinois and Iowa. It has helped expand state government coverage . Gray owns stations in adjacent markets now combat least Quincy up to Wisconsin. Nexstar  Des Moines to.  Champaign.
New York as well, but I don't think they do for Vermont or Massachusetts - or if the do, it's not to a degree that I've noticed.

As I understand the earlier conversation, it's not really applicable to Vermont since virtually the entire state falls under a single market with no duplicate TV stations.  Yes, technically Windham and Bennington fall under other markets, but those counties still very much receive the Burlington stations.

On a side note, and since they were mentioned, both Gray and Nexstar own stations in Burlington.


Quote from: SectorZ on April 27, 2021, 08:41:41 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?

Southwest of Hartford you start bleeding into NYC sports territory. NESN is available in every New England county but Fairfield Cty CT. Unsure about NBC Sports Boston, only that it's everywhere not Connecticut, along with "eastern and central Connecticut".

Believe it or not, parts of Vermont bleed into NYC sports territory as well, specifically when it comes to baseball and hockey.  Regarding hockey, there's actually a 3-way split, as towns near the border tend to gravitate towards the Habs (i.e. Montreal)...
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 28, 2021, 01:15:16 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 27, 2021, 11:08:51 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on April 27, 2021, 08:41:41 AM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?

Southwest of Hartford you start bleeding into NYC sports territory. NESN is available in every New England county but Fairfield Cty CT. Unsure about NBC Sports Boston, only that it's everywhere not Connecticut, along with "eastern and central Connecticut".

For NFL games you get screwed in Berkshire Cty MA if the Jets are on CBS at the same time as the Pats, along with a chunk of Connecticut and some of Vermont.
Berkshire gets Albany right? Because I think that there are more Pats fans than Jets fans in the Berkshires.

There are no Jets fans in the Berkshires.  I'd say 90% Pats, 5% legacy Giants fans, and 5% other.  Jets fandom starts to die out as you move north beyond Westchester County.  As you get to the Capital District, Bills fans start to blend in, and maybe a smattering of Pats fans (of course, the Giants dominate NY state east of I-81).  But feel bad for us in CT.  Despite there being no Jets fanbase whatsoever north and east of CT 34, our affiliates will often subject us to the Jets when there is no Pats conflict, unless the Jets are so bad even people in New York won't watch them (as they were last year).  As I often say on another site: WFSB has to please the 10 Jets fans in Milford despite the rest of the market who could care less.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: SP Cook on April 28, 2021, 10:28:04 AM
Quote from: IM42A on April 28, 2021, 12:44:33 AM
I have wondered if WSAZ might ever considering simulcasting (or possibly time-shifting) WKYT news on one of its subchannels, such as 3.2 MyNetwork/MeTV, to allow viewers in northeastern Kentucky, who don't get WYMT and are too far out of range from WKYT to get that either, access to in-state news.  I'm thinking of Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lewis, and possibly parts of Elliott and Lawrence counties.  This wouldn't require a full simulcast of WKYT (which WOWK would obviously scream bloody murder over!), just perhaps the 6 pm and 11 pm WKYT newscasts, and possibly the morning news or even the noon news.  WILM-LD-10 in Wilmington NC has a similar arrangement with WRAL in Raleigh.

IIRC, back in the day KET would show one of the Louisville stations 11PM news, because so much of Kentucky was served by out-of-state based TV stations. 

Anyway, the VUit app will allow you to watch the most recent local news show on any Gray owned station, nationwide, without geographical restrictions.  Sinclair has a similar app called News ON.  Between the two you can check out 90% of the country.  Great if you are a political junkie, weather geek, so on.

As to WSAZ, it is one of the most dominant local news stations in the country, never getting a rating lower than twice all other local stations combined, since ratings started here in 1968.  This is mostly because they are professional and not agenda driven, and because they own a map and realize they serve Huntington, Ohio and Kentucky, not just Charleston, while the other stations only cover WV politics and who shot who in the Charleston hood.  I doubt they would want to compete with themselves.

Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: Dirt Roads on April 28, 2021, 05:05:43 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 28, 2021, 10:28:04 AM
As to WSAZ, it is one of the most dominant local news stations in the country, never getting a rating lower than twice all other local stations combined, since ratings started here in 1968.  This is mostly because they are professional and not agenda driven, and because they own a map and realize they serve Huntington, Ohio and Kentucky, not just Charleston, while the other stations only cover WV politics and who shot who in the Charleston hood.  I doubt they would want to compete with themselves.

In the old days, WSAZ got all of its ratings from its superstar weatherman Jules Huffman (aka Mister Cartoon).
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: hbelkins on April 28, 2021, 08:10:28 PM
Gray also owns WYMT in Hazard, WBKO in Bowling Green, and a station in Knoxville (WVLT). Knoxville, Lexington and Huntington will pick up some of WYMT's interviews if the subject matter is deemed important enough to merit more than regional eastern Kentucky coverage. WYMT's service area includes a couple of Tennessee counties near Cumberland Gap, the Virginia border counties (Lee, Wise, Dickenson and Buchanan), and Mingo and Wayne (and sometimes Logan) counties in West Virginia.

Several times I've done an interview with WYMT, which I can't get due to having satellite and being too far to pick their OTA signal, only to see my ugly mug on WKYT and the invariable messages from friends who live outside WYMT's coverage area saying they saw me on WKYT.

Lots of WYMT's talent ends up going to WVLT or WKYT. We just lost a good one to WSAZ.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 28, 2021, 10:51:20 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 28, 2021, 10:28:04 AM
Quote from: IM42A on April 28, 2021, 12:44:33 AM
I have wondered if WSAZ might ever considering simulcasting (or possibly time-shifting) WKYT news on one of its subchannels, such as 3.2 MyNetwork/MeTV, to allow viewers in northeastern Kentucky, who don't get WYMT and are too far out of range from WKYT to get that either, access to in-state news.  I'm thinking of Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lewis, and possibly parts of Elliott and Lawrence counties.  This wouldn't require a full simulcast of WKYT (which WOWK would obviously scream bloody murder over!), just perhaps the 6 pm and 11 pm WKYT newscasts, and possibly the morning news or even the noon news.  WILM-LD-10 in Wilmington NC has a similar arrangement with WRAL in Raleigh.

IIRC, back in the day KET would show one of the Louisville stations 11PM news, because so much of Kentucky was served by out-of-state based TV stations. 

Anyway, the VUit app will allow you to watch the most recent local news show on any Gray owned station, nationwide, without geographical restrictions.  Sinclair has a similar app called News ON.  Between the two you can check out 90% of the country.  Great if you are a political junkie, weather geek, so on.

As to WSAZ, it is one of the most dominant local news stations in the country, never getting a rating lower than twice all other local stations combined, since ratings started here in 1968.  This is mostly because they are professional and not agenda driven, and because they own a map and realize they serve Huntington, Ohio and Kentucky, not just Charleston, while the other stations only cover WV politics and who shot who in the Charleston hood.  I doubt they would want to compete with themselves.

True enough, but a relative lack of in-state news for northeastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio viewers has been a bugbear as long as there has been television in that part of the country.  Excellent as WSAZ's news department is, they are still having to cover three statehouses, three groups of state college sports, and so on.  Anybody east of Olive Hill or south of Waverly is just a little too far outside the range of Lexington and Columbus signals respectively, for OTA reception to be feasible.  The Columbus stations have long been available in Portsmouth on cable, in fact, I have heard talk of moving Scioto, Jackson, and Vinton counties to the Columbus DMA.  I haven't been to Portsmouth in almost 30 years, so I don't know which 6 pm and 11 pm newscast people there tend to gravitate towards, WSAZ or one of the Columbus stations.  (WCHS, WVAH, and WOWK are all de facto Charleston stations, which might as well be a foreign country to viewers in Portsmouth, Ironton, and Ashland, and any points north and west.)  Oddly enough, WSAZ's affiliate WQCW-30 is actually licensed to Portsmouth and has a sales office there, though AFAIK, no news bureau.  None of the C-H stations have ever had a bureau in Kentucky.  They still carry WKYT on cable in Ashland, though in Ironton, for some reason, there are no Ohio-based stations, first WBNS was removed from Ironton cable, then WLWT.  I have just wondered, since WSAZ makes the only commitment of note to Ohio and Kentucky of any of the C-H stations, whether they might want to "go the extra mile" and considering airing WKYT news, at least the 6 pm edition, on one of their subchannels, or even on WQCW.  I don't believe there's a Gray station in Columbus, but there is WXIX from Cincinnati (actually, if one wants to be picky, they are licensed to Newport, KY), so maybe they could do likewise with WXIX, maybe airing WKYT's news at 6 pm and WXIX's news at 6:30 pm on WQCW or a WSAZ subchannel.  I'm assuming WXIX provides adequate coverage of Ohio statehouse and OSU news, though possibly not to the extent a Columbus station would, in that Cincinnati stations have to cover at least two states (the Indiana portion of their market is lightly populated), whereas Columbus stations only have out-of-state (and out-of-market) viewership via cable in a few places hard by the border, such as South Shore, Point Pleasant, and Parkersburg, and there is no expectation that they would cover KY or WV news.  Just points to ponder, in that you have two "orphan areas" that can't get in-state news OTA.  And there is no place in Kentucky as militantly Kentuckian as Ashland --- many residents have gone to UK or Morehead.  Many people there prefer WKYT and the Lexington Herald-Leader for news and sports (especially the latter!).

I hadn't heard of VUit, and plan to add it to my Roku lineup tonight.  I am an incurable news and politics junkie (weather and sports, not so much).

The KET news rebroadcast arrangement was open-captioned for the hearing-impaired, and existed for a time in the 1970s and maybe 1980s.  I know they would air various newscasts from Louisville and Lexington on a rotating basis, maybe Paducah and Bowling Green too.  Closed-captioning has made that obsolete, but it did do a little to fill a gap in Kentucky news coverage especially for orphan counties.  I wonder if they might try resurrecting that arrangement, perhaps rebroadcasting Lexington news for KET's affiliates east of Louisville, and Louisville news for points west, removing commercials (or, rather, covering them with KET promos and PSAs).  Stations agreeing this might be able to take a state corporate tax credit or some such arrangement.

ETA --- I have just added VUit to my Roku, and it is very nice, smoother and less clunky to use, compared to NewsOn.  The only part I don't like, is that unless I just haven't figured out how to do it yet, I can't pull down a nationwide list of stations on the Roku app, as I can with the Windows-friendly page, or with NewsOn for that matter.  I do notice that, in the main, it is comprised of smaller and mid-sized markets, no local news from NYC, Chicago, LA, and so on.  But then again, I am assuming it is solely Gray stations, which tend to be in that kind of market.  Charlotte would be an exception.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 28, 2021, 10:53:46 PM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on April 28, 2021, 05:05:43 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 28, 2021, 10:28:04 AM
As to WSAZ, it is one of the most dominant local news stations in the country, never getting a rating lower than twice all other local stations combined, since ratings started here in 1968.  This is mostly because they are professional and not agenda driven, and because they own a map and realize they serve Huntington, Ohio and Kentucky, not just Charleston, while the other stations only cover WV politics and who shot who in the Charleston hood.  I doubt they would want to compete with themselves.

In the old days, WSAZ got all of its ratings from its superstar weatherman Jules Huffman (aka Mister Cartoon).

Not to be pedantic, but it's "Jule" Huffman.  No S.  Nice guy, much beloved throughout the Tri-State.  Hundreds of thousands of kids grew up with Mr Cartoon.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on April 29, 2021, 12:42:34 PM
Thanks again for suggesting VUit,  I used it to watch the noon news from WBTV, shooting in Watauga County, five dead.  Bad stuff.  I see that VUit also has what looks to be a kind of "infill" show, "Local News Live", with an announcer on a very minimal set (two Dell computers!) hosting and providing commentary on live news clips from throughout the country.  This is a nice touch --- nationwide reporting of news events from local markets, shows there's more to events in the US than just the distilled 22 minutes we get every evening on the Big Three.  Good idea.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: IM42A on May 07, 2021, 10:27:08 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 28, 2021, 08:10:28 PM
Gray also owns WYMT in Hazard, WBKO in Bowling Green, and a station in Knoxville (WVLT). Knoxville, Lexington and Huntington will pick up some of WYMT's interviews if the subject matter is deemed important enough to merit more than regional eastern Kentucky coverage. WYMT's service area includes a couple of Tennessee counties near Cumberland Gap, the Virginia border counties (Lee, Wise, Dickenson and Buchanan), and Mingo and Wayne (and sometimes Logan) counties in West Virginia.

Several times I've done an interview with WYMT, which I can't get due to having satellite and being too far to pick their OTA signal, only to see my ugly mug on WKYT and the invariable messages from friends who live outside WYMT's coverage area saying they saw me on WKYT.

Lots of WYMT's talent ends up going to WVLT or WKYT. We just lost a good one to WSAZ.

Mingo and Wayne counties are long-shaped counties along the border with Kentucky.  As a matter of fact, Wayne County extends all the way to the Ohio River, and a small part of Huntington is inside Wayne County,and no doubt the southern reaches of Wayne County are indeed deepest Appalachia.  Unless it would be news for the city of Williamson proper (proximity to Pike County), I can't see WYMT being the "go-to" news source for either county, much less so Logan County.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: bing101 on May 07, 2021, 05:40:01 PM
https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/gray-buying-meredith-local-media-for-2-7-billion/
Gray Television is buying the Meredith Television stations such as KVVU Las Vegas, WGCL Atlanta, WPCH Atlanta.
Title: Re: Regional television markets
Post by: dvferyance on May 07, 2021, 08:55:39 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on April 26, 2021, 10:05:10 PM
Question: Is there any part of New England where you can't get Boston sports games on TV?
I would think at least parts of Connecticut you would get the New York teams.