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Predictions 2020?

seatownmedia

seatownmedia

This part of Seattle TV has been a little sleepy of late. Any predictions on the local Seattle stations for 2020?

Is Nexstar going to radically change KCPQ?

Is Tegna going to revert back to "real news", as opposed to social media-type programming?

Will the Apollo acquisition of Cox change things up at KIRO?

And Sinclair. Really, just Sinclair...perhaps a bad match for the market?

Just trying to start some new conversation...
 
Maybe the most interesting question is of these ownership groups, all of whom are fairly new to the SeaTac market, which is most willing to invest in its on-air product?

Long-term, that group will probably become the market leader. And of these four, my bet would be on Nexstar. Imagine saying that on Dec 31, 2009!
 
Nexstar does no further changes at CH13 and leaves Seattle market when Fox closes on the sale of KCPQ and KZJO in 2020.
 
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I thought KCPQ was being sold to Fox as an O&O? I'd like to see what they will do to that station. They may be allowed to keep the Q13 branding, or they may not. 'Fox 13 News at 10' sounds awful but I wonder if Fox will mandate a branding change.

It's already going to be a strange year. It already started at 12:00:00am this morning. I cannot remember a time this century where Seattle had NO fireworks on the Space Needle. Thank you, Mother Nature. And then Space Needle tweeted they would attempt fireworks at 2AM, which I don't think happened either. Now the pyro crews are going back up, taking all the shells back out and hopefully they can be used for 2021.
 
crainbebo said:
I thought KCPQ was being sold to Fox as an O&O? I'd like to see what they will do to that station. They may be allowed to keep the Q13 branding, or they may not. 'Fox 13 News at 10' sounds awful but I wonder if Fox will mandate a branding change.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I forgot about that when writing last night.
 
crainbebo said:
I thought KCPQ was being sold to Fox as an O&O? I'd like to see what they will do to that station. They may be allowed to keep the Q13 branding, or they may not. 'Fox 13 News at 10' sounds awful but I wonder if Fox will mandate a branding change.
Click to expand...

If anything like all the other FOX O&O's, here is what to expect:

1. Management change. FOX prefers to have FOX-loyalists run their stations, with fingers in everything. FOX Corporate are serious control freaks.
2. Branding that matches all the other FOX O&O's around the country. That includes graphics, sounders, sets, the way News talent dresses, etc.
3. KCPQ as a brand will be out. The station will exclusively be called FOX 13. Call letters will be in a graphic at the TOH only.

There is a lot to this, so don't expect them to just flip and switch and the new FOX 13 appears. They'll start by replacing management positions who will be responsible for transforming the station into it's new form.
 
seatownmedia said:
This part of Seattle TV has been a little sleepy of late. Any predictions on the local Seattle stations for 2020?

Is Tegna going to revert back to "real news", as opposed to social media-type programming?
Click to expand...

No, this is the trend with all their stations. Seattle won't become unique.

seatownmedia said:
Will the Apollo acquisition of Cox change things up at KIRO?
Click to expand...

Apollo is a Private Equity firm. They have zero interest in becoming a media company. The play with the COX stations will be to cut costs, run lean to drive Broadcast Cash Flow, then look for a suitor which would buy the group at a reasonable multiple. Other than some of your favorite anchor faces changing for less expensive alternatives, don't expect much change.

seatownmedia said:
And Sinclair. Really, just Sinclair...perhaps a bad match for the market?
Click to expand...

For the concerns about their editorial and political leanings, Sinclair is actually a pretty smart operator, at least from a business standpoint. They continue to invest in their operations and grow as a media company. Unlike PE firms, Sinclair is in it for the long haul, not interested in flipping the group or stations to make a quick buck.
 
Kelly A said:
No, this is the trend with all their stations. Seattle won't become unique.



Apollo is a Private Equity firm. They have zero interest in becoming a media company. The play with the COX stations will be to cut costs, run lean to drive Broadcast Cash Flow, then look for a suitor which would buy the group at a reasonable multiple. Other than some of your favorite anchor faces changing for less expensive alternatives, don't expect much change.



For the concerns about their editorial and political leanings, Sinclair is actually a pretty smart operator, at least from a business standpoint. They continue to invest in their operations and grow as a media company. Unlike PE firms, Sinclair is in it for the long haul, not interested in flipping the group or stations to make a quick buck.
Click to expand...

Good analysis Kelly. You obviously know more than I do about these corporate decisions. I will differ with you on Tegna. I seem to be hearing that they are retreating from the "social" to "real news" in many markets, as an experiment that simply isn't working. I predict KING's 4pm will revert back to a traditional newscast in 2020.
 
seatownmedia said:
Good analysis Kelly. You obviously know more than I do about these corporate decisions. I will differ with you on Tegna. I seem to be hearing that they are retreating from the "social" to "real news" in many markets, as an experiment that simply isn't working. I predict KING's 4pm will revert back to a traditional newscast in 2020.
Click to expand...

They canned (aka "I'm retiring for now but I don't know what I am going to do") corporate social media wizard who decided all the Tegna eggs were firmly rooted in the young demographic that has abandoned television news and wanted them to put all the emphasis on "text us". So stm, your prediction may carry some water.....
 
RadioPatrol said:
https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/...t-another-investor-is-asking-tegna-to-sell-or

Tegna the owners of KING 5 is in Rumors to get a new station or face a merger.
Click to expand...

This is the problem when broadcast companies either don't retain at least 51% of the company shares, or by allowing hedge fund managers on their board of directors.

Hedge funds are packs of hyenas, looking to take down vulnerable publicly traded companies and liquidate them looking for a quick payout via a sale. Unfortunately, Hedge Funds forcing TEGNA to merge with another broadcast company is like coercing a chicken to invite it's friends to dinner at the Hyena's house. The wait is a little longer, but ultimately the meal is that much larger.
 
seatownmedia said:
This part of Seattle TV has been a little sleepy of late. Any predictions on the local Seattle stations for 2020?

Is Nexstar going to radically change KCPQ?

Is Tegna going to revert back to "real news", as opposed to social media-type programming?

Will the Apollo acquisition of Cox change things up at KIRO?

And Sinclair. Really, just Sinclair...perhaps a bad match for the market?

Just trying to start some new conversation...
Click to expand...

Well, apparently one of my predictions has come true...KING drops "Take 5" to go back to a traditional newscast starting in March.
 
Wasn't sure where to post this, but this thread seems to be as good as any. The Florida blogger with the name FTV posted something today about a major management shakeup in Seattle, but it was in his paid section, which I do not subscribe. Anyone have the scoop?
 
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