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How Local TV Stations Plan to Remain Relevant as Viewers Shift to Streaming

I think this will be very interesting to watch unfold over the next decade or so. The article linked is about technology, but for me the bigger question is about programming, and how people even learn about programming that is on broadcast TV.

Moreover, if the same shows is on CBS and Paramount+, what is the incentive for someone to watch in real-time on broadcast? i.e., where does the local affiliate fit in?
 
True I know in the case of CBS they were making their O&O's run their local news divisions as CBSN local. I understand the Network O&O's are likely to be converted into streaming outlets first. I can see Network O&Os shutting down their OTA signals within this decade because they have moved their local news operations as streaming only. Scripps, Allen Media Group, Nexstar, Gray, Sinclair, Hearst, Tegna, Cox, Meredith, News Press-Gazette that is yet to be seen here given that they are dependent on retrans fees for now until proven otherwise.
 
CBS All Access/Paramount+ has the local CBS stations included, even if they're not O&Os. I'm not sure about every single station but I know they have WBBJ 7.3 in Jackson, TN.
 
I think this will be very interesting to watch unfold over the next decade or so. The article linked is about technology, but for me the bigger question is about programming, and how people even learn about programming that is on broadcast TV.

Moreover, if the same shows is on CBS and Paramount+, what is the incentive for someone to watch in real-time on broadcast? i.e., where does the local affiliate fit in?
In the programming part we will have more of binge watching content more common and follow the line of Netflix. Ratings or trending section will be based on the top 5 or top 10 shows within the TV streaming app.

The local affiliate will only be relevant if it's local news and it's a major emergency such as Hurricanes, Quakes, Tornadoes, wildfires. I just don't know how a local affiliate will be at play for non news content though.
 
The article linked is about technology, but for me the bigger question is about programming, and how people even learn about programming that is on broadcast TV.

How do people learn about programming that's on a platform to which they don't subscribe? Most people are not going to subscribe to everything. It's just impractical. So the game is to subscribe to the one or two that get you access to what you want. Still, that's based on past shows, not on new programming. This is where marketing and promotion comes in, and finding people where they get that kind of information. That becomes tougher as the marketplace gets more diluted.

Moreover, if the same shows is on CBS and Paramount+, what is the incentive for someone to watch in real-time on broadcast? i.e., where does the local affiliate fit in?

NPR ran into that battle ten years ago, when NPR.org was stealing away real time listeners from the local affiliates. They came up with an acceptable solution. But that's in the non-com marketplace. Interesting that this article was on a commercial station site, originally done by CNBC, owned by NBCUniversal and Comcast, who are directly affected by this trend.
 
The Real question should be

How do these smaller Local TV Station players adapt to the streaming age when they could face the same issue that AMC Theaters faced when they had to file for bankruptcy not just because of the COVID-19 shutdown orders from the states but also because TV/Movie Streaming apps bypassed the need for multiplex theaters. In the case of Local TV its for the same reasons because the networks they are contracted to carry are being shown on the network TV apps and in the case of CBS O&O's they are also on the CBS News app and Paramount+ app and people only pay attention to them whenever there is local news. I know some of these players have teamed up with NewsOn app to place local news on their feeds.



  • Quincy Media
  • Meredith
  • Graham Media
  • Hubbard Broadcasting
  • News-Press Gazette (VistaWest Media, LLC)
  • Allen Media Broadcasting
  • Block Communications
  • Cowles Company
  • Morgan Murphy Media
  • Lockwood Broadcast Group
  • Bahakel Communications
  • Sunbeam Television
  • California-Oregon Broadcasting
  • Capitol Broadcasting Company
  • Sarkes Tarzian Inc.
  • Red River Broadcasting
  • Morris Media
  • Rockfleet Broadcasting
  • Marquee Broadcasting
  • Heartland Media
 
How do these smaller Local TV Station players adapt to the streaming age when they could face the same issue that AMC Theaters faced when they had to file for bankruptcy not just because of the COVID-19 shutdown orders from the states but also because TV/Movie Streaming apps bypassed the need for multiplex theaters.

Except that AMC Theaters didn't file for bankruptcy. In fact, just a few months ago, they said "bankruptcy is off the table:"

 
Except that AMC Theaters didn't file for bankruptcy. In fact, just a few months ago, they said "bankruptcy is off the table:"

Did not realize that the AMC management updated their status over going into bankruptcy though. I knew at one point there were theaters chains such as Regal and AMC that were saying they were heading to bankruptcy in 2020-2021 timeframe and they cited the shutdown in states and having to deal with TV/Movie apps beating them up over viewership.

Local TV OTA's would have to watch closely though still when they have to deal with Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, Netflix and Amazon Prime beating them up though over ratings unless if you are a Network O&O you could easily integrate local news on those apps streaming apps as in the case of CBS owned Paramount+ , ABC (Hulu and Disney+), NBC with Peacock app your local stations if it's owned by another party are competing against the streaming apps.
 
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And now Discovery+. There's probably a few ticked off people now that Trvl moved Ghost Adventures to OTT. Watch Animal Planet move some of their shows there too. My mom would be upset if Dr. Jeff got moved to OTT, as she loves the show. Told me the other day that she's seriously thinking about pulling the plug on DIRECTV's high bills for their few benefits.
 
How do these smaller Local TV Station players adapt to the streaming age

Back to your original question, Meredith has a TV production company that it got when it bought Time from Warner Media. So they produce syndicated TV shows based on a lot of their magazines, such as People, Sports Illustrated, and Entertainment Weekly. These TV shows air on their owned stations, and are being carried on several OTT services such as Amazon and FuboTV.
 
In the case of Local TV its for the same reasons because the networks they are contracted to carry are being shown on the network TV apps and in the case of CBS O&O's they are also on the CBS News app and Paramount+ app and people only pay attention to them whenever there is local news. I know some of these players have teamed up with NewsOn app to place local news on their feeds.
Isn't that just repeating the failed strategy that newspapers took starting 20 years ago? Trying to move an existing, profitable audience from one platform to another is far from a certain success.
 
Back to your original question, Meredith has a TV production company that it got when it bought Time from Warner Media. So they produce syndicated TV shows based on a lot of their magazines, such as People, Sports Illustrated, and Entertainment Weekly. These TV shows air on their owned stations, and are being carried on several OTT services such as Amazon and FuboTV.
Good Point I knew Allen Media and Meredith were two of the smaller players that I was aware of that produce syndicated TV shows for their owned stations.

I knew I seen the bigger TV Station owners such as Sinclair, Nexstar, Hearst, Gray and Scripps pivot to national content for some time after they reached or approached their ownership limits for local TV stations.
 

KBLR-TV Las Vegas a Telemundo affiliate owned by NBC will have a streaming newscast on OTT.
 
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