2022 Television Predictions

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Twitch suspension of Hasan Piker sparks debate over what qualifies as racist language

Expect YouTube and Twitch to ramp up censures, suspensions and bans on certain pundits in 2022.

 

[Megatron]

Cartoons return on Sat morning on networks E/I & nature shows are finally ditched I'll keep on saying that until it happens.

Byron Allen buys TEGNA as they will be bought out by him.

CBS will sign a deal with Big Ten Football as they lose SEC in 2023 unless ESPN buys CBS contract out.

Wood TV will launch a 4PM newscast in fall of 2022 once Ellen ends.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Cartoons return on Sat morning on networks E/I & nature shows are finally ditched I'll keep on saying that until it happens.

no. Just no.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

CBS will sign a deal with Big Ten Football as they lose SEC in 2023 unless ESPN buys CBS contract out.

Agree that CBS-Big Ten is a possibility, but I'll also suggest that they also sign a deal with the Pac-Ten too. And also starts airing college football on Saturday nights too (mainly Pac Ten games).

Semi-related: Big Ten announces teams #15 and #16 for expansion. With the hypothetical new CBS deal, Pac 10 also looks for suitable expansion candidates beyond the current 12 teams.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

More markets have at least one station go experimental ATSC 3.0. With at least one of the Rockford, Peoria/Bloomington, and/or Springfield/Decatur/Champaign markets in Illinois joining the ATSC 3.0 list on one station.

I have a wish list of how I'd like ATSC 3.0 and the subsequent market realignment to go in the Peoria and Springfield markets that I suggest here later, but for Rockford it would be a no-brainer to switch Gray's WIFR-LD to ATSC 3.0. Since WIFR's CBS signal on 23.1 is now being repeated on WREX-13.2, while Gray punts CW over to Nexstar-owned WTVO or WQRF on one of their subchannels. And as part of the deal of relaying all the Rockford market signals on WIFR in 3.0 in my "pipe dream," Gray actually makes a deal to run the national PBS feed OTA in 3.0 (and thus petitions Comcast and other cable systems in the Rockford DMA to drop WTTW Chicago and/or WHA Madison on their systems in favor of the national PBS feed).

I take back the 3.0 prediction for at least Peoria and Springfield until perhaps 2023. Rockford might be a different story, Gray might say heck with it and decides to convert WIFR-LD to 3.0 (since WIFR's CBS signal is repeated on one of WREX's subs).

Quad Cities DMA might be more likely to go ATSC 3.0 in downstate Illinois/eastern Iowa during 2022. This might be a pipe dream but to save expenses I predict Western Illinois University (in Macomb, part of the Quincy market--but has a QCs campus), and also runs PBS affiliate WQPT-24 decides to get out of TV and swaps their RF 23, virtual 24 signal with Iowa Public Television. KQIN moves from 34/36 to 23/24 but agrees to develop a new, locally-based subchannel (24.5, similar to what WTVP Peoria does with 47.5) that would be more Illinois and QC-oriented (broadcasts of Illinois-based programs e.g. Illinois Stories, rebroadcasts of other programs originating from PBS stations in Peoria, Urbana, Carbondale, Springfield, etc., and local QC programs). The 24.5 becomes an experiment with Iowa Public TV later adds to their Des Moines flagship (KDIN-11) and several other stations on the network (with locally-based programming).

Meanwhile, KQIN's current RF 34/virtual 36 is sold and relaunched as an ATSC 3.0 experimental station for the Quad Cities (relaying the main signals of all QC Big 4 and Iowa PBS stations in 3.0), and its transmitter relocated from the Orion antenna farm to the dual WHBF/KWQC site in Bettendorf.

 

[landtuna]

Agree that CBS-Big Ten is a possibility, but I'll also suggest that they also sign a deal with the Pac-Ten too. And also starts airing college football on Saturday nights too (mainly Pac Ten games).

Semi-related: Big Ten announces teams #15 and #16 for expansion. With the hypothetical new CBS deal, Pac 10 also looks for suitable expansion candidates beyond the current 12 teams.

PAC-12

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Golden Globes continues to make diversity improvements in time for the 80th ceremony on Jan. 8, 2023. This time NBC responds by saying "We don't care, we'd rather air a playoff implication Sunday Night Football game instead."

Golden Globes moves exclusively to streaming only starting in 2023 (Apple Tv or one of those).

 

[ZantennaG1]

Semi-related: Big Ten announces teams #15 and #16 for expansion.

Who do you predict would included in this expansion? Perhaps they will start gobbling up the Big 12 conference, starting with Missouri.

 

[TVCOOL]

The Boston and Providence TV markets will merge into one likewise with Washington DC and Baltimore as well.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

The Boston and Providence TV markets will merge into one likewise with Washington DC and Baltimore as well.

No

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Who do you predict would included in this expansion? Perhaps they will start gobbling up the Big 12 conference, starting with Missouri.

Too late on Mizzou for the last 10 years as far as the Big Ten is concerned--Missouri is in the SEC since 2012 and there's no way they'll leave that for the B1G now. If this was still 2009-early 2011 I would have definitely said go for Mizzou (I think they should have at least been allowed to join the B1G along with Nebraska in 2010 even if it meant 13 teams for a few years).

This is another pipe dream again but I would like to see the ACC issue an ultimatum to ND: Be a full member for all sports including football or we're revoking the scheduling agreement. If that happens and ND says no, then they could be in play for the B1G again.

My guess, assuming ND is no longer an option: I'd go for Virginia and Kansas. Although I would prefer substituting ND for either one of those two schools (but I would like to see a western expansion candidate in a new state to finally complement Nebraska--with Mizzou out of the picture I would go for Kansas even though they have very lousy football--but hoops more than makes up for their football ineptitude).

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

What is a bidding war? CBS and NBC could chase 'Jeopardy!' for their TV stations

The syndicated game show, a staple of ABC's stations for decades, is one of the last great TV franchises standing.

www.latimes.com

Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortunes broadcast rights for Disney owned stations will last in the 2022-2023 season. All are considerations as the current Disney Management is in the process of boosting attention to their streaming apps, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.

ABC’s TV stations have the highest ratings among broadcasters in the nation’s top markets thanks to strong local news operations. Those stations also have “ABC World News Tonight With David Muir” — the most-watched network evening newscast — leading into “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” on several of ABC’s outlets.

Even if Sony and CBS Media Ventures can get a higher license fee for “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel,” moving them to lower-rated NBC, CBS or Fox stations could cut into the ad revenue generated by the shows.

Sony and CBS retain two minutes of ad time along with paid promotional announcements on each program that are sold to national advertisers.

 

[ZantennaG1]

Missouri is in the SEC since 2012

My bad.

If this was still 2009-early 2011 I would have definitely said go for Mizzou (I think they should have at least been allowed to join the B1G along with Nebraska in 2010 even if it meant 13 teams for a few years).

This is another pipe dream again but I would like to see the ACC issue an ultimatum to ND: Be a full member for all sports including football or we're revoking the scheduling agreement. If that happens and ND says no, then they could be in play for the B1G again.

I like it! To be honest, ND football has been on such an independent streak, and I wouldn't be surprised if they drag the entire college out. And to have 'Dame move into one of football's most powerful college conferences will definitely shed some light on the state of the team right now.

(but I would like to see a western expansion candidate in a new state to finally complement Nebraska--with Mizzou out of the picture I would go for Kansas even though they have very lousy football--but hoops more than makes up for their football ineptitude).

Yes, that would revamp some old rivalries if you chose Kansas or K-State, especially considering that Oklahoma is renewing some of their rivalries . Also, as a Nebraska fan, I hear you. Our 2021 volleyball team is awesome, but the football side drives me nutty. But one day, both Kansas and Nebraska will make a good return to form, and I can't wait for those match ups to return!

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

What is a bidding war? CBS and NBC could chase 'Jeopardy!' for their TV stations

The syndicated game show, a staple of ABC's stations for decades, is one of the last great TV franchises standing.

www.latimes.com

Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortunes broadcast rights for Disney owned stations will last in the 2022-2023 season. All are considerations as the current Disney Management is in the process of boosting attention to their streaming apps, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+.

This has the feel of some routine due diligence and planted stories to get the best deal as negotiations proceed. That said, although the current arrangement may not be a good example of the synergy strategies we’ve come to see, it would be foolish for multiple parties to upset this particular apple cart.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

--JCPenney tries to launch a turnaround by officially renaming all their stores and their company as "Penney's."

--Steve Harvey does or says something controversial yet again--but this time it gets him fired as "Family Feud" host (after advertiser boycotts/ads pulled as well as some stations immediately cancelling the Feud in some markets).

Another possible pipe dream but would be an improvement for the Peoria/Bloomington DMA: Sinclair buys out Venture Technologies Group, a mostly LP-station group although their only full-power station is former Peoria, IL My affiliate WAOE-59 (now COL Oswego, IL with transmitter at former site of WWTO near LaSalle, IL). WAOE still keeps a low-power translator in Peoria (COL Pekin).

As part of the Sinclair-Venture deal, Sinclair divests the beleaguered WHOI-19 Peoria, as well as GOCOM Media's WBUI-23 Decatur, IL (among others) to Scripps. Scripps converts WHOI and WBUI to Ion O&O's. I'll have a "prediction, or how I would change Springfield/DEcatur/Champaign" some other time but this is how the Sinclair-Venture deal shakes out in Peoria. Stations and/or subchannels in bold get changed in 2022 according to my "prediction."

WHOI-19 Peoria (now ION O&O)
-19.1 Ion
-19.2 Court TV
-19.3 Grit
-19.4 Laff (from WMBD)
-19.5 DefyTV
-19.6 Bounce (from WMBD) (Newsy will air instead on W27EQ-D, which signs on between Peoria and Bloomington sometime in 2022).
-19.7 TrueReal
-19.8 HSN

WEEK-25 (Peoria)
25.1 NBC
25.2 ABC
25.3 CW+
25.4 Dabl (replaces ION after move to WHOI)

W27DQ-27 (Peoria COL, tower near Congerville)
27.1 Azteca Clic
27.2 Azteca America
27.3 Shop LC
27.4 Novelisma
27.5 Newsy

WMBD-31 (Peoria) (Katz network agreement expires, but doesn't matter as they're lost to the new WHOI Ion instead)
31.1 CBS
31.2 My (returns to Peoria) (as "My 'MBD)
31.3 Antenna TV
31.4 Rewind

WYZZ-43 Bloomington
43.1 Fox
43.2 This TV
43.3 Get TV

WTVP-47 Peoria
47.1 PBS
47.2 PBS Kids
47.3 World
47.4 Create
47.5 "WTVP Remote" (local-based netlet that's existed since 2020)

WAOE-59 (Pekin translator) (now owned by Sinclair)
59.1 The National Desk (New netlet)
59.2 VPOD (goes national as part of Sinclair deal)
59.3 Grio TV (part of Sinclair deal)
59.4 Comet
59.5 TBD
59.6 Charge
59.7 Stadium

 

[ZantennaG1]

--JCPenney tries to launch a turnaround by officially renaming all their stores and their company as "Penney's."

I hope they do turn around! A re-brand can help, but at this point that is just kicking real problems under the carpet.

 

[Mikey Radio]

--Steve Harvey does or says something controversial yet again--but this time it gets him fired as "Family Feud" host (after advertiser boycotts/ads pulled as well as some stations immediately cancelling the Feud in some markets).

Don't forget, starting January 4, Steve Harvey gets his own courtroom as he acts as judge over disputes between roomates, co-workers and more! Should be a real gas...

Judge Steve Harvey | All Rise for 'Judge Steve Harvey'

Series Premiere TUESDAY JAN 4 8/7c on ABC!

abc.com

 

[TVCOOL]

I guess since ROH is closed until their planned relaunch in April Sinclair Broadcasting cancels ROH TV by february since theyre airing reruns.

 

[mnradiofan]

Major networks will further utilize their platforms to advertise the respective streaming services. To that end, more and more programming will make the shift to premiere on streaming FIRST, and air on Broadcast later. Maybe as little as 24 hours later, up to months later. At least one more major show will transition from TV to Streaming. More and more streaming shows will have special "preview" episodes broadcast on TV heavy with advertising for the streaming platform (IE -- like this show, see all episodes commercial free on _______)

Fox Broadcasting will realize that it cannot survive as an independent and a deal will be announced in 2022 for it to be acquired by a larger content house (Amazon, WarnerDiscovery, Netflix, etc).

At least 1 more major cable channel will shut down due to declining revenue, possibly more.

Scripps Diginets will start to be carried by cable and commercially supported streaming services like Pluto, Tubi, etc.

At least one of the newer news networks will shut down or go streaming only (looking at you NewsNation).

And now here's my "out there" prediction:

Seeing the success of Amazon and ESPN streaming live sports, it will be announced that at least one major sports contract is going to Netflix.

 

[EricStein]

Major networks will further utilize their platforms to advertise the respective streaming services. To that end, more and more programming will make the shift to premiere on streaming FIRST, and air on Broadcast later. Maybe as little as 24 hours later, up to months later. At least one more major show will transition from TV to Streaming. More and more streaming shows will have special "preview" episodes broadcast on TV heavy with advertising for the streaming platform (IE -- like this show, see all episodes commercial free on _______)

Fox Broadcasting will realize that it cannot survive as an independent and a deal will be announced in 2022 for it to be acquired by a larger content house (Amazon, WarnerDiscovery, Netflix, etc).

At least 1 more major cable channel will shut down due to declining revenue, possibly more.

Scripps Diginets will start to be carried by cable and commercially supported streaming services like Pluto, Tubi, etc.

At least one of the newer news networks will shut down or go streaming only (looking at you NewsNation).

And now here's my "out there" prediction:

Seeing the success of Amazon and ESPN streaming live sports, it will be announced that at least one major sports contract is going to Netflix.

Sinclair puts its Diamond Sports division into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to mounting debt and revenue hits because sports leagues are locked out or postponing games.