ABC/Disney To Sell Two TV Stations

[DToTheJ]

And not surprisingly, it's the stations serving the smallest of the ten markets in the group: WJRT in Flint, MI and WTVG in Toledo, OH. ABC is selling them back to SJL Broadcasting - from whom ABC purchased the stations from back in 1995:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/459382-EXCLUSIVE_Disney_to_Sell_Two_Stations.php

After the sale, ABC/Disney will have eight owned-and-operated stations, consisting of six in the top ten markets, plus WTVD in Raleigh/Durham and KFSN in Fresno - which ABC/Disney will retain mostly for strategic technological purposes for the company.

 

[TVradioguru]

I was most surprised that they found someone who either could, or were interested in buying these turkeys.

I believe it was the previous owner SJL Broadcasting. Disney probably bought the stations at an over-valued price, then dumped them back to the original owner at a devalued price. SJL makes some money (and interest) on the sale to Disney, then buys them back after a little time off of Disney operating and investing in them. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

 

[Yeziknoradio]

A good deal? How are ratings? I hope they have a good game plan!

 

[dave73]

The only reason ABC even bought those stations was because both stations cover parts of the Detroit market. Under Capital Cities, they were over their limit on the number of VHF stations they could own, and managed to get a waiver for WPVI-TV (due to Grade B overage over most of the New York market). In the process, they sold off WXYZ. WXYZ, now owned by Scripps, threatened to drop ABC for CBS in 1994, when CBS lost their affiliate (WJBK) after New World Communications became Fox affiliates (eventually, New World was bought out by Fox). ABC then bought WJRT-TV & WTVG in order to keep ABC available on cable, if WXYZ dropped ABC from the station, since both stations cover parts of the market (WTVG covering the southern portion, while WJRT covers the northern portion). Now with ABC selling these 2 stations back to SJL Broadcasting, this will automatically make them affiliates of ABC's Livewell Network (providing there's a condition to the sale mandating Livewell to remain on these 2 stations), instead of being ABC O&O after the sale is final.

It would be interesting if ABC were able to buy back WXYZ back from Scripps, but I doubt they'll get that station back. That station is no longer a VHF station, & technically would allow ABC to buy back the station, if they could.

 

[fybush]

It would be interesting if ABC were able to buy back WXYZ back from Scripps, but I doubt they'll get that station back. That station is no longer a VHF station, & technically would allow ABC to buy back the station, if they could.

I'm pretty sure the VHF/UHF distinction for ownership purposes went away around the time 7/7/7 became 12/12/12, more than 15 years ago.

 

[JeeperOne]

Whaddya know - Mickey ACTUALLY MOVED??????

I thought he was INCAPABLE of it......

I wonder what ABC will put in its offspring coffers in place of them (If anything)

Cheers

 

[Markxxx]

I'm pretty sure the VHF/UHF distinction for ownership purposes went away around the time 7/7/7 became 12/12/12, more than 15 years ago.

UHF stations count at half when measuring the cap, which is 39%. I recall reading the FCC was going to phase this cap out once digital was completed but I am unsure of the current status now

 

[kilamanjero]

The only reason ABC even bought those stations was because both stations cover parts of the Detroit market. Under Capital Cities, they were over their limit on the number of VHF stations they could own, and managed to get a waiver for WPVI-TV (due to Grade B overage over most of the New York market). In the process, they sold off WXYZ. WXYZ, now owned by Scripps, threatened to drop ABC for CBS in 1994, when CBS lost their affiliate (WJBK) after New World Communications became Fox affiliates (eventually, New World was bought out by Fox). ABC then bought WJRT-TV & WTVG in order to keep ABC available on cable, if WXYZ dropped ABC from the station, since both stations cover parts of the market (WTVG covering the southern portion, while WJRT covers the northern portion). Now with ABC selling these 2 stations back to SJL Broadcasting, this will automatically make them affiliates of ABC's Livewell Network (providing there's a condition to the sale mandating Livewell to remain on these 2 stations), instead of being ABC O&O after the sale is final.

It would be interesting if ABC were able to buy back WXYZ back from Scripps, but I doubt they'll get that station back. That station is no longer a VHF station, & technically would allow ABC to buy back the station, if they could.

I don't know if Disney/ABC is willing to purchase a station that is now considered a "shrinking market" like Detroit. Detroit's market fell out of the top 10 when the Atlanta market entered it about 4 years ago. ABC might be more interested in purchasing WSB-TV in a "rapidly growing" market like Atlanta, but we know that Anne Cox Chambers, James C. Kennedy, and Blair Parry-Okedon won't let that happen. WSB-TV is their flagship and cash cow for Cox Enterprises.

 

[ding12]

I don't know if Disney/ABC is willing to purchase a station that is now considered a "shrinking market" like Detroit. Detroit's market fell out of the top 10 when the Atlanta market entered it about 4 years ago.

Detroit is still a large market, and can recover to some extent.

Delta Airlines now has Atlanta and Detroit (acquired from NW) as their hubs. Detroit isn't being downsized or losing international service, just because the metropolitan area lost population. Detroit won't fade like Pittsburgh.

Back on TV, It's still a big market and still a top 15 market. Also in Detroit, it's a 3 news team, rather than 4, which is an advantage to the remaining 3 stations.

 

[Sammi Brie]

I don't know if Disney/ABC is willing to purchase a station that is now considered a "shrinking market" like Detroit. Detroit's market fell out of the top 10 when the Atlanta market entered it about 4 years ago.

Detroit is still a large market, and can recover to some extent.

Delta Airlines now has Atlanta and Detroit (acquired from NW) as their hubs. Detroit isn't being downsized or losing international service, just because the metropolitan area lost population. Detroit won't fade like Pittsburgh.

Back on TV, It's still a big market and still a top 15 market. Also in Detroit, it's a 3 news team, rather than 4, which is an advantage to the remaining 3 stations.

Detroit is just a few thousand households larger than Phoenix this TV season. Phoenix gained population; Detroit lost it. Phoenix will be #11 next season, but #10 is Houston and that will be harder to crack.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Although it should be pointed out that WJRT is not in the Detroit market, even though it can be
received throughout much of the northern half. It is part of the Baycitysaginawmidlandflint market
(gotta have a nimble tongue to do those station breaks up there!) which has to be one of the fastest
shrinking markets in the US.

 

[mescutia]

Although it should be pointed out that WJRT is not in the Detroit market, even though it can be
received throughout much of the northern half. It is part of the Baycitysaginawmidlandflint market
(gotta have a nimble tongue to do those station breaks up there!) which has to be one of the fastest
shrinking markets in the US.

Meanwhile, the Raleigh-Durham area is one of the fastest-growing markets, which likely explains why ABC is keeping WTVD.

 

[bpatrick]

I'd still like to see Orlando's WFTV become an ABC o&o.
Seems only natural, in the home of Disney World.

Two major-market stations that I think will not be in play:
WSB, for reasons already mentioned; and WFAA, Belo's
flagship in Dallas and also a cash cow.

 

[Markxxx]

Detroit is still a large market, and can recover to some extent.

The problem is the way the markets are sold. A lot of time the ad space is packaged. So a buyer will say, "I want to buy time in the top 10 markets." So even if you're #11 and only a small bit behind #10, you'll be left out of deals like that.

 

[kilamanjero]

Although it should be pointed out that WJRT is not in the Detroit market, even though it can be
received throughout much of the northern half. It is part of the Baycitysaginawmidlandflint market
(gotta have a nimble tongue to do those station breaks up there!) which has to be one of the fastest
shrinking markets in the US.

Meanwhile, the Raleigh-Durham area is one of the fastest-growing markets, which likely explains why ABC is keeping WTVD.

Very true, at the rate the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market is growing it might even surpass Charlotte in market rankings.

 

[mjlarochelle]

I don't know if Disney/ABC is willing to purchase a station that is now considered a "shrinking market" like Detroit. Detroit's market fell out of the top 10 when the Atlanta market entered it about 4 years ago.

Detroit is still a large market, and can recover to some extent.

Delta Airlines now has Atlanta and Detroit (acquired from NW) as their hubs. Detroit isn't being downsized or losing international service, just because the metropolitan area lost population. Detroit won't fade like Pittsburgh.

Back on TV, It's still a big market and still a top 15 market. Also in Detroit, it's a 3 news team, rather than 4, which is an advantage to the remaining 3 stations.

Actually, Delta Airlines cancelled international service to London, Canada just a week or so ago. The service existed for about 20 years. Mind you, it was just a regional connector, but still technically international.

In any event, from what I've read WTVG is #1 in Toledo.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

In any event, from what I've read WTVG is #1 in Toledo.

Raycom's WTOL/11 (CBS) is the perennial market leader, but indeed, recently, WTVG has landed at the top in most dayparts. WNWO/24 "NBC 24" is watched mostly by friends, family and curious onlookers, and is basically fourth in the news race to WUPW/36 "Fox Toledo".

I'm surprised Disney/ABC held onto these two stations for so long. They were only picked up as "Plan B" in case Detroit's WXYZ/7 went to CBS.