ABC Threatens to Pull Affiliation from WLNE

[bostonmediaguy]

Just wondering....How many of Media General's stations are already ABC affilitaes?

Just sorta makes you go: "Hmmmmmm......".

One. WJBF in Augusta, Ga. WJAR's affiliation agreement with NBC does not expire until January 1.

 

[bg02445]

Yea, I doubt that WJAR would want to take the risk of switching to ABC.

WJAR's key strength is news, and NBC carries the highest ratings of all of the networks for news. Rhode Island is also a market that doesn't really like change, and that would be a huge one.

Switching to ABC could also easily backfire, if people followed all of the NBC programming (and local programming) over to the new NBC affiliate.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Just out of curiousity. What do you guys think of WLNE becoming the "MY" affiliate in Providence.The speculation of problems they have do you think WLNE as a "MY" affiliate would be a better fit for them right now.Keeping thier news division but running Newscasts on off hours 4 pm,7pm,10 pm with one hour newcasts.Focus on better syndication programs.Sort of go in the direction of WSBK of becoming an almost indi.Just thinking financialy.
ABC going to WNAC-DT. I believe I read somewhere there are a couple of markets with major networks on the subchannels.With Cable and satalite and digital tv i don't see a problem with viewers having trouble.

MY 6 NEWS,My 6 news at 7:00.

 

[azumanga]

Just wondering....How many of Media General's stations are already ABC affilitaes?

One. WJBF in Augusta, Ga.

Used to be three in recent years, along with WTVQ in Lexington KY and WMBB in Panama City -- Media General sold them off in the last couple of years.

Historically, M-G's WCBD in Charleston SC and WJKS in Jacksonville were also ABC stations under M-G's ownership -- WCBD is now NBC; WJKS is now WCWJ and The CW under Nextar ownership.

 

[DToTheJ]

Maybe WLNE will end up an indie, and Providence will be the one market to go back to the old "secondary affiliation" thing from years gone by...

 

[bg02445]

Secondary affiliation will never happen. I would be willing to bet that ABC would rather pay an exorbitant amount to buy a station in the market themselves then see their programming be shoved into off hours with only the top rated shows making it into primetime.

 

[azumanga]

Maybe WLNE will end up an indie, and Providence will be the one market to go back to the old "secondary affiliation" thing from years gone by...

Going indy does not necessary mean success -- look at KRON in San Francisco, for instance: they were very successful as an NBC affiliate, but when its affiliate was removed, it struggled badly as an indy.

As for "secondary affiliation" -- such arrangement has been made outmoded by the digital age; if another station doesn't pick up the affiliation, maybe another existing station can open a subchannel to carry the network. For example: WGXA in Macon regained its ABC affiliate by opening a subchannel after WPGA went indy; and KBMT in Beaumont, Texas opened a subchannel for NBC after KBTV dumped them in favor of Fox.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Maybe WLNE will end up an indie, and Providence will be the one market to go back to the old "secondary affiliation" thing from years gone by...

Going indy does not necessary mean success -- look at KRON in San Francisco, for instance: they were very successful as an NBC affiliate, but when its affiliate was removed, it struggled badly as an indy.

As for "secondary affiliation" -- such arrangement has been made outmoded by the digital age; if another station doesn't pick up the affiliation, maybe another existing station can open a subchannel to carry the network. For example: WGXA in Macon regained its ABC affiliate by opening a subchannel after WPGA went indy; and KBMT in Beaumont, Texas opened a subchannel for NBC after KBTV dumped them in favor of Fox.

Why would any network be willing to become a secondary when you have sub channels now and run the programming LIVE on time.WPRI, WNAC, and WLWC all have subchannels. The most likely I can see would be WNAC dropping "MY" to carry ABC.

Personally, I think this will be solved but if ABC does pull the plug on WLNE.I am willing to bet they end up on WNAC 64.2.At least LIN can tell MY that they have another station in the market that will be willing to carry thier service.IF WLNE can grab "MY" at that piont I would do it.Just for Monikar reasons alone.

 

[mescutia]

I'm wondering if ABC is considering going into some sort of partnership with one of the suitors to help that suitor buy WLNE. It could be akin to the joint venture between NBC Universal and LIN that owns KXAS and KNSD.

 

[radiolives]

WJAR flipping to ABC and NBC to WLNE. that could happen.

Just wondering....How many of Media General's stations are already ABC affilitaes?

Just sorta makes you go: "Hmmmmmm......".

Media General owns 8 NBC stations along with 8 CBS stations, MG only owns 1 ABC station. Not counting CW's or MY's. So I think Media General wants to stick to NBC on WJAR.

Could ABC go to 28 as CBS doesn't own that station anymore?

 

[MarcB]

Could ABC go to 28 as CBS doesn't own that station anymore?

Yes, CBS no longer owns WLWC. It's owned by Nextstar? Anyway I know they only own Hispanic affiliated TV stations but how 'bout if ZGS's WRIW-LP Channel 50 picks up ABC?

 

[taylorjsdad]

WJAR flipping to ABC and NBC to WLNE. that could happen.

Just wondering....How many of Media General's stations are already ABC affilitaes?

Just sorta makes you go: "Hmmmmmm......".

I think they have one.... most of their stations are with NBC.