Allbritton Next on the Block?

[nomadcowatbk]

The above two posts raise the question: might Disney eventually sell off ABC itself?

about as likely as Comcast eventually selling NBC

 

[johndavis]

I thought broadcasters couldn't own a radio or TV station in the same market with a cable system owned by the same company? Unless they sought a waiver, or Cox planned on selling off its cable system.

If I remember correctly, either Cox Communications or CMG was spun off to the shareholders a few years ago. While there is a small amount of co-ownership, they're operated separately and are sufficiently different in ownership. So, they're no longer the same for FCC purposes.

Cox Radio was formerly publicly traded as CXR. Cox Enterprises bought it back and took it private. That's when they restructured into Cox Media Group with the radio, TV, newspapers, and digital in the same division and sharing resources.

I'm not aware of cable system ownership factoring into multiple ownership calculations. You need a waiver to print a newspaper, though.

 

[kilamanjero]

The implausibility is based on the fact that Disney would like outbid CBS by a long shot to keep ABC on 7 in the DC DMA. CBS might be "strategic in their moves" as of late, but Disney/ABC has been sitting on cash for years hence why all their O&Os with exception of WTVD are #1 in their markets in newscast operations. Disney is more strategic than CBS on this front so the underestimation of what Disney will or won't do is foolish at best. Remember Disney acquired Marvel and Lucasfilms and those purchases were drops in the bucket to them. Trust me when I say, if they think they can outbid Disney over WJLA even in this economy.

Disney didn't care to buy up Seattle and Portland ABC affiliates when they were for sale just recently with the loads of cash reserved. It could have bought out Fisher, kept what it wanted, then sell of the rest. Seattle might not be as big as DC, but it's definitely a key market in the country and likely would have been profitable. Disney has been more focused on ESPN's exposure and revenue, and ABC is second fiddle to it.

CBS's main revenue is CBS.

One can't get ABC on DirecTV on plane, but Fox NBC and CBS show up, along with ESPN. The casual viewer that might tune into 'Body of Proof' then watch it back home, won't see it, oh because Disney didn't think ABC needed to be on flight while three of it's competitors are there.

Uh maybe because it is Seattle. ABC could have bought KOMO-TV but Seattle isn't a "sexy market" like Washington DC. Disney isn't as focused on other brands you might think otherwise they would have tossed out more than WJRT-TV and WTVG in 2011.

 

[Morgan Wick]

Worth noting that KSTW is the only O&O in Seattle of the Big Six.

 

[e-dawg]

KSTW Studios is in the same building as CBS radio near the Space Needle, ever since they moved out their studios in Tacoma, they don't have room to produce a local newscast. Also, the master control is hub in San Francisco. If KSTW become a CBS affiliate then it will be like their sister station in Detroit, MI (WWJ-TV).

 

[newsbot]

Sinclair buys Allbritton

The deal includes flagship WJLA; four existing Sinclair stations will spun off into duopoly arrangements to skirt FCC rules
http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/69268/sinclair-buying-allbritton-stations-for-985m

 

[only1moore]

Sinclair just became the Clear Channel of television. One has to wonder how long before they buy a network, since a majority of them are ABC affiliates.

 

[JayR]

Re: Sinclair buys Allbritton

The deal includes flagship WJLA; four existing Sinclair stations will spun off into duopoly arrangements to skirt FCC rules
Sinclair Buying Albritton Stations For $985M

More stations to clear Ring Of Honor.

 

[kilamanjero]

Sinclair just became the Clear Channel of television. One has to wonder how long before they buy a network, since a majority of them are ABC affiliates.

They won't be able to because Sinclair will be bankrupt within a few years. The level of idiocy these days amongst broadcasters is amusing. Disney/ABC was too busy ignoring the facts rather than just acquiring the station group and spinning off the small market stations to individual owners.

 

[Mrtraveler01]

Sinclair just became the Clear Channel of television. One has to wonder how long before they buy a network, since a majority of them are ABC affiliates.

They won't be able to because Sinclair will be bankrupt within a few years. The level of idiocy these days amongst broadcasters is amusing. Disney/ABC was too busy ignoring the facts rather than just acquiring the station group and spinning off the small market stations to individual owners.

Yeah, their plan to turn local cable news station News Channel 8 in DC into something on a national level (ie: make it more political) sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I would love to see these cheap tightwads compete against Fox News.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Sinclair just became the Clear Channel of television. One has to wonder how long before they buy a network, since a majority of them are ABC affiliates.

Would Disney sell ABC?

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Sinclair just became the Clear Channel of television. One has to wonder how long before they buy a network, since a majority of them are ABC affiliates.

They won't be able to because Sinclair will be bankrupt within a few years. The level of idiocy these days amongst broadcasters is amusing. Disney/ABC was too busy ignoring the facts rather than just acquiring the station group and spinning off the small market stations to individual owners.

Yeah, their plan to turn local cable news station News Channel 8 in DC into something on a national level (ie: make it more political) sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I would love to see these cheap tightwads compete against Fox News.

Is anyone really interested in competing against Fox News since their audience is loyal and older?

 

[FightingIrish]

Sinclair just became the Clear Channel of television. One has to wonder how long before they buy a network, since a majority of them are ABC affiliates.

They won't be able to because Sinclair will be bankrupt within a few years. The level of idiocy these days amongst broadcasters is amusing. Disney/ABC was too busy ignoring the facts rather than just acquiring the station group and spinning off the small market stations to individual owners.

Yeah, their plan to turn local cable news station News Channel 8 in DC into something on a national level (ie: make it more political) sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I would love to see these cheap tightwads compete against Fox News.

Yeah, because all the world really needs right now is incredibly lame Mark Hyman editorials.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Re: Sinclair buys Allbritton

The deal includes flagship WJLA; four existing Sinclair stations will spun off into duopoly arrangements to skirt FCC rules
Sinclair Buying Albritton Stations For $985M

More stations to clear Ring Of Honor.

or a reboot of News Central

 

[nomadcowatbk]

How long before they turn WJLA into another KDNL?

 

[ding12]

Although I doubt Disney would buy any stations, at this point, Disney could still make a deal with Tribune to buy out stations and get an ABC O&O in DC.

Disney could buy out WDCW from Tribune and convert it to DC's ABC O&O station similar like how NBC got KNTV and made it a cable Ch.3 in the Bay Area, NBC O&O.

Regarding other possible stations, I'd think WGN America would make a good fit with Disney as well, local WGN Chicago less so but could fit as a duopoly with WLS, and maybe a couple of other Tribune stations could be bought, like the duopoly in Seattle. The Sinclair & Disney station group affiliation isn't very wide like Hearst & Disney, or Scripps & Disney, which have many large DMAs, so I don't see any commitment or obligation that Disney really has with Sinclair. For all purposes, Disney could just deal with Tribune in DC and Seattle.

Sinclair is more aligned with FOX anyways. The Seattle ABC which Sinclair bought could flip to FOX affiliation.

A deal with Tribune to cherry pick some stations would be easier than Disney buying out Allbritton. The latter would have made Disney involved in a number of small market stations like Birmingham and Harrisburg, a local cable news channel in DC, it would anyways have to sell and/or not want much or any involvement.

 

[charlestondxman]

Sinclair is not as bad as it used to be. It puts money into many of its stations. WBFF in Baltimore has Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! now, plus a full news staff even on weekends. Wheel and Jeopardy aren't cheap.

Their Asheville station also puts a lot of money into Western North Carolina, an area that the Greenville/Spartanburg stations don't do as much work in.

 

[bkeller]

Although I doubt Disney would buy any stations, at this point, Disney could still make a deal with Tribune to buy out stations and get an ABC O&O in DC.

Disney could buy out WDCW from Tribune and convert it to an ABC O&O station. Like how NBC got KNTV and made it a cable Ch.3 in the Bay Area, Disney could buy WDCW and make it an ABC O&O.

WDCW is a UHF both digitally and virtually at this point (channel 50). Wouldn't it make sense to swap channel assignments with WJLA (Ch. 7, both digital and virtual)? Also, the WDCW calls refer on part to the CW network, so another callsign change might be needed: Example, WWAB, if that's not already taken, to denote "We're Washington's ABC."

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Sinclair is not as bad as it used to be. It puts money into many of its stations. WBFF in Baltimore has Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! now, plus a full news staff even on weekends. Wheel and Jeopardy aren't cheap.

Their Asheville station also puts a lot of money into Western North Carolina, an area that the Greenville/Spartanburg stations don't do as much work in.

they aren't putting much money into KDNL

 

[JeeperOne]

Worth noting that KSTW is the only O&O in Seattle of the Big Six.

Which ain't saying much considering it's a CW affiliate while KIRO 7 has the (Heritage) CBS affiliation.....

Cheers & 73 ;D