Scott Fybush has reported that there will now be local CBS coverage in Elmira on one of the existing channels sub channels. I wonder if such a move would be possible in Utica? I know that WKTV is running the CW on one of their sub channels now. Maybe WUTR or WFXV would pick CBS -But I would imagine CBS would demand a local news dept. I could see WWNY picking up NBC in Watertown.
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CBS in Elmira. How about Utica, and NBC in Watertown?
- Thread starter therealjm12
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therealjm12 said:-But I would imagine CBS would demand a local news dept.
Why? CBS even has an O&O station with no news department (in Detroit).
I don't remember if this topic has come up here before, or if it was on other boards. But anytime it has come up, someone claims WTVH's contract with CBS specifies that WTVH has reign over the Utica market, and CBS will not grant affiliation rights to any other station in Utica. There could very well be a similar deal in place between NBC and WSTM regarding Watertown. After all, both WTVH and WSTM stand to lose a little chunk of revenue if they were to lose either secondary market... and I'm surprised if WBNG isn't upset over the WENY deal.
Even if the talk of the CBS/WTVH deal for Utica isn't true, I'm sure any requirement to staff a local news operation helped keep would-be startup affiliates away from the market as well. Both Utica and Watertown have proven that a second news station cannot compete, let alone a third. No owner in their right mind would spend the amount of cash it would take to try to compete with WKTV or WWNY. A coup is not impossible, but it would cost way more than you could ever hope to make back in small-market revenue. In Elmira, I've heard that WETM cleans the floor with WENY, but at least WENY is still there, making the effort. And at least WENY can supply local news to the CBS station by simply simulcasting what it's already doing, rather than building an entire news operation from scratch.
The requirement to have a local news department may be gone from affiliate contracts, but I still think it's much better for a station to have one. Once you get rid of news, you look just as cheap and shoddy as most Fox, myTV or CW stations that just relay the network feed and fill their local holes with reruns or infomercials. If I were living in Utica, I would much rather see WTVH continue to be piped in (as mediocre as their new product is) than a Utica-based CBS station with no local news. Even though WUTR's news was never perceived as a threat to WKTV, they looked a lot better when they were actually trying, than they look today.
Still, the fact that digital TV does make it very easy (and inexpensive) for an existing station to add a second network, will probably eventually give way to more of these deals in smaller markets where, before, there weren't enough stations to accommodate all the networks.
Even if the talk of the CBS/WTVH deal for Utica isn't true, I'm sure any requirement to staff a local news operation helped keep would-be startup affiliates away from the market as well. Both Utica and Watertown have proven that a second news station cannot compete, let alone a third. No owner in their right mind would spend the amount of cash it would take to try to compete with WKTV or WWNY. A coup is not impossible, but it would cost way more than you could ever hope to make back in small-market revenue. In Elmira, I've heard that WETM cleans the floor with WENY, but at least WENY is still there, making the effort. And at least WENY can supply local news to the CBS station by simply simulcasting what it's already doing, rather than building an entire news operation from scratch.
The requirement to have a local news department may be gone from affiliate contracts, but I still think it's much better for a station to have one. Once you get rid of news, you look just as cheap and shoddy as most Fox, myTV or CW stations that just relay the network feed and fill their local holes with reruns or infomercials. If I were living in Utica, I would much rather see WTVH continue to be piped in (as mediocre as their new product is) than a Utica-based CBS station with no local news. Even though WUTR's news was never perceived as a threat to WKTV, they looked a lot better when they were actually trying, than they look today.
Still, the fact that digital TV does make it very easy (and inexpensive) for an existing station to add a second network, will probably eventually give way to more of these deals in smaller markets where, before, there weren't enough stations to accommodate all the networks.
I too am fairly surprised that WBNG would let this happen for they have been serving the entire Southern Tier well, since day one. Even though they may have not covered Elmira/Corning I assume they are still able to sell ads in the market.
As for CBS coming to Utica, who knows? Sure WTVH may try to block it, but with WTVH being owned by Granite like WBNG is perhaps they won't actually care much. If, say either WKTV or WUTR puts CBS on a subchannel and gets cable carriage, one thing for sure is that Utica would finally be able to see Buffalo Bills games where they are usually blacked out because of WTVH's (analogue, not sure about their digital) signal extending into that 75-mile radius.
As for CBS coming to Utica, who knows? Sure WTVH may try to block it, but with WTVH being owned by Granite like WBNG is perhaps they won't actually care much. If, say either WKTV or WUTR puts CBS on a subchannel and gets cable carriage, one thing for sure is that Utica would finally be able to see Buffalo Bills games where they are usually blacked out because of WTVH's (analogue, not sure about their digital) signal extending into that 75-mile radius.
dustintv said:WBNG {...} may have not covered Elmira/Corning I assume they are still able to sell ads in the market.
Well, I don't know if local ads really matter too much when a station covers two markets... but I was thinking more along the lines of national or regional buys. WTVH can tell ad agencies it has the potential viewership of both Syracuse and Utica. Adding in Utica probably isn't worth tons and tons of money, but it's probably a nice little "bonus" for a 3rd-ranked station that desperately needs every dollar it can get. National or regional ad agencies usually just pay for spots based solely on the ratings, nothing else. If WTVH can prove it has viewers in Syracuse and Utica, it can charge for all of them.
Local ads are a different story. Local clients actually live in the area, and know the stations, beyond the raw numbers. I doubt WTVH (or WBNG) can get away with charging local clients (with smaller budgets) more just because the station is seen in two markets. Clients in Syracuse are going after Syracuse viewers. WTVH's rates need to be competitive with WSYR and WSTM. Clients won't pay extra for the marginal (if that) business they'd get from Utica viewers. You might catch a first-time sucker here or there, but they won't make the same mistake twice.
Likewise, clients in Utica will not pay Syracuse rates to get on WTVH. Besides the rates probably being considerably higher than the Utica stations are charging, no Syracuse viewer would drive out to Utica for anything. There's nothing in Utica that isn't already in Syracuse, so there's no incentive for Utica clients to pay extra to be seen in Syracuse. And as far as going after Utica viewers, a business will get enough eyes from advertising on the Utica stations (and at a much cheaper rate).
You can take the above paragraphs and substitute Utica and Syracuse for Binghamton and Elmira... and WTVH for WBNG.
At least in WBNG's case, they are the dominant station in Bingo, so any revenue losses nationally can probably be made up locally. WTVH would have a harder time with that.
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