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Could Tribune Close TV Newsrooms In New England?

J

Joseph_Gallant

Guest
In the wake of Tribune annoucing that the local news operations at two of it's local TV stations (WPHL-17 Philadelphia and KSWB San Diego) would soon close down, with the NBC-owned stations in each market producing a local newscast to replace the in-house local newscasts on the Tribune stations, it needs to be asked if either of Tribune's local TV news operations in New England (WTIC-61/WTXX-20 Hartford and WLVI-56 Boston) might be next, with the local NBC-owned or affiliated stations producing 10 P.M. newscasts to replace the ones produced in-house.

Some thoughts as to whether this may or may not happen:

WTIC-61/WTXX-20:

Why This May Happen: Hartford has an NBC-owned station (WVIT-30). I also believe that Tribune will at some point in the not-too-distant future have to spin-off one of their two Hartford-area stations.

If one of the two does get spun-off, I could see WTIC spun-off (maybe sold to Fox itself), with Tribune keeping WTXX as it's a WB affiliate, since Tribune is part-owner of that network.

Assuming that WTIC is spun-off, Tribune could include the news department among the assets of WTIC. Then, Tribune could make a deal with WVIT to produce a 10 P.M. newscast on WTXX to replace the simulcast of the first half-hour of WTIC's news. WTIC's local newsroom would continue to produce newscasts for that station under it's new owners.

Why This May Not Happen: It may be quite a while before WTIC is spun-off (if it is). And with WTIC a Fox affiliate, I suspect it's 10 P.M. local news gets decent ratings, unlike what is probably the case in San Diego and Philly. Unless a spin-off of WTIC is about to happen, the status quo may remain for at least a little while.

One possibility: If Tribune is planning to spin-off WTIC, it could replace the 10-10:30 P.M. simulcast on WTXX with a WVIT-produced newscast, with the exisring newscast continuing to air on WTIC, both before and after Tribune sells it off.

WLVI-56:

Why This May Happen: WLVI's 10 P.M. news ratings aren't what they used to be. WFXT-25 is now the clear leader in the 10 P.M. local news ratings. Don't forget that Philadelphia (one of the two markets where Tribune is closing their local TV news operation) is actually a slightly larger market (in number of total viewers) than Boston (in rank, Philly is number-four; Boston recently rose back to number-five).

Tribune may believe that it could continue to provide local news, but greatly cut costs, if someone else could produce a 10 P.M. newscast for WLVI. Never mind the fact that WLVI has had local news for twenty-one-and-a-half years.

Why This May Not Happen: Boston's NBC affiliate, WHDH-7, is not an NBC-owned station (although it's no secret that NBC wants to someday acquire WHDH; it may be a long time until that happens, if ever). The deals that Tribune made to have NBC-owned stations provide news to WPHL and KSWB was probably made at the corporate level between Tribune and NBC/Universal. If Tribune wanted to make a deal to have WHDH produce a 10 P.M. newscast for WLVI to replace the latter's current in-house newscast, Tribune/WLVI would have to make a separate deal with WHDH.

I'm sure WHDH would appreciate the oppportunity to produce an additional newscast, even if it's on another station. But given that WHDH is only NBC-affiliated, and not NBC-owned, it may be a while before such an arrangement happens (if it ever does).

But should NBC/Universal buy WHDH within the next year or so, WLVI's news will be a goner and replaced with a WHDH-produced 10 P.M. newscast.

The Botom Line: Tribune could do in New England what they did in Philadelphia and San Diego, but the particular issues outlined above may prevent Tribune from doing so right away.
 
Hey JG,

Interesting theories all... would you mind if I republished your comments on BTVN, so that our members who may not necessarily be aware of Radio Info may also participate in this discussion?

Thanks,

Max
 
I was asked:

> Interesting theories all... would you mind if I republished
> your comments on BTVN, so that our members who may not
> necessarily be aware of Radio Info may also participate in
> this discussion?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Max

By all means, republish my comments!

I could not find an E-Mail address for you under your "Profile"; otherwise, I would have given you the okay through a private E-Mail message and not through this forum.
 
What is BVTN? I'm not familiar with that site.

As far as Tribune closing down the newsroom in Boston: I'm surprised they haven't done it already. I am not criticizing the station's efforts, however. They have excellent photographers and the reporting is done well also. Considering they tried doing a morning show a while back and that didn't work, I wouldn't be surprised if Tribune swings the axe in Boston...as they did in Philadelphia and San Diego. Of course, I do NOT wish that to happen. It's sad to see people in Philly and San Diego lose their jobs.
 
My wish here in Connecticut is for Tribune to do away with WTXX-TV (WB) channel 20 of Waterbury/Hartford. The FCC is already after Tribune to begin with since they also own "The Hartford Courant" newspaper. As for WVIT-TV (NBC) channel 30 of New Britain/Hartford producing a 10 PM news for WTXX-TV, it was already done in the past. This was in the mid-1990s before Tribune took over WTXX-TV.
 
Reality check time.
Tribune is not selling WTXX or WTIC-TV.
If Tribune sells one, it will be to a license holder who will sign an LMA to Tribune to continue to operate the station.
 
> What is BVTN? I'm not familiar with that site.
>
> As far as Tribune closing down the newsroom in Boston: I'm
> surprised they haven't done it already. I am not
> criticizing the station's efforts, however. They have
> excellent photographers and the reporting is done well also.
> Considering they tried doing a morning show a while back
> and that didn't work, I wouldn't be surprised if Tribune
> swings the axe in Boston...as they did in Philadelphia and
> San Diego. Of course, I do NOT wish that to happen. It's
> sad to see people in Philly and San Diego lose their jobs.
>

I thought WLVI's 10pm newscast was the highest rated 10pmer in the market. Is WFXT's higher rated?
 
> What is BVTN? I'm not familiar with that site.

Shawn,

BTVN = Boston TV News... http://www.btvn.net... if you go there now, you'll see we just broke a BIG story!
 
> > What is BVTN? I'm not familiar with that site.
>
> Shawn,
>
> BTVN = Boston TV News... http://www.btvn.net... if you go
> there now, you'll see we just broke a BIG story!
>


Why do you now point fingers at the Track and Jurkowitz if you didn't
even credit them in your 'Exclusive' rumor about upcoming changes at 4?
You look really silly trying to cover your behind. You made a mistake
considering you were working off the rumormill and now you're hiding
behind your keyboard blaming someone else for getting the rumor out
there. Please. Show some backbone and stop acting like a child.
I know you're going to come back at me with a long-winded repsonse,
but that's what I would expect from you...

I kept telling you on this board for weeks that there would be
no changes there this fall. You and some fnx guy were insisting
that I had some pro-Fox 25 bias and didn't know what I was talking
about. People who talk the most usually know very little.
 
Randy,

We never claimed an exclusive on the original story; we did what it was our job to do and reported what other sources were telling us. We didn't cite them, and that was perhaps a misjudgment, but they reported it first and it's not our fault that they got it wrong if indeed they did. That's why "won't happen" is in quotes... it's speculative. Just because I decide to report one source contradicting another doesn't make me the bad guy... far from it... it gives a fuller picture!

PS: I really like Fox 25!
 
> I thought WLVI's 10pm newscast was the highest rated 10pmer
> in the market. Is WFXT's higher rated?

Yes. The WLVI news isn't that far behind, the last time that I saw the ratings, though.

Both WFXT and WLVI's ratings are far above WSBK's last ratings, which were a joke. I certainly see why WSBK's news was canned.
 
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