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Fox targets Tribune in Seattle

C

crackedscreen

Fox Broadcasting is changing formations in the station group lineup with the aim of grabbing as many pigskin dollars as possible.

Fox is set to yank Tribune Media’s Fox affiliation KCPQ-TV (Fox 13) in Seattle, The Post has learned.

Tribune won’t be left empty-handed, said one person familiar with conversations. Tribune will receive a MyNetwork affiliation in Chicago in exchange for its Seattle station.

However, one person counselled that talks about the swap were continuing and that Tribune hadn’t completely signed off on the transaction.
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http://nypost.com/2014/09/22/fox-targets-tribunes-fox-affiliation-in-seattle-over-nfl-revenues/

I don't see why Fox doesn't swap KRIV/KTXH to Tribune for KCPQ/KJZO (Tribune would then sell KIAH). That seems like the more logical choice.
 
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Fox is set to yank Tribune Media’s Fox affiliation KCPQ-TV (Fox 13) in Seattle, The Post has learned.
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Who gets FOX? KIRO? And will KCPQ go with CBS?
 
I have a feeling this story is wrong. It sounds more like Fox is trying to swap WPWR to Tribune in exchange for KCPQ and KZJO. I'm otherwise not sure what value a My Network TV affiliation would hold in Chicago, nor why Fox would be giving it to Tribune as a consolation prize after yanking the affiliation.

- Trip
 
mvcg66b3r said:
Who gets FOX? KIRO? And will KCPQ go with CBS?
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The term "yank the affiliation" isn't accurate. Fox wants to swap KCPQ/Fox/Seattle for WPWR/MyNetwork/Chicago. I assume there'd be some cash or some other consideration involved, too.

The article doesn't say whether the swap would involve KJZO, Trib's My Network station in Seattle. Seems likely that Fox would want to keep the duopoly and Trib wouldn't want to try to run KJZO as a standalone operation.

As far as KRIV/KTXH, that's still a large market, even if the NFC isn't a factor there. (KRIV does a decent number with Dallas Cowboys games, if they're not on at the same time as the Texans.)

That just speculation on my part, though. Stranger things have happened.
 
I can't see Fox giving up WPWR-TV in the Chicago market (licensed to Gary, IN). WPWR-TV is affiliated with the Movies network from Weigel & Fox, & Tribune would pull Movies from the station if it happened, unless Fox decided to move it over to WFLD. WPWR-TV also carries Mundo Fox to viewers who can't get WOCK-CD 13.1, which carries the HD version of the network. If Fox refuses to move Movies to WFLD, then Weigel could be forced to affiliate with the network, & it would mean being placed on WWME-LD or WMEU-CD, since Weigel already moved Bounce to WCIU 26.5 (former home to This TV). For Fox too in Chicago, they carry most of their syndicated shows on both stations (some signed to WPWR-TV as the main affiliate, & WFLD for the other shows as the main affiliate, then time-shift the programs on the other station).
 
Fox has terminated their affiliation agreement with KCPQ, effective January 17, 2015.

The long rumored move of Tribune Media’s KCPQ Seattle to Fox Television Stations is heating up. Tribune says Fox has sent it “a notice of termination of the Seattle affiliation agreement” that is effective January 17.

Tribune Media said, in a statement, that the two “have been conducting ongoing discussions regarding Tribune's Fox affiliation in Seattle. Throughout the course of this dialogue, which is ongoing, a variety of alternatives have been discussed and there is no resolution at this time.”

The New York Post reported that Tribune will receive the MyNetworkTV affiliation in Chicago, currently held by Fox’s WPWR, in exchange for KCPQ.

“We are continuing to engage in discussions with Fox and moreover have prepared for all operational and economic possibilities for our Seattle Fox station,” Tribune said.
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http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...266?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
 
Those fans of the Super Bowl XLVIII World Champions aren't gonna like this one! Wow! :eek:

(Most of the Seahawks games air on KCPQ-TV.)
 
newsmark said:
The term "yank the affiliation" isn't accurate.
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I stand corrected. "Yank the affiliation" is technically correct, although I don't see where else Fox would go in the market. I can't imagine Cox, Gannett, Sinclair or CBS would sell to Fox?

Fox is clearly trying to pressure Trib to give up KCPQ. But unlike the KRON situation years ago, I don't know that Fox really has a place to go. Unless they think they'll move KVOS from Bellingham.
 
newsmark said:
I stand corrected. "Yank the affiliation" is technically correct, although I don't see where else Fox would go in the market. I can't imagine Cox, Gannett, Sinclair or CBS would sell to Fox?

Fox is clearly trying to pressure Trib to give up KCPQ. But unlike the KRON situation years ago, I don't know that Fox really has a place to go. Unless they think they'll move KVOS from Bellingham.
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KONG 16 is a clear possibility; independent with nothing stopping it at all (they would happily throw their 8pm Dr. Phil repeats off the air), plus a good cable 6 channel position. However I think in reality Trib is holding out for more to sell KCPQ before they sell to FTS.

And as for Tribune buying WPWR, it's perfect. No more Tribune newspapers getting in the way of a Chicago duopoly partner with WGN-TV, and more programming to control in the market. WFLD would easily bump Movies! to their DT2, and the WOCK deal can easily be maintained as a requirement in the purchase.
 
mrschimpf said:
KONG 16 is a clear possibility; independent with nothing stopping it at all
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I doubt Gannett would be interested in selling KONG. They don't have a lot of duopolies, but they do have a few.

As far as Gannett affiliating KONG with Fox, that would put them owning both the NBC and Fox affiliates, and (at least in theory) they can't own 2 of the Big 4 affiliates in the same market.
 
I see Fox going after KIRO, and in exchange Tribune can acquire WPWR, that'll be good news in Chicago they can place some Chicago White Sox, and Bulls games on WPWR and terminate its partnership with WCIU, in exchange for WCIU becoming the OTA home of the Cubs (with games produced by Comcast SportsNet Chicago) so here's what I see happening:

Fox will acquire KIRO TV from Cox Media Group (with KCPQ affiliating with CBS)

In exchange Fox will sell MyNetworkTV affiliate WPWR to Tribune thus becoming a sister station to WGN.

WGN will terminate the partnership with Independent station WCIU for showing Chicago-based sports teams (Cubs, Bulls, White Sox, and Blackhawks) in exchange The Cubs will sign a new deal with WCIU displacing WGN as the OTA home of The Chicago Cubs with games produced by Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Additionally coverage of White Sox, and Bulls games beginning in 2015 will be split between WGN and WPWR all sports telecasts on WPWR will be produced by WGN under the name "WGN Sports on My 65" with all Blackhawks games airing exclusively on WGN.

That's the way I see it happening moving forward.
 
davidgheller47 said:
...all sports telecasts on WPWR will be produced by WGN under the name "WGN Sports on My 65"...
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You mean My50?

Also, I think FOX would buy WVUE New Orleans from Raycom with Raycom getting FOX's Gainesville-Ocala O&O WOGX.
 
If Fox wanted to up the pressure, they could threaten to yank the Fox affiliation in Indianapolis too. I know of a soon-to-be-former CBS station there that would probably love to affiliate with Fox.

- Trip
 
If KIRO becomes a Fox station, CBS's most realistic options are to turn KSTW into a network O&O (drawback: they'd have to start a news department from scratch) or affiliate with KCPQ. I think Fox is playing hardball and that they'll ultimately end up owning KCPQ/KZJO. No network realignment will be necessary.
 
AKA said:
If KIRO becomes a Fox station, CBS's most realistic options are to turn KSTW into a network O&O (drawback: they'd have to start a news department from scratch) or affiliate with KCPQ. I think Fox is playing hardball and that they'll ultimately end up owning KCPQ/KZJO. No network realignment will be necessary.
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We'll have to wait and see because Fox could yank its affiliation from KCPQ and acquire KIRO and CBS could move to KSTW thus making KIRO an Independent station, we'll see what happens
 
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