Gannett has duopoly in Atl

[adam95]

Tribune is selling WB affiliate WATL (soon to be My Network TV) to Gannett (which already owns NBC affiliate WXIA)The complete story is here:http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/tvstations/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002613154

 

[RALfan]

Does this mean that eventually WATL will repurpose 11 Alive news?

 

[jal41]

Does this mean that eventually WATL will repurpose 11 Alive news?

I expect WXIA to produce a 10 PM news (maybe even a 5 PM news) for WATL (in HD). WXIA's news product will still be 11 Alive News (since they spent 7 figures to upgrade everything, why throw it away). However, they will need to build a second smaller set for WATL's news product (Similar to Clear Channel's WAWS/WTEV duopoly in Jacksonville does things).I also expect WATL's operations to move to WXIA's studios. (WXIA once housed WPXA's operations during Gannett's LMA with them).

 

[rch66]

I wonder if Fox was in the bid for the duopoly. And of the duopoly, couldn't Tribune haven't bought WUPA from CBS, thus staying in the market with a WATL/WUPA duopoly? It'd seem more sense for CBS to unload esp. with the ownercap being closer for them.A 10pm newscast may be fine, but a Dr.Phil rerun might bring more ratings, less expense.

 

[Markxxx]

I was reading in Crain's Chicago Buisness how the Tribune Company needs to reduce its debt load. The way they are doing this is to sell their underperforming stations off. Tribune did say it would not sell the Wrigley Building nor the Chicago Cubs to achieve this.Basically since 1994, they have overbought and the stockholders aren't happy and Tribune Stock is not going to go anywhere till they reduce their debt load.

 

[MarcB]

Last week I heard on the "CBS Radio Marketwatch" segment that Tribune may sell all its broadcast properties.