Herald: Ch 7 may buy Ch 56

[radiodouble]

Any Network changes are years down the Road. Let's discuss it in 5 years.

Again, contracts are made to renegotiated, and if WHDH buys WLVI, the contract for CW is in jeopardy, becuase the contract is with Tribune, not Ansin.

Instead of network affiliations changing, a better idea maybe if CBS and Sunbeam swapped liceneses for 38 and 56. This way, Sunbeam would own an independent super-station WSBK, in exchange - CBS co-owning WBZ4 and WLVI 56. It'd save on the rebranding expense (and eliminate confusion) - now that 56 is already marketed to be The CW, while giving CBS ownership of the CBS/CW affiliates. Tribune's affiliation with the CW is for 10 years; Sunbeam purchased WLVI on its station and affiliation, so I don't see the affiliation being in jeopardy. However, since CW charges affiliates for carrying the network, Sunbeam and CBS might renegotiate out of this situation anyways [Sunbeam might not care for CW programming] - giving CBS back the afffiliation rights.

As for WSBK, it'd be nice to see this FCC classified superstation owned by an independent owner. Dr.Phil could move to WLVI (at 10pm), while WHDH does the local 10pm newscast on WSBK. Just a thought...

68 is still available for a song. if ansin really wanted an independent station he would've got a UHF independent here long time ago. the days of flourishing independents are long over. 38 is going to find out about it the hard way. these are days of niche audiences and first-run network programming

ansin wanted to lock in a station with source to first-run network programming around which he could build 7's news and he got it in 56.

38 is not a threat to him or anyone else in the market at this point. 38 would have been better off signing up with MY-Net and maybe re-launching 4's news at 10pm or 10:30. but they clearly missed the window of opportunity which goes to show you again how incompetent the management is over there.

4's news product is closer to current 56's sleepy brand. now, necn will be the sole beneficiary of 56's exit.

 

[Casablance]

Anything that Ansin owns will become pure tabloid -if it bleeds it leads - junk news and police blotter reports within a year.

 

[Garrett]

I wonder what they will call the newscast on 56 now?
Will it be "7 News at 10" on 56, or will it still be the "CW 10 O'clock News?"

Also, I wonder if there will be a call letter change. That would be the biggest on air difference.